Late each afternoon I see two huge skeins of birds flying in a westerly direction, at first I thought they were migrating, but I now think perhaps they are going to a night time roost.
They appear to be the same group every afternoon and always at approximately the same time. I think they are gulls.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Ladybirds
We have been enjoying an exceptionally mild spell of weather for this time of year, the result is a profusion of ladybirds - many hundreds coating the white walls outside.
I seem to remember a few years ago I was at once charmed by the vast numbers of strange ladybirds in the garden, and almost immediately concerned because of the reports of these European insects invading our shores. It was thought that they would over run our natural ladybirds and even eat them, fortunately this doesn't seem to have happened.
We have had very few ladybird sightings in the garden this summer and those we have had have all been our natural ladybirds. However the last few days I have been amazed at the numbers I have seen, they collect on the white walls and windows and are a very mixed bunch with almost as many of our native species as there are foreign - where have they been all summer?
I do feel reassured that perhaps the danger to our native ladybirds is not after all as great as was feared, certainly I have witnessed no aggression between any of them and have not seen any of ours devoured by their cousins - I hope this proves to be the case.
I seem to remember a few years ago I was at once charmed by the vast numbers of strange ladybirds in the garden, and almost immediately concerned because of the reports of these European insects invading our shores. It was thought that they would over run our natural ladybirds and even eat them, fortunately this doesn't seem to have happened.
We have had very few ladybird sightings in the garden this summer and those we have had have all been our natural ladybirds. However the last few days I have been amazed at the numbers I have seen, they collect on the white walls and windows and are a very mixed bunch with almost as many of our native species as there are foreign - where have they been all summer?
I do feel reassured that perhaps the danger to our native ladybirds is not after all as great as was feared, certainly I have witnessed no aggression between any of them and have not seen any of ours devoured by their cousins - I hope this proves to be the case.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Golden October
Down to the river,again it is so mild, more like a summers day than a late October one.
The horse chestnut trees have dropped their precious load of conkers and are now shedding their brown leaves already twisting and crispy underfoot.I scuffed my way through them and once again felt the same joy that I felt years ago when I did this as a child, none of the guilty feelings that went with it though for either wearing my shoes out or scratching the surface, which I diligently polished every night, ready to look smart for school the next morning. Indeed it fell my lot to polish every ones shoes, my fathers included, but his had to have special treatment as they had for some reason to be polished underneath as well - on that area between the heel and the sole, and they were so big and my hand so small that they were hard to control, but I always made a good job of them.
I never say October without prefixing it in my mind with the word golden, yet this year the leaves seem slow to turn and I am still awaiting the wonderful, breathtaking views that trees will soon give us.
I was surprised at how many wild flowers were still out and at how low the river was for this time of year. I have heard there are otters in the river but as yet have never been lucky enough to see them. Occasionally I do spot a heron or a kingfisher.
The horse chestnut trees have dropped their precious load of conkers and are now shedding their brown leaves already twisting and crispy underfoot.I scuffed my way through them and once again felt the same joy that I felt years ago when I did this as a child, none of the guilty feelings that went with it though for either wearing my shoes out or scratching the surface, which I diligently polished every night, ready to look smart for school the next morning. Indeed it fell my lot to polish every ones shoes, my fathers included, but his had to have special treatment as they had for some reason to be polished underneath as well - on that area between the heel and the sole, and they were so big and my hand so small that they were hard to control, but I always made a good job of them.
I never say October without prefixing it in my mind with the word golden, yet this year the leaves seem slow to turn and I am still awaiting the wonderful, breathtaking views that trees will soon give us.
I was surprised at how many wild flowers were still out and at how low the river was for this time of year. I have heard there are otters in the river but as yet have never been lucky enough to see them. Occasionally I do spot a heron or a kingfisher.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Yorkshire in October
Travelling to Yorkshire for the fifth time this year, again to spend time with our little family up there.
We pass almost skeleton trees, their pretty autumn leaves drifting down and littering the fields and roadside verges. In one field we see hundreds of gulls following a tractor, while other nearby fields are brown, newly ploughed and almost bereft of gulls. The richest pickings are obviously where the soil is freshly turned.
