They're Not Blueys, They're Mine!

We love Blue Tits. I think they must be one of the most recognised birds in the UK. I can remember them feeding from the coconuts Mum hung outside the sitting room window at home, We do the same here outside the sun room and are always really pleased to see them hanging upside down on the shells. In an effort to provide them with more varied feeding opportunities, we hang monkey nuts around the branch of the tree for them (and the Great Tits and Coal Tits) to peck at.

There was a loud drumming coming from the tree. It sounded like one of the many Woodpeckers we get

But no, it was a Nut Hatch, very determined to get hold of Blueys nuts.

Pecking with all his might to prise the little brown jewels from their shell

It looks as though someone else has suddenly found them too......
Looks like the Blueys are going to have to stick to the feeders in future

Wildlife in August

Highlights this month have to be the young red who has been visiting us. I don't think anything could ever have more appeal than a Red Squirrel (Please fogive the reflection from the window, it's the bane of my life at the moment!). A first in the village was a pair of Ravens circling overhead as we walked up the road. We had heard of a breeding pair nearby last year, but it's good to get confirmation.

Red Alert

Today has turned out to be a damp affair, the sort of day when you really appreciate the wildlife in the garden. Especially when they are as entertaining as this youngster.
'Hey, Look what I found!'
'Now I'm just going to run off an bury this in the lawn'
'Oh no, they've spotted me in the front as well'
'Perhaps if I bury it in this nicely dug bed they won't notice'

We Just Can't Help It

It's been feeling very backendish this last week. Cool, dewy mornings and evenings, I've started riding out again (and we had two winners this weekend) and things are changing in the garden. Now is the time to resume landscaping. The Big Plan was to tackle the front corner this autumn, so after clearing out the Achillea which had taken over and digging out a few (more) hostas, it was time to start digging over the area around the Buddleia. The trouble is, whenever we start digging in this side of the front, we hit stone, and then we start wondering; is this where the well is?

And the further down you go, the more promising it seems, especially when you find what appears to be a side wall.

But after much digging and trowelling, getting down to about 4 feet deep - we finally decided that this wasn't where the well is. You wouldn't believe how quickly you can fill a hole that big.

Down The Allotment

Whilst we will miss our Friends From Across The Road, they have made damned sure we won't forget them!
We agreed a some time ago that we would look after their veggie patch/orchard whilst the house is rented out.

It will be good for us to have a bit more room for veggies, whilst still knowing that we don't have the long term tie of a big garden.

It will keep us busy in the meantime though.
So if you call in for a cuppa and we're not here; have a look down the allotment.

Going, Going, Gone

The house is empty and VERY clean, Roger, Lois and Buddy have spent the last couple of nights staying with us whilst they packed all the last bits away and set to with the polish.
Loaded up the dog (bye bye Buddy)



And set off on their adventure.




We're hoping it won't be long before we are invited to the Come Back tour!

Farewell Tour

Our neighbours are moving to France. Not anything to do with us moving here, it's been planned for years (or so they say!).
The Farewell Tour started nearly a month ago, with the 'Night Before' party, the night before Roger's retirement 'Do'

Since then there have been all sorts of occasions, hosted by all sorts of friends, to wish them Bon Voyage. Saturday 20th, it was our turn. 16 of us gathered for supper and a 'few' drinks.
Guests of honour, Roger and Lois

and some of the rest of the crowd.

All that's left is the clearing up..........

Two Years Later - In The Back

About this time, two years ago, our predecessors made a very wise decision and put their house on the market. The photos they had taken for the brochure are a really useful way of looking back to see what we have done. The house isn't tidy enough to show you the changes inside- maybe another day! But by taking pictures in roughly the same spot as the agent, we get a fairly good idea of the overall changes.
The Back garden has changed the most. In our opinion, it was a bit twee with the two rocket launcher patios and a couple of 'sort of rockeries' which didn't look too bad in August and September, but had nothing of interest the rest of the year.
That was then

And this is now.

Don't Count Your Chickens

Me and my Big Mouth. I've helped some friends out with their sheep a few times this summer and when Fran tentatively asked if I'd be willing to look after the poultry if she could persuade Andrew to have a holiday, of course I said yes. They've not had a day off in over 7 years, and looking after friends livestock is something we are well used to. I used to keep a few hens myself as a girl. Not quite this many though! Last week was a steep learning curve, getting to grips with the systems.

Thankfully, husband also enjoys looking after stock, although I don't think either of us fully realised just how many eggs we were going to be handling. 6000 hens = pretty much 6000 eggs a day. That's 6000 eggs to be sorted, packed accounted for and recorded. That's about 42,000 in a week. We'll be getting the hang of it by the time they get back.

Just to make sure we don't get too tunnel visioned, we've also got a few other souls to tend to. Merlin the Shetland Pony - I'm not a pony person, but this one really is a sweetheart.



3 calves........


And not forgetting 6 puppies, 4 working collies - Nell, Fly, Jess and Meg and Jack the Russell.

I know there are a few missing on the picture - but you try getting them all in one place at once!

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