'St.John's  Wort'

  Link >     http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/blog/blog110911.htm                                   

                        Wednesday 5^th Oct  -  A Wild and Windy wet day !

The ‘Shallots’ were picked 25th Sept  and have dried off nicely...they were growing in our  garden veg patch, a few are still quite small so shall use them sliced thinly amongst a salad dish.

'Shallots' will need drying now

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

A never ending stream of ‘Acorns’ fall around us and so the collecting of them begins, to plant them around the woodland for the pleasure of seeing a new ‘Oak’ sapling reach out into a new life.   Also, ‘Ash ‘saplings were growing around our Veg patch so dug them up to replant and the ‘Buddleia’ were spreading themselves along the drive out the front.Link> http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/247100.html  & 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn < Ponies and Horses should not be eating huge amounts !  & 

http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/acorns.htm

Thursday 6^th Oct  -  An early rise to some dark matter...sky was full of heavy clouds and was’nt giving way to any light  at 6.30 a.m

‘Bill’ the Cockerel attacked Himself’s right shin and what a strong bird, his leg has gone all black and yellow.   Protecting his brood but wrecking the keeper !!!

Chuckie was trying to entice Snooty into a play mode but she wasn’t having any of it !  He was prancing and lying on his side infront of her,  then turned to wag his tail in her face...to which she was displeased and moved away with no interest in him at all.  It’s that ‘Dog behaviour’ again.

'Chuckie'

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

Friday 7^th Oct  -  So from now onwards.... it’s dark mornings.

Unfortunately a ‘Rat’ has left evidence amongst our garden compost to which was working extremely well until now...so abandoned this and continue with the Woodland compost which is feeding up well.......when the cover is taken off heat escapes with steam, something we’re doing right, thankfully !  The trick is to keep a lid on tight,which stops air flowing in and creates a work in process fast !  The 'Rattie' family we've seen , look extremely fed and well groomed considering most folk dislike them.....I do find them very cute !

Link > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rat & http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Brown_rat

Saturday 8^th Oct   -  Sky appears to be as white as a blank sheet of paper !

We decide to take our Son to experience Carmarthen Horse Sale...it kicks off at 11.a.m so we take a leisurely drive leaving at 10 ish .  We’d never been to this one before it seemed much more organised and clean for the Pony and Horses to be shown off in a large enough ring covered in sawdust., with a seating area all around.  The bidding began and the Auctioneer speedily talks through a microphone and the one’s that decide to buy, give a wink, nod or wave with a numbered ticket . 

I’ve never seen so many different characters at one event before and so friendly and smiley, it may be their once a month  chance to chat to others with Pony and Horses in mind.

Another Oak Tree in our Woodland

3.p.mish and sauntered around the Woodland up towards the top field to where the many butterflies and bees were once busying themselves was now quiet with just one ‘large white’ butterflying with an occasional cling to the short grass whilst the wind blew it every-which-way – so fragile ....yet resilient!

A blow of warm air touched my face but brought with it a new hatch of biting gnats !  which later that evening found out to be most annoying ! Link > http://www.wildengland.com/gnat-winter & 

http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/midges-mosquitoes-and-marmite-coping-with-insects-in-woodland

We sat down to enjoy our evening meal and Chuckie got up into his throne chair and with his left paw pointed ......like pawing the air many times, at first we thought he must have something wrong with it, so looked but nothing.....he was wanting a taste of our food. Arrhh ! ‘his way of speaking’  Now these are an intelligent breed and probably thought “there’s nothing wrong with my foot” !   “Give me a taste of your food”?

  

“I’ll put a better face on that's more appealing........will this help “!!

'Chuckie'

Sunday 9^th Oct  -  As I looked across the front of our house the Mountains had disappeared beneath a thick wall of white and could only just make out the valley below.  And the wind was strong enough to whisk everything around as it past through the village, it wasn’t for leaving...it’s staying !

The three of us jumped into our little car for a drive up to ‘Carningli’ to have another look at the mountain ponies but when we arrived it was a wall of fog....so the decision was to find a suitable area to about turn and head home.  A  ‘neolithic  stone’ was laid down, which was unusual, alongside a gate and didn’t think anymore of it until a good friend on twitter ‘Jane’  (Thursday 13^th Oct) was sending her daily news links out and being historically interested read further into the passages ....then realised it was the ‘Stone’ we had noticed lying flat on the ground !!!  So here is the Link > http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-15281198

Perhaps it was telling people that it would be far more secure dug further into the ground.....as ‘Mountain Ponies’ wander all over these areas....they often have a rub or two on gates and stones .

