Yesterday

WOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hubby actually came out fruit picking with me yesterday aft. Think he realised I was pissed off with him for forgetting our wedding anniversary yesterday. He will learn with time no doubt.

We found a new location for raspberries and almost filled a tupperware full of them. After that I went to pluck gooseberries, but found that the shrub had been taken, either dug up for relocation, or just got rid of. Whatever, I was NOT best pleased.

On a lighter note, got a phone call last night from a member of Northern earth wanting me to help to arrange a walk around Worsthorne way. Sounds good to me.

 

Butteflies

Forgot to add yesterday what a magnet my lavender is for insects. Have been watching the dozens of bees very closely, have recorded white, and orange tailed bumble bees, carder bees, and some other sort whose type I am unfamilliar with.

Today, as well as the usual cabbage white butterflies, I saw a small tortoiseshell butterfly and a painted lady butterfly. I think they are beautiful creatures, so graceful and delicate, however, my cats think they look good enough to eat, so had to put moggies inside on more than one occassion.

Decided to hunt for more raspberries, found some at the foot of Healey Heights, and also wild strawberries. Was most pleased about that!!!! On the way back, walked round by the top field, or the village green as it is now known, and Joyce had lots of blackcurrants dangling over her fence, so quite a few of those went home with me as well. Some folk look at me in horror when I say I eat the fruit as it is, say they will be full of worms and such. I say it adds to the flavour!!! Honestly, they will pay over the odds for fresh fruit in a supermarket, yet shun fruit that comes free.

Havent heard the crickets since the council worker mowed the grass on the back field, he went too far into the nettles this time. Do hope they didnt get killed.

The bottom of Healey Heights is bright pink with rosebay willowherb at the moment, am sure there is more than last year. All this lovely hot sun seems to have made everything grow in profusion since we had the storm the other week. Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter. Was 86 today, I put my thermometer is the sun and the mercury reached 98.

Lavender

This year my lavender bush in my front garden has excelled itself. Never have I seen it looking more purple. I still reckon it must be the largest lavender bush in Burnley outside of a public park.

Yesterday I had to rescue a grasshopper from my black cat who thought it would make a tasty snack. It hopped away into a bed of nettles on the back field.

The young deer has been sighted again early one morning, must try to get up before God and see it for myself.

Was annoyed to say the least today when I decided to go raspberry picking, some nasty person has cut all the canes level with the ground in the place I usually go to. Was only able to find a few more in a different location. There are several large cherry trees in full fruit, only trouble is I would have to be about 14 foot tall to reach them.

On a sadder note, a baby boy who was only a few weeks old died on the next street to us. His parents are little more than kids themselves but they were the proudest parents ever. Now this has happened and the whole district is in shock.

Grasshopper

At around lunchtime was in my backyard soaking up the sun when I noticed a movement on my willow sapling. On closer inspection I found it to be a lovely green grasshopper. Its the first one Ive ever found in my backyard so I was quite pleased. About an hour later there was no sign of it, just hope one of my cats didnt eat it. Still havent found out what the mystery fly was, the nearest I could find to it on the net was some kind of north american wasp. Long way from home if it was one of those.

Tuesday

Still the hot humid weather is upon is. I love it, it means I dont have to wear a jacket or socks.My hair sticks to my back, but so what, I am not cold.

My youngest daughter heard crickets up at Clowbridge reservoir yesterday evening, so  tis not just me hearing things. Wildlife Trust come and see!!!!

Tonight was chatting outdoors with neighbours about 10pm and a thing landed on my lavender bush, wasnt a bee or a wasp and was much bigger than a hornet. I have seached in my nature books and cant find it. Was four times the size of a bee, had reddish wings in the middle. Even in Algeria I never saw anything like it. I cant think that it was a native british insect. If I find what it was I will inform you.

weather

On sunday we had the worst thunderstorm I have known in years, It began about 2-30 by a distant rumbling which we all ignored. After about an hour we got a few raindrops, then it began to rain so I went indoors. Watched most of it thru my bedroom window, it came like a river down my frontstreet, like Niagara from the troughings, a dip in my backyard fild up and threatened to inundate my house, so I relucantly had to close my backdoor, even if it was hot and humid.

The result was we escaped the worst of it whilst Todmorden, Rossendale and Manchester got the worst. To see pics of Tod, please go to Todtalk.

Today

I caught the 1-27 train out of Burnley to Hebden Bridge. Today was the start of the Arts festival, so I thought I may catch one or two of the street performances. I was lucky in that there was a folk singer performing when I got there, near St Georges Square, so I sat down to eat my lunch and enjoy the music. Afterwards I thought I would go up the riverside path to Midgehole and then up to Pecket Well. Walking along Hangingroyd Lane I kept having to dodge a big blue dragonfly which was zipping about quite madly. They are beautiful creatures but rather stupid, am sure they must have bad eyesight cos they blunder straight into people.

Once I got onto the riverside walk there was still no respite from the heat and humidity, after only a short while I found I had a stitch in my side. Walking up the long flight of steps onto Midgehole Road was almost the death of me, could hear my heart pounding. Took it rather slower the rest of the way to Midgehole, saw lots of foxgloves in bloom alongside nettles and buttercups. Eventually I flopped onto a bench across from the Blue Pig ( Midgehole working mens club) and drank about half a litre of water. Decided that there was no way I was going to venture up to Pecket Well as it is a very steep incline all the way up, so I had a look from the outside at a des res that is up for sale. On the estate agents photos the garden looks huge, the reality is its quite tiny, still a lovely setting to live but you would definately need wheels. A pub but no shop within miles.Doubt if there is even a bus.

I decided to walk back by the main road, stroked a beautiful black cat with a short stump of a tail, could be a manx cross breed I think, she had the sweetest meow. Then a border collie dog came up to me to be stroked. It belonged to a Thai lady and we chatted for a while. I told her Ive a friend in Burnley married to a Thai lady, it only turned out that she was actually waiting for the same lady to visit her!!!! A few minutes later Richards car past me then he picked me up on his way back and dropped me off in the town centre. Talk about synchronicity!!!! I talk to a stranger and she knows the same folk as me.

Once back in the town I sat and watched a percushion band, they were good, think everyone was jigging around to them, then a 3some folk group. Met an American lady who was wearing a thick winter cardigan, she said folk back home had told her England is always freezing cold, so she had only brought winter clothes. I said to take her jacket off but she replied she didnt want to get skin cancer!!!! More likely she will die of heat exhaustion instead.  On the way back to the train station I thought I would snag a few cherries of somebodies tree, well I would have done but they arent even ripe yet, another tree that is 2 weeks behind last year. Something to look forward to in a couple of weeks, ripe cherries.

Got home about 5pm, house empty and cats needing to be fed.