Further on fields are already green with new growth and yet still showing the brown stripes from the tractor. The growth is like fine green grass and has an abundance of pretty male pheasants scattered throughout the fields. We pass fields of young brassicas, interestingly not so many pheasants to be seen in these darker green places.
I am surprised to see so many wild flowers in bloom at this time of year; large patches of white ox-eye daisies, long scatterings of bright yellow ragwort and many large clumps of deep mauve geraniums, which are a great favourite of mine.
We made a random stop at a garden gate and bought some runner beans, home grown and freshly picked. We must buy a marrow to go with them, for the cooked combination of these two is excellent and very moorish. Cooked in the same pot, but with the runner beans given two or three minutes longer than the marrow, which if it is young I cook with the skin still on. The water, of which there should not be too much, can of course be either used for gravy making or drunk. If the marrow is young these two veg are also excellent freshly cut up and used in salads.
On the M62 we are passed by a sleek, low, red car with an odd registration number 77935, that is all, no letters. I can't recall seeing such a number before.
I am shocked at the amount of dead creatures I have seen on this journey, mostly pheasants, but also rabbits, squirrels, hedgehogs and of course badgers. Fortunately the fields are still full of pheasants and rabbits on the verges are also plentiful. Interestingly most of the dead pheasants are male. I wonder if this is because they are greater risk takers than females or is it that females are still protecting their young and so stay closer to hedgerows and less open places?
With sixty miles still to go, the trees and hedgerows have many more leaves and are still golden compared to those alongside the road at the beginning of our journey. Although some trees in Yorkshire have lost almost all of their leaves, there are others that remain green. The trees further south had a more distinct autumn colouring, orange, yellow and red.
Near the A4128 junction off the A1, I saw a dead weasel by the central reservation.
It is 17:36pm, the sun is setting and the sky is beautiful. To the right it is dark and stormy looking, then under a sudden line it changes to a block of the brightest orange and further down changes again to a pale turquoise. Ahead the clouds are brightly outlined with gold while underneath the sky has a pretty rosy glow. Hopefully a good sign for tomorrow.
Now at 17:56pm the sun is almost touching the horizon and is an enormous fiery deepest orange ball --- with the sky on either side stretching away, wonderfully red. The undersides of the clouds above and to the sides of the sun are red as is the top of the lower band of cloud.
A beautiful sunset to enjoy as we near our journey's end.
We pass almost skeleton trees, their pretty autumn leaves drifting down and littering the fields and roadside verges. In one field we see hundreds of gulls following a tractor, while other nearby fields are brown, newly ploughed and almost bereft of gulls. The richest pickings are obviously where the soil is freshly turned.
Further on fields are already green with new growth and yet still showing the brown stripes from the tractor. The growth is like fine green grass and has an abundance of pretty male pheasants scattered throughout the fields. We pass fields of young brassicas, interestingly not so many pheasants to be seen in these darker green places.
I am surprised to see so many wild flowers in bloom at this time of year; large patches of white ox-eye daisies, long scatterings of bright yellow ragwort and many large clumps of deep mauve geraniums, which are a great favourite of mine.
We made a random stop at a garden gate and bought some runner beans, home grown and freshly picked. We must buy a marrow to go with them, for the cooked combination of these two is excellent and very moorish. Cooked in the same pot, but with the runner beans given two or three minutes longer than the marrow, which if it is young I cook with the skin still on. The water, of which there should not be too much, can of course be either used for gravy making or drunk. If the marrow is young these two veg are also excellent freshly cut up and used in salads.
On the M62 we are passed by a sleek, low, red car with an odd registration number 77935, that is all, no letters. I can't recall seeing such a number before.
I am shocked at the amount of dead creatures I have seen on this journey, mostly pheasants, but also rabbits, squirrels, hedgehogs and of course badgers. Fortunately the fields are still full of pheasants and rabbits on the verges are also plentiful. Interestingly most of the dead pheasants are male. I wonder if this is because they are greater risk takers than females or is it that females are still protecting their young and so stay closer to hedgerows and less open places?
