Tuesday 12th October 2023, 4.00pm (day 4,431)
…and so it begins? Certainly it’s much cooler than it has been. Which is probably a good thing.
Autumn…
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Flora/Fauna
Unbothered, as usual
Friday 6th October 2023, 10.30am (day 4,425)
There is a reason why robins have been depicted on here so often, and certainly more than any other species of small bird (ducks and pigeons will rival them in the overall rankings). This is their complete lack of fear of humanity. Basically, they have established that they can make us work on their behalf. Dig or (as I did today) strim the garden and one is almost certain to appear to check the work is done and then pick out the insects left behind. There’s a bit of zoom used on this shot, but not much.
Cat debutante
Wednesday 4th October 2023, 3.45pm (day 4,423)
This little cutie was clearly taking its first steps into the world of modelling. “Should I run and hide? Should I move in for the purr and rub? Or should I just pose?” Do the latter, that’s just fine.
Spider on bottles
Thursday 28th September 2023, 2.00pm (day 4,417)
I was going to post something about how the truly large cave spiders that once lived in our shed (see here, for instance) haven’t made an appearance for a while. Then this morning — the day after this picture was taken — a “spider the size of a Buick” (to quote Woody Allen) turned up in the bathtub. This one’s big enough however. And I needed those bottles to decant the plum wine….
Paper chillis
Wednesday 27th September 2023, 4.15pm (day 4,416)
An upcoming short trip to London aside, I am not going anywhere in the near future: it will be at least February before I go anywhere radically different (meaning, outside the UK). It’s one of those periods where I need to find inspiration near to home. These plants will do for today, however. I don’t know what these actually are but to me they look like little paper chilli lanterns, hence the title of the post. All available for viewing in a window box a few doors down from my place, anyway.
The garden produces
Sunday 24th September 2023, 2.00pm (day 4,413)
It’s not just plums…. The apples are doing well this year, as are the leeks, and is that even a couple of beetroot poking up from the soil? Sure is. None of this makes a big dent in the food bill but it’s still satisfying.
Poser
Wednesday 20th September 2023, 6.35pm (day 4,409)
I am irresistibly reminded of a drag queen at Pride, or one of those amazing Brazilian samba women at the Notting Hill Carnival, posing for the camera in front of a line of stern grey coppers…. Happy Wednesday, little feller.
Blackberry bounty
Saturday 9th September 2023, 2.10pm (day 4,398)
In all the fuss about the plums this year, we risk forgetting that these equally scrumptious beauties have also had a very fine summer. I just wish that come November, our supermarket shelves won’t be stuffed with the identical product, but shipped over from Guatemala.
What’s eating the plums
Tuesday 5th September 2023, 4.25pm (day 4,394)
We have reached an officially measured total of 21.2kg/46.6 pounds of harvested plums. This is the all-time record haul since it started bearing fruit about fourteen years ago (we forget exactly). I think the insects can have their fill now, I’m feeling plummed out.
Not a rose (by any other name)
Tuesday 29th August 2023, 12.05pm (day 4,387)
How unexpected, I thought, as I saw this rose poking up, alone, from the undergrowth at the edge of the Memorial Garden. Then I saw it was not a rose. Plastic bag? A couple of bright red serviettes from one of the local eateries? To be honest I didn’t check. I took a photograph of it though.
Being 42 