Posy

This week's loves & laughs

:: looking for Goldcrests on Easter Saturday ::
We went to Ludlow for Easter to stay with my father and my younger brother Matthew joined us. During a rare break in church services we went on a Goldcrest hunt - (this being the bird Matthew and I are most keen to see) but didn't see any. The photos however, are hilarious of us scanning the treetops looking quite ridiculous. I burst out laughing when I look at them. My sweetest Ant looks the silliest..mmm perhaps though it could be Matthew..

(Looking fed up..)

:: Watching loved ones at 'the wedding' :: - so exciting and I loved Kate's dress.

:: Going to see Dom Joly in Richmond on Sunday ::

:: Sitting for a second time in a different cathedral within a month ::

This time Winchester.

So loved the most beautiful painted roof in the Guardian Angels Chapel

:: Gorgeous houses, window boxes and wisteria of Richmond ::

:: Watching my own garden come alive again ::
although it seems to be at least 3 weeks ahead due to this wonderful warm April we had.

What have you been loving and laughing at during the past week?

The week that's been

Has it really been a week already? Where does time go? It hasn't really been an easy week for my little family and I have had to call upon all of my 20 years (nearly 21!) of mothering experience to get me through - but I still seem not to make things better sometimes. Exams, auditions, university interviews etc the pressure is on in this house and it's awful being so helpless.
But that's what I signed up for all those years ago..but crikey dick (as my sweetest father-in-law says in his NZ accent) who knew it was going to be so hard as they got older! Not me. I thought the sleep deprivation for 12 years was pretty bad but worrying about their future happiness...well.

But enough of that now let's talk flowery Pip Studio towels shall we? Can you spot my new one? I was naughty and bought another on Saturday as we need to replace some of our towels but I don't think Anth was quite thinking Pip Studio...hmmm!

It's the white one. The pink one was my Mothering Sunday present last year. I do love it again better than the Cath ones.

I was given these wonderful booklets at school last week at our Ash Wednesday service and I was most impressed. They contain over 40 small things to do over Lent - so instead of giving something up you can do something meaningful instead. Read more from the website here www.livelent.net. We are doing some as a family.

Each daily action is one of 5 catagories - a home or family action; a workplace/school action; an environmental action; a community-focused action; a global action; and an action to encourage you to take time out for prayer and stillness in the week. Simple but effective.

My coathanger love is still much in evidence. This one was finished last week

and I've moved onto a plain pink one now.

I'm not following a particular pattern (for Maggie who asked last week) I just make a foundation chain of about 10 to 13 stitches depending on how wide I want it. Then I either double crochet or single crochet (US terms) the length of the hanger. Be warned. Simple but addictive. It's a very portable project as well. I love that too.

Bird news this week...very exciting..probably even better than last week really...this Sunday in the bird hide we saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and some Nuthatches. I was so thrilled to see the Woodpecker though. The bird hide seems to be our weekly date. I get teased about it. As I don't drink and my ideal date at the moment is the bird hide in the local woods you can imagine I get a lot of leg pulling about it! Thing is Anth loses interest after 30 minutes but I could stay for ages. Come to think of it, I think it was the lure of the rugby on Sunday! Unfortunately, all is quiet at my feeders at home, I think it's the pesky magpies (we've got 4 of them) shooing everything away.

Another recent charity shop purchase I'm loving is this vintage woollen pink blanket all the way from Scotland.

It's just what this girl needs as I spend 99% of the time freezing. My feet actually make the bed cold! Anth thinks it has a slight hospital look to it but needs must.
Well, it's that or have my feet on him...and I know what he would prefer. 
Until next time xxx 

March ramblings

Hello - sorry for the long absence. Life is just so busy and sometimes my priorities have to lie elsewhere. I hope you understand.
But here I am with some things that are making me happy at the moment.

 

 

Crocheting coathangers covers...I'm so totally loving this at the moment and I can finish one in a couple of nights! Yes, me actually finish something. Heavens!

It's March and the shops have little pots of spring bulbs and flowers for less than a pound which I dot around the house. Simple but perfect.

 

Last weekend I experienced a 'first'. Matthew came to stay and we went to our local bird hide and look what we saw - a Bullfinch! Our first, and what a handsome chap he was, much more orange than he looks in the photo. I was most excited. Matthew even sees Goldfinches in his Winchester garden...sigh...even though I have nyjer seed in one of my ahem..many feeders I doubt I will ever get any. Or even a Bullfinch for that matter, but at least I have seen my first.

What I call the yearly bluebell cover of Country Living is out. They usually do a bluebell shoot around this time and it's my favourite because bluebells are my favourite flowers. Isn't it lovely? I do love their styling - they get it just right.

