P is for ....

P is for Plan - do you have a Plan- and does your life always run to plan - if you are like me you will say 'absolutely not!'- what is that saying ( the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray ) Robert Burns I think ..

P is for Pussycat - this is CoCo a new family member and she has an addiction to the small screen

P is for Predator - what a pretty boy - but what a bad boy - this sparrowhawk was sitting on my weather vane in the garden last week - eyeing up my visiting goldfinch on the feeders - fortunately he was not successful this time.. P is for Pills and Potions all part of the bigger Picture to keep us all Partying. P is for People especially the People of New York and those in the Path of hurricane Sandy - my best wishes to you and yours for a speedy return to normality Linking today to ABC Wednesday to celebrate the letter P

Wordless Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday and Autumn Glory

Outdoor Wednesday and a glimpse of Autumn Glory- red hot rose hips and juicy berries - just a few of the seasons fruits - hopefully to be plentiful for our resident birds and their visitor friends from the continent.

Secretly blooming in the garden delicate cyclamen and in the borders ..

blood red fuschias - blending in with the autumn colours

And then on our walk through the now bare corn fields - more berries - rich red holly berries - these are a favourite of the Redwings -hungry winter visitors

... and fungi clinging onto an old tree trunk

...and forty winks after a strenuous Wednesday walk!!

Why not go over to http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.co.uk/to see others 'take of the week?

M is for Myth Magic and More

It is ABC Wednesday and my contribution goes like this.... M is for Myth Magic and More - and it seems to me that an episode the other morning fits into this category.. It was a working day and to get motivated ready for the buzz of continuous telephone calls and the glare of the computer screen - off I went on my daily 'power' walk around the village with Blue in tow. The early morning light was just pushing through - and there was a feel of frost in the air,we reached the top of the road and began to cross and then suddenly scurrying towards us was this small grey hedgehog- of course - yes you have guessed it - what did it do on confronting an unannounced human and dog - immediately rolled up into a tight prickly ball. Now the road is pretty busy - as it is the main exit from the village to join the A5 and it was 6.30 am and people were beginning to stir- so what to do? - I gave the hedgehog a bit of a nudge with my mobile phone which I always carry with me on these early morning jaunts - but no re-action - no gloves in my pocket and hedgehogs are prickly!- so off with my my coat - headlights now in the distance - quickly grabbing the prickly customer and away to the pavement Blue looking on in amazement - she is well used to the odd antics of her owner and so put up no resistance. I quickly popped the hedgehog over the wall into the garden of our local Avon representative come odd jobber and gardener - a friendly soul. Now on with the walk !! and coat back on - round the corner and coming to an immediate halt- something was screeching in my head - Hedgehogs have flees!! now whether this is a myth or is true I am not sure - but I whipped off my coat and continued my walk in my short sleeved T shirt- very brave I can tell you - and the coat went straight into the washer on my return. I could Google the question but I thought I would ask you - do hedgehogs have flees? thanks for joining me PS does anyone have any ideas on this one? - on our walk today very close to the hedgehog incident spot, I spotted a neighbour underneath the trees - I shouted Hello! what are you doing ? - collecting conkers for a good friend he shouted - apparently conkers stop spiders in their tracks - guess what I am trying this out and have several strategically placed in the conservatory and utility - because this year seems to be a very good year for these scary beesties!! bye Why not pop over to ABC Wednesday for more takes on the letter M

Wordless Wednesday

L is for Lathyrus Adoratus or the Sweetpea

L is our letter for ABC Wednesday this week and so my L is for Lathyrus Adoratus

I hope that is spelt correctly! - so this week I am setting my Sweetpea seeds - now I have done this before at this time of year and then lost them to the mouse. I am following the info in last weeks Gardening News and I intend to keep them mouse proof at all times

I have been to the garden centre and bought the special root trainers - and compost to hand - no expense spared

for this sweet pea challenge - so Whey Hey !! here we go apparently they are best off outside from the word go

Oh yes I did remember to put the propagator top on!

Problem number two is the squirrel in the nut tree - waiting and watching my movements as he gathers nuts and stores them round the garden - he will dig out newly planted pots just for the hell of it - or so it seems to me I would most certainly appreciate any sweet pea growing tips - so I am hoping to hear from you - in the mean time why not pop over to ABC Wednesday to read blogs from around the world - bye thankyou for calling