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

1 August 2013

BITS AND PIECES 5


An incredibly hot day after what I thought would be rain for the rest of the holidays. Up high here, the mist burnt off by about 9.00, and I changed into hot weather clothes including revealing THE LEGS; not something that happens very often. I got in the car and drove to some friends down nearer Chagford, only to feel a complete idiot as I stepped out of the car into a chilly fog and friends dressed in trousers and jumpers. I was proved right eventually but it took a couple of hours. Anyway, here is another rag-bag selection of the things I've seen this week so far. This beautiful calf was asleep when I approached it and looks pretty new. I think it must have been born out here. 



Our resident slug warden is not doing his job properly as you can see here. What a slacker!


OB and one of his friends found this tiny frog down by the stream and brought it back in a bucket. It's now safely ensconced near the Tupperware pond we created for the tadpole rescue last year.


This was as close as I could get to this Buzzard unfortunately. Nice to see one off the wing so to speak. 


Not sure if this is a female or a juvenile Stonechat with a very large insect. It let me get quite close, which makes me err on the side of the juvenile as, within every species, they seem consistently less fearful than their savvy parents. 



The garden is dominated by the sparrows and Chaffinches at the moment, whose offspring seem infinite....



It was really misty here all day yesterday, sometimes drizzling.



The Dartmoor Madams are getting more and more accepting of my presence and the grey (did I mention she was liver chestnut until a few years ago?) even lets me spray her with Trigger's Citronella based fly spray. He hates it whereas she just stands there, seeming to understand it gives some relief from the incessant nibbling of midges and flies. She's such a sweet pony and when I give her a scratch, she tries to reciprocate as with her equine friends, which I'm trying to dissuade her from for reasons of pain and ruined clothing!




Today, despite the hellish heat, I decided I had to mow the lawn, which hasn't been done for about three weeks thanks to the heat-wave. I use the term 'lawn' loosely as it will never be the bowling green I would like. We inherited what was essentially a large chicken run with more hairy bittercress, creeping buttercup, dandelion and plantain than grass. Over five years, I've tried to transplant bits from here and there....mainly from the borders I created. Why does grass grow so brilliantly where you don't want it? I encourage clover and self heal because they seem to suppress the more pernicious weeds and the bees love them. Before I cut it, I took some pictures of the things that don't always get a chance to get so advanced when it's cut weekly.


Plantain


Creeping Buttercup


Daisy


Self Heal carpet


Clover

I like to grow Self heal in the border too: 


I love this slightly blurry picture of the Jacob's ladder:


Tomorrow we are meeting friends at the River Dart Country Park; somewhere that appeals more to OB than me, but perhaps I will find some brilliant photo opportunities to share with you. Don't hold your breath though. Until next time, here's a nice cooling picture of Snippet digging in the snow last year that I found in a folder I was going through. Look at all that hair! Have a great weekend.


45 comments:

  1. Aww that calf is gorgeous. In fact I enjoy seeing all your photographs, they tell the story of the moor, mist and all :)

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    1. I think it was probably expected to be born before they were turned out onto the moor, but it seems fine.

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  2. Ah, self heal. I always wondered what that plant was called. I love it. We had it growing in the grass of my childhood home.

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    1. I found this bit of info about it:

      An infusion of the herb, made from 1 OZ. to a pint of boiling water, and taken in doses of a wineglassful, is considered a general strengthener. Sweetened with honey, it is good for a sore and relaxed throat or ulcerated mouth, for both of which purposes it also makes a good gargle. For internal bleeding and for piles, the infusion is also used as an injection.

      Culpepper, explaining the name 'Self-Heal whereby when you are hurt, you may heal yourself,' tells us that:
      'it is an especial herb for inward or outward wounds. Take it inwardly in syrups for inward wounds, outwardly in unguents and plasters for outward. As Self-Heal is like Bugle in form, so also in the qualities and virtues, serving for all purposes, whereunto Bugle is applied with good success either inwardly or outwardly, for inward wounds or ulcers in the body, for bruises or falls and hurts. If it be combined with Bugle, Sanicle and other like wound herbs, it will be more effectual to wash and inject into ulcers in the parts outwardly.... It is an especial remedy for all green wounds to close the lips of them and to keep the place from further inconveniences. The juice used with oil of roses to annoint the temples and forehead is very effectual to remove the headache, and the same mixed with honey of roses cleaneth and healeth ulcers in the mouth and throat.'

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  3. I can identify with all of your lawn dwellers, plus moss. Our 'lawn' is now brown. The moss has expired in the heat and thus revealed just how little of the lawn composition is actually grass!

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  4. And what of the Black Beast? Pictures, please!

