Musings about the world around me and my place in it ...
This is an occasional blog – I try not to swamp it with too much about any one of my interests – so I’m not a daily blogger by any means. But if you’ve found me because I’ve commented on your blog … you are especially welcome!
The only other blog that I try to keep up to date is The Hen House – if chickens are your interest, do go and take a look.
… because our dearest hen Bridget is gone. I was out in the garden and noticed a sudden kerfuffle amongst the girls who were all gathered round Bridget and I thought perhaps she was ill, but by the time I reached her, she was already gone 
She was well over four years old, one of our first hens, rescued from a battery farm, so she lasted well.
I realise, looking back at old photographs, that she was never a hen ‘with character’ … there are few pictures of her unlike the others, so she was a quiet hen who caused no trouble, but as the last remaining ex-batt she simply slipped into the role of chief hen when the others passed on and she did it well. There were few disputes, and even when she was old (by hen standards) and no longer laying good eggs, she had little difficulty maintaining order and her own position.
I’ll miss her … although I’m concerned about how easily the new pecking order will be established, since she’s been top hen for some time.
And my favourite corner of my favourite place …
We walked to every far corner -
… twice! 
It may have been last year, or even the year before, that I bought a ball of wool and a pattern for knitting socks. They sat in a bag in the spare room until February half term, when I decided I would finally master the art of knitting socks!
I learned to knit in my teens. Having been shown several times as a younger child by my mother and grandmother with little success, I was rather surprised to find it so easy and quickly advanced to knitting quite complex patterns with some ease and speed. Eventually I moved on to other needle crafts and skills, but have always enjoyed knitting from time to time. And just now, socks are in fashion 
But what tipped the scales was finding an old knitting instruction book of MILs with some very straightforward instructions for socks. So out came the wool and the ‘dpns’ (double pointed needles) and with time to spare on holiday I set to learning the necessary skills. I’ve since knitted that original ball of wool three or four times over, each time using a new technique or method, to see which I preferred. I’ve knitted top-down and I’ve knitted toe-up and each has their advantages, but the deciding factor is that knitting from the toe up means you can try them on as you go and you never have to run short of wool!
For those in the know, I use Judy’s cast on with two circular needles for the toe and for the heel shaping, but I prefer to knit on four or five needles for the length.
Although I had a stock of needles, I have inevitably bought more! And I’ve settled on a far smaller needle than I started with, using 2.25mm needles for 4ply wool. If I knit knee highs, there is little left over from a 100g ball of wool, but if I knit ankle socks, then there’s enough wool to knit some wrist warmers/fingerless mittens to match!
Fortunately DD2 has feet much the same size, so I’ve already made her a pair. DD1 isn’t really interested in socks, but would love some wrist warmers … long ones. I’ve yet to build up courage to measure up DH for a pair, but that’s the next stage – adapting my familiar pattern to different sizes. There is so much information out there on the ‘net, but being sure of your size as you knit is key to any pattern.
I’m sure there’s more to learn, but I am content. I know that I tend to learn a skill and use it for a while before drifting on to something new, but this new ‘passion’ (as DH describes it) will keep me going for a while yet …
I’m wearing these today!
There’s a complete pair of these now, in DD2′s favourite colour – hidden away for Easter!
But she’s wearing these – I had to have something else to do when she was in the room!
Don’t be too impressed by the pattern – it’s self patterning wool See here
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DH’s day off, and opportunity to try his scope and tripod ..
We don’t count as serious ‘birders’, but I do like to keep a note of what we’ve seen … and once you start to compile a list it’s surprising how easy it is to build an impressive ‘life list‘ though I’ve never kept it in as much detail as I should.
Yesterday, we were able to visit two estuary/costal sites, in perfect weather – if rather cold! The first was a new hide, one of four on a purpose built site alongside the River Axe, deliberately flooded to create the habitat. We’re used to watching a little further down stream, so it was good to get a slightly different viewpoint. The second is a well established area alongside the Exe estuary, with a viewing platform and hide. We didn’t see any ‘firsts’, but it was lovely to renew acquaintance with some firm favourites.
So here’s yesterday’s list …
Seaton Marshes
Fine, clear day, sunny but cold. No significant breeze. Tide on the turn.
Curlew
Redshank
Lapwing
Herring gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Blackheaded gull
Wigeon
Mallard
Shelduck
Little Grebe (Dabchick)
Little Egret
Swans
Blackbird
Sparrow
Rook
Moorhen
I’m sure there were others mixed in … ?Dunlin … but I didn’t get a clear site/id of them. While we were in the hide, someone called out that they had a kingfisher in sight, but I didn’t see it on this occasion.
We left at lunchtime, and after a pub lunch (very nice!) drove over to:
Bowling Green Marsh (Topsham)
Fine, clear day, sunny but cold. No significant breeze. Tide well out.
