Sunday Summary

Another beautiful day, aren't we lucky?  This summer so far has been absolutely incredible.  

Around the garden the last few days...

We have two birds nests near our front porch.  The first is a Blackbirds nest on the top of the trellis nestled amongst the wisteria.

Mrs Blackbird was sitting on them the other day and let me take a photo.  She is quite tame, so not too worried about me getting close.

Looks like she has a couple of chicks.

At the top of the porch we have a Wren's nest, and I love this shot I managed to capture of three little heads poking out.

We have had young Starlings visit.

Yesterday we went to visit my son and his wife, and I took a few photos from around their garden.

Lovely Fuchsia 

Beans flowering

So delicate and pretty.

Tomatoes - almost ripe.

He gave us some vegetables to bring home and we had some with our lunch today - they were all absolutely delicious.  It is easy to eat healthily when you can grow your own.

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My roses are looking gorgeous.

This week we are getting the inside of our windows, frames and surrounds repaired and painted.  I have taken a few 'before' photos ready to compare with the 'after' when they are finished.  I am looking forward to these being done, as have waited a very long time!  Today has been spent moving things away from the windows, plants off the sills etc...in preparation for the painting to commence on Tuesday.  

We have something on tomorrow which I am really looking forward to, so hope to write about that later in the week as well.  

Bird Watch: Week One

Spring is a good time for watching birds, and I have decided to try and keep a record of birds seen etc... each week.

April 7th.  Filled up bird feeders  - my husband bought me three new bird feeders for the garden for my birthday.  We also put  two bird boxes back up that had fallen down last year.

17.20 - saw first bumble bee of the year.

Birds seen:  Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Dunnocks

April 8th:  8.40am:  Birds Seen; Dunnock (2), Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird (Mr).  A pair of Wood Pigeons courting, a Jay - great to see this, as we haven't seen one for a few years.   Goldfinch, Blue Tits, Dunnocks.

Lovely to see both the Chaffinch and Robin foraging for food together.

(Photos taken through a mucky patio window, so not the best.  Must clean now the weather is a bit brighter...or will I be jinxing the weather?)

April 9th:  Birds Seen:  Goldfinch, Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Dunnocks.

April 10th;  Wood Pigeons courting, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Jay, Robin, Dunnocks.

April 11th:   Wood Pigeons, Jay, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds,

April 12th:  Wood Pigeons, Blackbird (Mr), Robin, Blue Tits, Goldfinches, Dunnocks.

April 13th:  Robin, Mrs Blackbird, Blue Tits, Wood Pigeons, Dunnock.

April 14th:  Blackbird (Mrs)  Blue Tits.  Out most of today so didn't see so many birds today, although woke to lovely bird song this morning.

Sunday in the Garden.

First day I have felt 'almost' human since returning from New Zealand and as such I spent some time in the garden this morning digging over my rose bed.  This of course attracted some feathered friends.

Shall I sing a song for you?

It won't be long before the cherry tree blossoms.

Mrs Blackbird also paid a visit.

Art Class - Week 5

We had a surprise visitor at our art class this week and an artist had come to talk about using different media and textures in our art.  She had various examples to show us of her own work and that of other artists, she also had some supplies such as rock salt, tissue, corrugated card, bubble wrap, cling film, cut up credit cards, modelling paste and much more that we could use to experiment with. 

I only did a couple of small pieces, which were quite basic, as I wanted to continue working on the bird painting I had started last week, but I have come away with some ideas and some handouts of different examples.

I love the colours in this.

This looked better before it was dry - interesting that there is a clear dividing line in a couple of places as I had thought I had completely wet the paper all over first, but obviously not.  

Now on to my bird painting

This is as far as I had got the week before.

This is how it is coming along.

Looking out into the garden this wet afternoon...

Mr Blackbird is busy.  Loving the water droplets on his back.