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

25 July 2014

NEW DOG & THE RETURN OF THE HOUSE MARTINS


45 minutes with the Snippers clippers and what a difference. These are the before pictures:



Too hot...........


He wasn't happy.........


Much better:


Do you remember the muddy patch the house martins left on my neighbour's wall last year? Well, they're back and seem to be finishing the job. Bit late in the season but perhaps they're building it for next year having had their brood. I'll keep you posted. This was a couple of days ago:


These were today; good progress:


A bit shy to start with:


But soon back to work:




I know this is out of focus but I had to show you the multi-bug business going on here with the Large Red Damselfly being joined by these two friends playing piggy back:


I saw this young blackbird yesterday, preening in the sun:



Mmmm - much better:


Obligatory Meadow Pipits:



Another enormous and disturbing looking meal!




Spiders' webs covered in morning dew. That's a LOT of spiders:


Sheep are trying to keep cool in the dusty bowls, previously muddy puddles:


Bees mating:


Couldn't resist those Sword Thistles in the sunshine:


 Craggy Kestor in the sun: 


Today we went down to the river to swim. It was glorious:


We weren't the only ones swimming:


Bracken  wasn't much help pulling him out:


The light was exquisite on the parched heather:


Some people turned up with their dog. It turned into a mad chase and the dogs are out for the count tonight.


Like a very stretched out version of Jack:


Today is the first day of the summer holidays and it's started well. Tomorrow we're off to the seaside if it's nice. Last night I had a dream that I found a kitten in the washing machine being strangled by a belt. I saved it but then kept finding kittens in peril all over the strange and labyrinthine house in which I was staying. Freud would have a field day with that. Have a great weekend and until next time, here are the dogs again. 



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55 comments:

  1. Sue in Suffolk25 July 2014 at 21:21

    Very strange that the house Martins are building so late in the season. The moor looks so big and quiet and empty in your lovely photos

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:13

      They've nearly finished it today so we'll have to wait and see if they plan to fill it.

      Delete
  2. Joanne Noragon25 July 2014 at 21:35

    That was one shaggy dog. Our cairns always loved summer hair cuts.
    Until I saw them, I was thinking purple martin, which is a lovely swallow we have. They nest in cavities, and folks devise all sorts of homes for them. including hollow gourds.

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:14

      Much cleverer of them to save their strength for feeding rather than spending weeks building with bits of mud!

      Delete
  3. Dartford Warbler25 July 2014 at 22:49

    Snippet must be feeling much happier for his hair cut!

    I have never seen bumble bees mating before. What an interesting photo.

    Hoping that you and your son have a lovely summer holiday on the moor. What a place to grow up!

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:16

      I'd have loved to grow up here DW and I've never seen bees mating either!

      Delete
  4. Chickpea26 July 2014 at 00:07

    awwww what a lovely dog x

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:17

      He really is Chickpea. So sweet natured too.....with humans anyway.

      Delete
  5. rusty duck26 July 2014 at 00:25

    Snippet is well named!

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:18

      Isn't he? We didn't know that when he was a puppy though.

      Delete
  6. Terry26 July 2014 at 00:32

    Love that spider web photo!
    How fun it would be to take a dip in that river.

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:19

      It's absolutely amazing swimming in the river. It takes half an hour to walk there so we're desperate to get in when we arrive, sweating like pigs!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous26 July 2014 at 01:20

    couldn't pick a fave...

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:21

      I like the racing dogs best but I wish I'd cropped it tighter so you could see their faces.

      Delete
  8. angryparsnip26 July 2014 at 05:46

    hahahahahaha,
    I looked at your heading and the photo and I though did you find a cousin of Snippet ? Then I put my glasses on and saw Snippet.
    He looks very handsome. And you must tell him that because some dogs get embarrassed. My friends dog was always upset for several days after a cut. But she only had her cut twice a year.
    The Square Ones love they way they look after their grooming they know they are looking GUD !

    cheers, parsnip

    Cheers, parsnip

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:22

      The square ones always look immaculate Parsnip. Immaculate Snippet is not, but he's a lot happier now.

      Delete
  9. Bovey Belle26 July 2014 at 07:03

    I bet Snippet is feeling cooler now (hah - especially after his swim!) Great that they have doggy friends to play with but I bet that Greyhound (or racing Whippet? as they are BIG) won all the races! That moth or whatever the Meadow Pippit had must have half choked the chicks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:24

      I thought the same BB. It sat there cheeping with it hanging out like that for absolutely ages. I don't think they're very bright to be honest.

      Delete
  10. Unknown26 July 2014 at 07:16

    That reminds me, I need to book a hair cut lol

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:25

      That's his last for the year. One in Spring and one now. It'll all have grown back in a month.

      Delete
  11. Margaret Birding For Pleasure26 July 2014 at 07:57

    All the dogs are lovely and that water looks inviting in these very hot days. The Moors look peaceful. Like the Dragonfly and bugs shot. Have a great weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:26

      You too Margaret. I wonder what that little beetle was doing?

