Journal Entries
Snake in the grass?
Posted Jun 16, 2008
Actually it was a Grass snake in my pond! 
I often go for a walk round my garden after getting home from work, as a way of winding down. At that time of day, things are usually pretty quiet and peaceful. Today was an altogether different experience. On walking over to my small pond, i could see the water heaving and frogs leaping all over the pond trying to get out quickly. The reason, an 18inch long young Grass snake was in the pond. Snakes can swim very well and will often swim across rivers and bathe as a way to keep cool on a hot day. It's the last thing i expected to find in my tiny pond.
I took hold of the snakes tail and pulled it out of the pond, what a beautiful creature. Sage green in colour with the classeic coller of bright yellow and black. I let it go under the large log next to the pond, which serves as a seat to watch the wildlife. 
After dinner,i went back down to the pond, just to check everything was how it should be. To my horror the snake was back in the pond! Again i took hold of the tail and pulled it out. This time it had hold of a frog, i realised only then that it was hunting and the small frogs in the pond were dinner! 
So this time i put the snake on the other side of my fence, which leads into an orchard and far away from my pond. How successful this will be i don't know, i have a feeling my pond could be the hunting domain for that snake all the time there is food in there for it. 
I havent seen a Grass snake since i was a youngster, in fact i've never seen any of our native reptiles since i moved here 26 years ago. It's a shame that my first snake sighting had to be while it was trying to eat my frogs......thats nature for you!
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Latest reply: Jun 16, 2008
The 'Awwwww' factor
Posted May 21, 2008
I've been feeling a bit 'bleah' the last 3 weeks or so. My arthritis has flared up really bad and i'm signed off work for two weeks. It's frustrating as i can't really do much without the pain setting in I also don't get paid for being off work, so money will be tight for the time being.
Anyway i digress.
I went into town today, to get the usual food shopping 
There are two rivers running through the town and i walk alongside one of them to get to the bridge, which goes to the other side of town. As it was a nice day, i stood looking at the flowing water for a while. Sometimes there are fish swimming at the edge. This time sat on the bank right below me was a female Mallard, she had ten tiny ducklings all round her. They could'nt have been more than a few days old. They were just so cute, i wanted to scoop them all up a cuddle the little fluffy chicks.....awwwww. Seeing the ducklings really brightened my day 
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Latest reply: May 21, 2008
I'm so excited!!
Posted Feb 14, 2008
Most days i go for a wander round my garden, just generally looking at whats is growing or coming into flower.
Every year before i start mowing the grass again, i do a real down to the ground inspection.....ok this sounds a little odd i guess 
The reason i do this is i'm looking to see if i have anymore wild Orchids. Some of them grow their leaves over winter, so i want to spot them before i start mowing the grass. I'm always hopeful that the ones that grow already will mulitply and i have visions of a whole area covered in Bee Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids. 
Today i found the new Bee Orchid! 
It's fairly mature, so should flower this year I'm so excited at the prospect of having another wild Orchid flower in my garden 
Discuss this Journal entry [26]
Latest reply: Feb 14, 2008
5 years......
Posted Feb 11, 2008
Yes today is my hootooversary, it's been five years since i joined this site. I've made lots of friends in that time Some have since moved on, and new ones are being made all the time
Happy hootooversary to me! 
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Latest reply: Feb 11, 2008
'Boing!'
Posted Dec 18, 2007
In case anyone noticed my absence from hootoo for a few days, due to technical difficulties. I'd just like to say I'm back!.....so there! 
Oh and while i'm here:
A very merry christmas to all my friends. Have a great time and best wishes for the new year 
Discuss this Journal entry [25]
Latest reply: Dec 18, 2007
~:*-Venus-*:~
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