Crows

I love Crows. Every flavour of them! I know alot of people find them rather sinister, but I think they're great.

Rooks are probably my favourite: they seem slightly absurd with their funny old-man walk, going about their business apparently without a care in the world. Jackdaws are the cheeky chappies of the bunch: I’ve seen them ‘play’ in thermals, allowing themselves to be lifted up then swooping down, and then up they go again. What fun! Carrion Crows seem rather intelligent and watchful, Magpies, restless. And Jays: well I’m not sure what I think of Jays. I seldom see them. Perhaps they are rather secretive, living a life of crime or working undercover as spies! All my projections of course, but it’s just a bit of fun. They are definitely fascinating creatures!

Anyway, the other day I went for a walk with my lovely new friend and fellow artist, Marianda, who occupies the studio next to mine (you will find the link to her website in my 'favourite websites' list). When we were passing through a farm there was a heck of a rumpus overhead, and when we looked up we saw a grey heron throwing wild contortions in the sky and squawking all the while. I’ve never seen anything like it. Then it became apparent that it was being mobbed by a group of Carrion Crows, which were very persistent indeed. Here’s the funny little drawing I did that night about what we saw, and my take on what was going on!

I've called it:

" Intercepted by The Mob whilst on a vital mission

to deliver a fresh herring to the King. Without the herring

the King will go hungry and heads will roll. Oh Dear"

Of course there wasn't really a fish involved, or a King for that matter. Or was there...?

Natural Wonders

I’m glad to see that so many people are now as a matter of habit using the recycling bins provided by our local council. I’m all for recycling and re-using as much as possible which is why, when I went to use my bin one day last week, I was thrilled to find that I am not the only one making enthusiastic use of it:

I spotted a bee busily working away at the hollow entrance of the handle. I stopped to watch it for a considerable time, and was amazed to see it arrive with pieces of leaf which it proceeded to skilfully cut to size with its jaws and manoeuvre into the hole.

I went inside for a book to confirm my suspicion that it was laying its eggs in the tubular handle. Indeed, it turned out to be a ‘Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee’, which, my book told me, makes little capsules from pieces of leaf, lays an egg inside, leaves it some food in the form of nectar and pollen, then seals each one with another circle of leaf. She builds a row of these inside her tunnel of choice and when she has laid all her eggs apparently she will die.

The circle of life complete.

Many people assume that all bees live in colonies and make hives. Honey Bees and Bumble Bees do but most are solitary, like the Leaf-cutter, and make their nests in a variety of burrows, holes or tunnels. There has been increasing concern in recent years about the demise of our bees which are crucial, it is thought, to our very existence, so I’m definitely off to make a bee nesting box. And I’ll be keeping a close eye on my bin in the hope of seeing the emerging offspring. Nothing may happen until next spring, but some things are definitely worth waiting for!

Rain at last!

Hurray, it’s raining!

This has meant an enforced stay indoors, with time to sit down and write a long delayed blog…

It has been a very busy couple of months on my allotment - digging, hoeing, sowing seeds, growing on, planting out, and weeding (endless weeding!) … Oh yes. And watering. Rain has been in short supply, until today that is when, much to my delight, it has hardly stopped.

During the last few weeks I got up extra early to get onto the allotment before the heat and humidity made it unbearable. For example on Thursday my day started at 4am. I had some planting to do and knew that once it reached even 8 o'clock it would be too warm. So off I went with my wheelbarrow.

It was beautiful there, a mist hanging around with the sunlight just beginning to burn it away. Lovely and quiet, and deliciously cool. The first thing I saw was a female chaffinch feeding her little fluffed out younster. A very happy sight indeed!

Here are a few pictures I took while I was there:

A view of the top part of the allotment

The sweetcorn is coming along nicely

Brussel Sprouts too. I'm very proud of my rainwater catching system and compost bins that I built myself from old pallets and other recycled bits and pieces.

The onions have been getting thirsty and keep trying to
flower. This rain will give them a much needed boost.