      Delete
  12. Amy at love made my home26 July 2014 at 08:24

    That picture of the bees doing their thing is amazing!!!! I hope that you have a great weekend and a nice day at the beach today. xx

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:27

      I tried to get closer to the bees but they flew off.....in the same position! Impressive.

      Delete
  13. Kath26 July 2014 at 08:58

    well Snippet you look very smart with your new hair-do. I just loved the photo of the dogs all chargung about enjoying themselves, what a wonderful place for dogs to live.

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:28

      They are so lucky. I saw dogs in London and felt very sorry for them but I guess it's all they know.

      Delete
  14. Down by the sea26 July 2014 at 09:22

    Snipper goes look like a new dog. How good to see to see the house martins return. Sarah x

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:29

      I'm so pleased to see them too Sarah. It's 7.30pm now and they're still at it. x

      Delete
  15. Ragged Robin26 July 2014 at 11:08

    Snippet looks very smart and great news that the House Martins have returned :) I love the photo of the spiders' webs - have a great weekend.

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:30

      The whole moor was covered in those webs that morning; hundreds of thousands of spiders. Amazing.

      Delete
  16. The Weaver of Grass26 July 2014 at 11:33

    You are brave with the snippers Em - I always take Tess to the hairdressers - daren't do it myself.
    I love that photograhp of all those dogs enjoying that romp. No wonder they were all tired out - does them good though. Enjoy the seaside today.

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:31

      I'm too mean Pat and since we had a spare pair of clippers, I thought I'd give it a go. It's the scissor work around the muzzle he really doesn't like though, poor boy.

      Delete
  17. Roy Norris26 July 2014 at 11:35

    Hi Em, reference the House Martins, its not unusual for them to produce three broods between April and September.

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:33

      But would you expect them to build a new house to do it in Roy? I'm fascinated to know if this is normal as they've been here for months wheeling around the barns up here, so this can't be the first brood for them can it? They only started the build a few days ago. Would love to hear you opinions.

      Delete
  18. Jane and Chris26 July 2014 at 13:47

    Snippet is looking VERY handsome!
    Love the spider web shots,the doggy romping,the bird shots...well everything really!
    Jane x
    PS Your dream sounds like living in my house!

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:34

      Kittens being tortured - remind me to pop in when I'm in Canada Jane and I can freak out at the reality of my Freudian hell!

      Delete
  19. Anonymous26 July 2014 at 14:01

    Snip looks fab :-) Great pictures as always and I am v jealous that you have a river to swim in. Our local one is perfect, but it's always filled with fishermen :-( xx

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    1. Em Parkinson26 July 2014 at 19:36

      Oh no! What a shame - there's nothing more refreshing. My hair is stiff with salt tonight from sea swimming but yesterday all I had was weed and a swimming costume full of mud. Nice mud though. xx

      Delete
  20. Elizabeth McCrindle26 July 2014 at 22:09

    Love the spider webs, usually next month before we get them. Misty mornings and diamond encrusted webs :))

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    1. Em Parkinson27 July 2014 at 10:04

      The conditions were exactly right that morning. I guess they're always there but we just can't see them.

      Delete
  21. ann @ studiohyde27 July 2014 at 09:19

    Snippet looks so much cooler...bless him :-)

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson27 July 2014 at 10:04

      Do you ever clip William? I've only been doing Snippet for the last couple of years.

      Delete
  22. Gail H. Ragsdale27 July 2014 at 20:22

    Snippet looks so handsome with his hair cut! I'm sure he is cooler also.

    Love the photo of Kestor in the sun.

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    1. Em Parkinson28 July 2014 at 09:17

      It's already showing signs of growing back!

      Delete
  23. mrsnesbitt28 July 2014 at 13:10

    Our house martins are back. Got a fabulous photo perching from the bathroom sink!

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson30 July 2014 at 17:22

      I need to hang out of the bedroom window really. See you in A&E!

      Delete
  24. TexWisGirl28 July 2014 at 18:31

    love your sweet fuzzy pup! and his sleek haircut, too. laughed at the dog races. so cute!

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    1. Em Parkinson30 July 2014 at 17:23

      The three of them didn't stand a chance against that greyhound blood.

      Delete
  25. Unknown30 July 2014 at 01:48

    Cute dog. Handsome little fella.

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  26. DeniseinVA31 July 2014 at 11:59

    A fun post Em, sweet dogs you have there. Loved seeing them run around with their new friends. The birds were a delight and haven't those spiders been busy? Cute one of OB sitting on the rock, all the other photos were great too.

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    1. Em Parkinson31 July 2014 at 15:41

      We have an OB calendar every year and that looks like a good candidate for it!

      Delete
  27. Cindy@NorthofWiarton31 July 2014 at 12:20

    Funny the Barn Swallows here make nests of mud right under the eaves outside our bedroom windown. Snippet did get the "snip" ! it has been a rather cool summer here with only a 9*C temp this morning. xx

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    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson31 July 2014 at 15:43

      That is cool Cindy! We're having the best summer in years.....sorry! X

      Delete
  28. mychael15 March 2016 at 15:00

    For more information visit
    dog clippers



    ReplyDelete

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