Monday, 29 February 2016

Sowing

Nice and dry and the sun is shining so apparently a good day to be sowing corn for harvesting later in the year.


Sunday, 28 February 2016

Big Bee

Still not managing a photo of honey bees in the blossom, however, I think this big ole bee may make up for it! I am sure he is pollinating the blossom too.






Later the sun set in a lovely fiery glow.



Saturday, 27 February 2016

No Bees

This morning I was amongst the trees on my first round of pruning the apple trees. 
I actually only did part of one tree, holding loppers aloft it hard work and the branches are in such a tangle that it takes quite a while just to get the loppers in place to take out a smallish branch to then go back take out a few more to create room to get to a larger branch. 

While I was lopping away I noticed bees amongst the plum blossom, sadly by the time I got back this afternoon with my camera all bees seemed to have secured enough honey for the day and were gone.

So just some photos of the blossom and you can see the new leaves beginning to emerge.







Friday, 26 February 2016

Tractor Day

Do not know if today is a special date in the agricultural calendar or if the wind was blowing a special way, or quite what was the reason.

Two farmers had their tractors out in force.

The first had 3 yellow ones 2 with red contraptions behind. Do not know what these do.






The second farmer was sowing his fields.
The yellow bags contain the grain that is being planted for this year.





Thursday, 25 February 2016

What Is This bird?

This morning we were entranced by 2 blackbirds fighting in the back garden. We were appalled by their viciousness, as one would pin the other to the ground and peck at it, they locked beaks and then the one on the ground would fight back up and push the other to the floor, flapping like crazy. This went on for quite a while with neither giving any ground. I thought, apparently incorrectly, that in nature there is rarely mortal wounding. 
We were at the point of thinking we should go out and that would scare them to their senses, 
when
whooosh.....
this bird of prey arrived and killed one of the blackbirds, the other flew off quickly.
Sadly they were so involved with their little picture they neglected to look out for danger.

This is a dreadful photo through the window glass and trying to get the whole bird in the picture so we could ID it. 
Still not sure what it is, any ideas?






Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Florida Black and White, A Few More.

Still hunting for the successful black and white photo.

Do you have a favorite?


















Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Coffee Cup

I enjoy the seasons and am trying to match coffee cups to the season or the plants and flowers that are around.

Needless to say this is the end of the snowdrop season, however, I have enjoyed many cups of coffee for the past few weeks in this little mug.



Monday, 22 February 2016

Delicate Sunset

This evenings' sunset was best described as 'delicate'. 

There were pastel colours in the clouds, and as it was slightly red, we are going with the 'red sky at night is a shepherds delight' (or if you are in America 'sailors' delight. You would think that as an island nation Great Britain would be more inclined to use the term sailor than a huge continent like America! 

Anyway, shepherds or sailors the sky may mean no rain tomorrow, not that we had much today. 
How was your day weatherwise?


Sunday, 21 February 2016

Florida In Black and White

No definitive answers as to which photos are preferable.
May have to take more!













Saturday, 20 February 2016

Friday, 19 February 2016

Green Woodpecker


Green WoodPecker on the grass.
These brightly coloured birds do not mind hunting on the ground when they find a good food source.

Hopefully he is tucking into a feast of ants and there will be less breeding in the grass later in the year.










Thursday, 18 February 2016

Bird Food

It would seem that the plums knew what to do!
While they seem to be flowering way too early for the production of plums, the small buds appear to be a tasty treat for the small birds like this long-tailed tit.


Cute little bird, more tail than body, they do like to arrive in a flock and can monopolise the bird feeders while they are there, before flying off to the next meal.




I hope that this one will grow more splendid tail feathers before mating later in the spring.

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

More Black and White Photos

These are some I have chosen, which do you like best?

I am still looking for others that might work.


Single Ibis




Lighthouse

Lone Tree


Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Frost!!!!

I suppose it was inevitable, however, it is annoying.

We had a heavy frost last night.

