Every time, EVERY TIME I go outdoors to take a yarn-related picture, some bit of the natural world shows up and diverts my attention.
This is M. Dragonfly, who was loitering in the reeds beside the pond, hoping to find a mate…
M. Dragonfly WLTM a fellow Common Darter Dragonfly, GSOH and own pond preferred. Please no timewasters or damselflies.
Yeeks, is this what this blog has become? A dating site for arthropods?
Did you know that (giant) dragonflies were around before the dinosaurs?
And have you any idea how stupid I looked, sneaking through the long grass with my camera, stalking a dragonfly? If not, I’m sure the Stoic Spouse will be happy to enlighten you.
Speaking of wildlife, you may have noticed that Robyn-the-robin is not currently taking editorial control of this blog. The (worrying) thing is that I haven’t seen Robyn for a few weeks. I hope she’s OK. I hope she’s enjoying a well-earned break from the demands of parenting, now that her brood has fledged.
The last time I saw her, she tapped on the window, and I dutifully followed her down the garden, because who am I to disobey the demands of someone four inches tall? As I was getting the mealworms out of the shed, she vanished. I sat on the robin-feeding bench and waited. No sign. I was beginning to think some very uncharitable thoughts about garden birds who are quite frankly taking the proverbial, when I noticed a blackbird screeching its head off and looked up. There, high in a nearby tree, was a sparrowhawk. Clever Robyn. She was hiding.
BUT, I haven’t seen her since that day. One of her fledglings (or possibly more than one – I can’t tell them apart) is slowly learning that hanging around nearby when I’m gardening means that I fetch mealworms and sprinkle them on the patio, but we haven’t got to the hand-feeding stage yet. I don’t have any photos of Robyn’s children, so here’s a picture of one of the eleventy hundred baby sparrows who rush about our garden, shrieking.
And whilst I’m discussing the young of various species, may I briefly mention the twinnage? Despite being monstrous anarchists who mess with every shred of sanity that you once held dear, kids can surprise you in cool ways. Remember this picture I knitted?
Well, the other evening I came across one of the twinnage drawing. Nothing unusual in that, but then I noticed that he was sitting on the floor in front of the knitted picture, drawing it! He told me the names of each type of fish. And he gave me permission to show you his work:-
I love that my monstrous anarchists children love wildlife. I hope that this never changes.
And now, I really MUST get on with some knitting. No more wildlife!
Happy yarnery, people.
Phil x
Please continue to post anything from your garden. All your pix are so uplifting! Of course the yarn related things are lovely too, but really, all your posts have an extreme feel good factor! Thankyou so much. From Julie, near Banbury. X
I think Robyn might be moulting, they tend to keep out of the way till their new feathers have grown. Who would blame them, you would not want to be seen when not looking your best would you?
i really enjoy all your blogs, whether they be about knitting or nature … dinna fash yeself.
thanks so much!
Wildlife, yarn, ponds, perfect blogging subjects and no judgement on the relative amounts of each ????????????????????
I love your blog! Your style of expressing yourself in writing is just so satisfying to read. It’s like I want to settle in and read a good book when your email arrives! You are such a talented writer, photographer, crocheter and knitter. God bless!
I love your blog! Your style of expressing yourself in writing is just so satisfying to read. It’s like I want to settle in and read a good book when your email arrives! You are such a talented writer, photographer, crocheter and knitter. God bless!
I love dragonflies and your photos are great…I never seem to be in the right place at the right time with my camera! Good to hear your children are impressed with your crafty endeavours, mine just laugh at me and make jokes about my stash…
Hear hear to the wild life. I love watching who joins me when I garden. Last week, near the pond it was frogs the size of my thumb nail, so very cute. Well done to the arty twin with the wildlife leanings, he is a clever boy.
Do, please keep posting wildlife pictures from your garden. Some of us live in inner cities and only get to see bees, hoverflies, the occasional butterfly, moths (which insist on coming indoors, grrr!) and the ubiquitous slugs and snails. Slugs and snails is what our garden grows best, despite my efforts to keep their numbers down.
Alas there is no chance of an urban hedgehog as the yard is walled – 6′ high at the lowest, and there’s a road the other side.
I shall put in a pond, this year or next. Then I’ll have to ask around for some frogspawn – and hope the adults will do the ol’ mollusc-reduction. Or maybe toadspawn?
Writing of frogs – like the one the Twinnage has included – that you evidently omitted from your glorious knitted water world!
Great blog. We have dragonflies in our garden. We also have a hot tub – a ‘down market’ type admittedly but nonetheless it’s hot and bubbles and is the perfect viewing place to watch dragonflies hunting midges late on a summer evening!
Wonderful drawing by twinnage 1.
He says ‘thank you’.