Five On Friday

 

 Where has the sun gone?

Yesterday I was in short sleeves. Today I am wearing socks and wellies.

The forecast for the bank holiday weekend is for rain. Lots of rain.

Grrrrrrrrr.

Today I am joining in with Amy and her Five On Friday. Five things that celebrate my week. Which has been rather lovely, thank you for asking.



Red Tailed Bumblebee

Olly spotted him buzzing among the Bluebells. Look at his little face in the first picture, and his delicate wings in the second. I am very, very fond of bumbles, but perhaps the red tailed one is my favourite. We have seen quite a few this past week. Both in and out of the garden. I was very pleased that Olly got close up and personal with this one, because he was startled by another bumble a couple of weeks ago. It was a large Queen hunting about in the garden, and it careered into Olly and gave him a fright. He decided he didn't like them very much anymore, and I was afraid that this would be the beginning of the end for my mini nature nerd. Luckily this red tail was docile enough to let us watch him for ages, and Olly seems to have forgotten all about the queen and her rather off hand behaviour. Do you enjoy watching the bees? The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a great website for identification and so on. Me and Olly are members.

Lelant

We have walked Honey over Lelant beach several times in the past week. Dogs are allowed here all year long, and she loves it. She gets to meet her friends, chase after thrown pebbles and dig huge holes to sit in. There's lots to sniff at too, like the massive jellyfish that had been washed up on Monday. And the rather gruesome looking fish carcass. She liked that a lot. There is something about the colours on this particular stretch of beach. They are so clear and bright and distinct. This article explains it far better than me. Interesting, no?

The past few weeks has seen a wide array of flotsom and jetsom washed up on the shore. Some gorgeous pieces of driftwood that are now sitting on the windowsill of my conservatory. But some huge pieces too. Stuff that would take three lads and a wheelbarrow to haul off the beach. I do have the wheelbarrow. Anyone know of three burly fellas I could borrow?

Buttercups

It's not all about the coast living here you know. One of my favourite things are the hedgerows. I have already started picking the cow parsley. It's so frothy and beautiful, and unlike most wildflowers, it lasts for ages in water. There is a passage in the Susan Hill book 'In The Springtime Of The Year' that describes this so perfectly. It's a wonderful book if you ever happen upon it. I have a fondness for buttercups too. We always put them under our chins to see if we liked butter when we were kids. Did you? Where did that come from I wonder? Another article explains the science behind it.

Ladybird

I get very excited whenever I see a Ladybird, and this little beauty was sunning herself on the Lady's Mantle yesterday morning. In a way it's a shame that I do get so excited. They seem to be less and less common. I remember them  being in abundance when I was little. However Wagon Wheels seemed huge back then too, so maybe it's just memories of collecting them in jam jars (I know, I know). This one had six spots and just seemed to be hanging out. One of  her wings was poking out from the outer casing which made her look a bit bed head. I liked that about her. She's more than welcome here. Perhaps she over-wintered in our bug house? I guess that you all know the nursery rhyme about ladybirds? Here is an article about the possible origins.

This weekend we will be mostly watching David Attenborough, visiting the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, squabbling, drinking copious cups of tea and walking Honey in the rain.

Whatever you are doing, having a lovely one.

Leanne xx