Author Archives: Hannah

July Flowers

July is the prime time for British wildflowers. It is the longest section in Margaret Erskine Wilson’s book Wildflowers of Britain Month by Month. Down by the river new flowers are taking centre stage: up steps yarrow, meadowsweet and dittander. … Continue reading

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Walking the bounds

My Dad likes to take a “stroll around the block” of an evening. I think that’s an interesting expression because a “block” is an American term. We don’t really have blocks here do we? My Granddad on my Dad’s side … Continue reading

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The private life of ladybirds

It has been so hot here. All the doors and windows of the house are flung wide open. Wren sleeps in just her nappy but only fitfully. She wakes up grumpy, her curls plastered to the back of her neck. … Continue reading

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Microwave conspiracies

My Dad has a conspiracy theory about microwaves. It goes like this. Whichever way he puts his mug of coffee into the microwave, it always finishes with the mug handle turned away from him when he goes to get it … Continue reading

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June flowers

Rain is gently tip-tapping on the window this morning. In the garden a single white foxglove grows in a foxglove graveyard. At least three others have died there but this one survived. I often wonder about gardening scenarios like this. … Continue reading

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Rogationtide

A blog I love to read is called Dove Grey Reader Scribbles, written by a community nurse living in the Tamar valley. It’s mostly about books but she also sometimes writes about the countryside around her. A while ago she … Continue reading

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Summer at last

Finch got some new pyjamas this week. He was so pleased with them that he got up in the night and put all three sets on, on top of each other. He was roasting when we went to wake him … Continue reading

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Ladybird lunch

Wren fell into the toy box like a sky diver this week; head first, arms back. All I could see was a pair of legs back-pedaling frantically. She also attempted to eat a ladybird. We’ve had loads of ladybirds in … Continue reading

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Dawn chorus

The swifts are back! They have been screeching loudly as they swerve and swoop over our heads. Little Owl and I went on an early morning outing with our local Wildlife Trust on Sunday to hear the dawn chorus. It … Continue reading

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Boomerang jobs

Sometimes it feels like Big Dreamer and I are trapped in an episode of Fawlty Towers on a loop. We can’t seem to do any jobs around the house without them boomeranging right round and pinging us in the head … Continue reading

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