Squirrely stuff and giveaway

Greetings friends and many thanks to all those of you who popped over to peek at my new blog during the week. This week you will find a blog giveaway over there. These cards that I used to play with when I was very much younger might give you a clue about the subject I've chosen.

You'll find the giveaway details on my new blog Sheltered by Trees.

I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Not yet five

Greetings friends. When I found this sweet picture recently I remembered that Flutterby Patch will be five years old next month. How time flies. This little girl is on the cover of a 1950's booklet entitled 'not yet five'. Doesn't it make you long to be that age again.

After five years at Flutterby Patch I'm having a bit of change, but I'll tell you more about that later.

Meanwhile here in the UK we've spent the last two weeks basking in the summer sun and just like the tiny tot above I've been able to do plenty of solar drying. How sweet the laundry smells when it comes in from a day in the fresh air.

The garden has been a blaze of summer colour and a joy to behold. But of course good things don't last forever and overnight heavy rain has flattened the flower beds.

Yesterday I sat on this old seat in its sun filled, lavender scented corner of the garden. Today the corner looks quite grey.

As I cannot bear to show you my poor rain soaked flower beds I will show you our ancient Scots Pine tree. It is over 250 years old which means that when our famous Lakeland poet William Wordsworth was born in 1770 this tree was already about 10 years old. What fascinating tales it could tell.

It's an enormous specimen and over the centuries the westerly winds have taken their toll on its huge branches.

Some of you might remember from a previous post that I am now working with our local red squirrel society. One day soon I'm hopeful that reds will return to live in our garden but we've seen no sign of them yet. The Scots Pine tree is the red squirrel's favourite nesting place and the tree's cones contain lots of nourishing seeds. I always keep a watchful eye on this tree just in case a red calls in for a tasty meal.

Ever hopeful I have nailed a squirrel feeding box to my gazebo and as you can see there is a tempting mix of nuts inside. Garden birds are unable to reach the nuts thanks to the hinged lid. Squirrels however are cunning little creatures and soon discover that the lid can be lifted and the meal inside is easy to reach. There is even a little perch for the squirrel to sit on. The birds are currently in another part of the garden munching on food provided for them in squirrel-proof feeders.

And now more about the change that is happening here. I've decided to concentrate on a new blog and you won't be surprised if I tell you that red squirrels will put in a regular appearance. I want to feature more of our Lake District countryside but meanwhile Flutterby Patch will continue as before. 

I've already put the first blog post on line. It was written during our recent sunny spell so is quite a colourful post . If you'd like to pop over and take a look you can find my new blog at Sheltered by Trees

Until next time

Eli x