The beginning of the month brought a spectacular downpour. Lyra was all for waiting it out and retreated to the spot under the table that is just out of easy reach for a woman with a lead. However, when faced with the smell of a venison twisty bar found herself unable to resist. We thenContinue reading “from dreaming spires to forest pyres”
Category Archives: wildlife
A conflagration of leaves
My tale commences on a wet and windy trip to Norham a couple of weeks ago for essential bacon supplies. Lyra expressed the view that she was happy just to stay in the car and listen to the radio whilst I stocked up, with a view to heading straight back to the fire and theContinue reading “A conflagration of leaves”
Lazarus speaks…
I have had this godawful cold/virus for over a fortnight now and only in the last couple of days have I felt even borderline human (as opposed to the land based kin of a race of spluttering green slime monsters from the depths of the Mindanao trench). Keith’s been fairly poorly as well and betweenContinue reading “Lazarus speaks…”
Into the woods
We’ve had a well nigh perfect few weeks. Mostly it’s been lovely and sunny, but with enough dreary/wet days that I’ve actually managed to get a few indoors things done as well. A couple of damson deliveries from Judy have been turned to jam and curd (and in Keith’s case, vodka). The colour was soContinue reading “Into the woods”
Nature dudettes at large
When Lachlan was a small boy, much addicted to natural history programmes he declared that when he growed up he was doing to be a nature dude on the telly. With a late change of heart toward caring for the human species, a family vacancy for nature dudes has emerged. Over the last few weeksContinue reading “Nature dudettes at large”
Dropping season
It is the season for gravity to flex its muscles. Round by the lake this morning I walked Lyra under a barrage of surprisingly hard, little green acorns. All around there were mysterious cracks, groans and thunks in the undergrowth and Lyra darted here and there, ever alert for squirrel attacks. Down in the woodsContinue reading “Dropping season”
Strange fruit
Last Saturday it was, finally, my turn to take Lyra to the groomers. Lachlan had to work and Keith has declared himself permanently traumatised by the last experience and unwilling to risk further mental collapse. Lyra is not enthusiastic about this trip and, despite being blind, seems to know exactly where she is going. SheContinue reading “Strange fruit”
High Summer
A quick post for the gardeners out there. With the steamy weather, it’s almost too hot to do anything. I mustered a little weeding this afternoon and after an hour I was completely lathered. I am more inclined to wafting round looking critically at “things in the wrong place” and making mental lists. Lovely asContinue reading “High Summer”
Cthulu emerges from the deep
A few hours ago found me trailing up the back stairs, naked , wet and festooned with pond slime (having deposited my Lara Croft pond clearing outfit straight in the washing machine). Needless to say Anne next door called to discuss tomorrow’s dining options. I did alert her to the parlous state of affairs, whatContinue reading “Cthulu emerges from the deep”
The Hipster Diaries #8 No worlds left to conquer…
Firstly a brief public service announcement. Scroll down to the pictures of the barley field and the rhododendron. Under that are two images of a bittersweet/woody nightshade plant – blue flowers like a potato, leaves a bit like a potato/tomato too and little green fruit that will, as they ripen, go red. This is notContinue reading “The Hipster Diaries #8 No worlds left to conquer…”