We have been bathed in sunshine these last few days which has also made me happy. It's amazing what a little bit of sun can do to your spirits can't it? I hope your week has been made up of some happy things too xx

What I like to call my own small Christmas miracles

:: Miracle one ::

Redwings
Blackbirds
Sparrows
Great Tits
Chaffinches
A Blackcap
A Wren
A flock of Long-tailed Tits
A Thrush
A Robin 
Blue Tits
And a cheeky Pigeon or 2

This list of birds are not the birds visiting my father's bird table/feeders or my Aunt Madelyn's, or even my neighbours. Oh no. These are MY birds!! All mine. I'VE GOT BIRDS PEOPLE!  I'VE GOT BIRDS!! Oh I love my birds.
In case you are new to reading this blog I have spent years (it feels like years) trying to entice birds into my bird-free garden. Read more here, and here. This summer the birds have been non-existent - even my only visitors to my feeders - the 3 or 4 Sparrows - have gone elsewhere. But during this really cold snap my little garden has been full of them. So full in fact, I've had to make 2 trips to the garden centre to buy different foods and more feeders. Yay! Well.. you know me and my 'thing' about feeders...

Let me talk feeders..pleeeeese. I've now have ..er..8! Well in my defence different birds need different feeders, though I have doubled up with quite a few! Hee hee. The family have a glazed over look now though I must say Anth is quite keen and is often found watching the feeders with interest. I even have a pair of cheap binoculars on our bedroom window sill (sad, I'm told). The birds seem to favour one feeder in particular - is that normal?  It's the one with the seed tray catcher where they can sit on. I bought one exactly the same but they don't really use it! What's with that?
I have also bought a Nyjer seed feeder (even though I'm not expecting any Goldfinches anytime) for my Chaffinches but they haven't tried any. Does anyone know if Chaffinches eat Nyjer seeds?
Anyway, I tried so hard to get a photo with the variety of birds in it but failed, but did manage to get 3 Long-tailed Tits

I found it hard returning to work this week as it has been dark when I leave the house and it has been dark when I have gotten home so I have not seen them. I have though, when ringing Lucy during the day, asked who was on the feeders. I got a double 'sad' for that...! I'm very excited though and if you have any tips please let me know. We can be sad together!

:: Miracle two ::
A Love Story 

A few weeks ago I fell in love with a velvet coat. Not just any velvet coat. The deepest glossy purple velvet coat that I likened to the purple velvet petals of a pansy. Over the last few weeks every time I went into Marks & Spencer I would try on this coat and stroke it's soft folds. Even inside, the label had lace around it. But. And it was a big but..it was far too much money I felt to spend on a coat..even a velvet purple pansy one. So, I would visit it, and when I did I noticed to my surprise that the rail of coats was fast disappearing. Then a week before Christmas when I was in M&S buying gloves and tights I went to visit my purple friend and couldn't find any. Gulp. Surely they can't be all gone already and I hadn't said goodbye. No, there were just 2 hiding at the end of a rail. I tried it on for the last time.
Two days before Christmas at 7am, Anth and I went to M&S to pick up our turkey.
"Ooh, Anth let me show you the coat!" We head towards the clothes section, Anth is not at all interested which is usual. I search and search. Only one size 20 left. The last one in my size has gone. Anth wanted to get on with the grocery shopping, he didn't really look at the coat.
Christmas Day I found a squashy present under our tree. I usually know exactly what I'm having for Christmas because I guess. I opened this one and saw a purple sleeve. I screamed. There were tears.
My darling husband went to M&S early one morning before work to buy the coat, before he had even seen it! I had only described it to him. I still can't quite believe it. He's never done anything like that before.

The family say it looks like Elton John's stage wear as it is rich and glossy and well...velvet..but I love it and I will be wearing during the day even though it's probably an evening coat. It will come to the supermarket with me, to school, on my charity shop runs. Everywhere. Because it reminds me how much my husband can surprise me and loves me.
Just don't shout "Elton" at me if you see me!

Bits and Pieces

Hello Friends, just popping in to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking - I just seem to have nothing new to say at the moment. Life is busy and I am working extra hours until we break up in July so my creative outlets are being stifled as well as feeling quite tired when I do have the time to make/do something. Some really good news is that I have nearly lost a stone in weight over the last 2 months. My tummy is still far too wobbly still (that's all I focus on) but others say they can tell in other places that I look thinner. I have even bought another dress (all ready for Crosby Stills & Nash in July at the Royal Albert Hall.) One stone down - 3 more to go.

I did make another new purchase last month. A proper bird table - more arsenal (5 feeders etc) in my effort to attract the birds.

 

 Have I actually seen a bird anywhere near it? Of course not. But. The food disappears AND Anth said he saw a sparrow on the roof...so who knows. Maybe in the winter it will be teeming with all sorts of birds..mmm.. I think not! Well, you never know. Never say never.
Table makeover reveal coming soon.