I'm trying Okra and Aubergines under a large tunnel cloche -
it may not work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

I've planted asparagus for the first time this year for my hubby who loves it, and lo and behold, it has all come up! We have to be patient for a few years though before it can be harvested...

I just got my sweet peas in , a bit late, but they'll soon catch up .

Here I am tying string around the canes for them to climb up.

I've had pounds of strawberries and rasberries - jam making
will commence when it gets a bit cooler!

This is my second year on my allotment: I started out last year with a plot of about 100 feet by 22 feet, which I laid out in 24 beds of ten feet by four feet, with wood chip paths. This year I have aquired an additional 40 feet or so. The digging over of this will be an Autumn job when things are a bit less busy! Until then I'm keeping it under control with the strimmer.

This is what it looked like when I got it last April:

My first job was to plan and mark out all the beds:



I then laid weed suppressing fabric and two tonnes of wood chip to create the paths, then the really hard work began!

But last year was not a good one:

We had too much rain! My poor potatoes were submerged and
we all lost our tomatoes to blight.

However, so far so good this year. We've had plenty of broad beans from the crop I sowed last November:

And I am currently being rewarded with more courgettes than I know
what to do with. I'm handing them out to the neighbours daily!

Now I just have to wait for everything else to mature - and keep digging, hoeing, weeding ...

Something pretty to end on: I left a few leeks in from last year to flower

I'm enjoying them, and so are the bees!

And finally, before I really do become a total allotment bore,
what about these beautiful poppy seed-heads in the sunset:

I wonder what the weather will do tomorrow...Hope it doesn't rain!

Adventures in my Button Box

I wonder if everyone's granny has a button box...

Mine had a joyous treasure trove of gorgeous multi-coloured buttons, all shapes and sizes, some old and battered, others shiny and tempting like delicious sweeties. These were joined by an assortment of discarded brooches and odd trinkets, all kept in an old tin box, stowed inside the storage compartment of her fold out sofa bed. I couldn't wait when we visited to rush into her little spare room to pull the box out from its hiding place, and rummage through it's glorious contents! The thought of it still brings a light to my eyes and a smile to my face.

I might have wondered why she would keep this plethora of, on the face of it, fairly useless paraphenalia: most went unused I should imagine, save for our childhood meanderings through it. But as a child, no such question entered my head. What could be more desirable than such a collection that so fired the imagination? Sadly I have no idea what became of it.

However, as an adult I have not lost my appreciation of such delights! I too, without even thinking, began my own 'Button Box'. It accumulated quietly, away from daylight and prying eyes, until one day it found an important use and new-found meaning...

Although I am not working these days, I am in fact a qualified Art Therapist: in the course of my work I became aware of 'button sculpting', a projective method also used by Dramatherapists. Most of the clients I saw had great difficulty thinking or speaking about their experiences, and at times when they were also unable to make images I began to encourage some of them to make use of the objects in my box as a means of symbolising their thoughts, feelings, relationships and so on. Chosen objects are used to create a pattern which can lead to making a story, and personal meaning may then emerge and bring the possibility of greater insight. Individual objects can represent people, places, things, and the relationships between them may be explored.

For myself I have at times used the objects as a means of helping me to reflect on something I have experienced, or often just to play, have fun and spark off creative ideas!

Anyway, please join me on a little journey through my very own Button Box:

I too have a lovely tin box. My sister gave me this one many years ago

Remove the lid and have a peek inside

Tip them out for a closer look

Inside you will find Dug-up Delights


Rescued Remnants



Tiny Trinkets




Natural Niceties

A Man-made medley

Rubbish Recycled

Reminders of Memories

Items of Intrigue

Finds from the Footpath




And Buttons, oh Buttons, Galore!

There are many hours of pleasure to be had

Choosing

Arranging

Playing

And exploring

My other granny kept a big box of wooden spools under her stairs... But that's another story!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my very first blog. I do hope you enjoyed it and visit again soon!