Canal walk.

Blue boat.

Hubby is walking to Barlaston in Staffordshire along the Trent and Mersey canal South from Staffordshire. Here is a photo of a blue canal boat that was passing as they walked along. Its at least seven miles so I hope they will be OK as they might be waking back as well if they don’t contact me to give them a lift. I would have walked with them but I did four up and down hill yesterday and my legs, particularly my knees are very stiff today.

Seeing photos like this makes me realise what a green and wet country we live in. We do get droughts but not as seriously as other countries. Waiting for their call….

Fern fronds

Ferns are ancient plants. They predate flowering plants. You can find fossils of them in the carboniferous era. They propagate, not by seed, but by spores which are held on the underside of the leaves. In sporediea. They are discharged into the air and are blown away by the wind. From there they create tiny ferns, I can’t remember the exact details because its over forty years since I learnt about them. All I can say is I must look it up. I do know they have silica in their cells and can be toxic to cattle and sheep.

Ferns are beautiful, they have lovely spiral fronds which then unfurl. There are different colours shapes and sizes. I know that some people have gardens full of ferns. I obviously need to find out more.

Still growing

Yard

Everything is spreading out, the flowers are still blooming and huge leaves are sprouting from the courgette plants although I haven’t looked at them for a few days. My morning glory plants have survived a few cool nights, but still no flowers. I probably planted them too late in the season. I really need to dead head the plants but it’s so cramped along the yard its hard to get down there….. I have noticed the blueberries are ripening. I must pick them soon… I need to get my act together.

Pigeon take off…..

As I pressed the shutter on my phone this pigeon was sitting sweetly on the TV Ariel, but it took a short while for the shutter to click, so it was in mid flight by the time I had snapped it. At least I caught the downward beat of its wings. Tail splayed to give it lift. Where it fluttered from its erch I don’t know. I was just checking my phone screen to see what I’d managed to capture. Photo taken at Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, today. Mostly blue skies and not too cold.

Owl

Drawing from 2007

Clearing up my photos on my phone I decided to delete and optimise them. It jumbled up the ones I left behind. I loved drawing this on the sketchfu website that has since closed so don’t go looking for it.

I love owls, we have visited owl sanctuaries and animal sanctuaries. I just love the patterns on their feathers, and the fact that most of them fly silently. Their eyes are amazing. Staring at you like they are pinning you to the ground like a small rodent!

A year ago

Looking out of a window of a restaurant looking at the trunk of a tree covered in moss. The trunk was cracked and split. It might have been diseased. It was just interesting to see. It made an odd thing to photograph.

Its outside the Red Cow pub up in Werrington. There are views out into the countryside there and the food is really good (if its being served still).

Spiders

Borrowed this image

Spiders, you love them or hate them… Or like me you accept them but don’t like them scuttling across the floor!

Our spiders have disappeared to be replaced by long legged ones that seem to make cobwebs not proper webs. I should not be arachnophobic but I don’t like these new ones…. However one of my cats loves them, chases them, and eats them. Yuk!

So keep yourself safe. Give spiders room, try and find a balance with nature x