Face in the Mirror
The mirror in the bathroom steamed up this morning revealing this face;
Face revealed from the steam on the bathroom mirror
It is not my reflection!
It was drawn on the mirror over Christmas when our grandchildren were with us.
Who’s face is it?
Who would do this?
Could it have been Joseph? . . . . . mmm – I wonder. He is good at drawing.
Was it Henry? . . . . . . I don’t think his face saw a lick of water at all!
What about Callum? . . . . . . the spiky hair is just like his and it is drawn at the right height for him!
I have my suspicions.
Would the artist like to let me know!
Filed under Family | Comments (3)Photographs from the Hide
When everyone had left on Monday I spent over an hour in my new Bird Hide.
The birds flew away when I came out of the house but they were back within five minutes.
These are my best images from this session.
The Robin was a bit cautious initially and he kept looking in my direction.
Robin looking out from the trees
But he soon got on with eating from the fat treat.
Robin on fat treat
His beak was soon sticky from the fat
Robin enjoying the fat treat
The Dunnocks were busy on the seed tray
Dunnock on seed tray
Dunnock on seed feeder 2
The Collard Dove stayed in the trees but it was good to see it.
Collard Dove in tree
These photos were taken using my Canon 350D and 600 Mirror Lens. I only cropped the Collard Dove. The rest are as they were taken (with a little bit of enhancement).
I am really pleased with the hide. It can be moved around the garden and as I can stay out in all weathers I am no longer limited to when or where I bird watch.
This may be the best present ever!
Filed under Birds, Photography | Comment (1)Henry’s Big Find
Janet took Joseph and Henry to the beach (Western Undercliff) yesterday (I got out of going because of my poorly ankle).
Henry came back with this;
The skull Henry found on the beach
This a front view of the skull;
Front view of skull
We cannot decide whether this skull is fish or fowl.
It must be a reasonable large fish to have a head this size. The shape reminds me of a hunting bird (Eagle or similar).
What ever it is it is an exciting find by Henry. It was cleaned (it smelled very strange) and carefully packaged for the journey home.
I will do some investigating to try and discover the creature it came from – unless someone can tell me now.
Well done Henry. A good find – probably the best ever!
Filed under Family, Photography | Comments (2)Who’s a Lucky Boy Then?
Me!
Look what I got for Christmas;
Bird Hide set up in garden
This bird hide was on my ‘wish list’ and I was so lucky to get it. It is big enough for two people (maybe three) and has 360degree viewing. Brilliant!
I set it up straight away, still in my pjamas.
On Sunday I sat in it with our Grandson Callum and we spent half an hour watching the birds visiting the garden and Callum took some photographs with my Canon 550 Powershot.
Photograph of Feral Pigeons taken by Callum
Photograph of Robin taken by Callum
Callum was very patient and quiet and was rewarded by seeing this Robin.
A couple of nice photographs taken on a small camera.
This morning (Monday) our other grandchildren Joseph and Henry sat in it and we saw;
Magpies
Dunnocks
Sparrows
Robin
Bluetit
Great Tit
No photographs but a very busy session.
I am looking forward to getting out and into the hide and spending time getting closer to the birds.
As they say, watch this space!
Filed under Birds | Comment (0)Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Filed under Photography | Comment (0)Snow from the Backdoor
What a wonderful white world we have had lately.
Just the weather to get out and capture those lovely ‘Christmas Card’ snow scenes. You know the ones: Robins against a snowy background; squirrels gathering nuts in the snow; branches bending under the weight of snow etc etc.
Was I able to take advantage of it?
No, not really.
I am still limping from my sprained ankle, I slipped on ice outside the backdoor and bruised my knee and I have a cold. Mae told me I would be ‘mad’ to go out in this weather so I was restricted to looking out of the backdoor. I knew I would get no sympathy from her if I did venture any further.
So, I made do with taking photos from the backdoor of what I could see. Such as:
This Robin:
Robin on Feeder Tray
This Squirrel eating a nut on a neighbour’s Fence:
Squirrel on neightbour's fence
This Fir Tree with it’s branches bending under the weight of snow;
Fir Tree laden with snow
This Pigeon puffed up against the chill wind;
Pigeon puffed up against the cold weather
Not as much snow as I would have liked but I did my best.
