Silaging on St Swithun's Day...

Silaging was in full swing on the neighbouring farm yesterday. Huge tractors towing equally huge silage trailers hurtled along our narrow country lanes. This vital work, providing the animals with winter fodder, is usually carried out by contracting firms who move their fleet of machinery from one farm to the next as long as the grass continues to grow.

After rolling the grass, the ‘pit’ or ‘clamp’ is then covered with sheeting and secured down with redundant tyres.

Hope the brakes are good...

Silage making appears to be a science. All I can say is, after residing in the country all my life, I can tell whether it’s good or not by the smell of the finished product and its effluent!

Days of yore...

The weather was kind, even though it was St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day.

St Swithun/Swithin was a Bishop of Winchester born around the year 800. On his death he was buried outside where he could be walked and rained upon, as was his wish.

In 971 his body was moved inside the Cathedral and as you might imagine he was a bit mad. As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared it started to rain…and rain…

If it rains on the 15^th July, St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day it will rain for 40 days.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

   

The Homing Toad...

I suffer from lots of phobias, you name it, I’ve probably got the phobia, as opposed to the t-shirt.

Bufonophobia definitely holds the top spot or wart! Fear of toads is closely followed by ranidaphobia, fear of frogs.

Warts an' all...

As a phobia is described as an irrational fear of something there isn’t a lot I can do about it other than being shut (against my will) in a room full of frogs and toads for therapy and emerging some time later a jibbering wreck. (No change there then, I hear people who know me utter.)

This Bufonophobic state is not helped by the fact that Mr Toad insists on living in the upturned metal mop-bucket (yes, I’m still living in the age of steam) over the outside drain.

He, or his ancestor, resided there last year. How long do toads live? At least it gives me a good excuse not to mop the floor.

Last year I even plucked up courage to take the said toad in the said mop-bucket, held at arms-length on the broom handle, down to the brook (just hope no-one saw me!), and guess what, by night he was ambling back through the gate. A homing toad no less!

I have discovered that frogs hop and toads sort of lollop. *shudder*

Having said all that, I don’t wish any of them any harm, I just wish they felt the same about me!

I recently needed the mop-bucket and had to ask my Long Term Attachment (he does come in useful sometimes) to remove Mr Toad. He placed him gently him in a plastic bucket in the shade and replaced him to his chosen abode later.

Is it the same one...?

 I have just researched the longevity of toads and found that a 40 year lifespan is average if they don’t get eaten by snakes or hedgehogs. Now hedgehogs I like…snakes…ophidiophobia…

Thanks for your time.

  

The Old Country Crone xx

     

Great Spotted Woodpecker...

I am super fortunate to have woodpeckers visiting my garden. It is the second year running we have been lucky enough to have a juvenile visiting the peanut holder.

Woody Junior...2013

Cheeky Chappie 2012

The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major is apparently common in Britain but that doesn’t detract from my pleasure at seeing them in my garden.

Beautiful markings...

 I usually hear them arriving by their sharp ‘chip chip’ call. Often in the day they can be seen flying between the numerous surrounding trees easily recognisable by their undulating flight, often accompanied by the aforesaid ‘chipping’.

Woodpecker feathers dropped last year...

 Luckily for me this species is easily identifiable. The male has a red mark on the back of its neck (the female doesn’t) and the young have a red cap.

At other times of the year I hear them drumming on the nearby trees.

Beautiful and amazing.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

 

The Pound, Leebotwood

The Pound in Leebotwood (now a restaurant and watering place) has recently undergone a facelift. Its new thatched roof is a wonder to behold. What an art and craft!

The Pound, Leebotwood

I wandered down to the village with my faithful old camera and took some pics of the thatchers at work. (I did ask permission of the men! I thought it a bit rude just to snap away.)

Artists at work...

 The Pound stands on the side of the notorious A49.
(Close ups of the finished roof.)

The Pound, circa 1457, started life as a drovers’ hostelry. Early in the 19^th century it was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original building.

One of its claims to fame is that in 1841, or thereabouts, it briefly contained William Davies after he had absconded from Westwood (near Much Wenlock) after murdering Nanny (aka Nancy) Morgan, The Wenlock Witch, with whom he had been co-habiting. He was apprehended nearby and after a short time at The Pound taken back to Much Wenlock in a spring cart. (A two wheeled sprung cart pulled by one horse or pony.) Exciting stuff!

Could this the THE springcart?

I have it on good authority that the upstairs area of The Pound has a ghostly atmosphere, not the sort of place to be alone at night! Aghhh!!!

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx