Fox and magpies - beginnings of an Aesop's fable

Yesterday morning I looked out of my bedroom window to see 3 of the family of 4 magpies on the cross struts of my bean poles pecking at the string holding the poles together. On the path, watching them intently, was a fox.

It immediately brought Aesop's fables to my mind!

Fox cubs 3 sunflower seedlings nil

On Monday evening I put some sunflower seedlings out in the garden putting some cut-off plastic bottles round them to protect from slugs.

Later that evening I looked out of the bedroom window to see a fox with 3 cubs. For the last fortnight I've only seen it with one.

The cubs were chasing each other round the garden, including along the back of the flower bed where I'd put most of the sunflowers. "Oh, dear," I thought.

Next morning I found all the sunflower seedlings in the flower bed had gone, but the 3 in the edges of the veg beds had survived both fox cubs and slugs. One seedling has gone since, but fingers crossed for 2.

Mysterious plants arrive

A bx of plants arrived from Thompson and Morgan. I could remember that I was due another delivery from them, but not what I had ordered.

They were plug plants, and I didn't recognise them. Were they vegetable or flowers, for the beds or for pots? There was nothing inside the box to say, and I couldn't find the catalogue to check all I had marked off to order.

I went to look to see if there was any reference number on the box label so I could phone Thompson & Morgan to ask, to find the label said what they were sweet potato plugs.

I tried these last year without success, and looking on a Thompson & Morgan website I didn't see anything in the description to enlighten me as to why I decided to try again.

I've put them 2 each to a large pot, which I will keep indoors for a week or two.

I did put out the courgettes in cut-off 5 litre water bottles to protect from slugs and, hopefully, the fox cubs, and the tomatoes in these bottomless pots with a well round the outside for watering - hopefully also protected from the cubs. However, if the foxes do decide to play in that vegetable bed, then the protection won't be enough!

Paying for carrying the logs

I had 20 bags of logs delivered today, paying for them to be carried through the house. As the way through the house and out through the conservatory has several kinks in it, and I have a dodgy back, I have in the past slit open the bags and carried the logs through in 2 goes (and the last time in 3). It has taken me ages.

Today I had logs through the house and stacked in under an hour.

New supplier. The bags seem lighter than the last load I had, and more small bits. It'll all burn though.

Listening for the sound of rain

Just listened on catch-up to "During wind and rain: a British history in weather" - episode 7 "rain" on BBC Radio 4.

The early section was about telling where you were by the sound the rain makes on what it is falling on, in particular quoting Thomas Hardy but also noting the sound of rain in modern urban landscapes.

I want to try to see if even my cloth years can tell the difference in sound when, for instance, rain falls on walls and when rain falls on a hedge.

I will get my chance too, tomorrow when rain is forecast.

I hope the morning stays dry, or at least not more drizzle, as I have logs being delivered. I am paying for them to be carried through the house, but then need to stack them.

Missing fox cubs

On Friday evening there were only 2 fox cubs playing in the garden - play fighting and chasing each other round and round. They looked as if they were having great fun, though I winced at the damage to my plants.

Then this morning (Sunday) there was only one cub.

What could be happening?

When there are 2 or 3 cubs they play together, when only one the adult plays with it.

Herb walk Walthamstow Marshes

Today was the third herb walk on the marshes, my second time of attending.

Colder than last month. I started off the day in a thin top, changed to a fleece, then added a vest, and popped on a zipped fleece just before I left the house.

We also didn't get as far, but still very interesting.

Will be watching out for plantain on any walks in case needed for a spit poultice for bites and stings.

I also intend soaking hawthorn berries in brandy later in the year for a heart tonic (reputed good for emotional upset as well as physically good for the heart).

At the Oxfam shop at the end of Walthamstow High Street, just over the road from the start of Coppermill Lane where there is our meeting place "The Mill", I found a long length of ecru coloured fabric. It is a loose weave and one one side feels very natural but on the other a bit synthetic. It was only £3.49. I am planning what to make - my first idea is a loose over top, two rectangles for the body and then a rectangle each for the sleeves.