Today’s guest picture comes from Venetia’s recent trip to America. As well as wild life in Wyoming, she saw still life in Thousand Oaks.
We had a second fine sunny day today, frosty at dawn but warm enough for the rest of the day to make being outside a pleasure.
So it was a pity that it coincided with the one day of the week where thanks to choirs, we spend a lot of time indoors but these things can’t be helped so we enjoyed the singing and we enjoyed the sun.
After the church choir, Mrs Tootlepedal made a chicken stew in the slow cooker and then found some time for gardening while I sneaked out for a dozen miles on the slow bike just to keep the miles ticking over while the sun shone.
I stopped for a view at the Bigholms…
…and as well as admiring the fine tree in the view…
…I took a picture to show how thin the soil is under our scenery.
The dark layer is peat.
While I was stopped for the view, I looked at a concrete fence post beside the road as I don’t like to waste a stop if I can help it.
I had a look round the garden when I got in and noted that a little bunch of the miniature Tete a Tete daffodils has come out…
…though we are still waiting for the main daffodils to do their thing.
The crocuses were enjoying the sun…
…but there was nothing new to see so I went inside, had a shower and set up the camera at the kitchen window.
The feeder had been unoccupied while Mrs Tootlepedal worked nearby but when she came in, visitors arrived.
They were mostly chaffinches, flying in….
…from the plum tree and…
…sometimes getting into arguments with each other.
Sometimes a goldfinch stood in their way…
…and sometimes a greenfinch…
..but it was good to see the feeder busy.
I didn’t catch a flying greenfinch but I did notice one of the few goldfinches arriving.
I didn’t have long to enjoy the birds though as the moment to leave for Carlisle and our choir came all too soon.
We had our substitute conductor again this week as our musical director was busy with one of his many other duties and she gave us a thorough workout. It was made all the harder from my point of view as my voice, which had been a bit husky in church, took a turn for the worse and I croaked my way inelegantly through the practice.
By the time that we had got home, I was even croakier and wondered whether I had picked up some unhelpful ailment but a couple of paracetamols and a plate of Mrs Tootlepedal’s excellent chicken stew improved things a lot. I am hoping that all will be well in the morning.
I was even more perked up when I discovered that I had got a worthy contender for the position of flying bird of the day.
