Texture Of A Tree

I enjoy trying to capture the textures on tress and was quite taken with this one. I took these on 2nd April this year.

Grasshopper

So these few photos took me about an hour chasing after the little fellow, but it was well worth it! These are both from 5th July this year. 

I feel really lucky to have managed to get these photos.

A Few Birds

Both these photos are from one of my walks last week on 5th December. The first bird is a Blue Tit and the second is, I think, a young Blackbird. 

Meet Stitch

My partner's dad took a turn for the worst in early October and he went to visit. His dad lives near London and we are in Central Scotland, so a long way to travel. Usually about 6 hours drive. I sadly couldn't go as I was working and it was sudden. He got the call on the Thursday morning and was down there by the Thursday evening. It was very upsetting for him. His dad's family were fostering a rescue kitten who had been abandoned in a park and left for dead. It was almost time for the kitten to go to his forever home and we got offered him. I got a few photos from my partner and said to him if he was okay having 4 cats, then yes I'd have the little fellow.

Fast forward a few months and his dad is alive and well. A living miracle, the doctors said. So we are all over the moon at that.

The last few months have been fun and games! I have 3 cats who have been together for 13 years and then I introduced this little baby! My Bengal is male and the king of the castle so it took time for them to be integrated! The 2 girls didn't really bother too much. Now after 2 months things are a lot better between the 4 cats. The Bengal and kitten still play fight a lot but they are both males. My daughter absolutely loves the new addition! So here are some photos:

This was the night he arrived. My partner brought him back in a cat carrier and stopped to feed and water him. 

These 2 are from this month.

His name is Stitch...after Lilo and Stitch as my daughter is obsessed with that cartoon! He is very feisty and I forgot how mental and bonkers kittens can be! When we first got him, we took him to the vets for a check up and get registered there and they reckoned he was between 3-4 months old. He is so photogenic and loves his humans!

Hello Again

Hello everyone. Sorry for the long, long absence. It wasn't intended. Nothing bad just work was getting too much. I ended up struggling at my old job and got a new job in August, which I absolutely love. One of the best, if not the best, jobs I have ever had. I work 2 nights a week, yes back on nightshift again! 

Last time I was out walking and taking photos was early July and then I started again last week and been out most days since. I forgot how much I love taking photos, walking and blogging, oh and of course painting my nails haha! I have lots of photos from those months I wasn't blogging, so I will need to go through them all and see what to post.

Health wise everything has been fine apart from a wee cold here and there and nothing that floored me. I managed to work through them. I am still taking honey and all the other natural things. I'll probably post about that soon and my experiences.

I hope everyone is well and thanks for all the lovely comments you all left on all the blogs. Talking of the other blogs, I was upset to find out that the Ciate did not have a nail polish advent calendar this year! Last year was the 10th Anniversary, so I am wondering if they decided to stop after that!

I also have a surprise for tomorrow that I will post about! Irina already knows about this! ;-)

Hawthorn Fly

 

This is a Hawthorn Fly. When you see them flying, their little legs kinda dangle down and it is quite funny to see. I took these last May.

A Robin In February

 

As the title suggests this a Robin I got a nice shot of in Feb! I find on my walk, that Robins are really friendly and it is often easy to get photos of them!

I totally forgot to do my Signs posts yesterday! I'll get one sorted for next Wednesday. 

The Trees Have Eyes

 Just how amazing is this tree? With one eye, it sees all.

Beautiful Creature

 

What a beautiful creature this swan is. I managed to get this photo when were out and about near Loch Lomond a few weeks ago.

Another Sign Of Spring

 

Snowdrops are another sign of spring. In early March they were starting to show! 

More Frogs and Toads

So these are the last of the photos from the 2 weeks of spawning. 

First Bee Of 2023

This is the first bee I have seen at the pond this year! It looked like it was struggling so gave it a little sugar solution. Isn't it a pretty one!  

Coal Tit

 

This is a little bird called a Coal Tit! They are fairly common here in Scotland. Isn't it a little beauty! Took this on 25th October last year.

I was up at the pond earlier and all the frog are gone. So I will eagerly await the tadpoles and get photos of them once they appear.

A Crow Fishing

 

I took this on the 26th March up at the pond. I usually put some of the pellets at the edge for this crow. I found out last year he loved eating them, so have always done it. Isn't he a lovely fellow.

I am just back from the pond today and it seems the frogs and toads are done for the year! That was a good 2 weeks nearly they were spawning for.

Edinburgh Zoo Trip 1 - 15th Jan 2023

We all got annual passes to Edinburgh Zoo for Christmas. Our first visit was 15th January and here are some of the photos. Expect plenty more Zoo Posts ;-)

 

Spawning

Last week when I visited the pond, the frogs and toads were at it! I am hoping for lots of babies this year, as last year was bad and there weren't a lot. 

These were all taken last week. Frogspawn is a clump as in the first photo and Toad Spawn is usually in a line as seen in the second photo under the little fellow's chin! 

Almost April

Hello everyone. I am still here! Been really busy with work and had a few issues with my Sinuses! Anyone else suffer Sinus issues? Any advice?

I have been out a few times this year and in the last week seen the frogs spawning. I have lots of good photos to post, which I will do. I have also a few trips to post as well. I'll get back into the swing next week.

I have also lots from last year too, that I will get around to posting.

I hope everyone is well :-)

This is one of my crow friends. I really am obsessed with crows!

Hello 2023

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and great New Year! Can you believe it is 2023 already! Scary! Between work, a kid and being exhausted, I haven't had a chance to blog lately! Thanks to everyone for their nice comments. 

Our Christmas Tree

 

As you all know I have 3 cats and a young daughter aged 4. So cats, kids and Christmas Trees don't really go well do they! So a few years ago, we decided to get a cat/kid proof tree and this is it. It took a while to get used to it, now I love it. I always say there is more room at the bottom for extra gifts haha! The reindeer is a new addition to the family, we got him a few weeks ago! I am not a fan of tinsel or lights.

So is everyone in the festive mood yet? I cannot say I am :-| I have been listening to a lot of Christmas music trying to get into it and watching a lot of those new Christmas films on Netflix too. I highly recommend Love Hard (2021), it really enjoyed that one.

Roots

 

Aren't tree roots really cool! I really like this little path. Took this on 27th October.

I am slowly going through the recent photos all 3500 of them over 2 months!!! And thanks to everyone for your lovely and kind comments on my last post <3

Health Update

Thanks everyone :-)

A Robin

 

This is my good friend Robbie. Robbie the Robin! He is always the first to appear when I am feeding the birds. He is a very friendly little fellow! This was taken on 25th Oct.

So I haven't been about for a few days. My daughter has been really ill and we thought she might have Strep A, which is going around at the moment over here. We finally got an appointment at out of hours care and she has a bacterial infection. They gave her antibiotics and she has been a lot better today, thankfully. The temperature tonight is sitting around minus 8! Very cold!

2 Snails

 

I am not exactly sure what these 2 snails are up to! I took these on 10th May this year.

Hope you are all having a good December so far. Sorry I haven't visited your blogs lately, been mega busy!

A Wasp

 

I know a lot of people don't like wasps here in Scotland but I do. This wasp spent the whole summer on this piece of wood, which is a craving of animals and wildlife. I walked passed almost everyday and it was there! I have been stung by both a bee and wasp and I am not allergic to either. On both occasions it wasn't either the bee or wasp's fault! Wasps play an important part in nature. This photo was taken 26th April this year.

I have lots of photos to transfer so will do that in the next few days and start posting them. I hope you are all well and happy December!