Skirlington and Burton Constable!

Spent a bit of time with Darren today as we went to the boot sale as usual. Only got some very cheap cds and a book for 50 p to take along to my indoor gardening talk. At lunch time I went along to Burton. Constable with Darren as he was going to archery and there was a flower festival and plant sale at the house and grounds. My membership card meant that I could go in without extra payment. Some nice flower displays around the house, some quite unusual.I will add them a couple at a time, not that you will be able to tell that, but the blogger app throws me off if I do too many at once!

The huge entry door had an equally huge wreath arrangement on it and the dining hall looked splendid.

A couple of more unusual ones, the collar of a dress and a complete dress! We noticed some on model shapes at the Christmas displays

A more traditional arrangement and some beautiful chairs for a change!

A view of the plant stalls outside and another  flower arrangement.

Yet more......

......and more!

Thought those two were unusual and stunning. One more from inside and one of some lovely yellow flowers as I made my way to the plant stalls

I made my way back to the car with my purchases, the plants are for my talk but the willow dragonfly and the hand made true are personal!

I had a spell in the summer house and will post four pictures as I am pleased with them. Fairly sure the stunning large mottled bird is a thrush but someone may tell me different!

Mostly a squirrel visitor!

This morning I spent most of it moving my numerous ornaments in the sitting room and polished all the woodwork, that was after I had been down to get the weekend shopping.

I did start tryouts no to cut the ply wood with my new knife but found it a strain on my wrist and Darren finished off cutting the pieces for a blanket box for the dolls house.

Then I went out into the summer house for a while. Lots of squirrel activity today, two of them for a while.

A couple of close ups.

A couple of bird pics.

Then the squirrel was on the ground, luckily I had made sure the cats were indoors.

One more of him/her on the ground and one if it’s tail!

A cute picture of a sparrow.

And one of our little mystery friend.

One more of my squirrel friend.

The courgette plants have taken off now and there are even little yellow courgettes appearing!

After dinner I went to see Sarah and David for a while as they are going away for a few days next week.

I am a strimmer destroyer!

Yesterday evening I made a birthday card for a friend who loves rock and roll and has limited vision, so hopefully this will tick the right boxes!

Quite a lot of bird pictures again, just can’t stop taking them, but I do ignore more than I post!

So many tits visit now and I never tire of seeing them.

I like the sparrows too and am delighted they come to the garden as they are said to be in decline.

I did go to a Living Well meeting this morning but after lunch did go out with the strimmer as Tina had sent for a new spool of the wire. I didn’t take before pictures but did clear two areas that had weeds and unwanted plants a foot or more high, before I managed to ruin the rest of the spool!!

That second bed was particularly bad.

A few solo bird pics.

A couple of differing focus shots again but at a different time of day and light.

Lastly today not one but two mystery birds!

Gardening,wild life and new tools!

I did some more clear g in the front garden today and removed some of the weeds I could pull out from the gravel drive.didn’t take pictures of where I was working but took some of the flowers.

After lunch and a bit more gardening I went in the summer house for a while. The sun was out today, in fact it was really hot working out there today, but it made a very different light for the pictures this afternoon.

I had put some more suet logs and fat balls out so the squirrel arrived.

A wood pigeon wandered by.......

Then the squirrel decided to see what titbits it could find on the ground.

Quite gingery that one in the sunlight.

The next two photos are a sort of arty experiment. The same greenery but different focal point!

Quite like them!!

The delivery of me tools for dolls house furniture making arrived when I was out the front gardening, which was good. Tina and Darren think I should use them under supervision, knowing my habit of slicing pieces off my fingers!!

One more bird picture which I almost forgot as it has a blue tit and a great tit on the feeder,

I had a walk to a different charity shop today to find pots for the indoor gardening talk, also got another second hand book through the post. Even bought four plants!

Went round to the church this evening as back up at a wedding rehearsal but was back in time to see the second half of the football. Go England!