Party Time

Our friend and neighbour Roger has a big birthday this weekend. So big, that after 40 years shoeing racehorses, he is hanging up his hammer and burning his apron. He's shod some good horses. National winners, Hallo Dandy (1984) and Lucius (1978) along with many other great names. Titus Oates, One Man, Better Times Ahead, Monet's Garden - the list goes on.
Obviously this End of An Era had to be celebrated, and Roger's Son and Daughter in Law decided to throw a party to mark the Occasion. As there were going to be lots of people coming to the area from afar, it was decided that a 'Night before' party was needed at Roger and Lois' last night.
Our contribution to the nights festivities...............

A couple of Celebratory cakes.
Today was a mammoth affair. After a Birthday Toast at 11.15am, 14 of us boarded a mini bus to take us over to the party where we (and about 75 others) were wined and dined all afternoon. Finally arriving home by minibus this evening.
Where was Her Ladyship while we were out all day eating and drinking? She was next door with her Aunty C, Uncle G and Uncle N. She feels so at home there, she just curls up and goes to sleep. In the Laundry basket apparently!

Wildlife in July

Another month flashes by. How did we ever find time to work?
Wildlife highlight of July has to go to the visiting Rock Dove. A little off course, but a welcome visitor all the same. The village Puddle has been a great attraction, to insects, amphibians as well as birds.

Ovipositing

That's laying eggs to you and I. Which is exactly what this female Brown Hawker Dragonfly was doing in the Village Puddle this afternoon.

One of Each

We have been very disappointed that, following the apparently successful metamorphosis of a large number of tadpoles into froglets, we have seen nothing for weeks and weeks. We can only assume that the heron/blackbirds/hedgehog et al had a few tasty treats. It is always possible that the froglets all migrated and have made their homes elsewhere, but it seems a bit unlikely as we didn't see any of them leave.


We were delighted this morning to discover this lovely frog hoping across the lawn to the pond



Maybe one of last years tadpoles looking at the size of him/her



Even more pleased later, when we spotted this toad on the other side of the pond.

Similar in size to Freddie the frog, so again, we are guessing at one of last years spawn, who has decided to check out the Village Puddle as a possible Des Res

Under Threat??

I know I'm repeating myself, but THEY would have you believe that House Sparrow numbers are declining. Not here they're not. We have had 7 new House Martin's nests built on the house this year. Each and every one of them was taken over by House Sparrows who attack the Martins until they leave. Just to give you a flavour of the numbers we get, this would be less than half of them at any one time.
Under Threat?


On a more cute note, we finally got round to cleaning out the Blue Tit box today. Blimey have they been busy. Bearing in mind everything in there had to be carried in by their little beaks, and this box was empty at the start of spring, they didn't half make some journeys.
Measuring 5.5 inches by 4.5 inches, the nesting material was 3 inches deep.
Beautifully woven into a circular nest at the bottom, and then layer upon layer above that. Mostly made out of Hattie hair!

Feasting

Like everyone else, we have been feasting on new potatoes straight from the garden for weeks now. Salad leaves and radish have also been producing quicker than we can eat them for weeks. Chard has been used as both salad and a spinach alternative, but finally, the really important season is getting underway.
My life wouldn't be worth living if Husband didn't get his beetroot fix every now and then. They really unbeatable when they go from soil to saucepan in one swift move.

Beans are (one of) my favourites. We are way behind all our friends and relatives who have been eating these little beauties for weeks, but given the altitude and lack of shelter, we are prepared to wait.

Definitely worth waiting for.

Excuse Me, Are you Lost?

An afternoon spent wining and dining with the neighbours watching as Le Tour went through their village in the Pyrenees. We thought we must have had one glass too many when we got home. A Rock Dove has come to visit. As these birds are only native in the Scottish Islands and Highlands these days, we can only assume that this is actually a captive bred bird, many of which are pretty much indistinguishable from truly wild Rock Doves

Dash Falls

Pinch me I think I'm dreaming. The forecast for today was excellent - and accurate, so we headed to Fellside for a walk up Roughton Gill to take in Dash Falls and then follow our noses back to Fellside - all this walking and we're not on holiday.
We've walked here many times, and although there is evidence of trials bike damage, it must happen at the weekends, 'cause we never see a soul up here. Off we go up the familiar route towards the old Mine workings



