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 Cannibals in the Garden
by admin - 21:31 on 24 December 2010
The Big Freeze may be forecast to let up a bit from Monday, but in the meantime it still has The Rural Retreat and its garden in a frosty grip.
When the thaw comes it won't be a moment too soon for Master Marten, for the sub-zero temperatures have caused him a problem I didn't foresee. His eggs keep freezing solid.
It took me a while to realise that the most wholesome part of our friend's evening nourishment was being lost to him, for eggshell continued to be scattered liberally around the bottom of the gate most mornings. But on closer inspection I realised that deep-frozen yolk still filled the biggest portions.
The identity of the shell-smasher was revealed this morning when I saw two hefty blackbirds breakfasting on egg. Matchgirl was horrified at the thought of winged cannibals at work in the garden, but at least good food's not going to waste.
I forgot to buy Master Marten some Christmas turkey, so tonight, instead of egg, his festive treat will be some cat food that Bess no longer enjoys. With luck he'll find it before Romeo, who's been seen on the prowl for several evenings. However, if we're woken in the middle of the night by sounds of conflict we'll know they've come to blows over Sheba rabbit terrine.
Either that, or a sleepwalking hedgehog got there first.
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