Feeder wars

Last week, I ring Anth at work and rather excitedly exclaimed.

"Darling, guess what? I've had a Chiffchaff in the garden!!"

Long pause...."Mmm, am I thinking you have had another chaffing experience, er..rather like London..?"

"No, no. It's a bird. I looked it up in my book and it was right by the window hopping around in our dead plants."

Audible sigh of relief on the end of the phone.

After years of having no birds in our garden apart from magpies and seagulls, last year I tried my very hardest to encourage some. When I say encourage, read - doing everything, even BEGGING! I started to get a few sparrows then suddenly there was nothing.Posts here, here, here and here which chart my bird obsession. All winter there have been no sightings of anything. My lovely colleague at school who is an expert on birds and knows the entire 'Observer Book Of Birds' did her best to reassure me with various reasons as to why they wouldn't venture out to visit me. I have tried very hard not to take it personally but have been known to groan rather loudly when I see birds just fly on by without stopping and always have half an ear listening out for any chirping in the trees at the end of our garden. I won't even go into the amount of mouldy, untouched bird food I have had to throw away. No, best if Anth doesn't know..!

 But lately something unusual has happened. Since January I have seen blue tits, sparrows, 2 pairs of blackbirds, a redwing as well as the chiffchaff. Yes, all in our garden! I have been beside myself with excitement, spending time just willing them to stay and feed some more but not being well enough to go and restock the feeders with fresh food. (That isn't what Anth calls a priority when he is running the house and looking after me!) But Saturday was a good day for me and I felt able to go out and refill. I then went into the house to watch.
But hang on...where were the blue tits going as they flew over the neighbours gardens...I went upstairs to look out of the window to get a better view...

SHOCK..HORROR..

Hanging on a garage wall four gardens away was a feeder - a much bigger feeder than mine!!

Mmmm.... I think I might have to think tactically here. I went downstairs.

"Anty, are you going anywhere near a shop that sells bird feeders by any chance....???"

Rainy day and birds.

It has been raining all day today; at times quite torrential. We haven't had much rain in the last month or two but we probably have had our monthly quota just today. But today, despite the rain, I have had 2 unusual encounters. The first, along the lanes whilst I was being driven to school by Anth. We came across some wildlife..nothing unusual, I see pheasants and rabbits on a daily basis, but today it was this

- a peacock! Excuse the poor photo but I was in the car. A peacock deep in the Devon lanes. Then at school I popped out of the classroom and came face to face with my friend from the trees outside..

But alas, I may have birds where I least expect them; but I have none where I really would like them...like here

 
On my return home I put on my wellies, grabbed an umbrella and went to check if any of the food put out a few weeks ago had been touched.

It hadn't. I've had no birds (sparrows) now for 3 months. I miss them and I keep having to throw away the food. I don't have much luck with birds do I!? They are either in the wrong place or not there at all.
 I'm now officially taking it personally...

Summer weekending

 

It's not a very extraordinary or particularly good photograph as photographs go, but when uploading the weekend's pictures this rather simple one brought a tear to my eye. It was taken by Tom (when Anth, Tom and I went to our local bird hide and organic farm ) unbeknown to us and it was tucked in between the various photos of ducks, pigs, cows and trees. I like to think it was because it makes him happy seeing his parents hold hands but as you know I am just too sentimental for my own good - it probably was a mistake and meant nothing of the sort!

The much anticipated bird hide visit was a little disappointing. We walked through the woods

 

 

to the hide and then sat and watched the feeders with interest.

 

There weren't many birds around but we did enjoy watching the squirrel trying to steal the peanuts.

 

We also saw some plastic flying fish in the woods too, like you do.

How was your weekend? We have had a mixed bag of weather which in between showers has enabled us to potter around the garden.

 

I took every container off the patio so Anth could get rid of weeds growing through the cracks.

 

and then did my annual barefooted brick dance (which I just discovered is almost exactly a year ago!)

And then I removed everything from the bathroom as today is the big day - our new bathroom is being fitted over the next week or so. We are all very excited but I'm now beginning to panic that what I've chosen may not look good. Yikes, it's a hit and miss business isn't it? They already have delivered the wrong bath..! I'm most excited about this particular delivery though! Does anybody know of any pretty shower curtains available? I may just make my own outer curtain if I can't find one I like.

 

Well, I had better go and make the first of many cups of tea. Wish me luck..!

 

Feeder love

OK,ok..you can officially call me 'obsessed' - the 2 feeders in the tree have actually turned into.. not 3 ..or even 4 ..but 5!

