Author: admin
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Completely Bonkers
Nature at its most natural! Taking advantage of the one sunny day. These common soldier beetles are so amusing. I’ve spent hours watching their antics (not just mating) over the last few years. Laughter is the best medicine. This video I took – even when Parkie is at his shaking, all is forgotten and this…
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A Journal for the Future
My latest bookbinding creation – a Christening gift. A journal covered in a leather material for use when she gets older, or her parents can use to record special occasions. This is the first time of using the hot-foiling technique to create the cover decoration. Luckily, I didn’t manage to burn myself in the process…
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On A Mission
There on a coastal path appeared a peacock-caterpillar, in all its spiked beauty. Despite the long grass and other salt tolerant vegetation along the banks, this creature prefers the same terrain that people on foot or bicycles frequent. Even a helping hand into the grass did not deter its purpose. Those spikes were rather misleading,…
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Hiding In The Grass
It’s been so cold and wet, with few of the flying insects around. Hiding in the long grass this little weevil would have been missed, had I not been bored. The single glimpse of a dragonfly disappearing over the hedge and a newly emerged speckled wood butterfly feeding on bramble flowers were the only winged…
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Not a pretty sight
I spied this rather unappealing caterpillar in the hedge. So was delighted to discover (with the help of others) that this solitary creature was a purple hairsteak caterpillar. Not what I expected, although obvious similarities, it was the wrong colour. But like so many varieties they alter during different instars. Very confusing! They prefer oak…
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Graveyard Music
Bird songs fill the air. A large black bumble isn’t to be out done, as she buzzes around absorbing the heat of this late spring day, while I sit amongst the longer grasses and flower-heads in the shade. The shadows of the firs and the cool smell of dampness not yet fully gone after weeks…
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Getting Stuck In
Now the spine has been reinforced – I don’t want to completely rebind the book at this stage. The aim is to stabilize the structure, before planning how to repair the material covering. Luckily the stitching is good and leaves are all intact and in place.
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Down by the mill pond
Like a giant tungsten light tracing the contours of the mill pond sides, sun-rays move across the terrain and the grasses comes alive. Then my eyes follow as passing clouds cause parts to drift into shade. Trees sway erratically as the strong north-westerly winds blow – their branches (barely in leaf) dappling the waters below.…
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Meadow, Grove and Stream
I recent purchased a book published in 1907. The condition was far from brilliant, though I must say that was part of the reason for getting it – for the princely sum of £2. The attraction was not only to discover those Edwardian studies of wildlife (and how much knowledge we’ve gained since), but to…