Wet summer

The miserable wet summer weather continues, the wettest June since records began in 1910.  Twice as much rainfall than normal over the last 3 months and heavy rain forecast again for tomorrow.   I know the gardens needs rain but this is now beyond a joke.  The weeds are running riot and I don't feel like going out there removing them in this weather. 

The brick patio and graveled area are a disgrace but I hate the job.

The teasels below seem to like the rain, they are growing like triffids,  one is at least 7 feet tall.

Not many butterflies around in the cold wet weather. The only things that seem to like the rain are the snails and slugs which I dislike immensely.   Found this big one munching away at a lupin plant.

Thinking of Mum

Always thinking of Mum, but more today than usual as it is a year since she died.  I posted lots of pictures of her last July as a tribute.  I made a video of her photos with music but have been unable to upload it here, maybe because of my poor internet connection.  So today I will post one of the last pictures of her taken in the nursing home only days before her death.  Love you Mum.

Have been able to upload video to  you tube

Growing fast

A visit to the lake today and there are lots of birds on it swimming round in the sunshine.  Good to see the swans are growing fast and there are still 5 cygnets.

They seem to have found something interesting underwater. 

Sadly the five coots have been reduced to two now.  Difficult to get a good picture but this is one of them.

Mother duck with five of her brood.

Swan update

Visited the swans today in the rain.  I was worried when I couldn't see them on the lake but there are 3 small lakes and when I walked across the road they were on the second one.  There is a tunnel that connects the lakes and they must have swum through it.  They were in the middle of the lake but when they saw me they swam over to me, maybe in the hope that I had food for them, sadly I didn't.   I stood on a small bridge to take photos and as I walked closer to them they started hissing at me.  They are very protective parents.

 There are five little cygnets and they were busy preening themselves just like mum and dad.  So much rain they need to keep their feathers in good condition to keep themselves waterproof.

Not the best of photos but when I tried to get round to the others side of them they didn't like it.  They can be very dangerous if you're not careful.  The bridge I  was on has only a top rail so they could easily have got out under it and attacked me.

Sewing

Since making the quilt for my granddaughter Jasmine recently I have got the sewing bug.  Not done much for years apart for curtains.  Don't even do those now.  Made myself a dress last summer which I didn't like.  Thought I would make a dress for my new granddaughter Safeya.  Found a pretty pattern on the internet.  It was easy to make except for the fiddly gathering on the skirt but I am very pleased with the result.  Not sure of the size but think it should fit her next summer.  I found a model to try it on and I think it maybe a bit long but that can soon be remedied.  

                                          

Swan update

Called by to see the swans this afternoon.  There appears to be three cygnets now and mum is still sitting there patiently waiting.  I would think the final two eggs will hatch sometime today. 

It's all happening by the lake

Walked down to the lake this afternoon to check on the nesting swans.   Was pleasantly surprised to see one of their eggs has hatched.  She must be feeling really hot sitting on the nest all this time especially now it has become warmer.  If you look closely you can see its little head behind the eggs. Still four more eggs waiting to hatch.  If you click on the photo you will be able to see it a bit larger.

There was also a family of coots swimming in the lake.  Parents with five young ones.  Not sure what their young are called and a search on google only came up with chicks.  Some silly answers like cooties and cuties were also there.  They are quite ugly looking chicks (ok I suppose some will think they are cute).  They were swimming towards me on the water and then one adult went off with two young and the other two followed the other adult.  This one was left behind and after a while it realised it had lost mum and dad and started calling them.  After a while one called back and off it went the direction of the call.

 Not sure if this is mum or dad, as far as I could see both adults look alike

 Each adult was feeding the two chicks they were with so obviously share the task of caring for their young. 

                    He has just heard mum or dad calling and off he goes.

I also saw two different damsel flies and think I have identified them correctly. 

The first one is a Demoiselle. There were two of them flying around and they have such beautiful bright blue/ green colouring. 

This one is a common blue damsel fly, dozens of these flying around in the sunshine today.