Monday Musings

My brain has seemed to slow down over the last few weeks. Equally it has started to race too, especially at around 4a.m. I find it hard sometimes to 'take things in'  as easily as I used to.  I think the slight hearing loss plus the tinnitus and hypercusis don't help.  Also not going out, other than for a walk, isn't really helping either as I find I'm anxious about being outside. 

Anyway, onwards and upwards.  I've been testing the new blogger.  Has anyone else tried it?  I know from some of your blog posts that one or two of you have.  I'm sort of working it out but I do hate change, it makes me feel inept.   Anyway I found a few issues with the new blogger which confused for a while but the main one is the Reading List on the dashboard not the sidebar.  If you click on a blog post you want to read it takes you to a redirection page first before being taken to the actual blog.  Two clicks instead of one.  Very irritating.  I wonder if this will be ironed out soon or if it is a permanent thing.

On Saturday night we watched the film 'Goodbye Christopher Robin' just as it finished the heavens opened, it thundered and lightened and outside there was a rainbow.

 This was the best photo I could get of the strange light and the rainbow without getting soaked through.

 On Saurday morning we walked across the fields and I took my camera so I could photograph the foxgloves for 30 Days Wild so some of you will have seen this and those below before.

 It was warm yesterday so the butterflies came out to play.

As did the foxes and badgers which were picked up by the wildlife camera overnight.

It's sunny today and I have washing drying outside.  It's got to be a good day.

30 Days Wild, Week Three - Summary

Here is a summary of my adventures in week three of the 30 Days Wild challenge organised by the Wildlife Trusts in which you try to get out and about in nature and do something wild everyday, doesn't matter how big or small, just a little something everyday for thirty days.

Day 15

Visited the RSPB Nature Reserve at Burton Mere and saw a stoat

Day 16

Walked in the local park

Day 17

Found the Secret Garden in the local Museum

Day 18

Found an Angle Shades moth in the garden

Day 19

Was joined for a while in the garden by a young robin

Day 20

After rain went out to discover striped snails in the garden

Day 21

Walked in a local country park and down a canal towpath

You will find more on each of these on my 30 Days Wild blog - click on the link on my sidebar

30 Days Wild - Week Two - Summary

I'm a bit late with this summary of week two of my attempts at '30 Days Wild'  for the Wildlife Trusts' month long project to promote getting out in nature and attempting small random acts of wildness each day.

I have written more on each of these in my special '30 Days Wild' blog - link in my sidebar but here are some of the highlights of that.

Day 8

Discovering the tree hide at Moseley Old Hall a National Trust property in the West Midlands.

Day 9

Finding urban green spaces - a walk on Festival Park, site of the 1986 National Garden Festival, now a commercial, leisure and retail complex by the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Day 10

A walk in Clumber Park and framing nature

Day 11

Spotting a young robin in the garden on the day the robin was announced as the nation's favourite bird.

Day 12

Clearing weed from the pond whilst looking for frogs and newts, pulling out all the goosegrass and finding out its many other names.

Day 13

Finding a flooded path and several creatures enjoying the wet garden

Day 14

Watching the bees on the flowers around the garden after the rain

30 Days Wild

I've been spending time this week taking part in the Wildlife Trusts'  project of finding time for nature in random acts of wildness, just a little wildness every day for 30 days.  Doesn't have to be a huge thing - perhaps just sitting reading in the garden or spotting something seasonal and interesting on your way to work or school, making something for wildlife in your garden.  There are lots of ideas on the website  here

So far this week I have 

Remembered my childhood and blowing Dandelion clocks on the school field to release the seeds which we used to call fairies.

Fed the birds in the garden and spotted an unusual visitor for a city garden.

Taken a woodland walk and identified some trees by their leaves.

Identified a wild flower that was taking over in our front garden and wondered how it got there, not birds in this case but on the fur of an animal - badger, fox or cat?  All visit our garden.

Spotted a wall up an alley way on my way to meet friends for lunch which was covered in three types of ferns and identified them all when I got home.

Walked by the nearby lake and taken photos of young coots on the bank.  Looked up coots when I got home to see if there was a name for a young coot.  I couldn't find one.

Sat outside in the sunshine with a picnic lunch listening to the birds singing.

Here is a link to the blog I started for this project. 

Now what am I going to do next week?  I've no idea but I'm sure I'll find something.