Relapse! Coping, Symptoms and Tips.

[Darksky]

Don’t think an awful lot is happening round here either. But our nearest town is a one street wonder so it’s not surprising. There will be plenty of the telly though.

Anyway, I must share what happened yesterday afternoon. I was out restocking the bird feeder when a little baby blue tit arrived on it . He was too young to know fear, so I put some food on my palm and very slowly inched it closer. Couldn’t believe it when he hopped onto my hand and began to eat. Slowly again I bought my hand closer to me and it ended up within a few inches of my eyes. He was exquisitely pretty, all new and fluffy. Of course I had no camera and if I had I think it would have scared him. But I was buzzing! Stuff like that is the best tonic in the world.

[Carnation]

Oh Darksky, how wonderful. What a lovely moment you experienced.

[pulisa]

Yes that must have been such a special moment...I can only offer up being eyeballed by my army of pigeons who line up on the shed roof as they await their morning seeds..and then hover above my head impatiently!!

"The Birds"...eat your heart out!

[Lencoboy]

Not much my way either Pulisa. Not that I'd be rushing to suddenly socialise with a load of strangers. So the box it is then. Might do a buffet that day.
Just remembered something when I used to ask my mum what was for dinner. She'd often reply, "sh it with sugar on it". Lol. Those were the days.

Which also reminds me. If you smile or laugh, it apparently stops the fight or flight response. Lol, if only it was that simple.

I'm not mega fussed either way, as I can take it or leave it with both the Jubilee and royalty period, thus 'on the fence'.

But for once it will of course be nice to have a bit of something for people to collectively enjoy if they so wish to do so (in the case of the Jubilee events and of course the forthcoming World Cup), especially after a lot of the horrible things we've all been through so far during the 2020s alone (Covid in particular)!

[Catkins]

That sounds wonderful Darksky!

[Darksky]

I tried it again yesterday. He stayed eating with my hand next to him but couldn’t be bothered to hop on. Not sure if it was the same one though…the parents bring a clutch of 4 to the feeder.

We have a baby mouse living in a hole underneath the feeder with an adult. I’ve called him Miki…yes I know it’s vermin as Mr.D informs me often and loudly but it’s sooooo sweet. The cat is very aware of him and sits next to the hole waiting. He reminds me of a polar bear sat next to a seal hole in the ice just patiently waiting for the seal to come up for air. He’s not caught him yet though.

Woke this morning to the bellowing of cattle. Cows had escaped the field and were running up and down the lane like a flaming rodeo. That and the swearing of the farmer, the barking of his dog who’s flipping useless, made for an early rise.

May just do a bit of gardening today, perhaps get the strimmer out. Although I do fancy a trip to the shops. Yesterday we went ancestor searching in the country graveyards locally. I actually enjoyed it. Found two lots of graves I didn’t know about. One was so old it was hard to read. I don’t know if I’m weird but I find old country churches and graveyards really peaceful. I think Mr.D enjoyed himself too… he said, well that was different.

[Scass]

I tried it again yesterday. He stayed eating with my hand next to him but couldn’t be bothered to hop on. Not sure if it was the same one though…the parents bring a clutch of 4 to the feeder.

We have a baby mouse living in a hole underneath the feeder with an adult. I’ve called him Miki…yes I know it’s vermin as Mr.D informs me often and loudly but it’s sooooo sweet. The cat is very aware of him and sits next to the hole waiting. He reminds me of a polar bear sat next to a seal hole in the ice just patiently waiting for the seal to come up for air. He’s not caught him yet though.

Woke this morning to the bellowing of cattle. Cows had escaped the field and were running up and down the lane like a flaming rodeo. That and the swearing of the farmer, the barking of his dog who’s flipping useless, made for an early rise.

May just do a bit of gardening today, perhaps get the strimmer out. Although I do fancy a trip to the shops. Yesterday we went ancestor searching in the country graveyards locally. I actually enjoyed it. Found two lots of graves I didn’t know about. One was so old it was hard to read. I don’t know if I’m weird but I find old country churches and graveyards really peaceful. I think Mr.D enjoyed himself too… he said, well that was different.

How lovely! I adore this time of year with the baby birds. We have some little mice too, I put sunflower seeds under the feeder & they dart out to get them. Ot sounds like you live in a lovely part of the country Darksky.
I’ve still not got the woodpecker back again though since I spent a summer with my feeder a few years ago, we had a parakeet last year too.
Still, if I don’t get off my behind and go outside and actually fill the feeders then they probably won’t come

[Carnation]

I've never seen a woodpecker Scass, how lovely.
Darksky, do you live on animal farm?
We had a little mouse in the garden last year and I made safety areas for it because our cat was really giving it the run around.
I have a situation with my bird feeder. Pigeons! They headbutt it so the seed will fall out and they grab it! I also have a female blackbird on guard with her young keeping a beady eye on my cat. They seem to both be aggravating each other and I feel like a referee.
I'm surrounded by fields. A lot of that yellow stuff) rapeseed oil) that affects me with hay-fever. A pig farm is close by and you can hear them grunting sometimes.
We get a lot of starlings and rooks come in the garden and are wary of an occasional visit from a hawk.
Seagulls in their plenty and wood pigeons. Both very greedy.
I have a resident toad. Only comes out in the summer time. He landed on my foot one day and didn't realise until I looked down and stupidly squealed which frightened it and hopped away in the bushes.
But I love it all. Its all very me and enjoying being with nature. I smile when I see the bees at work, the butterflies enjoying the flowers I have grown, the dragonflies dealing with the mosquitoes, the birds doing their rain-dance for worms, the runner beans growing up the sticks that will give me good nutrient to eat. Just wish I was more successful with tomatoes. Lol.

[Darksky]

We have a couple of Spotted Woodpeckers that come to the feeders. They do my head in though, because of their size and the size of their beaks they can demolish a fat block in minutes.

Carnation I haven’t seen a starling or a sparrow in years. Not round here anyway. We have Buzzards soaring on the thermals and occasionally you can hear them do that haunting cry of theirs. And I can hear little lambs bleating now, the cows still mooing because they are still unsettled and the farmer banging away mending his fences lol. Oh and Mr.D is chopping a tree down that’s got too big. Got to keep an eye on him, last time he did that he fell off the ladder and nearly broke his ankle.

[Catkins]

I just love this time of year! I envy you all your wildlife. We do occasionally get mice under the bit of decking we've got in the back yard. But I've never had any luck with bird feeders. I used to think it was because there are a lot of cats around here, but there isn't as many so maybe I need to try again.

I've planted four tomato plants (that my friend gave me) into the cold frame this morning. Fingers crossed 🤞 no lurgy gets them this year!