'Fire-sky'

Sunday 18^th Sept  -  We’re up against a ‘Nature’ change from our beloved Planet – it’s time to prepare with skills from the past but also think positive in helping to restore ‘Mother Earth’ !

Monday 19^th Sept  -  Awaken to a dark chilly morn for the first time ...with me fumbling about trying not to disturb the others !

Tuesday 20^th Sept  -  early evening and our Son called me to go and peek out of his bedroom window, gosh was I glad he mentioned......taken with window wide open, hanging on inside for balance with left hand ...whilst other hand stretched to it’s limit wrapped around edge to take this ^  

Wednesday 21^st Sept  - 

The Sun was giving it’s best today so grabbed the camera and wandered off to the Woodland...the top field was a carpet full of diamond jewels...glistening some magic for those in need of a drink !

'Morning Dew'

We were talking about the mornings News  ‘Glow-worms’  link > 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14998436

And explaining my childhood experience of ‘Fireflies’ as Dad used to call them - heading in on the last landing wave to hit the shore.  I guess ...a mating time was occurring. Could have been these as Woodland was close by Link >  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly or possibly > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkling_Enope_Squid

 and to give you a better idea of just how these look > http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/firefly-squid.html

but these particular ones are from other waters around the globe.

Thursday 22^nd Sept  -  Am hearing a ‘Sparrow’ trying to drill its way in, more like desperately trying to get out !  Its in the cavity ..a tunefull tweet resonates all around the dining room!  “Go towards the light little bird” ! himself and I spoke out aloud in unison !  Will have to go and help !  ...wait..just noticed ‘Narcissus’  family , it’s just flown out whilst it’s relatives are gritting on the drive.

A little ‘Ray’ of hope across an early sky...just another squeeze and we’ll soon see a spray of sunlight !

Friday 23^rd Sept  -  Mist heading on over from the Mountains and so a beautiful day showed off !

Had cleared the old bark on the garden paths as it had mostly turned to compost and was growing many a blade of grass !   Some of this went onto a vegetable patch...waste-not-want-not  “I say”!!!    A friend had delivered a fresh load of bark chippings and so the new path grew !  The front garden had it’s soil turned over ready for the winter and everything was beginning to look grand.

A Gardener's Rest

The wind doth blow around so cool after a heavy toil of work and with a refreshing glass of water sat down upon a  chair, took my gloves off and listened to it all......... busy wildlife accompanied by the essence of the day’s fresh Autumn scent.

Saturday 24^th Sept  -  The early morning Sunshine appeared promising but soon turned into something nasty ‘rain’ !

'Duke'

The Lads (our Son and himself) had gone down to feed the Animals late afternoon and were explaining to me on their return just how ‘Duke’ was behaving ......”quite funny “ as they were not taking any notice of him at the time, their attention was on ‘Bracken’ ...however ‘Duke’ was trying to get their focus on him by jumping up and down holding a corner of his duvet in his mouth creating a dust cloud....his trick had worked !!!

'Bark Path'

 Sunday 25^th Sept -Rain staved off until now and the time issss 4.16.p.m. so did well continuing the laying of Bark around the garden area ! 

Cloudy start but showing a flicker of light from the Sun’s direction...and so continued the replacing of bark on the garden pathway but there was one area that required a new piece of liner, I used a recycled bin bag ....held it down with left foot and stretched over to grab a handful of bark...well , it wasn’t long before I was waving the shovel up high above my head trying to grab it....the bag had taken off like a kite, “I had to speak to it” eventually the  strong wind ceased just in time for me to grab a secure hold of it !  phew..... didn’t want that flying around the Village !

3.30p.m   it was sunny intervals so wandered off down to the ‘Wasteland’ , didn’t see any Reptiles...only two butterflies ‘Common Blue’ and ‘Small Tortoiseshell’ apart from what may have been a ‘Solitary Bee’ humming around the ‘Himalayan Balsam’., then as I was leaving spotted a ‘Dragonfly’ but was too far away to notice it’s design.  A pair of ‘Swallows’ were capturing the strong breeze during the last hours of day light.

