I couldn’t resist adding this image of Abbess the cat. This is one of cats that roam the grounds at Lacock Abbey, patrolling their patch. I found this one among the garlic. Above, rooks were busy calling in their dull tuneless sound. The Abbess strolled past us, indifferent, as though we were intruding on her patch.

Often a cat can be found in the greenhouse, or under a cold frame, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Today we discovered one lying on paving slabs, absorbing the heat, lazing in pure sleepy bliss. How sensible cats can be! They take a laid back approach to the day, utilise available heat sources,  live in the moment. I watched other groups of visitors pass by, most seemed surprised to spot a cat & invariably someone would stop, bend down to the cats level, talk to it while gently stroking its fur. Indeed there is something comforting, therapeutic about engaging with a cat…

Decided to make the most of a dry day by visiting Lacock Abbey grounds. There is always something different to spot through the seasons here. Today it’s garlic time! I saw a Mum with her child in the Botanic garden looking at the flowers & smelling all the white ones. in their search for garlic. It was tempting to interrupt the pair to tell them to walk around the corner & you will find the most amazing snow white carpet. This is wild garlic. Just the smell alone identifies this plant that covers much of the ground here. It creates a breathtaking effect. Today the grounds are also home to a special event, including willow design. The stag to the right of this image seems perfectly at home in its setting.

The peacefulness is disturbed by the constant calling of rooks, high above in their rookery. A few had gathered across in a field & discovered a giant puddle. I watched as they took turns to enjoy a refreshing splash in the water. It’s good to have the benefit of a pocket camera with decent zoom, to be able to enjoy such delights in closer detail. It is also a good place to remember we have Fox Talbot to thank for introducing photography to us. I can capture this image, draw it closer & save it to share & enjoy whenever I wish. Instead the moment would simply become a faded memory over time.

Going out to the washing line is always an excuse to spend a few moments looking round my garden. For a tiny garden I can still manage to loose time enjoying moments of discovery.

The roses are looking really healthy, perhaps thanks to the thorough clean up the blue tits have done in their search for insects! I’d noticed that there are buds forming among the lush growth. I love the freshness of the leaf colour. Munstead Wood has gorgeous bronze new growth, when lit by the sunlight this looks amazing.

But my favourite rose is Penelope; not because the name has any connection, but I have fond memories of buying this delightful rose. Inspired by a visit to a beautiful rose garden I decided that this was just the rose to sit bordering a boundary fence. While on holiday & visiting Exbury Gardens I found several Penelope roses for sale. In typical fashion I looked for the best shape & healthy growth, pulling one pot out, then another. My antics attracted the attention of an older gentlemen who passed comment on my dithering! The rose finally journeyed home with us & has rewarded me with stunning displays for many years. It is lovely to see roses opening this month, when there is often a gap between the end of spring & the start of summer blooms.

I spent a while researching my rose, a hybrid musk, & found Penelope has been since 1924 soon to celebrate her century! Reverend Pemberton introduced a number of roses, which he named after his daughters – including Penelope. I am intrigued by the connection of ministers & gardening. A surprising number were successfully engaged in some form of gardening, Dean Hole comes to mind. His book “About the Roses” is still a point of reference today.

Today’s warm sunshine was unexpected, but gave a perfect chance to escape for some quality chill time. The car park at Chew Valley Lake provides a place to be – however you prefer: sit quietly, walk…

When you tune out the distant road noise & excited chatter of children you can focus on the lakeside sounds. It’s easy to be lured to an afternoon doze in the glorious spring sunshine, listening to the tune of waterfowl & woodland birds.

After the high of  kite spotting yesterday it would be easy to see today as dull, boring, but there is still much to entertain & enjoy – you simply need to stop & look.

The sunshine was surprisingly hot, so much that the shade of a tree was much appreciated. The branches caught the sunlight & I marvelled at the way the leaves were transformed by the light playing on them. Look too at the beautiful blossom, something we don’t generally stop & drink in. Each flower, perfect, growing together in a cluster to create greater impact. As I looked more closely t my tree there was added detail cut into the bark. I wondered who AT was & when he, or she, chose to carve their initials into the tree.

If it hadn’t been raining all day I wouldn’t have been out in the garden late afternoon trying to peg out the washing. A break in the showers & a glimpse of sunshine brought me out to the washing line. I heard the birds first, then saw them – a group of a dozen or more flying together, calling.

I’ve seen this behaviour before & guessed they might be hot on the heels of a bird of prey. There was something about this big bird… Washing abandoned I wanted to have a closer look. I’d heard there’d been a sighting of a red kite nearby. Could it be?

My brave gang had given up, but I could still see my bird of prey – higher than any I’d spotted before & this one flew alone. I needed a closer look & with the aid of binoculars I could just make out the shape of the bird, the tail a distinctive shape. it seems I really might have spotted a red kite. Just by chance. Think I’ll have to search out my old I Spy book of birds, I wonder how many points that’s worth?