Look at the poor little plum blossoms covered with frost this morning.








There are still a few buds that have not opened,  so maybe there is still a chance of some plums?


Monday, 15 February 2016

White Stuff

This morning we had a little bit of the 'white stuff';  a sprinkling of snow.

Just what I had feared for the plums blossom although not as bad as a hard frost.

Here is some snow on one of the blossoms.




And some snow on the snowdrops, now that is appropriate!



By mid morning it had all gone. 
But, a fun change while it lasted.



Sunday, 14 February 2016

While The Sun Set

This afternoon I went and dug up some potatoes, a celeriac, a couple of leeks and found an onion from the autumn harvest.
As the sun set, 



I baked the vegetables then made them into delicious organic spiced soup.

Oh and the spicy part was chili and that too was grown here last summer.



With all the love around on Valentine's Day I decided it was a good time to plant up more chili seeds in pots inside, let's hope they grow well and produce more chilis  later in the year.

Also sowed some broad beans and peas straight into the ground, will see if they do anything. It is supposed to be rather cold at night for the next few nights so they may not have the best start.




Saturday, 13 February 2016

Black and White Florida

I was asked to come up with some Florida photos in Black and White.

Florida has such vivid colours it is hard for me to think of things in black and white.
Here are a couple that I converted to black and white, which do you prefer?
I will be posting up some others and asking your opinion so I come up with a good selection. 

Lighthouse Negative



Pelican Gone

February Sunset

Just another sunset, however, it was quite spectacular.

Friday, 12 February 2016

Valentines

Some Valentine love for Sunday.

Yummy homemade lavender shortbread heart shaped biscuits (cookies) with a lovely warm drink.



Thursday, 11 February 2016

Driverless Cars

I thought this was interesting!

Driverless cars


Or are they self driving cars
or autonomous cars

and how will they stop children playing 'chicken' and running in front of them?


not so human drivers

You have to admit, the cars do look cute.




And not too dissimilar????



Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Smaller Ice Creams

Thinking of our figures, or at least the waist lines it has been decided that we need smaller (less calories) ice creams.

smaller ice creams


However, if they are so small I am sure some of us will be very tempted to just have 2.
What is your favourite ice cream?

Monday, 8 February 2016

Happy Chinese New Year, Pancake Day and Ash Wednesday.

The Year of the Monkey.


Are you celebrating the Chinese New Year?

It is a busy week with Shrove Tuesday, (Pancake Day)

Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day all within the week 


Pancake Day has been celebrated by Britons for centuries.  Known also as Shrove Tuesday, its exact date, rather confusingly, changes every year, because it is determined by when Easter falls. But it is always the day preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), and always falls in February or March. This year, you'll need to get your pans ready for Tuesday, February 9th. 
Traditionally, pancakes were eaten on this day to use up rich, indulgent foods like eggs and milk before the 40-day fasting season of Lent began. But although it is enshrined in Christian tradition, it is believed that Pancake Day might originate in a pagan holiday, when eating warm, round pancakes - symbolising the sun - was a way of celebrating the arrival of spring. 
In England our pancakes each is rolled up by itself, with its own small slice of lemon. This pretty much sums up a traditional English pancake, and the authentic English Pancake recipe below will make this classic Shrove Tuesday treat, which has been made traditionally like this for hundreds of years


A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH PANCAKE RECIPE

makes 8 pancakes

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

  • 75g plain flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 pint (300ml) milk
  • 25g melted butter
traditional flavourings

  • a little lemon juice for each pancake
  • a little caster sugar for each pancake
  • a wedge of lemon if serving more than one per person
These are traditional English pancakes not to be confused with Scotch Pancakes which are popular in America.



Ash Wednesday is a Christian festival. It marks the beginning of six and a half weeks of repentance, fasting and abstinence in preparation for the most important Christian festival of Easter. Many Christians will attend a religious service where the ashes are blessed by the church leader, and placed on their forehead.