I opened the back door early this morning to hear the funny voiced crow that lives in the copse at the back and the soft melodious sound of owls. They must be the barn owls. Yesterday as I put the food out for the birds, I noticed later on that there were a host of the large black crows with their white beaks. Hungry after winter, ready for mating and bringing new young into the world. My friend said that there had been a large 'meeting' of crows a few days ago. I have only been present at one 'parliament' of crows, up on Bath Race Course as they crowded the railings. BBC seems to be having a bit of a Alfred Hitchcock moment, Psycho for a start though I never watch scary films. I did like the advert when the cat is creeping up on the dog in the shower and then rips the shower curtain to shreds.
Then of course the poor man's peacock for the garden, the beautifully feathered pheasant for the peasant!
Well as I have been writing this, the two bantams have rushed out of their enclosure, the door was opened from last night. All to do with the cat who likes to sleep in the coop so I left one door open rather than shutting them up. The run is made up of three sections and each section has two doors, but my not so bright bantams can only remember to go in one particular door and pace frantically in front of it should it be closed.
I have one thing in common with Kate Winslet I learnt this week, we both can be found sweeping the kitchen floor several times a day. Not sure why she does but I have to because of Lucy. I think she has suffered from a couple of minor strokes, and can be unsteady on her back legs. But eating has become difficult for her, so each day I feed her with a fork which takes quite a while and when she is eating biscuits has a tendency to crunch them over the floor. Luckily her greedy nature sees that she eats plenty. She still bounces round the lawn when I go to feed the animals - this is an important part of her regime - she looks rather like a rocking horse, occasionally coming down 'splat' as her legs give way. I am hoping that she will die quietly in her sleep but she is a strong little dog.
Edit; Back from a shopping trip, haven't been out for at least three weeks. so was rather nervous about the trip. Lost a new glove on the way but got my prescription from the chemist. Then went to the Co-op for fresh vegetables and our electrical shop for a new kettle. Unfortunately had not got the colour I wanted so went for a dismal grey. Or is it fashionable grey?
When I get home always dump the bags on the kitchen floor, and Lucy whilst my back is turned has a rustle through the bags for pears which she adores. She found a banana and started to chew, tug of war ensued and then one squished banana later I took the skin off and fed her the contents.
Also I will not answer the comments on the previous short blog. Seeing the sad news this morning was a shock and in the end belongs to Jill and remembering her.
Yes, it is always sad when someone we feel we really know in blogland passes away.
ReplyDeleteI think it was something we knew would happen in the future, but it is sad day when it happens Pat so unexpectedly.
DeleteIt is worrying to see our animals/pets developing signs of old age and infirmity--a different sort of sadness than when it happens to people in our lives of course, but still a sense of bracing for a loss.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine living where there are no birds or animals to watch--some are more pleasant than others! The turkey vultures which live here are hideously unattractive, but they do deal with the roadkill of small animals.
I'm grateful for the resident bluebirds, robins and cardinals, among others.
Well I am sure the old turkey vultures can't help their ugliness Sharon and I could take you on a macabre journey of the vultures in Tibet and sky burials, they do a job just like dung beetles I suppose. We are having lots of sun at the moment it is a pleasant weather break, cold icy nights first and then the warmth of the sun. Definitely bringing out the birds need to nest, gathering twigs and anything soft to line the nests.
DeleteI like pheasants. I'd not heard them referred to as poor man's peacocks, which indeed they are.
ReplyDeleteWell the thought just occurred to me Joanne. I like the play on words, the 'ph' comes out as 'f', whilst the 'p' in peasant is said properly. Language has its own rules.
DeleteNot aware of your loss of a blogger...but they are human friends even if coming through the tunnels of the Internet. I hope you pet gets better soon. Sounds as she is ready to ramble.
ReplyDeleteThe blogger kept a daily record which she took right up to the fence, or last few days, so to speak. We who knew her will all miss her daily visits to the sea. As for Lucy, she is getting old, last time I took her a ramble she collapsed but she is a strong old dog.
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