Allotments 4 All

Walked the grandchildren to the fields last night to watch the combine harvesters and tractors working late. The kids were fascinated by the machines, the dust and the view. Unfortunately we had to walk over so many little dead creatures (mice and shrews) that had been caught by the harvester's blades but the kids accepted that this was all part of the harvest scene and were not too upset. We almost had to conduct a mass burial. We watched the pheasants and partridges run out and the pigeons fly off to roost in the trees. Didn't see any hares or rabbits tho' which was a bit of a concern because we do get a lot of hare coursers in the area.

What a lovely way to spend an early evening - although it's a shame about all the wee beasties. I love autumn but can't help thinking it's coming rather early this year!

 ;DMust admit Autumn and spring are my favorite seasons. I love the colours of autumn, the light is different and the smell of bonfires. After the clammy heat of summer  its good to breath again. ;D

I quite like the winters after Autumn, :) the first snow so crisp the air so sharp and clean, :D makes you feel good the cold air flowing through your lungs :-* and then the thaw the slushy feel of wet cold water seeping through your so called water tight shoes, :-\ the blizardous snow slapping you in the face from the gale force winds :-[ howling through your so called rain proofs :'( pushing the freezing rain into your skin. :o

GOD I AM SO GLAD I'M NOT A POSTMAN. Roll on Summer. ;D ;D ;D

PS Don't forget him at Christmas ;D

I also love autumn. In fact I like all the seasons, as a person who is easily bored it's lovely to see the garden transform every few months.

Today whilst I was working outside in the garden it was great to see all the geese flying overhead, you hear them first and then see them in their distinctive flying pattern. Fantastic.  :)

Geese are such funny creatures - so ungainly on land, and noisy. Yet once they are airbourne they are so graceful, and the same when they are on water. We don't have many near us, but plenty of ducks.

Three ducks in particular fly over every morning to get to the canal, and then in the evening to return to wherever the spend the night. Sometimes they sit just outside our garden wall watching the world go by! And if the canal or pond freeze and the ducks try to land gracefully they slip and slide all over the place! I love ducks!!!

 ;DI get easily bored as well Jesseveve, its the pits at times isn't it, Once we see the geese here, not sure if they're Canadian geese, it means winter isn't far behind. Ducks are funny Plocket, so lovable. We must have had something going on on the beach the other day, all the twitchers were out in force, didn't find out what though. :)

I adore ducks Val - especially the white "Jemima Puddleduck" ones. And as for ducklings..... Every now and then the twitchers go potty at our local Wildlife Trust - apparently there are some fairly unusual birds there. And this is a good time to spot any birds that migrate because they often stop near beaches before they head across the water.

 ;DYes  autumn does seem the time for seeing different birds, its those that get blown off course I feel for, I always hope they make it back to the crowd.Jemima Puddleduck is in my garden, alas not real but she's got a hat and scarf. I'll have to get it in for the winter...the hat and scarf not the duck,that can stay out.

Have you ever seen the film "Fly Away Home"? I love it! It's a story about teaching Canadian Geese how to fly and finding them a save haven. Little Plocket is getting keen on it now as well!

I've just got a stone cat in my garden. She's gorgeous - sitting upright on her hind legs guarding the bird feeders! The birds don't mind her at all!!! She's regularly chalked on by Little Plocket but the rain soon washes it off!

 ;DThe kids love chalking, I remember doing it and playing hop scotch, but we used to get shouted at and to this day don't know why, because as you say the rain soon washes it off.Haven't seen that film but have seen The Birds...not one to show little Plocket.lol. ;D

Hi Val!

I've read "The Birds" and have no intention of watching the film, let alone showing it to LP!!!

I have a couple of friends who think I am very relaxed letting her chalk in the garden. Can't see the problem myself - I don't mind because the rain just washes it away. As long as it stays on the paving or our wooden gate!!!

 ;DThey're showing it at the school to sixth years. Well they're not scared of that these days, what with all the horror about and thats real life ;D Having said that my youngest was asking me about it, she's like me , she'll be scared lol.

Eeek! I'd be scared silly - wouldn't want to go in the garden again let alone to the seaside with all the gulls!!!!! Don't even think about it Val!

 ;DI don't have a choice, I mean she is 16, but I wouldn't watch it again, its the music as well. My neighbour had a gull nesting on her roof last year, she couldn't go in the garden without being attacked. I'm glad they chose that side of the road.

 ;D Val,
My daughter's teacher read "The Birds" to her class of Primary 7s last year. I was most surprised!  :o

 ;DCor blimey they treat them hard up there, no wonder we're considered soft,Do they make them watch Grange Hill in the nursery?..My eldest boy used to be terrified of scooby doo, it was all the ghosts and the day after he saw Jaws he went out in the boat with the sea cadets..we couldn't stop laughing....after his colour was back to normal. ;D

 ;D It's good to see you're such a caring, supportive mother ... ::)

 ;DOh yes, they are my little darlings....and  so sweet...sickly ;D I feel as if I should go round their houses for a meal and say, oh I don't like cabbage..thats really yucky, throw my coat on the floor, kick the shoes off in the middle of the room, the usual stuff they've done to us. Wouldn't it be grand... I always say my grandchildren are my revenge.lol.