Link to Himalayan Balsam > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Balsam

Monday 26^th Sept  -  Best weather ever today so going to make the most of it !

Around 4.45p.m I took my Son to the ‘Wildlife Park’ to explore the other half that we didn’t get chance to see during the summer months.   Parked safely, then headed on down towards the Main entrance where upon we were confronted with many Dragonflies soaring high up above where we stood to catch their prey, there were two chasing the same insect with incredible speed they entered each other’s space .....the winner had taken the prize !

We arrived at a Pond area whereby many more Dragonflies were enjoying the late afternoon’s sunbeams.   We stood still at this point as they came to look at us, with moments of careful flight they seemed to stare right at our faces....we dare not move an inch as wanted to enjoy every moment !

'Emperor Dragonfly'

Link > http://www.arkive.org/emperor-dragonfly/anax-imperator/ & http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/emperor-dragonfly-behaviour-no-narration/7542.html

'Spangle Galls'

Link > http://www.uksafari.com/galls3.htm also a Link to 'Dormice' who eat them as a treat >

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Hazel_Dormouse#p007l42p  & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzXccvoJThI&feature=g-vrec

'Oyster Fungi'

Link > http://www.nifg.org.uk/edible_fungi.htm  &  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurotus

'Teasels'

Link > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipsacus

'River Teifi'

'Beautiful Colours of Autumn Bittersweet'

Link > http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/wfsberries.htm

This was growing on an Ash stump in our Woodland

Link > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trametes_versicolor ^

'Hawthorn'

Link> as above

Nature's splendid Autumn colours always amaze !

'Hedgerow Recipes'

Link > http://www.overthegardengate.net/garden/herbs/reci_hedge.asp

'A pathway leading home...till next time we meet'

'across another path maybe, who knows'

Many thanks 

Wild Plum Jam - I made just over 9lb 

We’ve tuned into Friday 9^th September  as the previous few days caused the  ‘merry weather’ to have it’s  own way yet again’ all blustery and wet and I didn’t want to weather you out !

Early morning and Son says before leaving for a hard days educational grafting  “I enjoy the journey into School on the Bus”!   Must be because it’s a ‘Scenic’ route, now that is nice to hear !

Thank goodness it’s dry outside,  am heading off with a container hoping to fill it full of  ‘blackberries’ from our Woodland. 

‘Bracken’ was peering over the gate nosying at what I had collected,  so gave him one......must have been his first taste of a blackberry, as was lip-smacking and rolling his tongue around for ages...it had turned black  tee he.   We were waiting for the ‘Jacobson’s’ lip to curl up but didn’t...carried on with the tongue rolling around in his mouth. 

Link >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobson%27s_Organ  & Respiratory system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_system_of_the_horse

Saturday 10^th Sept   -  and a ‘Weather Warning’ was announced on the News ‘Remnants of Hurricane Katia’  heading our way !!!    I could see what they meant, the wind was gathering-up speed and the Gulls seemed to be the only ones brave enough to fly- even they struggled to keep up!  We were given a little sunshine late morning and by afternoon it was in full swing !

Monday12th Sept  -  Still the Weather Warning persists ‘Anglesy’  affected quite bad,  parts of Wales and Scotland. 

Our wheelbarrow flew to one side and a tree was blown down behind our garden.  

Link > http://news.sky.com/home/article/16066556

Migrating Birds struggle > http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14850473

Tuesday 13^th Sept  -  Still that strong wind persists but at least it’s dry!

Had just arrived in our Wood 2.03p.m and the School rang to say that our Son had had a head-on collision with his nose and was bleeding, so immediately went to scoop him up.  He didn’t look too bad and because he’d fallen onto some people he had a soft landing ‘thankfully’ he didn’t break it ! 

