Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
The Scourge Of The Siskins
by admin - 23:38 on 02 May 2012
Mr Gardener was an early visitor to The Rural Retreat today, bringing with him another dose of weedkiller for the ground elder and knotweed and generous handfuls of grass seed to extend our lawn into the hedge.
The site of new shrubs and a token flowerbed was agreed and a small amount of raking carried out.
Bess watched all this activity with cautious disdain but didn't flee from the stranger; maybe she's seen him around enough to be used to him. Later, when she was showing off in the willow tree and Mr Gardener raised a hand to point out new shoots on one of the sawn branches, she took a swipe at him. Everyone gets the same treatment from Bess.
Apart from the birds, that is. The small game hunter appears to have a particular antipathy toward siskins, for another sad little corpse was found on the lawn during the day. There are plenty more left in the trees and on the feeders but it's still an unwelcome sight.
The beneficiary, as usual, will be whichever marten appears first tonight. No more daylight sightings have been made. Most frustrating. Don't they know that they're stars?
One of last Saturday's snaps in less than a week has become my fourth most-viewed and second most-favourited Flickr post. A mounted print will be available for sale at the next market. Get your order in now.
Business Update: Matchgirl has revealed her dream – to own and run a bookshop and cafe. One just like The Emporium, in fact. The only thing that's stopping her is a severe fiscal insufficiency. She'll be pleased to hear from any rich investors or would-be partners. So would I.
Add your comment