A prickly house share

Robin sat on the fence looking down at the hedgehog home Tony built,

Todays photo of the day

Robin looking at "Spikey towers"

I can just imagine him thinking "I wonder if the hedgehog would share?"

Until tomorrow...

Don't look Elvira

Todays photo of the day

The monster is still in the cupboard in the shed

Until tomorrow...

I am saying nothing.

No no rant, I refuse to be drawn.

Todays photo of the day

Some people need to learn how to park!

Until tomorrow...

Exciting times at "Spike Towers"

Today Tony lifted the roof from Spike Towers to make sure it was dry inside. Not only did he find the inside was dry he also found that there was the a space that showed something had slept in there. The shape and size of the nest was just the right size for a hedgehog. So even though the Hedgehog is not using it every night it is being used as a stop over and could quite easily be used as a permanent hibernation place when the time comes. Tony has a camera in Spike Towers and outside so we will know if anything moves in full time.

Todays photo of the day

Inside Spike Towers.

The sleeping place is on the top left hand side.

A Dunnock preferred to sit on the roof he/she could hide beneath the tree if anything came that the bird disliked.

The Robin sat in his usual place keeping a watch out.

The Great Tit well the name says it all.

Until tomorrow...

Pica pica (Corvidae)

I have not been outside today, the photo was taken through the kitchen window. The bird stood on the outhouse roof, looking round the garden probably looking to see what mischief he /she could cause.

Today's photo of the day

The Magpie 

The Magpie has a reputation for wiping out songbirds, but research shows that it's fondness for eating eggs and chicks has little overall effect on populations.

Until tomorrow...

Two little dicky birds

Still no sign of any squirrels I am very upset, Miss Squirrel not coming is almost like losing a family pet! She was getting to be a part of the reason I spent so long in the shed, now it feels so empty without her sitting on the fence watching me. I suppose in time more squirrels might find their way to the garden I hope so.

Now what else have I seen today? not a lot really. The only photo I have for you today is

Today's photo of the day

Two little sparrows maybe we should call them Peter and Paul even though they are not on a wall.

Until tomorrow...

Happy

We went to feed Happy Mum's dog this afternoon she was pleased to see us as she ran down the garden to empty her bladder. She was soon back and looking for her dinner. She cleared her dish then looked as if to say "come on then who's taking me for a walk?' Sad to say she was unlucky.
Happy is a retired guide dog, she used to work with my sister. When Happy got too old to work she moved in with Mum & Grumpy(Trevor). This is the second retired guide dog of my sisters that has lived with my Mum. George was the first one he was an amazing dog and is sadly missed by all the family.
While I was at Mum's I took some pictures of Happy, so you know whats coming

Todays photo's of the day

 Happy is sitting and looking up, Tony said sit and she just sat then looked at him as if to ask well what happens now?

Happy in her bed as we were leaving

Until tomorrow...

I can hear again

I had an appointment at the audio clinic today, I had to go for a new hearing aid. My other one had an accident. Tony and I had gone to Morrisons, I had taken the hearing aid out put it on my knee and it fell off. I thought it had fallen on the floor in the car so I said I would find it when we got home. It was not anywhere to be found. We went back to Morrisons on the off chance that it might be where we parked. It was under the car that was parked next to where we had parked earlier. Unfortunately the hearing aid had been run over and was crushed.
I rang the clinic who told me I had to get referred by my doctor be fore I could get another. Dr Daru got me an appointment for the following week. Then after that appointment I had to wait 4 weeks before I got the hearing aid because the woman I saw said I would have to see Wayne the person I saw last time to fit it. However when we went today Wayne was out on home visits so I didn't see him anyway. At least I got my hearing aid which means I can hear properly now and my Tinitus is calming down.

Today's photo of the day

My new hearing aid

It is amazing how something so small can make such a difference to someones daily life.

Until tomorrow...

Sparrowhawk flying over.

The garden is quiet, the sparrowhawk is about, the small birds are hiding, the woodpecker is like a statue on the side of the small bush. They will stay like that until the danger has passed then they will carry on as if nothing has happened.

There is still no sign of any squirrels, Tony is hoping a hedgehog will move into "Spike towers" the hedgehog home he made. He puts out the Bushnell to watch to see if any go inside.
All he seems to get is the neighbourhood cats. Sometimes he is lucky and gets a hedgehog having a scratch but none show any interest in the house.

I have had a visit in the garden from one of my favourite birds,

Todays photo of the day

A beautiful Robin

Until tomorrow...

Where have all the squirrels gone?

