Flying Fur and Feathers

Or maybe that should be:

a few sights from today

Flying

Fur

and Feathers

and… Feathers to be

May Moments

A few glimpses of May life over the last few days

Today started with a new damselfly to add to our list

a Beautiful Demoiselle – that’s its name, so this really was a beautiful Beautiful Demoiselle

May has been glowing

and in the case of the lilac, pouring down fragrance

This red hawthorn was planted in memory of Murial who lived here with us until she died on the first day of 2018

The normal variety

is punctuating the hedgerows, although this one is right outside our window.

The bird feeders are busy

Comfrey fertiliser is on the brew, ready for the tomatoes

Plantains

and Field Buttercups

may not be the most romantic of flowers but right now they streak our meadow with gold and purple.

There, we are pleased to see the Rattle start flowering – with its ability to restrict grass growth.

The purple Clover

is doing the opposite, putting nitrogen back into the soil, but we tolerate a few clumps.

Jessie has been needing to cool off

Baby round up…

Hubble is holding her own amongst siblings twice the size

Claire’s brood of two are having a cushy time

as is only child Comet

the next litter have to share

and due next – faithful Cagney – who is nearing the end of her 35-day sit

Hubble the hobbled – update

A Happy Story

To recap – the last chick to hatch had a problem

and an aid was constructed

She started off in solitary

Hubble could hear her siblings next door

but was all alone

Today she has shed her shackles

and, so far, is walking and surviving in the middle of the flock

You never know when you will need a small hair bobble and a drinking straw

Under Jessie’s watchful eye

the two-day old chicks

are settling into their new home

But the late arrival

has got a splayed leg and can’t support herself.

A bit of research

and a bit of improvisation

and by the end of today she is standing up and taking a few steps

Handle with care

Our latest youngsters did not arrive in a box but are now using it as transport

from the incubator, where they have been (in egg form) for the last 21 days, to their new quarters

Plant watch

Watch your plants, particularly the carnivorous ones, they might be watching something else

Hazy, Lazy Day

The overnight mist lifted

leaving behind spiderweb decorations

The temperature rose

and the bees sucked the clover nectar

The beans have been planted

the fennel is growing

and the tunnel is thriving

(Site of the last Art Club, inspired by an Indian wedding sari hanging)

Time to take today’s Art Club down to the lake

to see what we can see

Almost rain, Babies, and more Tulips

After the rainfall we have had in the last two weeks

(and looking closely you will see the highlight on May 9th consisted of 1.2mm)

we got excited yesterday when a few drops appeared in the air. They managed to adorn a few flowers

even if they didn’t actually penetrate the ground.

This morning the graphs tell us rain was registered six times overnight… at a rate of 0.2mm in 30 minutes.

We continue in our attempts to produce rabbit babies

The first litter – Comet all alone

has been improved on with a second litter… of four

We are specialising in small families as in Claire’s brood

of two.

They still take lessons seriously. Today, preening

with homework

Bring on the tulips

How do you feed your babies?

If they have big feet

and live in a basket

life is easy

just lie there and they will find a way in (no room for the feet)

If you babies that are more intelligent

teach them to find their own food

you will be grateful in the end.

Let There Be Light

The main question in May: Is this the last one?

The Beans await in their insulated prison

hoping for the news that Frost has made his last visit.

But the May light belies the early chill, coming at that unique angle – not too high, not too low – and spotlighting life which is fresh and unsullied.

A few glimpses from today: