Identification problems . . .

I saw a moth on Barry’s hat this morning and of course I had to try and identify it – without success so far, I have to say.

side view

detail - so delicate

Anyway, in the course of my research I came across this note –‘passes winter as an egg’ and that made me laugh. I started thinking how difficult it would be trying to metamorphose backwards, as it were, and fit into a receptacle now patently far too small. In human terms that is a ghastly thought, not to mention eye-watering.

I also discovered that the Ghost moth, among others, has no tongue and cannot feed. What a sad life that must be. I suppose it’s akin to human parents raising their young and then popping their clogs. I know it feels like that sometimes and often we feel redundant. Let’s be honest, we are redundant once the bank of Mum and Dad serves no further purpose and our young people have flown the nest and are busily growing their own credit ratings and treating overdrafts as a challenge rather than a limit (or was that just me?)

It is sobering to realise that so many beautiful creatures live very short lives. Dragonflies spend more time as somewhat unattractive nymphs. They live in the murky depths of ponds for three or four years, terrorising the more peaceable inhabitants. Then they emerge from their hard cases as diaphanous beauties, bringing colour and pleasure to onlookers, though not to the unfortunate insects they hunt without mercy. 

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Not as great a beauty as the Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)

What a stunner - but completely helpless on the ground for dragonflies cannot walk . . .

Laying eggs

So much beauty, such a little life

They mate, they lay eggs, they die. However, they have no thought for the future, no understanding of their ephemeral existence. What do I know, though? Maybe they have a very complex belief system and look forward to dragonfly heaven where food is plentiful and life never ends. Would I have found them so attractive had I lived/existed in prehistoric times when they had wingspans up to 75 cms? Nonetheless, they are fascinating beasts.

However, and I hate to repeat this cliché, it’s all relative . . . We live but a blink of an eye when compared to galaxies. Who knows what the Mars probe will reveal? (provided it lands safely, of course!)

The Fourteenth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

Hello everyone!

Something exciting happened to us the other day. Tia, Foxy and Buster came to stay and all our humans went out but we weren’t left on our own. Two humans we didn’t know came to look after us so when our people came back we were pleased to see them but we didn’t go mad like we usually do – well, I do.

Anyway, the two new humans, Carole and Roy, came to look after us again when Bethan got mad. They spent the night with us and gave us our breakfast the next day before our people got back. We didn’t have our usual food – we had kibble. Mrs H says a bit of junk food now and then doesn’t do any harm, but I liked itJ I would have liked to go and see Bethan get mad but there was no room for dogs. Anyway, Winston wouldn’t have liked being left all on his own.

Gus and Bertie

Bertie’s taller than me now but he’s not as broad. He’s ever so good at running and swimming and Jenna doesn’t bother to chase after the Kong ‘cos she knows Bertie’ll get to it first and if he doesn’t I will. When we can’t find the Kong Jenna lends a nose to help us. The ponds in the forest are really, really full and the water’s deep. It’s great. It’s lovely to plunge in when we’re hot and thirsty. I can drink as I swim – I think that’s quite clever, really.

Gus, Frodo, Jenna, Tia, Mrs H, Foxy, Buster (behind Foxy), Bertie

Tia and Foxy and Buster’s people have gone on holiday. Buster really misses them but they’ll be back in a little while. Buster’s a bit afraid of me ‘cos I tell him off when he gets too rough. I’d never hurt him, though, ‘cos he is only young and still learning. Foxy lets him get away with anything and that’s not good for a pup.

The smaller children– that’s Elliot, Eve and Louis - came to stay a little while ago. I like it when they come ‘cos they make lots of fuss of us all.  We all like children. Yesterday in the forest we met some children and they played with us – it was fun. Children are more fun than people. What? Mrs H just told me that children are people, too – they’re younger and faster, that’s all – oh, and noisierJ

I’ve heard that there’s going to be a baby soon – I’m not sure I know what that is. Is it like a puppy? I expect I’ll find out all about it when Susannah gets it. I don’t know where she’ll get it from, though.

Well, that’s all for now. Be good!

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That’s Welsh for ‘Goodbye for now!’)

Green Day 6

Fiona at Raindrops and Daisies hosts Green Day. Just post a photo of something green and link back to her blog. Quick and easy . . . 

I love the marbling on this nasturtium leaf. It makes a very pretty foil for the yellow and orange flowers. All parts of the nasturtium are edible - the seeds can be pickled to make Poor Man's Capers. The only trouble is that you have to get to the plant before the black fly do . . .

July 21st - Wedding Day

July 21^st – Wedding Day

Detail from Bethan's dress 

After what seemed like months of endless rain Bethan and Robert’s wedding day dawned bright, warm and sunny. It was a long, busy day but such a joyous occasion. The ceremony was simple and moving and the affection for Bethan and Robert was expressed warmly and vociferously.

They had engaged a photographer to take formal and informal shots of the day. Consequently, none of us took any photos of the bride and groom – something of an oversight, I think! I hope that others took some. 

The bride and her maids . . .
The one I’ve posted here shows Bethan with her bridesmaids. I think one of the bridesmaids’ boyfriends took it.

 I don't know who took this photo! 

Our grandchildren, Marnie's boyfriend, Dean, and David Walliams

After the official photographer had left Barry took some photos.

Some danced . . .

. . . others watched

A small marquee in the grounds made a pleasant lounging area  away from the disco beat 

Unfortunately, Bethan wasn’t feeling at all well on the day, though no-one would have realised it as she smiled and mingled and looked radiant. She didn’t eat anything and managed the first dance but then went to bed. 

Happiness!

She came down for breakfast the next morning but again couldn’t eat anything. Fortunately, she was feeling better and able to eat again by the time they caught their flight to Santorini in the early hours of Monday.

Barry and I are rarely ill but neither of us was very well, either, and the day passed in something of a blur. We’re all on the mend nowJ

Notwithstanding, it was a lovely day and it was a joy to celebrate it with Bethan and Robert and their friends. It was a delight to have all our family together, too, and our grandchildren had a wonderful day, first as junior ushers and bridesmaids, and then as cousins having a good time with their Norfolk cousins.

To get your toes tapping . . .

Andre Rieu will not be playing at Bethan and Robert’s wedding but we shall be singing this. Think I might end up dancing down the aisleJ

Didn't Andre Rieu and the orchestra have such great fun playing this? 

Cheerfulness!

I thought this was so upbeat and cheerful that I’d post it for others to enjoy. It doesn’t matter that you may not understand the words – it’s beautifulJ

Cornershop is a British Indie band.

Green Day

Fiona at Raindrops and Daisies is hosting Green Day. Just post a photo of something green and link back to her blog. Quick and easy . . . 

My 'green' was taken on a calm dry day this summer when damselflies were able to fly. Today they would be blown away by gusty winds battering the trees and shrubs.

In London with Bethan

Bethan’s wedding dress has arrived and she went to try it on yesterday. She invited me to go with her and I was only too pleased to obligeJ

There are some minor alterations to be made but it is a beautiful dress with some wonderful appliqué work. The hour-long appointment passed all too quickly but Bethan now has a better idea of what jewellery to wear. She’s seeing Gee, her chief bridesmaid, this evening and will ask her advice before she reaches a decision.

Bethan and Gee, about six years old

She and Gee have been friends since they were four years old and have grown up, grown apart and grown together again. They have a friendship that is effortless and easy and will last through their lifetimes.

The Hokey Cokey

The Hokey Cokey is a great party song and dance and a favourite at school parties. Younger children enjoy it and may perhaps learn their left from their right, though that is debateable . . .

Older children, from eight or nine years old, particularly boys, regard it as an opportunity to demonstrate their strength and speed and the whole thing can get dangerously out of handJ

Bethan sent me this version of the Hokey Cokey – it’s not very easy to sing!!

