spoils of war

these are all the things that Harriet has pulled out of our garden this year, carefully labelled by date and position. People were shocked. The red labels were the best ones. 

the flower show

Young and old alike remain transfixed by Professor Goodvibes and his Punch and Judy. In the background is the church spire, and the old school.

some moths do have em

this is the enormous caterpillar of the well named elephant hawk moth which we found flying around at home last week, (see http://tamar-valley-life.blogspot.com/2006/07/elephants.html ), this one is doing its combined harvester act on some rosebay willowherb. It is truly enormous.

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.