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.

Matchgirl and a Marten

by admin - 22:55 on 09 May 2011

Matchgirl returned from her long weekend in Edinburgh filled with pride at her self-control – not only did she decline the £600 designer dress her friends made her try on, but she also returned the £70 jeans that didn't fit quite right.

Her thriftiness didn't extend to footwear, of course. Another pair of must-have shoes has joined the collection at The Rural Retreat, bought to go with a wedding outfit. That they're not quite right isn't a problem; she now has an excuse to buy even more.

Further purchases included two shirts for me, to ensure I'm fit to be seen with at the wedding, and a bee hotel – a wooden contraption, to be attached to a tree, in which the residents can rest and lay eggs.

My own day was not so exciting – after two carefree weeks I returned to GNoME HQ today. Oh joy. But the day ended on a high with the first daylight marten sighting this year. Hurrah!

The little blighter took me by surprise and turned up at 8.30, before I'd replenished the goodies left half-eaten last night. He/she showed familiarity with what's on offer by nibbling peanut butter on the gate, then going straight for the egg before jumping on to the windowsill for more peanut butter.

I've not had the tripod set up for a while, so all I could mange were a few hand-held snaps, too shaky to share because of the slow shutter speed. The Pentax is now properly set up, ready for action.

I don't know if our visitor was one we've already seen in the dark. He/she was about the same size as the small marten we saw a few times in the recent past and with a coat that appeared to be lighter than usual, although that may have been caused by its rain-soaked condition.

More food was put out after he/she left. With luck I'll have a portrait by the end of the week.

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