Brent Geese
Canada Geese
Greylag Geese
Lapwing
Swans
Cormorant
Little Egret
Moorhen
Pochard
Teal
Wigeon
Mallard
Shelduck
Bartailed Godwit (Barwit*)
Avocet
Redshank
Dunlin (id by photo)
The Avocets, once a rarity, are increasing in numbers on certain sites in the UK – they are the most beautiful of birds. We didn’t see so many yesterday, as the tide was out, but they are on the Exe in their hundreds at this time of year.
*In winter plumage, Barwits and Blackwits are really hard to tell apart, but Barwits are more common, so I am making an assumption here!
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And he’s ventured outside for the first time …
but he doesn’t like getting his paws wet! 
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Video and photo courtesy of DD2
Oscar has been with us five weeks now and is 13 weeks old. He’s been wormed twice, defleaed four times (and I haven’t won yet!) and to the vet three times. He’s had three injections, two tablets and two lots of drops on the neck for fleas. He’s played with several different toys, including at least 12 different table tennis type balls, but his favourite is any old screwed up piece of paper. He’s tormented our other three cats, won over one, and alienated one, leaving one still to form a proper judgement. And he’s been trodden on probably four times – by all four of us, that’s 16 times in five weeks!
He still won’t … go outdoors* … leave Jenny cat alone … leave me alone when I’m at my desk … behave at meal times (so is usually put out of the room to go and find some other mischief – but is often successful at that!).
While last night was his first night of freedom, rather than being shut in (to allow the other cats free access to the cat flap*). With mixed results … there were three fights on our bed with the other cats and one cat – Magic – fled the bedroom and didn’t return all night!
But by morning, Oscar reined supreme in the bedroom, and I woke up to find DH holding my hand with Oscar drapped across our linked hands asleep, probably exhausted … too cute!
* I’m happy for him to venture out into the garden now, so we’re leaving the cat flap unlocked for him to find his way out. Only, he won’t go! I leave the back door open when I’m in the kitchen and Oscar just sits on the door mat looking out without showing any intention of going out to explore …
I’m really struggling to get good photos of Oscar – he’s never still unless he’s asleep! After two weeks with us, he’s learning that he can go and find a comfy place to sleep if we’ve put him out of the study while we’re working – currently it’s the sock basket in the bedroom! At least we know where to find him.
I’m trying to get pics of him with the older kittens (now three years old!) to have some record of his size and growth … he loves to play with Magic, who seems to enjoy him, at least for a time 
Magic has rediscovered his inner kitten and his love of playing with balls of screwed up paper! However, Oscar hasn’t yet learned the signs that Magic has had enough, or more likely, chooses to ignore them. He’s not playing according to the rules, either – pouncing when the elder cat is grooming, for example. A big faux pas in cat etiquette, trust me.
Misty chooses to keep her distance. But at least she’s not keeping totally out of the way … just out of reach!
They often greet each other nose to nose … never long enough for a picture, but they will also occasionally share a meal or some scraps.
There, that’s the best I can do for now. Although, while I’ve been writing this, Oscar has finally settled in the basket by my desk – I’d better not try for a photo, I don’t want to disturb him and set him off again! 
*****
Later …
But only 5 minutes later …
Oscar is eight weeks old, with fleas and worms, and he’s rather smelly, but he’s gorgeous! 
His mother is a petite Siamese, father unknown. His teeth are the sharpest kitten teeth I’ve ever known and he’s teething, so is chewing everything in sight. First visit to the vet tonight – for weighing and worming, then jabs and microchip next week.
So for now the cat flap remains locked so the adult cats (it’s still hard to think of Magic and Misty as adults, even at 3 years old 
) can get in but need to be let out. They have acted quite unexpectedly … I thought Misty would simply put Oscar in his place, she is usually top cat, after all. Instead, she’s hissing and running off in the opposite direction at any approach from Oscar (who is not intimidated at all as far as I can tell!) 
Magic is fairly calm, but very watchful, keeping his distance. They have come nose to nose from time to time, without any fuss, but if Oscar runs after Magic, presumably to play, Magic swipes him back. Jenny is neurotic in any case, but has taken the least notice of the kitten – who can read the mind of a feline?
At the moment, Oscar eats, plays and sleeps – not necessarily in that order. He loves company, and hates to be alone – at the moment, he’s in his own room at night, so the others can use the cat flap as they choose and so that we all get some sleep. His Siamese howl can be heard throughout the house however, at least until he goes to sleep.
We weren’t sure we were doing the right thing in giving Oscar a home – I’m still not! But whatever happens as a result is going to be anything but boring
Just while I’ve been writing this entry, he’s climbed up my trousers, tried to suckle my ear by sitting on my shoulder and knocked my mobile phone off my desk … 