I still got into trouble for letting cold air in and the warmth out though!
Christmas Trees of Yesteryear
Do you remember this photograph I posted a day or so ago?
Black Cat at rear of our garden
Can you identify what that tree is behind the cat?
Yes, that’s correct – a christmas (fir) tree!
Black Cat and Christmas Tree
This tree has laid there for nearly a year and, despite my good intentions and Mae’s nagging, I have failed to:
1) Take it the the Council Dump.
2) Hack it to pieces and put it out with the garden rubbish
3) Burn it on a bonfire or in a brazier
4) Hide it from Mae
Now, this year’s tree is up and looking very nice (Mae likes ‘placing’ the decorations on the tree. I only put them on the tree under Mae’s direction) but I will be faced with the same dilemma with this tree. What to do with it.
Two years ago we had a skip and cleared the rubbish from the back of the garden and garage. There were five, yes five, old Christmas trees (one still had tinsel on it). They just don’t seem to rot away.
It is my intention to dispose of the tree this year quickly and efficiently – or make sure it is well hidden from Mae!
What will I do?
Too Little Time………
………Lots to do. A list as long as your arm. Jobs that must be done before next week.
So what did I do when Mae went out shopping and visiting?
I got my camera out and did a bit of Bird Watching!
It was a nice sunny day, a bit cold but the birds were active so it was, as they say, a ‘no-brainer’
We had seen a Thrush earlier and I wanted to see if it was still in the garden.
This Starling was my first bird.
Starling in Tree
A Great Tit had a great time on the fatball.
Great Tit on Fatball
This Sparrow was one of a little flock that visited us.
Sparrow in tree
It went quiet and I saw why.
This black cat sat at the rear of our garden for a while.
Black Cat at rear of Garden
After an hour I gave up and went to stand by the back door.
The Squirrel was one visitor.
Squirrel on ground eating peanut
He made his way to the feeder tray but was very wary.
Squirrel on feeder being very wary
Our Robin was active. He is looking good.
Robin on ground looking all around.
This Blue Tit was my last photograph
Blue Tit eating seeds from hanging feeder
A good hour and a half bird watching although I didn’t see the Thrush.
I got most of the jobs done before Mae returned.
I pleaded lack of time for the others.
Well, there was no time left to do them!
Knyghtryders play to the trees
St. Clements Church, Sandwich are holding their annual Festival of the Trees in St. Peter’s Church in the centre of Sandwich.
The church is full of fir trees festooned with lights and decorations. It is in aid of the St. Clement’s Church Spire Restoration Fund.
On Monday the Knyghtryders played Carols in a folk style to visitors to the church.
Knyghtryders at the Festival of the Trees, St. Peter's Church, Sandwich. Thanks to John for allowing me to use this image.
We intended to play for half an hour only but we were enjoying ourselves and the visitors were enjoying the music that we continued for an hour.
Now seems an ideal time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Knyghtryders.
Filed under Knyghtryders, Uncategorized | Comment (0)Pfizer Wind Orchestra’s Carol Concert
St. Mary’s Church in Sandwich was packed on Sunday for the Pfizer Wind Orchestra’s Carol Concert.
The Orchestra was assisted in the Carols by the Pfizer Voices Choir who also sang a selection of their own.
As usual we all arrived early for rehearsals.
I sneaked off and took a couple of photographs of the orchestra during rehearsal.
Pfizer Wind Orchestra during rehearsal for Sundays Carol Concert
The first half we played a selection of Christmas Favourites like White Christmas, Trioka and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and lots of others. During the interval Mulled Wine and Mince pies were served. I am not a great lover of Mulled Wine but I have to say this Mulled Wine was lovely – spicy but not ‘herby’ if you know what I mean.
Carols dominated the second half and were sung and played with lots of spirit (probably the mulled wine helped – it seemed to make a difference to my playing!).
When all had left and the clearing away had been done and I was moving the last table back to it’s storage location I caught my foot on the uneven flagstones and twisted my ankle. I am now limping.
I drove home in great pain (well it did hurt a bit) and Mae showed great concern.
It didn’t get me out of doing the Supper dishes though!!!