Togetherness

We had left the ‘Hens’ out free whilst off and Himself says “let’s go to my parents and pick some of those lovely ‘Wild Plums’... not such a good idea we thought as we’d left the ‘Hens Free for All’ !  Driving up the lane to our Woodland slowly saw a ‘flash’ of Red with a white tipped  tail .... a ‘Vixen’ had crossed our path, we had arrived in time !

Youngsters with mum

Wednesday went past with dry windy weather!

Thursday 15^th Sept  -  Above gave us a palatte of light watery blue and whites, am going to greet it some more in the garden !

5 p.m  Our Son’s Life Saving lessons - He’d not been  in the water long before he was choking quite badly,  leaning on the side of the pool with the Teacher helping, she kept asking if he was o.k. he’d swallowed a plaster , then choked it up !  The previous weeks lesson had managed to swallow most of water (he explained)   “just hope no one noticed a drop in the level”  teee hee...

Friday 16^th Sept  -  A day has risen, with a little light across a cloud...the clouds speed on with drifting birds...a new day ahead in all it’s glory !

An early start on ‘Jam’ making, had just finished washing-up and ....

Himself returned from the Wood telling me how ‘Bracken’ didn’t like the new stable...as he put it “like a Cat in a paper bag” !!   He was testing each side, corner, even the roof with his nose. , he has only known the freedom outside and being all enclosed was not for him.....so was taken back to the paddock , until the stable door was built higher. 

Little Munchkin

This is Saturday 17^th Sept  -  I was awake early and could hear the heavy rain upon the window, perhaps just a hiccup to clear the day ahead for something brighter...which it did !

And the Jam thingy is going on again with ‘Wild Plums’ picked from only a small tree growing on a banking at Grandma and Grandad’s yard.  The poor tree was over-laden with them and so the picking began........

1.24p.m   then it rained yet again so the washing had to be brought in.

Dogs behaviour

We were all sat in the lounge area,  where it’s most comfortable and Chuckie decided to bring a biscuit he’d hidden, brought it in and dropped it on the carpet where he rubbed his scents from his furry face. . ..then promptly peered up with enthusiasm to see if our female dog ‘Snooty’ was interested...she wasn’t so he ate it and as he past me gave a look as to say “how about you then, would you like the next one” ?

Chuckie as a puppy

Chuckie often leaves a 'biscuit' on my chair....."how kind of him" xXx

Many Thanks for Peeking


p.s. If you wish to see Chuckie as a Junior go to 15th July'11

Red Admiral -pic taken on 5th Sept.'11

Moving on to Sunday 21^st August  -  How the Bullocks stood motionless amongst the dense early morn fog of 7.04 a.m and Mr. Robin was surveying his surroundings from the top of our Green garden shed. Link for Robin >

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/European_Robin

Taking us to Tuesday 23^rd August  -  And the Crows are sat comfortably snuggled upon each chimney pot as I saunter by to post a letter at 7.17 a.m

Wednesday 24^th August – Rainy start with a show of intermittent life shown by the sun !

And have just witnessed the ‘Narcissus’ family one-by-one bobbing from out of a densely grown shrub onto a neighbouring wall – all five of them ! (if your new to the blog, this is a 'Sparrow' family and began with the father 'Narcissus' peering into our bedroom window.) just wander through and you'll find him 22nd May'11.

After lunch cruised down to the ‘Wildlife Park’ and saw >

Link for 'Toads' > http://www.uksafari.com/toads.htm

Toad

Family of Common Lizards

A Lizard  Sloughing

Link > http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/nature/sites/species/amphibians_reptiles/lizards.shtml  & 

Sloughing > http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/facts/reptile.htm

Female 'Common Blue'

Link > http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/butterflies.html & http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/13573037

Common Lizard hiding

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Link > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnabar_moth

The 'Water Buffalo' were looking other way 

Link > http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/water-buffalo-are-brought-to-wales-to-save-nature-reserve-698481.html