The Hokey Pokey (or Hokey Cokey) Shakespearean style

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within

Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.

Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:

Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.

Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.

A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.

To spin! A wilde release from heaven’s yoke.

Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.

The Hoke, the poke – banish now thy doubt.

Verily, I say, ‘tis what it’s all about.

The young people in the clip seem to be learning the dance – I hope they assimilated the moves by the end of the song which goes thus:

You put your whole self in,

Your whole self out,

In, out, in, out,

Shake it all about.

You do the hokey cokey and you turn around,

That’s what it’s all about.

Oh, hokey cokey cokey,

Oh, hokey cokey cokey,

Oh, hokey cokey cokey,

Knees bend, arms stretch,

Rah, rah, rah!

Now I have a feeling I shall be singing this for the rest of the day. How about you?

Underwater sculpture park in Grenada

This sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor was conceived to honourAfrican slaves who were thrown overboard from the slave ship 'Zong.'

More of his fascinating, beautiful work can be seen in the following clip. Over time these sculptures in the clear, shallow waters of Grenada will develop into artificial coral reefs.

This made me smile

This made me smile. 

I suppose Great Grandma would be a candlestick phone and Great Great Grandma would be a Morse code key or semaphore flags!

Bill and Beatrice Crow

Bill and Beatrice Crow

Waiting . . .

Our suspicions that Bill and Beatrice Crow were expecting the patter of tiny claws were confirmed last week when we spotted two young.

 Demanding . . .

The parents are very assertive around us now, demanding food as soon as we appear in their territory. Bill approaches very close, followed at a safer distance by his mate. He has always been bold, Beatrice less so, but I suppose the demands of their offspring have made them both more confident. The two youngsters can fly but still depend on their parents to provide sustenance.

Beatrice flies off. Bill has pale blotches on his wings.

We cannot tell whether they recognise us, or the dogs, or a combination of the two. They were a little wary when Elliot, Eve and Louis were staying with us and accompanied us on an evening walk a couple of weeks ago. They soon seemed to realise that the children were part of our pack and meant them no harm. That’s probably anthropomorphic but it’s difficult not to apply human reactions and reasoning to them. They know the route we normally take and fly ahead of us and wait for us to catch up. 

How much can I fit in my beak?

Bill is greedier and more observant than Beatrice and tries to collect as much as he can fit in his beak. He picks up the food immediately and flies off with it. Beatrice is more cautious and picks it up, then drops it and picks it up again.

Approaching . . .

Touchdown!

Water-skiing?

They are so used to the dogs that they fly down to gather biscuits from the water while the dogs are swimming in it.  Invariably they pass over the pond to spot exactly where the food is then swoop down and grab it. Legs and tail feathers are momentarily dipped in the water – a heart-stopping moment for us as we wonder what would happen if they miscalculated and found themselves submerged.

However, strong wings carry them safely away from an environment that is not their natural element.

This is Bill, with the blotchy wings

Gotcha!

Water-softened food . . .

We have not yet managed to take photos of the young ones - they're very wary. We wonder if the youngsters will learn from their parents that we are a source of food or whether, when they are independent, Bill and Beatrice will chase them away like other crows.

Wedding processionals

Wedding processionals

My youngest daughter is getting married next month and most days there is wedding talk of one sort or another with one or more of the family members. Yesterday Bethan sent me some video clips of wedding processionals, asking which I thought would be most appropriate.

Naturally, having watched the ones she sent I browsed a few more. I thought I’d share one or two with you.

The first one is remarkable for its length. The groom must have wondered if his bride would ever appear.

Dancing down the aisle seems to be popular and great fun but the man in this clip is not convinced of the wisdom of it. In fact he appears to be cringing at the whole spectacle.

Now I have to persuade Barry it would not be a good idea for him to emulate these performers . . .