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    1. Your interest in the beast has an intriguing fervour Tom....

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  5. We have a "lawn" too...a meadow in a straight jacket really.
    Jane x
    PS LOVE the calf..looks just like his Mum.

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  6. Mr Stephenson is now following you Em

    Beware..he's an old flirt x

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    1. Right. That's it. Gloves off. No more safe-sex play-fights for me.

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    2. Put your stirring spoon back in the drawer John.

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    3. Well said, Em. I am only following you - he is stalking me.

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    4. Better the stalk than the flower perhaps.

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  7. Em your photos are gorgeous as always... I'm surprised that you haven't had much relief from the heat yet!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
    (¸.·´ (¸.·`¤... Jennifer
    Jenn's Random Scraps

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    1. We're back to normal conditions today Jenn.....rain forecast.

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  8. As always a wonderful post

    cheers, parsnip

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  9. HI Em A great selection of lovely photos. Love the Ponies.

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    1. I'm starting to love them a bit too much given they're not mine Margaret.

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  10. I could have done with that snow picture to cool me down in Hay-on-Wye yesterday. I thought I was going to just melt . . .

    Lovely photos, and I bet the ponies appreciate the citronella. I like Self Heal too and have it growing in my garden, along with Codlins and Cream and Purple Loosestrife (these two latter around the ponds). I have a downer on Creeping Buttercup though . . .

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    1. Yes - I could do without it too, but it does cover the bald patches quite well!

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  11. Lovely photos and writings, Em! I particularly liked the close-ups of all the little lawn plants. It looks like there's a big transparent insect wing sticking up from behind the Creeping Buttercup.

    Even the Toad has a better of its own - I was entranced by those orange eyes. It's not a Hypno-toad is it? (All glory to the Hypno-toad!) :-)

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    1. I didn't spot that wing until I blew it up. Ahhhh - age related failing eyesight. Thank goodness for the macro eyes.

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  12. Lovely post and photos as always Em. Loved seeing all the flowers in your lawn too and the horse pics are just great. You do live in such a lovely part of the country :)

    Great last photo too :) Yesterday was that hot - it almost had me looking forward to the winter!!!

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  13. Wonderful photos. The calf looks a bit unsteady on his legs in your first photo - gorgeous! I love the toad's lack of interest in the slug and the cute little Stonechat, too. I was interested in your lawn plants, I've a new plant that's starting to creep everywhere here and take over the grass. My resident grazers aren't interested in it. I must look it up or post a pic for ID.

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    1. I'll look forward to seeing if I've got it invading my lawn too.

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  14. Lovely calf photo , he looks so young and thin unlike his mum! Great pictures of Dartmoor in the mist and the ponies, when you see them so regularly it's hard not to get attached. The rangers told me on Sunday that they are moving the Soay sheep to a different part of Berry Head-I shall really miss them being around that spot. Perfect lawns...I just cant see the point, love all the flowers in yours. Far too hot here again-I need to vacuum but know I'll boil!

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    1. Better here today with a lovely breeze. The ponies are still covered in flies though.

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  15. Love the toad, and the pic of the moor with the stones in particular.

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  16. Beautiful pictures, thank you! We have a lawn like yours, lovely to see the different plants and colours. Even our paddocks are becoming more weed and wildflower than grass, we're fine with that though, the mules don't seem to mind either.

    Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. Glad I'm not alone in the lawn department.

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  17. Lovely toad! & the sparrow photo is a classic!
    Know what you mean about cold mists, though. We get cold sea mists regularly while a mile inland it's scorching.

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    1. Sometimes there must be fifty or more sparrows in that tree!

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  18. For some reason when I think of the Moors, I don't think of calves. :)

    Love the Dartmoor Madams!

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    1. I don't either Gail - it was quite a shock to find it snoozing in the grass.

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  19. Another great set of photos. Like that little frog and the orange in his eye.

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  20. Your post from beginning to end is a lovely way to end my day! I don't reveal my legs either unless it's really hot--My husband jokes that you know it's hot if I've taken my socks off!! :-)

    I hope you enjoy your weekend!!

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    1. It's an issue of pastiness for me but the wonders of self tan that doesn't bring me out in an unsightly rash have changed that!

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  21. Hello, Ms. Parkinson
    Of course I came over from Tom Stephenson's blog, but I cannot join until there is another face between ours.

    In the meantime, I am in awe of your photography. I like illustrated stories, especially of places I'll never see.

    All the best; I'll be back.

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    1. Hello Joanne,

      Look forward to having you back. I'm not sure what other face you need but let's hope you find it!

      Best wishes,

      Em

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.