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

6 August 2014

WINGS


I've been trying to get this shot of a Southern Migrant Hawker in flight for three years now and yesterday was the day. Not brilliant but not bad. Thank goodness for digital cameras. Below is another Keeled Skimmer I think. It was completely exhausted and would fly a few feet, then land again for some minutes:


As you know I've been failing miserably with butterflies this year. Tiptoeing over the moors like an idiot after little Meadow Browns and Small Heaths who never rest. The other day, my neighbour with the beautiful big garden who very generously gives me many plants, rang to say their Buddleia and hydrangea were covered, so off I went to see the Peacocks, Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells:










And a Small White....wings blown out in the sunshine:


The Marsh Thistle was attracting life again. This time the butterfly had flown completely out of shot by the time the delay had expired. Sigh. A little Honey Bee left I think. 


A rather good looking young Blackbird on the feeder. Certainly better looking than that last one preening itself in the sun. 



Male Sparrow. The porridge still disappears in minutes, even at this time of year:


The Housemartins have nearly finished the nest but I'm not sure if they're resident. I can't really stand staring up at what might appear to be our neighbour's windows for any length of time. 


Obligatory Pipits:




Some amazing evening light:




OB sowed some carrot seed in March but only one made it through the Slug hell of our veg patch. He harvested it, if one can possibly harvest a single item, yesterday:



Definitely organic.


I love it when heather pokes up through the bright yellow of the gorse flowers:


Unknown pony in the sunshine:


When I first saw these in the grass, I thought they were tiny flowers but, on closer inspection, I think they might be fungi, possibly Pleated Inkcaps. I'm really not sure so any input gratefully received. They were about half a centimeter or one fifth of an inch across. TINY. 


Dogs enjoying the sun:



I haven't mentioned OB's Rubik's cube prowess recently and he wanted me to mention that his record for solving the 3X3 cube is 17 seconds now. At the end of term, he achieved level 6 in maths (if you don't have kids of school age this will probably mean nothing to you.....it meant nothing to me until a few years ago), which was his aim throughout the year, and I gave him the promised 7X7 cube as a reward. It really is an amazing achievement but then so is solving this momsa of a puzzle. 4 minutes at the moment but what I love is the fact that he's worked out how to make letters on it. F for his REAL name.....


The meeting with the people down the road about Trigger went well but I am now waiting to see if the lovely lady, who would suit him down to the ground, wants to come and meet him. She's also looking at ponies in local rescue centres. I'm keeping everything crossed as the place is horse heaven and her cob is a lovely calm animal who would keep Trigger grounded. I'll keep you posted. 

OB has as friend here for a couple of days so I've been taxiing them around. Am writing this in a brief respite but it's now time to pack them off to bed. They are currently giggling at some kind of ten year old boy's idea of smuttiness. So, until next time, here are those dogs looking alert having spotted someone on the horizon. Have a great rest of the week.


49 comments:

  1. That's one carrot more than there is here.
    Glad you survived last night's deluge.

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    1. Wasn't it amazing? That's the water butt filled up anyway.

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  2. Cracking shot of the dragon Em- well done, it's more than I've yet managed! I think your small white could be a green veined? Second generations carry more black wing markings than first versions. Tell OB I'm very impressed indeed with his R cube prowess and the initial is particularly smart. I used to fall back on peeling off the stickers and re-sticking them, which didn't fool anyone :-) xx

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    1. No idea about the white one as it was blindingly sunny. I'll go back and have a look when it's shady! x

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  3. Great photos, especially the first one!

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    1. I must look up your US Dragonflies and see how they differ....or not.

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  4. The heather photo is lovely.
    OB is so fabulous with the cube. I could never solve it.
    Too bad you didn't get the carrot sooner. You could have made something and added it to Johns post !

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I kept forgetting about John's thing. I'll go and catch up as they were so funny.

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  5. The dragonfly in flight is incredible! Well done! Love the butterflies, too. So close!

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    1. I wasn't close at all actually.....just better camera!

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  6. Blown away by the first shot.WOW!
    OB is a real whizz at the cube,eh?...another WOW!
    Jane x

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    1. He tries to explain to me but I just get the Charlie Brown teacher noise happening in my head. x

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  7. So many lovely childhood memories come from your photos. And your kid is amazing!