Sometimes those wild moments happen when you least expect them! Our city’s large furniture shop has a convenient car park. Now I expected to see the company’s delivery van, a delivery lorry & other shoppers’ cars here, but tucked in a corner…

The car park is enclosed by buildings, but there is a patch of green – a hedge that grows above a low wall. Tucked in close by the wall was a blackbird. It starred back at me, then returned to its task. As I watched, the bird worked its way along the edge of the wall, where it joined the tarmac. Stopping at intervals the bird searched for rewards of insects, seeds. So close to the car yet it was undeterred as I opened, then closed the door, started the car engine. The bird was now right in front of the car, still sifting through the debris that edged the car park. The food that it discovered must have been of great value to be so trusting, or perhaps this was simply his territory & has become used to both people & vehicles!

I didn’t find what I was looking to buy in the store, but my wild moment in the car park was the best part of the day.

I have never wanted a dishwasher. The window to my garden provides the perfect distraction while I wash the dishes. This morning a pair of blue tits arrived just feet away, the other side of the glass. Here they darted about through an old pieris shrub that stands in a large pot on the patio. They searched the plant systematically, looking for something. Insects perhaps or seeds. Each time they flitted to a new stem they chose one with new emerging fresh green leaves.

Pigeons are not such welcome visitors in my garden. In this tiny space they appear clumsy, like gawky teenagers. Their arrival is announced with the sound of loud flapping of wings as they try to manoeuvre in the space available, negotiating my washing line. There is something mildly amusing in watching their antics. Today one walked across the lawn through a newly sown patch of grass. It seemed to find the new grass challenging to walk through, lifting its feet high. I hope this is a sign the grass seed has taken successfully.

I hoped the pigeon would not need a drink. Pigeons have a habit of turning around on the edge of the bath & leaving a rather ample deposit in the water. My robin has to bath in that!

I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of this swan, yesterday. It’s the way its wings are raised, like sails to simply glide across the lake. It seems so effortless, serene. Swans remind me of my grandmother, not because she was elegant & graceful, no she simply loved swans. She collected swan ornaments, one almost life sized, others much smaller, pictures cut from magazines, photographs & cards. I don’t know why they were so special to her, sometimes I wish I had asked.

Today it’s warm – a perfect day to escape the norm & enjoy nature! Seems everyone has the  idea to escape – there’s a queue of traffic ahead. It’s nearly 12 noon & we are waiting for cows to be escorted across a busy road. Drivers seem to be waiting patiently & it is good to simply sit & watch as the cows leave their field for the farm buildings opposite.

With a wave from the farmer we all continue on our journeys. Ours takes us to Chew Valley Lakes. I love to visit this man made lake & see the wildfowl attracted to the water. Today we stop by the road side & watch a family, with a young child who is encouraged to feed bread to the ducks. I know it’s not meant to be good ducks, but there’s something nostalgic about seeing a youngster throw the bread & watch the scrabble of ducks eager to snatch chunks. There’s always one duck that manages to look more appealing than the rest – he’s the one guaranteed to get the most bread thrown in his direction.

There are a few seagulls on the lake & numerous swans, plus geese. These create a dull tuneless sound, resemblant of a ten ton truck honking. And amid the background honks there’s a clear voice “Cuck oo”. Could I be mistaken? No it rang out again. Looking across the lake it’s impossible to tell where the sound came from, but there’s something else – in the distance on the water’s edge. It looks like a pile of sticks… As I watch there’s lots of splashing, a coot busily washing, before her return to nest, sitting on the pile of sticks. How does the bird create a nest with sticks? How do they weave together? From a distance it seems the untidy pile of sticks should get washed away.

All too soon it’s time to be homeward bound. On a narrow road there’s something by the hedge. Ducklings! Perhaps their nest was on the other side of the hedge.

It’s time to mow the lawn again. With my tiny patch of green it takes longer to prepare & clean the mower than to whiz it  over the grass. Today there are signs of summer, it’s sunny & warm. The garden bench is warm from the sunshine – temptingly. I cannot resist the chance to enjoy the beauty of the day, stay a while & enjoy the warmth of the sun, listen to the bird song…

There’s rustle behind me & a flurry of wings. I guess Rob has decided to drop by. Coming across the lawn my robin stops & casts a look in my direction. Suddenly I feel like an intruder. I can almost here Rob thinking – that’s not right! She shouldn’t be there…

The bird bath is  just a couple of feet away from me. Should Rob decide to take a bath now I am going to get wet from enthusiastic splashing. The bird sits on the garden wall to take a closer look at me  then pops past me down to the patio. From a safer distance Rob perches on  a flower pot & weighs up the situation. The bath is postponed. A a reward for my unexpected entertainment I top up the bath in preparation for Rob’s next visit.