Drygrange Chestnuts Pt.3: March, Buds and a Global Pandemic
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 3 of my sketchbook-learnings.] In my February update on the chestnuts I commented that I thought February was the toughest month of the
Long Tailed Tits Are Rubbish At Social Distancing
We currently have a large group of Long Tailed Tits who come to the feeders every day to feast on the fat balls. They pop to and from the tree to the side of the feeders - some feed, some
The Drygrange Chestnuts Pt.2: February Bark
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 2 of my sketchbook-learnings.] February was hostile. Storms everywhere, wet almost every day, icy winds. Not the ideal weather for visiting trees with
The Drygrange Chestnuts: A New Project for 2020
Here at Drygrange there are some wonderful Horse Chestnut trees in the woodland. I have two favourites in particular. One of them overhangs the drive in, and the other one is fairly nearby down a muddy slope. I always make
Milk
This blog post is the story of my experience of breastfeeding and how it made me wonder about how all the other mammals are getting on. Before I had a baby I was told that breastfeeding is hard. I thought maybe
The Great Tit Kingdom
Although many different species of birds frequent our bird feeders in the garden, it is the kingdom of the Great Tit. These handsome, squabbalacious tits are the no-nonsense rulers of the peanut feeders. They pester, bully and quarrel with
The First Family Holiday: Argyll’s Secret Coast
I didn't find as much time to keep my holiday sketchbook as I usually do! I naively packed lots of activities - books and drawing work and so on - thinking that there would be time for lovely hobbies
The View From The Pram
We found out we were pregnant shortly after getting the keys to The New House (which is over a year now, so I should probably just start referring to it as The House). I was excited about the idea
The Shop Re-Opens!
Our little baby boy, Murdo (or The Piglet, as I most often call him as he makes lots of snuffly piglet noises and has legs that look like sausages), was born in May and since then we've been enjoying getting
The Wren: Small but Mighty
Today, the first Sunday in May, is International Dawn Chorus Day. This day is an annual celebration of the peak of the spring dawn chorus symphony. All over the country there are early morning walks and events planned