With sixty miles still to go, the trees and hedgerows have many more leaves and are still golden compared to those alongside the road at the beginning of our journey. Although some trees in Yorkshire have lost almost all of their leaves, there are others that remain green. The trees further south had a more distinct autumn colouring, orange, yellow and red.
Near the A4128 junction off the A1, I saw a dead weasel by the central reservation.
It is 17:36pm, the sun is setting and the sky is beautiful. To the right it is dark and stormy looking, then under a sudden line it changes to a block of the brightest orange and further down changes again to a pale turquoise. Ahead the clouds are brightly outlined with gold while underneath the sky has a pretty rosy glow. Hopefully a good sign for tomorrow.
Now at 17:56pm the sun is almost touching the horizon and is an enormous fiery deepest orange ball --- with the sky on either side stretching away, wonderfully red. The undersides of the clouds above and to the sides of the sun are red as is the top of the lower band of cloud.
A beautiful sunset to enjoy as we near our journey's end.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
The Mole and His Lucky Escape
It was a beautiful day today, bright sunshine and the bluest of skies with now and again white clouds hurrying across. It was a little cold but the strong winds were invigorating and the air felt fresh.
This afternoon I stood idly by the end kitchen window, watching the clouds passing by and then the washing and trees blowing in the wind.
Suddenly as I watched something caught my eye, it was small, dark and falling from the sky. My gaze quickly shifted and I watched it fall on to the lawn, it lay still and I decided to go and investigate. Even as I was thinking this it moved and I knew whatever it was, by some miracle it was still alive. I couldn't make out what it was but then as it slowly stirred I realised it was a mole, with his sleek, shiny coat glistening in the sunlight. As if realising the danger of being in the open and what a lucky escape he'd had, he quickly dashed across the grass and into the undergrowth.
I was astonished to witness the above and so pleased to have been at the window and staring out just at that moment, and even more pleased to see him alive and his dash to safety. He must have been dropped by a bird of prey.
This afternoon I stood idly by the end kitchen window, watching the clouds passing by and then the washing and trees blowing in the wind.
Suddenly as I watched something caught my eye, it was small, dark and falling from the sky. My gaze quickly shifted and I watched it fall on to the lawn, it lay still and I decided to go and investigate. Even as I was thinking this it moved and I knew whatever it was, by some miracle it was still alive. I couldn't make out what it was but then as it slowly stirred I realised it was a mole, with his sleek, shiny coat glistening in the sunlight. As if realising the danger of being in the open and what a lucky escape he'd had, he quickly dashed across the grass and into the undergrowth.
I was astonished to witness the above and so pleased to have been at the window and staring out just at that moment, and even more pleased to see him alive and his dash to safety. He must have been dropped by a bird of prey.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Basildon Park
Visited Basildon Park today, it is a National Trust property in Berkshire, we were on a guided tour which in retrospect was a mistake. Although it was interesting to be shown round the house, one had to stand still and pay attention while we were being spoken to for fear of others being disturbed. Also the group was too large and the rooms were so crowded one could only see the part where one was hemmed in and immediately the guide stopped talking we were moved on. Indeed we were ushered from room to room too quickly, therefore we heard the history of the house and its owners but were unable to stand and capture the feeling of the room or to even spend time admiring the architecture of the rooms or treasures therein.
We have visited this property before not on a guided tour and going around at our own pace, reading about the rooms from the notes in each room or by talking informally to the stewards in each room, is a much pleasanter and more relaxed way of seeing a property. In future we will go when it is not a guided tour day.
The grounds are enjoyable and the far reaching views across the Berkshire countryside were breathtaking. There are also some really aged and very beautiful trees in the surrounding parkland.
We have visited this property before not on a guided tour and going around at our own pace, reading about the rooms from the notes in each room or by talking informally to the stewards in each room, is a much pleasanter and more relaxed way of seeing a property. In future we will go when it is not a guided tour day.
