THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

21 June 2012

TRIGGER IS COMING HOME AND A LIVE ADDER


Jo's bunting

Put out the bunting! Made by my very talented friend Jo by the way, who seems to be able to run it up in half an hour whereas it would have taken me a whole day. I can't quite believe this is happening but Trigger is coming to live here in one of our kind neighbour's fields with our other kind neighbour's three lovely sheep. At last I will be able to dedicate the time I want to his training and chuck a rug on and off whenever I like, rather than scouring the weather forecasts and hoping for the best. The weather on the Today programme this morning didn't mention the persistent rain we're having or the 8 degrees centigrade that our car thermometer was reading earlier! Anyway, I'll be walking Trigger over here on Sunday. I'm concerned about lack of horsey companionship but we'll look into that soon. 

Break in transmission this week due to the fact that I've had a paintbrush pretty much fused to my hand trying to reinstate the loveliness of the kitchen and bathroom (more water problems there since we moved in four years ago). Yesterday I came as close as I'm likely to get to being my comic hero, Oliver Hardy, as I plunged my cutting-in brush into my cup of tea. Five minutes later after much cursing, I proceeded to take a swig of the abandoned tea without thinking. Not nice. 


From 'Towed in a Hole'

No news of that injured filly by the way. I haven't seen the person to ask but they probably would have contacted me if there was any bad news. 

My partner took this fabulous shot of a huge adder earlier this week, when there was some sun to bask in. He surprised her, hence the defensive stance as opposed to just slithering away. She was on an established path on one of the main tourist tracks down to Scorhill stone circle. What a stunning, if rather dangerous beast. Nice that she was alive too, given my previous encounters with dead ones.


By Mark Thompson

Like many others, I'm having terrible slug and snail problems on the vegetable patch. Just look at these runner beans. The weird stuff around them are last years failed leeks as what turned out to be a tasty snack barrier before moving on to the beans. Lettuces have disappeared totally. Good gooseberries and currants though. Autumn raspberries are looking fantastic at the moment but am  feeling a bit defeated. 


Decimated runner beans

Here are some pictures taken on our walks this week.



Pony on Middle Tor, alerting me as to the herd's whereabouts


Foal number four and mum


Lizzy and foal number five


Skylark (I think....those small brown ones can be difficult!) at Middle Tor


Foal number one sleeping 


Snippet cooling off


Jacob's Ladder starting to flower in the garden


Unopened thistle flowers. Close up they are stunning


Early morning shadow


Lizzy and Betty

No photos from today I'm afraid; too horrible. Spots of rain on the lens. I'm currently waiting for the Dyson engineer to come and tell me I need another new brush head for the machine. Fourth one but I must say, the service has been impeccable! Hope it's not raining too hard where you are. 






11 comments:

  1. That's brilliant news about getting Trigger close to home, Em. We were fortunate as have a smallholding here, so paddock to one side of the house, field behind it, and stables viewed across the yard as I did the washing up. I am sure Trigger will enjoy being close by you too.

    Great photo of the adder - looks quite a hefty one too. I dare say they've not had much time for sunbathing this year, apart from two hot spells.

    Enchanting foal photos and wild flowers. It is so good to see the moor . . .

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  2. I would love to buy a field but land prices here are absolutely ridiculous. Good horsey pasture can go for over ten thousand an acre and that's away from the moor. I'm feeling terrible as it's been tipping down all day and I know Trigger will be shivering and in need of a rug but I just can't get over there. Roll on Sunday!

    Mark said the adder was about a metre long. How it didn't here him coming I don't know.

    So glad the pictures can transport you here. I'll keep them coming.

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  3. Lovely pics Em, Good new about Trigger too x

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  4. great photos as always. good news about Trigger. Nothing better than being able to take an impromptu wander down with a carrot in your pocket, for a rub and say hello to your pony.

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  5. It's what I've dreamed of since I was a little girl. A long time coming Kath!

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  6. It`s the best thing ever, to wander across the garden and be greeted by a friendly pony looking hopefully over the fence. Mine are not rugged Em, but a few handfuls of hay soon stops them shivering in an unseasonal summer shower. I hope Trigger settles in well. He will probably be fine with the sheep as company, or you could have the perfect excuse to find an inexpensive weanling colt in the autumn...!

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    1. We did the move today rather than tomorrow so he's already there. So fantastic and will post with pics as soon as I get the time. At the moment he's going a bit mad and is clearly missing his friend but I just have to grit my teeth and try not to worry. I'm sure he'll be more settled by tomorrow. The meadow is stunning and full of wild flowers. Not for long!

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  7. Echoing Bovey Belle it is so good to see the moor, so glad I stumbled on your blog ;). We have a hedgehog under our shed which seems to keep the slug population at bay, or does she I wonder?

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    1. Do you know I've not seen a hedgehog in the ten and a half years we've lived down here. We really could do with a large hedgey family to cope with the invasion. I'm glad you stumbled here too; blogging is a revelation. I was really wary to start with but I'm loving it. Oh dear, it's raining again.....

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