I had noticed the squirrel population in the garden had slowly been dwindling. At one time we had 5 visiting, then it went down to 3 squirrels, then to 2 squirrels, they were Brown Face and Miss Squirrel.
Miss Squirrel had not brought her babies into the garden which was unusual.
Then Brown Face stopped coming. By this time I began to get worried. However Miss Squirrel continued to call, then today we realised it had been over a week since Miss Squirrel had been in the garden. We knew something was wrong. I had put out some hazel nuts a few days ago they were untouched. I am sad the garden is just not the same without the squirrels calling. Miss Squirrel had started to trust me she would sit on the fence getting closer every day, she would wait for me to pass out a hazel nut and she would come and take it not out of my hand but I think a few more weeks and she would have done. Now I will never know!

I hope it is not the person who fires the air rifle that has shot the squirrels, for all the squirrels to go within a space of weeks something is definitely amiss.

Today's photo of the day

There is something missing from this picture!

Until tomorrow...

Elephant

I have not been out today so I have not taken any pictures. I looked around the house for something to take a picture of, I decided on something that I liked. This is a something that Tony bought me several years ago. When I have batteries in it it sings to me, and dances.

It lives on the top shelf of a bookcase in the bedroom and looks after my keys so I can always remember where I put them.

I once called it an elephant by mistake so now that is it's name.

Photo of the day

Pig called elephant.

Until tomorrow...

Birds galore

The garden was alive with birds today, but still no sign of any squirrel. I am getting a bit worried now she has never stayed away so long.

Well just so you can see what else I have been photographing in the meantime, here we go,

The Goldfinches are back

The Sparrows are dining out together, safety in numbers, the Sparrowhawks on the prowl.

The Blue Tits are watching each others backs, one in, one out.

Here's one just for Elvira, (You know you like them really)

A shield Bug

The next two pictures are to show how the masses eat at parties, it reminded me of how the Rugby lads acted when they had a buffet at Billy Budds Restaurant in Wakefield where Tony and I both worked.

Todays photos of the day.

Until tomorrow...

Tasty coffee and a posing dog

This morning we had a ride to Dewsbury just for something to do! I bought 2 more Martina Cole books, I think I nearly have the full set now I am just short of Maura's Game , Broken or any more she has written recently that I don't know about. I also have only 2 Karen Rose books to find Don't Tell and I can see you. I should have enough books to see me going over the next few months any way.

So back to Dewsbury. Tony and I stopped for a coffee at a small coffee stand which sold very good coffee at a very reasonable price, this is where we met the man and his dog that features in,

Todays photo of the day

We met the man and his dog in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

They were obviously a regular at the stall, as were a lot of other people. When we left there were several people waiting to be served.

We walked around a few more shops the headed back to the car park.  We passed by the coffee stall the queue had grown in length. Even though the coffee was cheap in comparison to the coffee bars and cafe's I bet he made a good living from his stall.

Until tomorrow...

Sparrows on the table

This female sparrow is taking advantage of the free table witch is usually where Miss Squirrel would be sitting. However Miss Squirrel has not been seen for a couple of days.

Todays photo of the day

Sparrow on the table at the side of the shed.

The sparrows and starling are feeding on the table most days if Miss Squirrel doesn't come back soon she will not be able to get back on her table.

Until tomorrow...

Birds...

In the garden today we had a few visitors as well as the normal ones.

The first one was a grumpy looking Greenfinch.

Then we had one that hasn't been around much but is starting to return more often.

A Great Tit grabbing seeds from the feeding station tray then flying back into the sparrow bush.

Next was a popular visitor, who has beautiful colours and is an excellent mimic of other birds or other sounds it hears.

The Starling darling. The glamour bird of the garden if only people stop and look at it properly.

The next and last bird is not in the garden it is on the school roof, it parades along the roof like a sergeant at arms inspecting his troop. 

Todays photo of the day

The Rook taking a break, relaxing while staring across the roof tops towards the park.

Until tomorrow...

Road block

More bad drivers, is there a special place where they all go to learn?

Todays photo of the day

The drivers around Lupset do not have a lot of sense at junctions, the road is blocked so even the police car with flashing blue lights and siren cannot get through.

He did eventually when the car in front of him went up onto the pavement.

Until tomorrow...

A bit of a moan

We had a ride to Junction 32 shopping centre today, most people had parked their cars correctly, however as usual you always get one that takes up two parking spaces.

Todays photo of the day

I think the driver of this car needs a few more lessons in reversing.

That was not a rant just a bit of a moan.

Until tomorrow...

Roadworks rant

Just lately it doesn't matter where we go there are roadworks. Sometimes there are no workmen just the lights and the cones or even just the cones. It is really annoying. The most annoying thing is when there are signs telling you that the road is going to single file yet you always get some wally that rushes past you thinking someone will let him in. Well don't get at the side of Tony because he wont! He just keeps going and sometimes because he has so do the people behind him so the wally is stuck until some pratt lets him through.