The grounds are enjoyable and the far reaching views across the Berkshire countryside were breathtaking. There are also some really aged and very beautiful trees in the surrounding parkland.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Three Foxes
We put the fox food out as usual, but as often happens now we were busy and only looked occasionally, interestingly we saw more of the foxes tonight than we have for a long time.
Several times I glanced out and saw nothing then suddenly the young female was there, she is very nervous and we don't see her as often as her brother. She timidly comes from behind a bush and looking about her slowly approaches the food and delicately takes a piece before backing off to stand and eat it. This is very different from her brother who boldly marches in lays down by the food and steadily eats it all.
Tonight the young female had barely started eating, just three mouthfuls, when she suddenly started looked up and tore away. It was her brother, his fur is much darker, his tread much more certain and in build already larger and stronger looking than his sister, who is paler, smaller and timid. Unfortunately she has good reason to rush away as he sets about her making her whimper and yelp.
Once her brother shows up she rushes away and we don't see her again, tonight she must have been extra hungry because after a few minutes she crept back very slowly and low, her belly almost brushing the lawn. She managed to sneak a piece and slowly moved back into the bushes with it, but the second time the young male chased her off and we didn't see her again.
After the young male had finished feeding and left, I still kept an eye on the lawn wondering if his young sister would return. She didn't, but I was surprised about ten minutes later to see the older vixen ---their mother sniffing around the area where the food had been. She must have been hungry because she spent a long time going over the lawn and although there was nothing visible she was clearly finding something.
Several times I glanced out and saw nothing then suddenly the young female was there, she is very nervous and we don't see her as often as her brother. She timidly comes from behind a bush and looking about her slowly approaches the food and delicately takes a piece before backing off to stand and eat it. This is very different from her brother who boldly marches in lays down by the food and steadily eats it all.
Tonight the young female had barely started eating, just three mouthfuls, when she suddenly started looked up and tore away. It was her brother, his fur is much darker, his tread much more certain and in build already larger and stronger looking than his sister, who is paler, smaller and timid. Unfortunately she has good reason to rush away as he sets about her making her whimper and yelp.
Once her brother shows up she rushes away and we don't see her again, tonight she must have been extra hungry because after a few minutes she crept back very slowly and low, her belly almost brushing the lawn. She managed to sneak a piece and slowly moved back into the bushes with it, but the second time the young male chased her off and we didn't see her again.
After the young male had finished feeding and left, I still kept an eye on the lawn wondering if his young sister would return. She didn't, but I was surprised about ten minutes later to see the older vixen ---their mother sniffing around the area where the food had been. She must have been hungry because she spent a long time going over the lawn and although there was nothing visible she was clearly finding something.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Taking our son to the airport and on to Reading
This morning we drove John to Heathrow for his return flight to Seattle. I shall miss him, I wish he wasn't going, he has been such a support to me through the last several months, not least of all during my chemo and radiotherapy, but perhaps it is right he goes, he needs to pick up his life, but my heart is heavy to see him go. My falling silver tears were mirrored by autumn's falling golden leaves as I hugged my dear son goodbye, not knowing when I shall see him again.
It was a bright autumn morning, blue skies, endless sunshine which highlighted the golds oranges and reds on some trees. It is still a little early for most trees but together with the bright red hips, pillar box red haws, and the wonderful fruit of the rowan trees, whose berries are white, orange or vermilion ,from the car, the passing countryside is colouring up well and the next few weeks promise to be eye catching.
Warm coats, scarves and wellington boots will soon be the order of the day for tramping in the woods and rustling feet through drifts of golden, crispy leaves.
We continued our journey to Reading along the M4, the verges are now almost bereft of flowers, although one stretch was filled with tall yellow evening primroses. I have noticed in my own garden how the bees and moths love these flowers. I too love them their perfect flowers held high above other plants and every day more opening until they reach above my head, I also love the randomness of these plants, they suddenly appear, sometimes near to the parent plant other times quite a distance away. Wherever they show up I am pleased to see them and regard it as a bonus.
Through the car window everywhere is calm and serene, some fields are awaiting harvesting, others already harvested and yet more already ploughed, seeded and showing fresh green shoots.