'Carningli Mountain Ponies'

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

Spent the afternoon in our Woodland and the ‘Ivy ‘ was coming into bud whilst the ‘Hedge bindweed’ was hanging onto it’s last innings.

'Hedge bindweed'

Link > http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=123

'Multicoloured Autumn Ivy'

Link > http://www.arborecology.co.uk/article_forf.htm

Monday 10^th Oct   -  As dark as dark could get on these early morning wake-ups !  Light switch on so as not to fumble about....thankfully became light enough for our Son to walk safely to the School bus stop.

More leaves have fallen upon the ground and many more yet to let go, they won’t last long with this whistling  wind!   It’s a sad time to see the trees  start to bare of their leaves but we do have the pleasure of our ‘Holly’ ......an evergreen.

'Young Holly growing'

As Duke and I walk close around the edge of two lengthy paths,  could see some muddy dug holes for those to scoot for cover.  They would suit a ‘Rabbit’ or ‘Weasel’.

HEIFER’S RUSH HOUR !

After lunch...Himself and I trundled down to our Woodland, parked the car on the roadside, I was snapping with the camera., then heard a tooting sound heading towards us with a full heard of ‘Heifers’ speedily running our way.  I took the chance of a middle of road photo then ran towards the car as advised by other half, got in and himself reversed into our lane and  closed the gate just in time ....as they were heading straight for us ! 

HENS

Little black Hen seems to be the biggest out of the ‘famous five’ chicks and as I observe their actions this little youngster is testing her skills at telling the others which way to go.

Quite a few times had to run and tell the Red renegade which way to go !

Mum is alert at all times, whilst the youngsters eat in unison with her ever watchful eyes scanning for any predator !

She marches them into the stable where theres a good collection of flies within the horse poo

The Black and White  are doing the ‘cock’ feather stand-off !

Whilst the other two reds see who’s the tallest, by stretching their necks to it’s highest length.

We have the occasional predator that stalks the outside perimeter of our Woodland so our Hens and Cockerels have to be on guard constantly !

'Catch-up' 

'Always keep a look-out!'

'Enjoying the warm afternoon'

Tuesday 11^th Oct  -  That Wild wind was still with us unyet a nice warm temperature even at 7.a.m

2.-08p.m.  And Himself arrives home clutching within his fleece top....a ‘Pigeon’ looking all frail and thin that he’d picked up from the floor of a ‘Jewson’s’ warehouse, it may have fallen from it’s perch or nest.  It’s little face seems quite perky and alive....so we’ll just give it some T.L.C. (tender loving care.)

'Sneg the Pigeon'

Link > http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Columbidae

Today I spotted three pairs of ‘Swallows’ soon they’ll be moving on to warmer temperatures.

Birds Migrating Link > http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/swallow/migration.aspx

Wednesday 12^th Oct  -  And the sky is Wild once again, stirring everything up from below !

Little ‘Pigeon’ taking in some liquid chick feed  via syringe .  At 10.55 a.m -  Himself has just taken little mite out of Fishing Creel basket onto the carpet and has fluffed it’s feathers....a good sign hey !  Time will tell .

3.24 p.m and Son arrives home from School with a ‘Bloodnose Beetle’ in his hand, a great species, although the Beetle didn’t like being on the dining-room table.  The pictures taken were not focused - it soon left the house as was continuously on the move. Link> http://www.wildengland.com/beetle-bloodynosed-leaf  &

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(3).htm

Thursday 13^th Oct  -  Sneg the ‘Pigeon’ is at last eating on his own and not by syringe,  having made himself comfortable flip-flopping the kitchen floor circuit many times .  I had dropped a couple of crumbs from my sandwich  made for lunch and he took an instant liking to these......so put lots more down as the bird seed wasn’t attractive enough, fussy eater but then one wants nice treats when under the weather. 

As I type these words across the page can hear his feet flip-flopping with remarkable speed, even scratched himself earlier with bad foot and a little preening...a good sign.!    There’s nothing of him...like handling a leaf !

'Enjoying outside'

Sneg is taking a trip around our top veg. patch now and seems able to climb up small steps.   Am keeping a close eye on him incase a predator enters our space.......of which are many !

He has found a cosy warm spot in our dining room where the sun shines the most !  And the time is 1.08 p.m

'Nature can be so clever' 

 And so I'll leave you till next time 

Thank you