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    1. I guess butterflies in Germany are pretty much the same!

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  8. Amazing butterfly photos Em - quite breathtaking!

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    1. Thanks MrsN. They look nice against the grey don't they?!

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  9. Gorgeous butterfly and dragonfly photos. I've spent many hours this year too chasing after butterflies that never stop not even for one second!!

    Well done to OB on achieving Level 6 - a wonderful achievement. Fingers crossed everything works out for Trigger.

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only chaser RR. The dogs don't help to be honest. There was a Golden Ringed Dragonfly that landed .I fumbled with the camera, unable to believe my luck, when Jack came storming through and scared it off. Sigh.

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  10. Lovely Butterfly photos ... I've also spent hours trying to snap the little blighters - why are they always so 'busy'? I believe Buddleias are known as Butterfly bushes aren't they?

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    1. They are. I didn't realise how keen they were on hydrangea though.

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  11. Love your hairy flutter by! Get F with his letters on his 7er cube! Most impressive! Hoping the Trig lady works out x

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    1. Not looking good at the moment - she's seeing three other ponies who are likely to be far more suitable!

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  12. I really love your photos! In my garden grow some Buddleias too ... just for the butterflies of course :o). Gosh, I sah your Alpacas photos too ... you know, I'd really love to keep some by myself. But we haven't got enough land and enought time ... but who know what will come. I adore their faces ... so sweet that one really has to hug and cuddle them.
    Have a lovely evening.
    Alex

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    1. These ones don't take well to being cuddled and try and spit at you!

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  13. Your idea of a not brilliant photograph is my idea of an amazing one Em!
    Congratulations to OB (or F) for his wizard skills with the cube.

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    1. If it rains when we're in Cornwall next week he's going to try and teach me.....

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  14. Well done OB for his level 6 maths, and the carrot just sorry there weren't more. Great photos of the butterflies, and the hawker and skimmer are fantastic well done.

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    1. We all had a bit of it and we wish there were more too!

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  15. Lovely photos, you have a keen eye.

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  16. Gorgeous photos! Such detail. Love the striped antenna.
    I hope it works out for Trigger.

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  17. Oh! I meant to tell you how very impressed I am with OB's Rubix prowess. I didn't even know they made a 7x7 cube. Smart boy.

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  18. Everyone has said it they are gorgeous the photos, as they are. Particularly like the dragonflies, but the butterflies are spot on.. Have a nice time in Cornwall, we are going down sometime later in September, i would like to see the sea this time, but house hunting which is divided between North Yorks and Cornwall, so it will probably be megaliths and houses round North Cornwall on our trip...

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    1. Good luck searching Thelma. It's so time consuming isn't it? Especially now one can spend hours trawling the internet.

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  19. I am very impressed with OB's Rubix cube mastery! I still can't solve it even with directions. Hopeless.

    I love that last photo of the dogs!

    Keeping positive thoughts about Trigger for you.

    So behind on my blogging....

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    1. Not as behind as me I bet Gail. I'm barely keeping up with comments, let alone visiting others'. I'm half way through a commission and just don't seem to have a run of a couple of hours to finish it. Nightmare. x

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  20. Lovely....as always Em...
    Enjoy your week
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  21. Em we had a peacock butterfly turn up in Halifax last week, which caused quite a stir in the lepidopteran community in the province. We suspect it a chrysalis of two must have their way over on a shipping pallet. A gorgeous butterfly as your pictures capture beautifully. ME

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    1. How amazing Mark. I guess if it copes with our unpredictable climate it could manage yours too.

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  22. Em, excuse me for contacting you via your blog. I cannot find a direct route! I am making a video and need a few shots of Dartmoor. You have some lovely ones on your blog. I wondered if I can get permission to use and if so what a licence would cost?

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    1. Hi John, of course you can.....I've left you a comment with my email address.

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  23. Great job with OB's math and Rubix cube skills !
    My head would just explode now if I try things like Rubix cubes ,
    and have all I can do to figure simple math skills at times .
    I think blogging,photography and animal humor are all I can really handle to keep my brain exercised these days ~ no more room at the inn.

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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.