Just before the A33 turning, we always look out on the right hand side for the fields of white horses, they are sturdy creatures and as I write I realise they may not be horses but ponies. We always wonder about them and their reason for being there, are they for breeding or just for someones pleasure? Seeing them always gives us pleasure, occasionally they escape onto the M4 and cause traffic delays.
Shortly afterwards on our left we pass large lakes devoid of wildlife and next to them fields of scattered sheep, and then more lakes. I wonder if these lakes are the result of gravel extraction. We pass a river and are at our junction.
The leaves on the horse chestnut trees are curling at the edges and turning brown, some of these trees are starting to shed both their leaves and their fruit, commonly called conkers. These shiny, round, beautifully marked, brown delights are to be found in their dozens at the foot of the tree, some still locked in their prickly green cases, others boldly brown waiting showily to be gathered up, and sometimes they are shyly hiding in their partly opened cases or even coyly peeping out of a pile of leaf litter, however they are there, there are few things more pleasing than gathering some up and taking them home to place in a bowl in order that their beauty can be enjoyed, before they fade and are put outside on the lawn for the squirrels.
It was a bright autumn morning, blue skies, endless sunshine which highlighted the golds oranges and reds on some trees. It is still a little early for most trees but together with the bright red hips, pillar box red haws, and the wonderful fruit of the rowan trees, whose berries are white, orange or vermilion ,from the car, the passing countryside is colouring up well and the next few weeks promise to be eye catching.
Warm coats, scarves and wellington boots will soon be the order of the day for tramping in the woods and rustling feet through drifts of golden, crispy leaves.
We continued our journey to Reading along the M4, the verges are now almost bereft of flowers, although one stretch was filled with tall yellow evening primroses. I have noticed in my own garden how the bees and moths love these flowers. I too love them their perfect flowers held high above other plants and every day more opening until they reach above my head, I also love the randomness of these plants, they suddenly appear, sometimes near to the parent plant other times quite a distance away. Wherever they show up I am pleased to see them and regard it as a bonus.
Through the car window everywhere is calm and serene, some fields are awaiting harvesting, others already harvested and yet more already ploughed, seeded and showing fresh green shoots.
Just before the A33 turning, we always look out on the right hand side for the fields of white horses, they are sturdy creatures and as I write I realise they may not be horses but ponies. We always wonder about them and their reason for being there, are they for breeding or just for someones pleasure? Seeing them always gives us pleasure, occasionally they escape onto the M4 and cause traffic delays.
Shortly afterwards on our left we pass large lakes devoid of wildlife and next to them fields of scattered sheep, and then more lakes. I wonder if these lakes are the result of gravel extraction. We pass a river and are at our junction.
The leaves on the horse chestnut trees are curling at the edges and turning brown, some of these trees are starting to shed both their leaves and their fruit, commonly called conkers. These shiny, round, beautifully marked, brown delights are to be found in their dozens at the foot of the tree, some still locked in their prickly green cases, others boldly brown waiting showily to be gathered up, and sometimes they are shyly hiding in their partly opened cases or even coyly peeping out of a pile of leaf litter, however they are there, there are few things more pleasing than gathering some up and taking them home to place in a bowl in order that their beauty can be enjoyed, before they fade and are put outside on the lawn for the squirrels.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Autumn Changes
It is September and everywhere is still relatively green, no doubt due to the amount of rain there has been.
The trees although green are no longer fresh looking but rather a tired yellow/brownish green. It has been a strange summer, cooler and wetter than we would have expected or than most of us would have liked, for me the greatest difference this summer has been the reduced number of butterflies in my garden. Interestingly, not as many wasps about either although bees and hornets have been plentiful.
The fruit this year has been overwhelming in its quantity and quality. Years ago, housewives would have been so busy: bottling fruit, making jam, collecting sloes and elderberries to make wine, blackberries and damsons from the hedgerows for jam. A glut of autumn produce not only kept them busy but also kept the family in tarts, fruit pies and tasty spreads for bread and butter or toast at tea time. The flavour of home produced jams etc., cannot be compared with its modern mass produced counterpart, which most of us collect from shops.
