It was such a sunny afternoon that I decided to take my latest car boot bargain outside and set it all out on my patio table.
We found a wooden wine box with about 28 reels of  thread inside - along with a tape measure, a tinful of buttons, and some useful needles. DH decided he would use the wooden box for storage so he paid most of the £3 that it cost. Bargain!!!!
I also picked up another bag with more threads for next to nothing so I am a happy bunny!!!
I will be adding them to my thread store - they will all be useful I am sure.

The best thing about living on the edge of the open countryside is the wonderful birdlife that I can watch from my kitchen window.
Below is the best picture that I could take of the pair of Bullfinches in my garden this morning.
The male is on the fence and the female is below in the bottom left hand corner - a drab little bird by comparison.

 

 

If you are interested in my resident pheasant then scroll down for the news and photos!!!

I spotted her in the field today with at least 5 of her chicks so they are surviving.

 

I have been busy this week packing my ATCs into envelopes ready for our WOYWW 4th anniversary swap.

If you wonder what this is all about, then follow this link to find out more.

If you think you would like to swap ATCs with me then email:
twiglet517@hotmail.co.uk with your details.



OK folks, that's it for now.
Thanks for calling in. Have a great week.
x Jo

So cute - 8 chicks!

 

Empty nest syndrome!!!

(Click on pics to enlarge)

I just checked the eggs and only two hadn't hatched so there may have been 9 chicks but I only managed to count 8.

Mother Pheasant moved the chicks from the nest late afternoon yesterday.

Can you spot her - lurking under my Delphinium with all of the chicks under her wings!

This is the end of the garden nearest to the path round to the field.

I think she was hoping for an early morning getaway.

 At about 9 this morning I just happened to look out of my lounge window to see this.......

 They had followed their mum down the path to the lawn and set off round the edge toward the field.

Suddenly the tiny chicks scattered.
Can you see the huge bumblebee on the right - it gave them quite a fright - but I guess they had never seen anything so large and buzzy yet!!

 What a sensible mum to lead them down the flower border along the fence to the edge of the field.

 Can you spot her in the undergrowth at the edge of the garden waiting for them all to come to her?

 Once they were all together, she lead them under the wire fence (my dear hubby was whistling the tune to "The Great Escape" as this was happening!).
They seemed delighted to be able to roam and feed in the field.
She kept clucking to them and they all tucked under her wings if she bobbed down.

Now they are halfway down the field so I doubt we will see them again.
I always thought pheasants were silly birds but this one certainly knew what she was doing.
Job well done girl!

Thanks for all your comments - I am glad I am not totally bonkers and that others are just as fascinated by nature as I am.

x Jo

Pheasant Update!!!!

No pics yet - I don't want to disturb them!

Just to say we think we can see 7 baby pheasant chicks in the nest - success!!!!!

Mother P is clucking around and keeps tucking them under her fluffed up wings.
It is totally amazing after the awful weather she has had to endure over the last 25 days since she started sitting on her 11 eggs.

I will try and snap a few pics if she brings them out into the garden.
Hope she doesn't sneak them off into the field before I get a good look.


For those who enjoyed my mousey giggle yesterday.......
Here he is with his baseball cap on.

 AND

Here is the tote bag to go with my latest LillyBo Quilt.

Have a great weekend.
x Jo