16th August 2021 Some surprises are more welcome than others. When Grant got home the other day after taking the car to be serviced, I could tell from his whole stance, never mind his face, that he was displeased. He'd already phoned me about the bird and mice debris that had to be removed from … Continue reading more surprises…
Tag: monarch butterflies
Sunday surprises
0750/15th August 2021 The Cambridge balloon festival takes place in the Spring, but has been cancelled for the past two years, so it was a surprise this morning, when this one drifted into view. Going outside to snap a picture, I heard the "whoosh, whoosh" of the burner as the balloon descended to land behind … Continue reading Sunday surprises
Not obsession!
13th August 2021 Last Winter I developed an obsession with what I liked to pretend were ice sculptures. There's very little ice around just now, so I've found something else to focus my attention. Caterpillars. At the beginning of June, I came upon these....(right) In two hours, they stripped the above plant to a stalk. … Continue reading Not obsession!
Shot in the…what?
7th August 2021 A young blue jay takes breakfast, silhouetted by early sunlight. Meanwhile, Willow prepared for her game of twirlies Then decided to contemplate her piece of paper instead. We permanently have a piece of brown paper on the living room floor and several of the cats regularly sit on it, with a look … Continue reading Shot in the…what?
Bugs!
0643/31st July 2021 The sun was already up when I first rolled off the bed this morning. But it was still too early and the cats indulged me for another 40 minutes. Then I went out to get pictures of the clouds and to check on "my" caterpillars. It's become very confusing, keeping track of … Continue reading Bugs!
Surprises
18th July 2021 It rained a lot in the night again, but we are not quite as submerged as this picture maybe suggests! Raindrops always fascinate me and this is simply rainwater caught in a spiderweb. Spiderwebs are neat too, of course. My camera finds pictures in the simplest things. These are grasses blowing in … Continue reading Surprises
New life
0506/13th June, 2021 Lately it's been the lifting of dark that has woken me. And the chattering birds calling for their feeders to be hung. 5 am is early enough, but this morning... It was 4 am, and it certainly wasn't daylight or cheerful birds calling out. Not even the cats get the blame this … Continue reading New life
Birds and butterflies
Meet Casper. He was our caterpillar. Till he disappeared. Hopefully he ate his fill and is off somewhere spinning himself into a chrysalis. Last time I saw him he did look a bit of a blimp and he certainly chomped a lot of milkweed. So maybe one day he will re-appear in Monarch butterfly form. … Continue reading Birds and butterflies
Hatching a plot
A sudden, loud clap of thunder, directly overhead at breakfast this morning, sent Blackie skittering about the house with eyes like saucers. She then hunkered down in the chair opposite and fixed a very cross look on me, as if it was my fault. The others weren't exactly pleased, either. It's not very nice to … Continue reading Hatching a plot