a few pence

... two small coppers conveniently showing both sides of their wings while refuelling on some fleabane. Fleabane was highly prized for driving away the fleas that lived on grass and rush floors, which is why Harriet and I have been carrying mouthfuls of it home with us. The Romans used it to make wreaths, hmmm.

fly brambling

blue bottles enjoying the first fruits of autumn, I have often wondered what made some blackberries soft and squidgy ... it must be the maggots. To the very earnest advice in the link I would add wash them first!

Harriet Ford

...our adventuress, leaping across the same raging torrent just for fun before rescuing Dad and carrying him to safety in imitation of her pin up whose picture she has over her basket; it is also the case that we have reached the season of our discontent for the first time and are inclined to wander off looking wistful, wearing make up, and generally fooling around like all adolescents. Oh, cruel youth.

And youth is cruel, and has no remorse
And smiles at situations which it cannot see.
"I smile, of course, And go on drinking tea..
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/eliot/additional.htm


The river is very low despite the recent rains.

Inny flow

sometimes the camera captures Nature's impressionism, this is the Inny flowing over a small concrete barrier near Beals Mill

teenagers

someone had to give way and it wasn't going to be me. I hear that there is an enormous flower show on on Saturday, with lots of stalls and exhibits and entertaiments, all on the green of the enormous village of Stoke Climsland. I WILL BE THERE, signing paw graphs and meeting people. Make sure you go.

dogweed

Uncle Max pushing up the daisies, knapweed, bladderseed, rattle and sending powerful positive thoughts to all distressed maidens everywhere.