STALKING GOLDEN PLOVER

I spotted this flock of Golden Plover a few weeks ago and have been looking for them ever since. Today my persistence, tiptoeing round the saturated fringe of the bog, was rewarded. The presence of two potential canine assassins doesn't help the stealthy approach. Me shouting "WAIT!" at Jack doesn't exactly help either, so these pictures are on full zoom, taken through persistent drizzle. They were surprisingly obliging for a minute or so.

The weather forecast for the rest of the week is for high pressure meaning no rain but I'll believe it when I see it. The rain here can get you down sometimes. I'm suffering with my back at the moment which is probably the real problem. Two years and three months since my accident and resulting spinal surgery, and I'm still in chronic and constantly changing pain. This, I think, is the last of the big numb areas stuttering back into life like very sore pins and needles. I'm sorry to moan - I know I should be grateful to be alive but it does get me down a little sometimes. I've just put my very expensive and lovely Musto riding coat on ebay which I've been putting off as it reinforces the reality of never riding again. Right - moan over...I have some bloody strong pain killers for a week and I'm going to make the most of them. Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

I like this for a card but I wonder if anyone else will

Is it a calf? No it's a very furry foal

What an amazing little Chantarelle-like fungi

Strange jelly that appears at this time of year. Not sure if anyone knows what it is yet but there was a lot of discussion about it in the media a few years ago. Does anyone know?

Lonely cow

I found this mini lichen garden lying on the ground. I assume something had knocked it off its rock. I took it home and stuffed it into our little dry stone wall; I hope it survives.

Thank you SO much for all your opinions on the card options last week. The results are in and I'll be getting the top six printed very soon. I really appreciate all the effort you put in. So, until next time, here are the dogs, Jack in Meerkat position. 

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED AGAIN PLEASE

A - Snippet

It has been pointed out to me that underselling myself is not good for business and, having actually managed to make a small loss on the Christmas cards (my own stupid fault), I've decided to do some packs of cards that might sell all year round. Your input last time was invaluable and I'd really appreciate your help again if you could possibly spare a few minutes. 

There are three categories: Drawings, birds and more general photos. I'd really like to know which you think would make good cards in each category. I'm thinking of packs of five A6 cards of the same design with envelopes, which would pack easily into an A5 envelope and keep postage costs down to a minimum. Bear in mind, the square images would be cropped to a more oblong shape.

So........ 

Category 1: Drawings (including Snippet above)

B - Anemone

C - Northern Spotted Owl

D - Two for Joy

Category 2:  Birds

E - Stonechat

F - Blue Tit

G - Chaffinch

H - Magpie

Category 3: Photography

I - Stone Wall

J - Valley Shadows

K - Snowy Snippet

L - Meldon Hill (I think!)

M - Snippet's World

N - Snowy Stone Rows

These are in again for Pat at http://weaverofgrass.blogspot.co.uk/, I know she only wanted the sheep in the Christmas lot!

O - Snow Sheep

P - Middle Tor

Q - Rainbow Sheep

R - Layers

S - Lone Sheep

T - Rocky Snippet

If you have liked any other pictures in the past that you remember, do please suggest them. Trawling through hundreds of images took forever and I probably rejected ones I should have left in. Any ideas appreciated. My choices would be:

A - Snippet

C - Owl

D - Two for Joy

E - Stonechat

F - Blue Tit

I - Stone Wall

K - Snowy Snippet

N - Snowy Stone Rows

R - Layers

But I was completely wrong before!

Thanks so much in advance and until next time, here are Snippet and Jack today

SUNDAY WALK IN THE WOODS

Half term has been a bit of a whirlwind but school is back today and routine restored. Yesterday afternoon, instead of our usual grind of wood chopping, recycling, washing, bed changing and other menial tasks, we decided to take a walk at Milfordleigh, somewhere I haven't been for twelve years; ridiculous since it's so close, and takes fifteen minutes to drive to. Both dogs had a fantastic time, as did we, despite the rain and relative gloom. A National Trust owned wood, it lies very close to the rather famous Gidleigh Park Hotel, with its two Michelin starred restaurant. Never been obviously - way beyond our means but it means OB sees a lot of fabulous cars on their way through Chagford to their posh destination. I'm afraid a lot of these photos have a slight graininess about them due to the aforementioned November gloom. Lots of lovely fungi but most are past their best now.

Aren't these protective fences around new trees fabulous? Much nicer than the insipidly pale pink plastic ones you see everywhere else.

Tiny bracket fungus on a log

Another unidentified red fungus, this time with an orange-ish underside - any ideas? David Turner at http://woldranger.blogspot.co.uk/ has ID'ed them as Scarlet Waxcaps. 

The River Teign rushes along the edge of the Woodland

This lovely hut contains garden tools and other equipment. The dogs nearly got stuck underneath it....terriers. 

ENORMOUS fungi, possibly felled by passing wildlife

I had to use the flash for these two beauties, something I am loth to do, but it was getting seriously dark at this point

More white water

A few more pictures from the weekend.....

Trigger's friends relaxing

These tiny fungi are sprouting on cow poo

Autumn colours

A busy week ahead so excuse me if I'm not visiting your blogs as regularly as I would normally. The rain has stopped today and the sun is shining. A lovely day at last. I won't look at the forecast as it could be depressing. Until next time, here are Snippet and Jack in full flight.