Earlier in the week there appeared to be a very brief visit to the nest box by a Dunnock. Too brief to be absolutely sure on the identification. Yesterday's visitor was much easier to identify:
Another visit from a Great Tit.
Sunday, 20 November 2022
Monday, 14 November 2022
Monday Mystery
Last week I showed
What made it difficult to identify exactly was the lack of any clue as to it size. Here is the full object
It is just the right size to fit over a cup and Kev Scott was very close with 'teabag strainer'. Ellen D worked out it was a strainer. In fact, as Adrian worked out it dates back to the days when tea was made with tea leaves kept in a tea caddy. Teapot warmed up, one teaspoon of tea leaves for each cup plus 'one for the pot'. Boiling water added and left to brew, not forgetting the tea cosy to keep the pot warm for as long as possible. Then came the pouring of the tea through the tea strainer to keep any tea leaves out of the cup. Much more of a family ritual back then! Thanks to all who had a guess.
A full view of an object this week
If you would like to guess what it is please leave you guess in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
What made it difficult to identify exactly was the lack of any clue as to it size. Here is the full object
It is just the right size to fit over a cup and Kev Scott was very close with 'teabag strainer'. Ellen D worked out it was a strainer. In fact, as Adrian worked out it dates back to the days when tea was made with tea leaves kept in a tea caddy. Teapot warmed up, one teaspoon of tea leaves for each cup plus 'one for the pot'. Boiling water added and left to brew, not forgetting the tea cosy to keep the pot warm for as long as possible. Then came the pouring of the tea through the tea strainer to keep any tea leaves out of the cup. Much more of a family ritual back then! Thanks to all who had a guess.
A full view of an object this week
If you would like to guess what it is please leave you guess in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
Unusual Lithops
When I set up the large propagator I added to my small collection of Lithops plants. They are often called Living Stones or Living Pebbles as that is what they usually look like.
When I saw this much more unusual one I couldn't resist buying it:
I had no idea whether it would have a recognisable flower or when it would show any. Yesterday I noticed a small speck of yellow. Today, while the Sunlight was blazing through I saw ...
A closer look:
Its first flower. All of 15mm across. It looks likely there is at least one more to open very soon. That helped to make up for a fraught day yesterday when, as a result of a burst water main locally, there was no tap water all day.
When I saw this much more unusual one I couldn't resist buying it:
I had no idea whether it would have a recognisable flower or when it would show any. Yesterday I noticed a small speck of yellow. Today, while the Sunlight was blazing through I saw ...
A closer look:
Its first flower. All of 15mm across. It looks likely there is at least one more to open very soon. That helped to make up for a fraught day yesterday when, as a result of a burst water main locally, there was no tap water all day.
Monday, 7 November 2022
Monday Mystery
Not many guesses for last week's mystery object.
I guess it was more difficult that I expected. Two correct answers though. Well done to Adrian and Ellen D. Yes is a pie funnel / vent / chimney. One of my Mothers. It must be at least fifty years old and was used regularly. My thanks also to Ragged Robin for having a go.
Part of an object this time:
Once upon a time it was used daily but rarely sees the light of day now. If you would like to make a guess as to what it is please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
I guess it was more difficult that I expected. Two correct answers though. Well done to Adrian and Ellen D. Yes is a pie funnel / vent / chimney. One of my Mothers. It must be at least fifty years old and was used regularly. My thanks also to Ragged Robin for having a go.
Part of an object this time:
Once upon a time it was used daily but rarely sees the light of day now. If you would like to make a guess as to what it is please leave it in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
Thursday, 3 November 2022
A Brief Inspection
Checking to see whether there had been any activity in the camera nestbox I was pleased to see this Great Tit had given it a brief inspection a few days ago.
It is the time of year when some birds do the rounds of possible nesting sites. It certainly made a change as over the past year the only activity recorded has been the occasional wasp, fly, butterfly and spider.
It is the time of year when some birds do the rounds of possible nesting sites. It certainly made a change as over the past year the only activity recorded has been the occasional wasp, fly, butterfly and spider.
Monday, 31 October 2022
Monday Mystery
Last week's Circular Studio pattern
was indeed created using
a photo of a Sunflower. Well done to Adrian, Ragged Robin, Ellen D, Kev Scott and Wilma who all guessed correctly.
This week there is no tinkering, just a straight forward photo of an object.
If you would like to guess what it is, please leave your answer in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
was indeed created using
a photo of a Sunflower. Well done to Adrian, Ragged Robin, Ellen D, Kev Scott and Wilma who all guessed correctly.
This week there is no tinkering, just a straight forward photo of an object.
If you would like to guess what it is, please leave your answer in the comments. They will be revealed, with the answer, next Monday.
Thursday, 27 October 2022
Ready for Winter
It was time to think about some protection from low temperatures for some of my plants. I have had this heated propagator for some time but it spend over a year unused in the greenhouse. Time to bring it back in the unheated conservatory.
Now set up with my home made thermostatically controlled unit. Basically that is a bit of bought electronics which can be programmed with a start (low) temperature and an end (hight) temperature. That operates a solid state relay which is designed to safely use a low voltage (12V) to switch a couple of mains voltage sockets. As it is now it switches on the heating element in the propagator when the temperature drops to 10C and off again when it reaches 12C.
A few small and miniature orchid plants with some succulents occupy it at the moment.
The orchid plant top left spent the Summer outdoors and has started to produced a flower spike for the first time in a couple of years.
Now set up with my home made thermostatically controlled unit. Basically that is a bit of bought electronics which can be programmed with a start (low) temperature and an end (hight) temperature. That operates a solid state relay which is designed to safely use a low voltage (12V) to switch a couple of mains voltage sockets. As it is now it switches on the heating element in the propagator when the temperature drops to 10C and off again when it reaches 12C.
A few small and miniature orchid plants with some succulents occupy it at the moment.
The orchid plant top left spent the Summer outdoors and has started to produced a flower spike for the first time in a couple of years.
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