 

I have every possible food (but not Nyjer seeds as I can't work out what to put them in as they are so fine) peanuts, a fat ball and 2 different wild bird mixes: and yes, the sparrows are still feeding. The odd thing though is that they won't go on any of the new feeders preferring the one on the far left that has a tray for them to sit on.

I had to smile yesterday when I arrived home after school - our neighbour's children were playing outside and I hadn't even got out of the car when 3 little excited faces were pressed up against the car window shouting,

"Jane,Jane, guess what? There have been birds on the feeders! I saw them this morning."

There certainly had as I am having to refill (the one) most days. I even had another sort of feathery visitor.

 

Poor thing had such a hard time balancing on the flimsy, tiny branches. They were buckling under his weight!

I have even bought myself a proper lidded container for storing the bird food.

 

Yes, I've got it bad - particularly when ringing home during the day and before I end the conversation with whoever is home, I ask if there are any birds on our feeders! Yeah really! And I'm thinking I might go to the local bird hide this weekend (situated in some woods) to get a proper 'bird fix'. Yes, I can see a bird theme beginning to happen inside and out.

The 'Official Part Two' aka The party on the feeders!

Yes, I am so excited because yesterday ..wait for it...

I HAD TO RE-FILL MY BIRD FEEDERS!!!!!!!

Did you get that people? I HAD TO RE-FILL MY BIRD FEEDERS!!!! There must have been a party!

I am officially 'someone who has re-filled a bird feeder' and I'm thrilled about it. It has made me absurdly happy all day. Did I tell you I had moved our feeders to a different part of the garden away from this position (the first post - Part One) - well they're now on our neighbours tree which hangs over the side of our alleyway. We have a better view from the house and more importantly, the kitchen window.

 

I noticed the feeders were almost empty and was blaming it on the wind blowing the feeders around assuming the food was falling on the ground. I then noticed that the sparrows were visiting rather more frequently. Could it be, I thought?

So yesterday evening Anth kindly got out the step ladder and I re-filled them. Then waited.

 

I didn't have to wait long to get some visitors so maybe it isn't the wind taking the food. Sadly, though it is only sparrows that have come to party on my feeders, but I'm ever hopeful we may get some other birds. Either way, I'm so thrilled that I have joined the ranks of 're-fillers of bird feeders.' Though not everyone is quite as thrilled as me when I overheard a, "I can see this costing a fortune!" Perhaps, it was the glazed look in my eye as I was dreaming out aloud about nesting boxes, bird baths, bird tables... oh yes, and one of those hidden nest box cameras things. Ooh, the possibilities are endless now I had to re-fill my feeders...sigh....

Here come the birds ~ part 2

 

I'm not sure that this can officially be my 'part 2' as I'm sorry to say that the photographs show a one-off event. But hey-ho, the excitement was tremendous as was the scream that emitted from my mouth!

One morning last week I was standing at the kitchen sink and noticed movement at the end of the garden. Yes, feeder movement.

"THERE'S A BIRD ON MY FEEDER!!!! THERE'S A BIRD ON MY FEEDER..COME QUICK!"

Sure enough my eyes weren't deceiving me, there was indeed not one but 3 sparrows on my feeders. I ran out with my camera hoping my screaming had not frightened them away.

 

I was hoping that this might be the start of a wonderful relationship but as I mentioned before, they have not been back. I don't know what's worse - the newly felt 'we tried but we won't be back' rejection or the 'we've never noticed your pathetic feeders' rejection of old. I can hear them chirping outside as I write this so I think it has to be the first one. Fancy them being so blatant - being in the neighbourhood and not stopping by for a snack. Let's hope that I can soon write a part 3 about us all being on first name bases. Yes Sparrow family, I'm waiting for that day.

Where have all the birds gone? - part 1

I've bought all the equipment.

   

Read loads of books.

 

Filled and hung each feeder with care.

Nothing.

     

Then moved them to the very end of the garden by the trees.

Nothing.

Waited a few days for the word to spread that there is a very welcoming lady who lives in the house with the neglected garden.

Nothing. Feed is getting moldy.

Throw away food. Re-fil feeders.

Nothing.

    

Stand outside in the garden calling for the birds to come.

Nothing.

Plead.

Nothing. Oh, hang on - what's that?

"Ooh, is that a bird on my feeder?" I excitedly cry.

No, it was just my imagination.

"Why?" I ask Anth and the School Secretary who is a bird expert.

"I'll tell some of mine to go round to your house!" she says sympathetically.

Nothing.

"Perhaps, I need a bird table as well." I state.

Anth shakes his head with an emphatic no. "We're not wasting anymore money."

He has a point.

 

The trees are bird-less. But I'm not giving up hope. Oh no. That's why this post is a Part 1 as I'm sure there will be a Part 2 called,' Party at Jane's on the feeders.'

Yes, let's just wait and see.