Roughton Gill is pretty all the way, but as you head to the top, past the old mines, it becomes a series of waterfalls; Dash Falls. We must remember to revisit them when we have had some serious rain.
All the usual Flora and fauna were about today. Stonechat and Wheatear, along with Sand martins and Swallows. Wild Thyme is really coming into it's own at the moment and the heather is just starting to flower. A little less common is this Yellow Saxifrage which can be found on the rocks on the side of the gill
Having scrambled up the right of the gill, and then crossing over to scramble a bit more up the left, we cross back again just below this fall to pick up the path you can see heading towards the skyline on the right of this picture into the forgotten valley of Balliway Rigg. An ideal spot for lunch.
Looking back you can see where we have come up from, with the mines in the grey area just off centre of this picture.
After lunch it's onwards and upwards to Great Sca Fell (no not that one, this is the Other Sca Fell). If you double click, (Sally - we're starting!) you can see the sea, and Criffel in Dumfries and Galloway on the other side of the Solway.
From there it was all down hill, with a leisurely descent back to Fellside.

Making It Up As We Go Along

Not the sound track to our lives (although there's a thought!), but a spur of the moment decision to abandon any plans for this afternoon and go for a walk instead. Just for a change we thought we'd head to the Caldbeck fells and start from somewhere down Swineside.

We just followed our noses basically, exploring the remains of Carrock Fell Mines on the way, one of only two Tungsten mines in the country

Then it was a question of following Grainsgill, on the route of the Cumbria Way looking back down our route)

More Botanical finds as we head up to the sky line - Lousewort



And there ahead of us is our turning point. Lingy Hut. Last visited with Simon and Sally last September




from there it was down hill all the way back to the car in the valley below

Stopping to pick Bilberries on the way - memories of childhood holidays fellwalking come flooding back!

Why we don't Fell Walk very often

Apart from the fact that life has taken over, and the fells will always Be There Tomorrow; there is one very good reason why we don't often get out onto them. From our door we can walk pretty much where we like. On farm land, woodland, common land and roads alike. The opportunities seem endless, and there is nothing like a nature walk!
I've said it before, but the roadside verges here are protected and for good reason. Wildflowers abound, changing as the year progresses. Meadowsweet, vetch and geranium are the most prevalent at the moment



Other species can be found not far away like this Great Burnet
And the Giant Bell Flower

Going 'Off Piste' through the woodland where we can pick our way through the undergrowth and never see another human soul
a chance to encounter other species of flora and fauna, such as this Wintergreen (sorry about the blurred pic, it kept moving!)

Lovely woodland glades with long forgotten becks
and evidence of wildlife all around. This wood pigeon's egg showing that the jays we see and hear above us have been busy robbing nests
more sad than the wood pigeon was this Song Thrush egg which had obviously fallen to the same fate.
Once out of the shade of the woods, we are back into Orchid country. They are everywhere 'round here, including in the woods.
And finally, walking through some long term setaside, we were inundated with Ringlet butterflies, oh and not forgetting the blasted cleggs which were using me as a handy picnic.

Three's A Crowd

Jarvis brought his latest Lady Friend out for supper tonight. He often does, he's good like that.

Particularly when he's trying to woo her

Trouble was, The Wife showed up.

There was an almighty To Do. Jarvis tried to slip away unnoticed while the ladies had a real sort out.

Nearly Deja Vue

A beautiful morning, and a walk seems like a good idea before Simon and Sally head back to Lincolnshire this afternoon. Last autumn we planned to walk over Carrock fell with them. It never quite happened as you will see here.
This time we made it without any errors, and added High Pike onto the end for good measure.


A great walk and a great day. Great company too, only there were four feet missing. Last September Hattie was with us too, but that was pretty much the last full walk she did before she took her up her current postition of Lounging Around In Bed All Day.

Skelton Show

Simon and Sal are up for the weekend, timed nicely to coincide with our local show; Skelton Show is the biggest village show in the country. It's a lovely show and, just like last year, it's a lovely day too.
Mrs B has work to do. stewarding some of the horse classes, so leaving the picnic at home for Husband to bring later, it's off to the showground first thing to do my bit.



Husband and Simon and Sal turned up a little later in the morning, complete with picnic. The rest of these photos are courtesy of Sal, as I didn't have my camera with me!

Deep in discussion about the state of Uk Agriculture whilst inspecting the sheep pens




Shows are very tiring, especially if you are exhibiting, as Blossom had discovered. Not only was she fast asleep, but she was busy snoring too. Bless!