Thursday Already!

Not much to report.. JJ came round last evening for a chat, but couldn't stay long.  Weather is grim - the bird seed was blown everywhere yesterday so had to take the main feeder down.  Desperately do not want to attract another rat family, so I was trying to brush it up as best I could, whilst fighting to stay upright against the wind!  One of the garden gates kept opening, which produced potential risk to the fencing, so I jammed it shut.  Then realised I had hindered the neighbours' access to the rear of their property.  The gate isn't solid so they managed to reach through to push the restricting garden bench out of the way, but I felt a bit rubbish and kept a low profile for the rest of the afternoon... 👀

Here are some more pics from my walk with Hubby the other week -

Early Start

 I had an earlier start to my day than planned as Suzie missed the school bus!  First time ever so I can't complain!  After I'd got back from driving her, thought I might as well get on with painting the first coat on 2nd bistro chair... 

Good Evening!

How was your Monday?  Mine was pretty unproductive and I am disappointed that I have not completed the first coat of paint on the second bistro chair.  I'm aiming to have both coats finished by the end of the week.

Need to start thinking about Christmas - at least we all have advent calendars now, that's a start!

I have some pics for you.. Hubby had a day off recently and we went for a lovely walk.  Too many pics to post at once, but here are a few...

So Proud

Well, here we are at the end of a busy and amazing two weeks.  How proud we are of daughter Suzie, for her poise and elegance in last week's musical and for her outstanding solo performances in this week's musical.  She has worked so hard and finally she was given the opportunity to show everyone the confidence and ability that we as a family have always seen.  And wow did she smash it!!  💖

1st Chair Completed!

Second coat in a slightly lighter green. 

Happy Monday!

Thought I'd show you today's progress with one of the chairs from the bistro set!  Really pleased actually.  This is the first coat, second one still to do.  Unfortunately won't be able to do anything with it tomorrow, as I am working all day, but I will be back at it on Wednesday 😃

Catchup and Garden Journal

Hello after a very busy week!  We have been ferrying daughter Suzie to and from the Theatre where she has been performing with her local Musical Theatre group.  They have worked very hard and produced an amazingly professional performance.  Monday they were practising with the orchestra, Tuesday was the Tech run, Wednesday was full dress rehearsal, then performances were Thurs, Fri and 2 on Sat.  Dan and his girlfriend came with Hubby and I last evening for the final performance.  We had booked our tickets months ago and had forgotten we had booked front seats.  Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and Suzie looked perfect in her outfits.

Another busy week ahead, as we have the school musical to look forward to.

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Hoping to get the chance to do a bit of upcycling - I spent my pocket money on a 'pre-loved' garden bistro set!  Hubby has got me a wire brush for cleaning/preparation and I chose what hopefully will be a fairly bright green metal paint.  The table is quite ornate with a rose design - this will be my favourite bit and I already have the red paint for that.  Here's how it looks at the moment, stored by Hubby's shed...

Here are some more pics from my garden journal...

This is one of the cute little mice that appear and disappear into a hole in the dividing wall between us and nextdoor.  I think it's a wood mouse/field mouse, rather than a house mouse?  So cute 💗

Here we have Rattie, one of a family of rats that were probably attracted by the seeds dropped from the main bird feeder.  For a while, we were only aware of the one rat and you have to admit he/she is rather cute.  However, when multiple baby rats began appearing we realised the situation was not ideal!  Hubby made so many trips to release the babies that wandered into the humane traps we put out.  Following nightly path disinfecting and excess bird food removal, we are currently rat-free!

One of the many baby rats!

 

This is Shrewie!  Isn't he lovely?! Action camera caught him popping out for a rare daylight forage!  He appears from the same hole that the mice use.  I suppose there must be a lot of connecting tunnels within the wall.  Fascinating!

This guy was on the inside of the kitchen window recently.  Kindly agreed to a photoshoot before gracefully flying off in no particular hurry!

Found this pretty lady struggling away in the birds' water dish.  I scooped her out and let her dry her wings off a bit before placing her in the petunia flower basket.

  

Was surprised to spot this majestic visitor to my little old garden a couple of months ago.  Wasn't really impressed with what he was having for lunch, it took me ages to clear up all the feathers he had plucked, but that's nature I suppose. 😟

One of my favourite afternoons ever!  Dan and his girlfriend found this tiny cutie on our front path.  He didn't seem able to fly and one eye was closed.  (From cctv footage, we later discovered he had flown into one of our windows.)  He let me scoop him up and I popped him into one of Suzie's hamster cages that we had stored away.  I sat with him all afternoon, talking to him and offering him water.  He sat on my hands and then cuddled up on my shoulder!  Couldn't believe that he was letting me so near.  Wonderful experience.  Slowly but surely he regained his flying confidence, and was flying around the room.  I waited just long enough for Hubby and Suzie to get home so that they could meet him, but then we had to let him go.  I took him to one of the bird feeders, so that maybe he would find his way back to us.  And off he flew. And there were tears!  I loved him straight away and hope he will visit again one day!   

Here he is feeling a bit better.  Isn't he so gorgeous?

From a distance

We didn't venture out to the local firework display this year, but here are a few pics from our view across the roof tops.

On Bonfire Nights when I was young, my Father - who never did anything by halves - always made a bonfire to be proud of.  My Mother and I would stand back as he lit firework after firework, the sky filling with pretty patterns.  One year, I remember the fence post rocking backwards and forwards, with a very manic 'Catherine Wheel' firework attached.. accompanied by much laughter from both ourselves, and the onlooking neighbours!  I must have been about 4 or 5 when I decided I wanted a Guy Fawkes for the bonfire.  My Mother and I spent a fun afternoon filling a large pillow case with newspapers and she let me draw the face and colour in his fingers & toes after she  had cut the cardboard arms and legs.  He was a fine looking Guy and I couldn't wait for it to get dark outside so that my Father could begin to get things ready.  Eventually we were standing by the roaring bonfire and I let go of Guy Fawkes for him to be put on the fire.    I still remember seeing him sitting there, on top of the bonfire with the flames getting higher.  I still remember screaming at the top of my voice.  I still remember the speed at which my Father rescued a slightly singed, but very loved Guy Fawkes...whom I still have to this day, living in my shed!