Today’s picture continues the record of the riotous celebrations of Mrs Tootlepedal’s birthday. After yesterday’s birthday porridge, today we saw the official birthday cake. No expense has been spared.
Mrs Tootlepedal would like to thank all those kind commenters who wished her a happy birthday and to tell them that she did indeed have a happy birthday.
The weather finally relented and we got a day that was well up to the seasonal norm as far as temperature went so I took the opportunity to stretch my cycling legs a little. Dropscone arrived after breakfast and we set off round the morning run the wrong way until we got to Glenzier hall. There our ways parted, as he continued round the morning run and I headed off to the west.
The distance that shows between the start and finish on my Garmin map on the left (click on it to visit the route) was created by an absent minded failure to start recording until we had gone nearly three miles.
Where possible, I kept to fairly main roads as there is quite a lot of hedge cutting going on at the moment and cycling over thorn hedge clippings is not recommended. On the more busy roads, the cars soon sweep away the cuttings. As it turned out, even the little lanes were clear of peril and I had an untroubled ride.
The wind was very light and the temperature just into double figures and my only problem was being slightly overdressed. Once you have got used to putting on several layers for cold weather pedalling, it is hard to persuade yourself to take some off again.
On my way back, I passed the blacksmith’s shop at Gretna…
…and was too polite to photograph a happy couple as they walked across the courtyard with only a single friend in tow. A busy looking photographer with a fancy flash trotted across the road and followed them into the cottage so I expect he makes a reasonable living from the wedding business.
There is still a morsel of autumn colour left here and there…
…and a welcome bit of new surface on this back road near Gretna.
I stopped in a lay-by opposite Hollows Tower to eat a final piece of cake and took the opportunity to add to my many pictures of the tower while I chewed.
I had only three or four miles of busy main road left at this point.
In all, the trip came to 43 miles and thanks to adopting a steady speed, I got home in good order.
I had a moment to look out of the window and saw a robin looking back at me.
After lunch, Sandy and I went up to the Moorland feeders where Cat Barlow was ringing birds again. We were hoping to meet some interesting birds in the nets but although there were plenty of birds in them, they were mostly old friends and quite a few had already been ringed.
There was a single tree sparrow among the coal and great tits.
They are handsome birds and easily distinguished from house sparrows by being a lot browner on the head and having a dark patch under the eyes.
A greenfinch showed off its elegant tail feathers for us.
And it is always a pleasure to meet a robin.
It wasn’t a great photo opportunity because apart from the routine roll call of birds, the light was fading fast too. This did give Sandy the notion to go and stand in a field.
He was trying to capture this dramatic cloudscape.
There were fine clouds to be seen on every side.
But it wasn’t long before it got too gloomy….
…and we headed for home and a cup of tea.
In the evening, we went off to our usual choir practice and at last we have been given a list of items for our upcoming concerts. We can sing most of them quite well. We are going to visit churches in two neighbouring villages which are happy to use our concerts as a fund raiser for both them and us. This is mutually beneficial and it has the added bonus for us that our hosts will work their hardest to get a get audience in.
We are also going to make a guest appearance at a concert by our town brass band so we will be busy.
I am trying to get my conducting arms under control and only knocked my stand over once tonight which is a big improvement.
Amidst the flurry of activity, I did find time to catch a flying chaffinch of the day.
Sounds like a perfectly lovely day. The cloudscapes are outstanding!
It certainly went down on the credit side of the great ledger of life.
As always, nice bird pics!
Thank you. It is easier when someone else has them in a firm grip for you.
Your robins are much cuter than ours. I like the crepuscular rays.
I like having someone who comments on the blog using the word crepuscular. It raises the tone.
I take it Mrs T’s birthday was on Tuesday? If so it’s the same as mine! HB Mrs T. 😀
And a very happy birthday in retard to you too. I hope that you were given plenty of warming fluids to mark the occasion.
A wee ale or two and the last of the Bunnahabhain may have passed my lips! 😀
At speed? Or in relaxed sipping mode?
Very relaxed Tootle – some of my fave music on and just took it easy all night 😀
That’s simply the grandest birthday cake I’ve ever laid eyes on!! I thoroughly enjoy your blog, your countryside, and the bird photos!! ~SueBee
We like to do things in the grand style at Wauchope Cottage. Thank you for your very kind remarks which are as always much appreciated.
You go all out for birthdays in your household!
I admire the way your camera captures every little fluffy feather on the birds’ heads.
And wow, people still get married at Gretna Green. I had a friend who started me reading all of Jane Austen and he also very much liked Georgette Heyer. Gretna Green figured large!
Georgette Heyer is a great favourite of both of us. She is such a crisp writer.
Yes! Excellent word for her style.
Very painterly, the picture of Sandy and the following cloudscape.
I loved the tree sparrow and the cloudscapes!
I am always happy if you are pleased. Thank you.
So lovely to see the tree sparrow up close though doubt it though the same of the humans.
The birds in general take the whole thing amazingly calmly (except the woodpecker who are always most indignant). Some of them keep on getting re-trapped so it obviously isn’t annoying enough to drive them away from the free food….but I know what you mean.
“Dramatic cloudscape” – gorgeous.
We enjoyed standing watching them.
I like your bird photos.
You may hazard a guess that I like taking them too.
Great cloudscape. Glad the choir is going well,
Great day out for you. Photos are great. Also stayed dry.
A decent spell of weather for a day or two is always welcome.
That sparrow is a cutie….
It is always a treat to spot one.
I’m glad Mrs T had a nice birthday and I shouldn’t think she’ll be getting fat from birthday cake. The robin photos are lovely, our is still refusing to pose for me, and the sky scape with crepuscular rays quite beautiful. I do like a nice sky.
You are obviously a lady of taste.