At one time most people kept chicken in their back garden; the eggs would be used in cooking and as a welcome treat for children's tea, for cake making for Sunday teatime and any left over would be laid down in a solution of isinglass to provide eggs for when hens went off the lay. Meanwhile the chickens which would have been loved, cuddled and named by the children were destined for the pot when they had outgrown their usefulness as egg providers.
Day-old chicks soon replaced the others to be stroked, cooed over and in their turn named and so the cycle went on. How very different our lives were then to the lives of children today.
Gone are most of the roadside flowers, the grasses have grown taller and we are still enjoying clumps of blue hardy geraniums. Taking the place of other flowers are drifts of Michaelmas daisies mostly a gentle calm, pale mauve colour with here and there white ones to be seen. Pretty scatterings of bright yellow Oxford ragwort seem to frequent most verges, I have mixed feelings about this escapee that is so eye catching, seeds so readily and yet is so dangerous to horses.
Joy of joys, I have just found my first conker of the year, it is as perfect as every other conker I have ever found: round, brown and shiny with it's own unique patterning made by various shades of brown on its shiny surface. A smile on my face, I clutch it to me, a symbol of the continuity of life. I admire it and show it to my elder granddaughter who also finds one and immediately points out to me that hers is better as it has a flat side and is much better for playing conkers with. Something I have never ever thought of!
I always think of September as a golden month; this year it truly is for Mike and I, as our Golden Wedding Anniversary falls this month. We shall be having a family reunion and a blessing and renewal of our vows all in aid of cancer research uk. Having cancer has made me more aware of many things and I have become a registered collector for cancer research uk,which has truly added another dimension to my life.
The trees although green are no longer fresh looking but rather a tired yellow/brownish green. It has been a strange summer, cooler and wetter than we would have expected or than most of us would have liked, for me the greatest difference this summer has been the reduced number of butterflies in my garden. Interestingly, not as many wasps about either although bees and hornets have been plentiful.
The fruit this year has been overwhelming in its quantity and quality. Years ago, housewives would have been so busy: bottling fruit, making jam, collecting sloes and elderberries to make wine, blackberries and damsons from the hedgerows for jam. A glut of autumn produce not only kept them busy but also kept the family in tarts, fruit pies and tasty spreads for bread and butter or toast at tea time. The flavour of home produced jams etc., cannot be compared with its modern mass produced counterpart, which most of us collect from shops.
At one time most people kept chicken in their back garden; the eggs would be used in cooking and as a welcome treat for children's tea, for cake making for Sunday teatime and any left over would be laid down in a solution of isinglass to provide eggs for when hens went off the lay. Meanwhile the chickens which would have been loved, cuddled and named by the children were destined for the pot when they had outgrown their usefulness as egg providers.
Day-old chicks soon replaced the others to be stroked, cooed over and in their turn named and so the cycle went on. How very different our lives were then to the lives of children today.
Gone are most of the roadside flowers, the grasses have grown taller and we are still enjoying clumps of blue hardy geraniums. Taking the place of other flowers are drifts of Michaelmas daisies mostly a gentle calm, pale mauve colour with here and there white ones to be seen. Pretty scatterings of bright yellow Oxford ragwort seem to frequent most verges, I have mixed feelings about this escapee that is so eye catching, seeds so readily and yet is so dangerous to horses.
Joy of joys, I have just found my first conker of the year, it is as perfect as every other conker I have ever found: round, brown and shiny with it's own unique patterning made by various shades of brown on its shiny surface. A smile on my face, I clutch it to me, a symbol of the continuity of life. I admire it and show it to my elder granddaughter who also finds one and immediately points out to me that hers is better as it has a flat side and is much better for playing conkers with. Something I have never ever thought of!
I always think of September as a golden month; this year it truly is for Mike and I, as our Golden Wedding Anniversary falls this month. We shall be having a family reunion and a blessing and renewal of our vows all in aid of cancer research uk. Having cancer has made me more aware of many things and I have become a registered collector for cancer research uk,which has truly added another dimension to my life.
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