Visitors

We have a rat living in the garden, well very near the back door really. Often we see him in the afternoon, pottering around the bird feeder. We tempted him with jam  spread at the entrance to the humane trap, we would like him to move somewhere else....and in the morning we found we had had a visitor.... husband set  him free the first day, then a few days later he was back...Was it the same visitor, how can we tell? Shyness made him curl up, both wore exactly the same prickly jacket in the same size and colour...who knows how big the family is too!

Leaves

  On our walk this morning Barney and I saw some amazing leaves. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the colours are the most beautiful thing. From the highest point of the common I could see and misty grey of Lincoln cathedral and in front, the flame coloured leaves of a young horse chestnut tree. Every day is different, best of all is seeing the barn owl.... and here's Barney, off on some doggy quest which I as a mere mortal can never understand.....

Owls

Most months we have tawny owls in the garden. One wonderful summer we had baby owls roosting in the willow tree. They squeaked and shouted throughout the day, wouldn't go to sleep and were always hungry. We could visit them by walking under the hanging willow branches and they would look down in surprise. Recently husband and I had a holiday in Ironbridge. We visited the Jackman Tile Museum. Here are some owls we saw. Now I badly want an owl on the roof.....real, pottery, carved , I don't mind, they just have such a presence! 

New Neighbour

Looking out of my kitchen window  I realise I have a new neighbour. She is a most glamourous lady and today wears a very fashionable pair of strippy tights in brown and yellow. Her legs are very long and slim, the kind of legs I'd love to own. Actually she wears four pairs of tights.... and I think she will become a yummy mummy next year...

Bathing beauty

She had been in the garden for some time, but husband found  her one sunny afternoon. Her swimsuit needed some attention, but her figure was still shapely. How had she got there and where she had come from is a mystery, her name a secret still.... but the least I could do was find her a New Man with a sports car in racing green.  He looks keen but his legs are a bit stiff, he's more used to driving a tractor, but I hope they will be very happy together....

Fox in park

Louise told me an amazing tale. It was a hot sunny day  so they took their new baby and her big sister to the park. They sat down near a flower bed and as they talked a fox came out of the bushes. It curled up right near the pram and slept as they chatted. I have been reading a book by Janet Bolton, an internationally acclaimed applique artist. She creates pictures of interesting things in fabric and stitch. They are very simple and attractive. So here is my attempt to record Louise's  'Mary Moment'.

New baby

Well, now I am a Great Aunt. Fraser John is my great nephew and he is nearly two weeks old. What does a Great Aunt do? Will I need a very big handbag and wear dresses with a large floral print? Should I supply him with unsuitable sweets when his parents aren't looking and send him strange birthday presents? Its been a difficult time for him and I am really looking forward to meeting him when he is allowed home from the special care baby unit. A new baby is a miracle and a wonderful hope for the future. Still he needs very small socks at the moment!