Soothing Sunday

After the shambles of the last two day we decided taking it easy was today's plan. Fingers crossed no more disasters. This morning after breakfast and Sunday papers we decided a trip up to Hill Farm was in order. Himself loves his fresh raspberries.

It was so nice up there, warm and sunny with just a gentle breeze. So peaceful that we ordered coffee and sat for a while enjoying the sun and cloud watching. The swifts and swallows were diving overhead grabbing their insect meal on the wing. Much higher in the sky the faint drone of the transatlantic planes could be heard. Silhouetted white against the blue sky they left a white vapour trail interwoven in the clouds.

Farm fresh vegetables, raspberries and strawberries, not forgetting the cream, along with some juicy slabs of locally reared beef sirloin steaks for dinner we loaded the car and the short drive back home.

Gosh that beef was so good than I can forget the price! And the raspberries so sweet and juicy. No cream for me though!

Back to the garden. The mess of water lily has been cleared up and is, as I write headed for the local tip. The pump after all that effort now seems to be working! A little more clearing of the pond and we'll soon be back to normal.

Blackbird up date.

Mrs Blackbird disappeared after the unfortunate drowning of her last three offspring. Not for long though, she soon reappeared and made her nest shipshape once more. Mr Blackbird watched and then got amorous once again.

Once the nest was renewed to her satisfaction she proceeded to lay four more eggs and settled to brood the eggs for her third attempt at nesting this year. Mr Blackbird confined himself to watching and waiting.

Very soon his wait was over and the little speckle blue/green eggs began to hatch. His work began once more. The ever hungry chicks are keeping both Mum and Dad busy with four mouths to feed this time. They've even got use to DJ sitting in the Gazebo smoking and reading. Mr Blackbird use to fly in straight at DJ but now he follows his wife's lead and ignores him and flies straight to his hungry offspring.

They're developing and growing fast and feathers are beginning to cover their tiny scrawny bodies. I guess they will be ready to fledge by the end of this week. I hope this brood is more successful than her last ones.

After a years absent Hissing Sid has reappeared. DJ was on his way outside for a smoke and very nearly trod on him, frighting DJ half to death! The snake as well, I expect! I caught this photo of him as he shot across the pond escaping from DJ's size elevens. He looks as if he had already gorged himself of one of the inhabitants of my pond. He's been around since as a few days later his skin was shed and left on the pond side.