Ok rant over.

Todays photo of the day

Roadworks every where we go!

Until tomorrow...

The busy garden

The garden has been a bit livelier today. There has been lots of birds of various kinds, I think my best picture in the morning was the Blue Tit.

Then Miss Squirrel came to visit. She sat on the fence for a while. She ate some sunflower seeds and some nuts.

Then she went for a quick gnaw on the bone.If you look at the bone all the white part is where the squirrel has been gnawing on the bone.

Todays photo of the day

The Starlings in such a rush to eat they land on each others backs.

Until tomorrow...

A boring job?

We had a ride to Sainsburys to pick up a few essentials, we know how to live! I saw the man collecting the trolleys, I thought what a boring job that must be. I suppose in the good weather it might not be so bad but in the wet cold weather it must be very uncomfortable. 

I suppose at least he has a job which is more than many people have and think how happy he will be making Mr Cameron.

Today's photo of the day

The trolley collector at Sainsburys.

Until tomorrow...

A nosey squirrel

Miss Squirrel was very interested in what was in the bucket I had on the patio. She came for a closer look when I went back into the shed for the peanut butter, she soon moved when I came back out, however she had seen the peanuts so she didn't go far.

Todays photo of the day

A very nosey squirrel.

Until tomorrow...

Little boxes

There are a lot of buildings being built in Wakefield, to do this a lot of the old buildings have been demolished. I think this is a shame, the old buildings had character, they were part of the city, we grew up with them , as did many of our older family members. Many of them were landmarks such as the old bus station clock where every body use to meet on a Saturday night to go to the Mecca another building long gone. Sun Lane swimming Baths were we learnt to swim. All for what, buildings like boxes, no character, no charm. All this leads to a city with very little atmosphere. The people you see shopping in the centre hurry about seeming to want to finish and go home. "A city without a heart"

Todays photo of the day

More boxes  appearing in Wakefield.

Until tomorrow...

Tony has been busy

Tony has made a box seat for the squirrels, it is fastened to the fence at the side of the shed. He made it after watching them in the garden in the rain, he decided they needed a shelter.

He was pleased with the result and so was I.

It wasn't long before Miss Squirrel came to inspect it. The series of shots show that she liked it as well.

Todays photos of the day.

Miss Squirrel trying out the Squirrel shelter.

Until tomorrow...

The sunflower feeder is a favourite.

All the birds and squirrels like the sunflower feeder hanging on the shed. The birds that cannot reach the feeder sit below it to catch the seeds that fall, the collar doves are often seen underneath. On an evening the mice come under the garden fence and look for any missed seeds, taking their life in their paws, the cat from next door sits in wait for them. The cat thinks it can't be seen however Tony spots it and we watch it many night sitting behind the sparrow bush or to the side of it, we can see it's white patches. Tony will shine a torch the cat will turn it's head and there are two glassy eyes reflecting in the light.

One bird I was surprised to see on the sunflower feeder is featured in,

Todays photo of the day

The Great Spotted Woodpecker on the sunflower feeder hanging on the shed.

I have never seen the Woodpecker on there before but she must like it ,she stayed there a long time.

Until tomorrow...

Nut burying

Todays photo of the day

Miss Squirrel having a rest after burying peanuts all over the neighbourhood.

The amount of nuts buried in the gardens surrounding ours we should have a peanut plantation growing, trouble is as fast as Miss Squirrel bury's them one of the other squirrels comes round digs them up and reburies them somewhere else.

Until tomorrow...

It had to happen sometime.

Miss Squirrel came trotting along the fence, she stopped and looked at me, then came a little closer.

She stopped again, looked at me I just looked back and said "come on then what are you waiting for?"

She leapt from the fence to the table, she missed her footing and all I saw were her two back feet and her tail.

I jumped up expecting to see Miss Squirrel on the floor in a heap, hurt really badly it is a high fall for a small squirrel. Before I reached the door to go outside this is what I could see through the window.

Miss Squirrel not hurt but sitting on the table chewing on a hazel nut shell, which in a few more seconds she was up and running back down the fence to where ever she is storing her hazel nuts!

Todays photo of the day

Great Spotted Woodpecker

A very welcome visitor and it even looks like he is managing to eat some parrot bar without being disturbed.

Until tomorrow...

A perfect show

Todays photo of the day

 Perfect show on how to pick up a hazel nut.

Miss Squirrel has become an expert at stealing along the fence to the table and taking a nut without being heard, it's the scramble back up the fence that usually gives her away. However sometimes I do manage to catch her, it is amazing how carefully she picks up the nut as if she thinks it will break if she does the wrong thing.

Until tomorrow...