PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Friday, 10 February 2012

I Am A Tree, I Am An Apple Tree

Sunshine and snow at the Byre
Lovely to look at, fun to photograph.  Snow on ice - that dangerous combination.  Even the most sure-footed among us in danger of taking an unexpected toboggan ride!  
These three sleepy old hens have just been released from their house and they are well and truly ready for their breakfast of warm mash. 
I have no doubt that they will be glad when Spring arrives!
Everywhere looks so much prettier under a blanket of snow.
Even the dormant vegetable garden looks better than it has since harvest.
The view from the kitchen window
Fun with the macro lens
I was delighted to see this beautiful Bullfinch in the Blackthorn  tree!
Then I spotted Sparky in the old apple tree...
...the only bit which gave her disguise away was her tail!  She spent a lot of time out there, pretending to be a tree,  watching and waiting for the unwary birds as they came to feed.  I am happy to report that she didn't succeed because the canny birds went to the bird feeders in another part of the garden.
When she tired of waiting for a bird stupid enough to be fooled by her antics, she went into the wood and sat on a pole, waiting to pounce on one of the mice which run in and out of the compost heap!  I didn't find any headless corpses outside the kitchen door, so I don't think she had any success there either.
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23 comments:

  1. Janet10 February 2012 at 19:22

    Lovely photographs-we don`t see many bull finches in our garden -though not for the want of trying with all the bird feeders we have . Enjoyed your garden tour -thank you ! the trees look so pretty !

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    1. Elaine10 February 2012 at 20:51

      Janet, I was thrilled to see him in that part of the garden, they are such beautiful birds. The big evergreen tree in the middle of the garden looked just like one of those old fashioned Christmas cake decorations - you know the bristly ones? I thought I would grab some shots before it all turns to dirty old slush!

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  2. Joanne Noragon10 February 2012 at 19:51

    Has your level of snow been unusual? Like our lack of it. I enjoy looking at it in other blog pictures. I think Sparky enjoys the game as much as the catch.

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    1. Elaine10 February 2012 at 20:55

      Joanne, We don't often get much snow here on the east coast - although having said that we did get a lot last winter. This time around we've probably had 7-8 inches over the last few days, that is certainly unusual. Sparky is a delight, always looking for fun. She is a lap cat in the evenings, a hunter during the day (unless the weather is bad) and a constant nibbler. She scoots off as soon as she catches sight of Harry. Wise cat, all he wants to do is be friends with her!

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  3. Jane and Chris10 February 2012 at 20:17

    The best time to sell a house is when the 'ugly' bits are hidden under a blanket of snow!
    Jane x

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    1. Elaine10 February 2012 at 20:57

      Jane, The blanket of snow couldn't make any of our sheds or the old summer house look beautiful!

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  4. Ms Sparrow10 February 2012 at 22:21

    What lovely photos. I especially liked the ones of the apple tree and the view from your kitchen window. One of the things I miss about condo living is having a kitchen window to look out of when working at the sink. I was amused that your kitty eats only the head off. I had a free-roaming cat who would consume everything but the prey's face; another cat would eat everything but the tail. Who knew the cats were so discriminating?

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 08:43

      Ms Sparrow, Sparky is a rescue cat who was supposed to be feral - she soon showed us that she is a lap-and-fireside cat when the weather is not to her liking. She is very particular about only eating the heads and sometimes the shoulders, what is left looks like a rodent lolly on a stick. Horrible, but true.

      The three old hens are rescued ex-battery hens, they arrived a few years ago looking bald and bewildered. They have led a much more natural life since then. I do wonder whether they ever dream, especially during spell of bad weather, of warm and cosy factory conditions...

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  5. Ms Sparrow10 February 2012 at 22:31

    Oh, and I love the chickens. Keep those pictures of the girls coming, please!

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  6. Green Dragonette10 February 2012 at 22:49

    Hi Elaine,

    Wonderful photos indeed! You have captured some lovely images. The snow certainly seems to have settled in your area-hope you are managing to get about...

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 08:47

      Green Dragonette, We have had (for us) loads of snow. It began to thaw a little and has frozen again overnight, it is treacherous out there. My husband has already issued instructions that I am to only go outside if I have my special super-grip snow boots on and that I should take a stick and proceed with caution. He knows how terrible my sense of balance is. It's not an age thing, I just have a terrible inability to stay upright on slippery surfaces. I'll let you know how I get on!

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  7. Little Blue Mouse10 February 2012 at 23:41

    Sparky was well camouflaged in the tree!

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 08:51

      LBM, She was amazingly well disguised - I'm glad she didn't get any of the birds though!

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  8. Meggie11 February 2012 at 00:43

    Outstanding photos today! I'm not familiar with the Bullfinch. I guess I will take a look in one of my bird books. He certainly is colorful.

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 08:59

      Meggie, The Bullfinch is such a beautiful bird; I left plenty of old seed heads in the garden so that they could feast on them through the lean times. It was thrilling to find that the plan had worked and he'd be drawn to that part of the garden!
      His beautiful colour is what drew my eye - he was a splash of beautiful colour in a winter garden. So pleased you enjoyed the photos.

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  9. Unknown11 February 2012 at 09:11

    I mean isn't it just stunning? Today, with the sun shining I think it looks like everything's been dredged in icing sugar!

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 20:42

      Dom, It was spectacular, especially the fields around Belleau!

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  10. Jenny11 February 2012 at 12:57

    Beautiful pictures. The bullfinch looks all fluffed up so I guess he's finding it a little chilly. Your pussycat did blend in well with the tree. She certainly has the perfect life with lots of room to roam and little mice to chase, and a warm home to return to,to curl up in a chair and have a happy nap.

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 20:44

      Jenny, The temperature dropped to -15 last night, unusual for this country, so the birds were definitely feeling it. Little Sparky (and she is a small cat) has a great time but the nice thing is that she shows her appreciation, she is very affection and purrs very loudly indeed.

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  11. Chris11 February 2012 at 12:58

    I am a fruit press. Let's make cider together!

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 20:45

      Chris, I'm pleased you said that, you have reminded me that I bought my husband a fruit press a couple of years ago. I'm still waiting for my cider though. This autumn he must have a go at making some.

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  12. Helena11 February 2012 at 18:02

    Snow pics are so tranquil. The pictures are postcard perfect! Snowy is so cute.....! We have a black and white cat (mostly white) that has Snowy traits as well - he makes his best killings over winter, Boaby does!)

    It's nice to see a cat enjoying the snow. My ginger cat (now deceased) absolutely loved the stuff. Would jump for snowballs and dig tunnels...madness! I may have a pic or two of him doing so - so keep checking my sidebar......

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    1. Elaine11 February 2012 at 20:48

      Helena, I was really surprised to see how well she blended in with the snowy tree. I'll certainly keep watching your sidebar for photos of what sounds like a very characterful and interesting cat! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos.

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