Thursday 25^th August  -  A New member of our Family arrived > As he stepped off the Horse Box he nibbled a small selection of bracken, so gave him the name 'Bracken'.  He is a Welsh Cob section C.  ( they should not be eating too much of this)

'Bracken'

Sunday 28^th August  -  Every manner of species had decided to join in the display amongst the warmth of the day – flying from tree to tree, low growing bramble bushes or the new grown Heather and  Bird’s Foot trefoil on our Top Field.  There were many small ‘Tortoiseshell’ ‘Speckled Wood’ and the Blue’s had shown an appearance for the first time this year,  two males and one female.

Heard some furious tapping going on under the dark thick tree canopies, so followed the sound curiously and soft footed  so as not to put them off their work !   It was a family of ‘Nuthatches’ creating all the racket !

Monday and Tuesday just disappeared !

Wednesday 31^st August  -  Outside looks extremely appealing with the low lying mist burning off and unfolding a remarkable warm day !

Sun shone down within our Wood for a short while early afternoon and saw a lonely ‘small copper’ happily busying itself on it’s low feeding level.  Then just as Sun Rays appeared for split second an unknown butterfly chose to fly by......way ahead from where I stood amongst the ‘Blackberries’ not sure what it was, perhaps it’ll return as it was a fine specimen indeed – quite large, I didn't see it again.

Male 'Small Copper'

 Link > http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=phlaeas

Female 'Small Copper'

The clouds lay broken across the sky which allowed a spark of those warm rays to escape through and adorn the land for that split second!  A spray of light that comes and goes, the day moves on into a smudge of greys with no gaps for light to escape, we’re in for a troubled sky tonight !

Evening arrived with fast travelling clouds, not a gap in between, all smeared across it’s palette with something nasty in mind for the dark cool night !

SEPTEMBER

Thursday  1^st September  -  Some Sunshine with a strong wind !

As I carefully walked to the Top Field  many different species were whizzing away from  my feet, flying, skeddadling and hopping out the way, the ground was *alive* !!!   At head level the *Freeway* formula 1 Flies and different  pollinators flew a near miss around my face, it was time to leave as I didn't want to be bitten !

Earth Ball

Link > http://www.rspbliverpool.org.uk/Fungi.htm 

The afternoon *Butterfly* feeding time arrived earlier... at 2.30 ish p.m , the days begin to close in now that the month as moved on  and the small birds seemed to be lining-up on the trees alongside the edge of one end of the Wood, like they knew it was feeding time once again, with their excellent vision sizing up the odd insect or small butterfly.

Our Son spotted this  'baby Newt'   in a large pond on a walk

Link >  http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/479.shtml

A large Blue *Dragonfly* zoomed past and headed towards the Trees.

Mr Robin spoke the loudest of all Birds ‘the Manager of busy Nature’ telling everyone like it is. 

Devil's bit Scabious

Link > http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/devils-bit-scabious -We found a wonderful array of these on our trek around the foot hills.

Friday 2^nd Sept  -  And 'Bracken’s' made to measure Parelli  head halter arrived in the post and our Son had a  smile from ear to ear - he couldn’t wait to train this superb little Pony !

Saturday 3^rd Sept  -  Drizzly day outside today but no matter we’re tweeting some serious issues out beyond our front door , trying to help those in need ‘Dolphins’ , Forests , Wildlife, People., our resources across the web unite so many Caring Peeps and maybe try to put things right !

Sunday 4^th Sept  -  Been given a sunny day !

‘Love walking the Mountains for it’s peace, history and Wildlife.

Sea for it’s freshness and brilliance of Species !

Woods for it’s strength and little cute arbours naturally formed.

And Rivers full of Life within and around, just perfect !

A beautiful Bee getting stuck in 

Link > http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14818704 & http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-14635800

Life stages of a Bumblebee > http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/bee-life-cycle.html

'Many thanks for crossing the path of my diary blog'