The new storage/junk area behind the goat shed.

Work on the renovation of the chicken house.

Working on the upper goose pond.

Rude awakening.

We were drinking tea and coffee in bed when the chickens, who hang around the back door from sunrise, set up a tremendous fuss. Kate went to the window and spotted the sparrowhawk sat in the honeysuckle six feet from the bedroom window. We feed the birds there and the hawk was after the breakfasting bluetits. It made several short flights in and out of the foliage to try to catch one, completely ignoring us hanging out of the window. It flew off eventually empty-beaked.

 

A still-hungry sparrowhawk.

 

Hmm hmm. Home grown mushrooms cooked in butter.

Kate decided not to have any in case she needed to drive me to hospital.

This mushroom was growing from the floor of the playhouse.

It had forced it's way up between the carpets.

At last camera and kingfisher have coincided.

The kingfisher has been back many times but my camera has always been elsewhere. Today success. And the mallards were on the pond at the same time and the young heron was on the goose pond.

Another visitor!!

This young heron has been visiting the duck pond for a while. Today he/she decided to explore the front garden and walked round the house. It then squeezed onto the road and managed to get itself stuck in the hedge opposite. We used the loppers to clear a path for it to back itself out. A little while later it climbed out and went off exploring. You do see life in the country!!

Some catching up.

I have been too busy to blog.... Not really, I just haven't got around to it. These photos are of works in progress. This one is a renewed path down to the lawn.

The second path down to the lawn.

The border by the playhouse. Covered to stop the chickens scratting.

This is the path around the lawn.

This is the foundation for the bank that will surround the pond.

and this is the wilderness around the gas tank.