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.



Sunday, 18 March 2012

Kneeling in the Mud

We had a lot of much needed rain last night.  Unfortunately that meant that the ground was too soggy for me to get back to my digging.
So I headed into the garden for a little session with the macro lens and found this beauty down in the hellebore patch.   Odd man out amongst the green flowers.
Nearby I found this Chinese Lantern Skeleton, I was kneeling in the mud (accidental, I wobbled) trying to get a decent macro shot when
my very cute 'assistant', Sparky made me jump, when she pushed her sweet little face into the lens.   I gave her a fussing and sent her off to earn her keep,   catch a mouse, preferably a rat... 
I picked up the displaced Chinese Lantern and tried again.
Very amusing, but not what I was after.  
I gave up.

I did the ironing instead.


She probably did me a favour, the ironing basket is now empty!

31 comments:

  1. Oh that Chinese lantern skeleton really speaks to me, as do the closeups of the cat. Thanks for this. So much wonderfulness in the world.

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    1. Hi Linda, I love leaf skeletons too, something special about them. Sparky is a little minx!

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  2. Sparky doing what cats do best!
    Jane x

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    1. Sparky is a small cat, with a huge personality!

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  3. Seriously great photos, the cats are fantastic!

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    1. Thanks Ian. It is a shock to suddenly find two eyes peering back up the camera lens..

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  4. Why weren't you taking a picture of Sparky? Or, were her knickers in the ironing basket? She has a grand attitude!

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    1. Hi Joanne, That is where I went wrong, I should have done a photo session with her first - she would still probably have gone for the close-ups though!

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  5. yes I love the cat photo! cracking!

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    1. Hi John, She is a great little cat - and to think she wouldn't come out of her cardboard box less than a year ago!

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  6. Love the helebores. Sparky's pics - even better :0)

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    1. Hi Molly, I really like the early hellebores, they really brighten up my dull garden in late winter. Sparky lights any day!

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  7. Your photos and stunning and I have fallen in love with Sparky!

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    1. Hi Mitch, Sparky is a delight - the only downside is that she starts prowling around and becomes very vocal at about 5am these days. Guess who has to get out of bed to see to her.

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  8. Fabulous photos Elaine. Hmm - I have a basket full of ironing to tackle, but no Sparky to prompt me to get on with it so it can wait a bit longer!

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    1. Hi Scarlet, The trouble is that the ironing basket doesn't stay empty for very long - by tonight it will have the sheets and pillowslips in. At least they will be line dried so they will have that wonderful smell as I iron. (One of the small pleasures of life)

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  9. The pictures of Sparky are a riot! One of your little helpers. Got to love our little helpers. Glad you got some rain.

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    1. I agree Jenny, little helpers do their best, and make our days more fun. All our animals like to hang around us as we work, which is lovely - most of the time!

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  10. Sparky obviously knows he is gorgeous and should have his picture taken. The hellebore is beautiful too.

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    1. Hi Evyln, Sparky is a wonderful little cat - she's a great hunter (vital around here), but she is also a very affectionate indoors cat. She's a whizz at climbing trees, luckily she is pretty good at getting down again!

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  11. The hellebore is beautiful; the chinese skeleton is striking; the Sparky photos were laugh-out-loud funny aided by your story.

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    1. Hi Janet, I just love that soot-black nose of hers. It is very appropriate because she is forever sticking it into everything.

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  12. What is it about our cats? Many times, while photographing, Smoky will sneak into the photo. "What a ham" Sparky is....and, Smoky, too!
    Outstanding photos. I read that some hellebores are referred to as "Lenten Rose" because of the time of year they bloom. I don't believe they grow in Texas.

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    1. Hi Meggie, Cats come with great personalities and a very large dose of curiosity. I think the name Lenten Rose is very appropriate, they make a lovely display in late winter and spring as they herald the arrival of the spring flowers. Have you got your wild flowers blooming in the meadow yet?

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    2. I should be able to post some photos by the week end. We are expecting rain again tomorrow and Wednesday. I had planned on mowing around the pond with the "big" tractor, but it might be too muddy.

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    3. Meggie, You are a wonderful woman. As well as my usual image of you riding out across the prairie I shall now add a picture of you driving a big tractor! Has the stock pond filled up again now or do you still need more rain?

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  13. Loved the photos-and I definitely sympathise with having a little helper when trying to take photos...as my litter of Burmese kittens are at the dreaded naughty nine week stage, they all love to ‘assist’ ...

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  14. Hi Green Dragonette, How many kittens have you got in your litter - life must be one great adventure for them all right now, which could mean chaos for you. Sparky likes to get up close to assist, but she always puts a smile on my face.

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    1. Hi Elaine,

      I’ve got five kittens in this litter. All peacefully asleep at the moment spread all over my lap just when I want to get going in the garden...there are photos on my blog in my most recent post if you want to see the little ‘angels’...

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  15. Replies
    1. You can see how she got her black nose, she keeps sticking into everything! She is such a sweet cat.

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