(no subject)

[pensnest]

There is a metal dragon in the garden which peers into a large mirror, a mirror we have had hanging about for ages. Well. The dragon was blown over in recent wind, and today, the two regular crows that visit seem to have discovered the mirror. They were making a lot of fuss! They appeared to be digging in the soil just in front of the mirror, though I have no idea why; they were certainly cawing a lot, and I think they were looking at their reflections, too. They retreated when Beast and I went to see what the heck was going on, but after we moved away, the crows were soon back.

There were a couple of dead birds not far from the mirror—a male blackbird, and a similar bird that may not have been the female blackbird, as it had a pale and speckled throat. I've never spotted a thrush in the garden before, but who knows. The crows were not, however, pecking at the corpses. Oddly, we have seen two corpses there before, and at least one of those was also a blackbird. It's such a shame. I don't know what killed them, but I don't think it was Sable.

All very mysterious.

*

Beast and I had the felicity of visiting nopseud over the weekend, and were joined by the lovely ephemera as well. We went to Hidcote Manor, for a rather chilly stroll around the gardens—the snowdrops were mostly over, daffs were in various stages, and there were lots and lots of hellebores blooming. It's the sort of place it would be nice to visit once a month, to watch the place change as the seasons pass. There was also a small Kaffe Fassett exhibition of quilts and needlepoint, and a rather charming second-hand bookshop in a former chapel.

We also indulged in afternoon tea at a local nature reserve, after a stroll about the place. Teapots arrived stacked with two teacups, in very pretty china, and the food was served on slates supported by wooden A-frames. There was perhaps an overabundance of cake, which is an odd thing to say about afternoon tea, but the very good finger sandwiches and excellent scones (two each, one plain and one fruited, with of course the necessary jam and clotted cream) were followed by a chocolate eclair, a slice of Victoria sponge, a slice of lemon drizzle, a chocolate brownie *and* a miniature piece of frangipane tart. Oh, and a glass pot of Eton Mess. More than enough for a Type II like me to have to stop mid-way and pack up a box to take home.

Anyway. We had a lovely weekend, met the two beautiful little cats and even sorta managed to make friends with at least one of them, and talked a lot. And ate very well, as nopseud is an excellent cook who was trying out some interesting new recipes. \o/

*

Any Campers who have not been in touch of late should contact nopseud.

Comments

[manna]

Birds can hurt themselves attacking mirrors, especially in the spring when they're defending their territory. They run at the 'intruder' and aren't expecting a collision. Four dead birds would seem to be quite a lot, though!

[(Anonymous)]

また、無断でお引越しですね？

[yarnofariadne]

That is an alarming abundance of dead birds!

The visit sounds absolutely lovely.

[turps]

That is a lot of dead birds, and cake!

I'd much rather have the cake.

I'm glad you had such a lovely weekend.

[minoanmiss]

*delights in the crows*

[brandywine28]

Are the birds trying to frame poor Sable? Is it a deadly bird conspiracy?? 'Cos if so, I won't stand for it!

Yay for fun outings with cool people! And also cake!

[turlough]

How sad with dead birds in the garden. A pale, speckled throat sounds like a thrush to me. Female blackbirds are a bit less black than the males but they're not speckled in any way.

It sounds like you'd a lovely weekend. Garden visit and Kaffe Fassett exhibition and a cake-filled afternoon tea all sounds absolutely delightful!

[ephemera]

It was fabulous to see you!