I don’t have much to report this week. 2023 started very miserably – drizzly and dull. We did manage a couple of walks with Ruby but the weather was such that if it hadn’t been for her needing some exercise we wouldn’t have ventured out.

At Nostell, it was very different from the previous week with hardly anyone other than people walking their dogs sharing the grounds with us.

We took some food for the ducks and swans with us and caused quite a lot of excitement on the main lake. As soon as we started throwing the food into the water the birds came from all directions. Martyn posted a video here. The dull conditions were not ideal for filming or photography  – in fact, my camera kept switching itself off!

The swans took up a prime position and guarded their patch vigorously. The ducks rushed around collecting food and at the same time doing their best to dodge any outstretched necks belonging to angry swans.

One swan – I think it was the adult male – picked one poor duck up by its neck and flung it out of the way. Fortunately, it seemed no worse for this harsh treatment. As well as risking the wrath of the swans, ducks and gulls squabbled amongst themselves. 

As well as water birds, other birds decided to try their luck so we sprinkled a little food on the ground. There are always plenty of crows at Nostell and one developed a taste for water bird food.

A robin also decided to join the party.

One sign that we have had plenty of rain is that winter ponds are beginning to develop.

We had two birthdays at the end of the week. Ruby was three years old on Saturday and Martyn was older than that on Friday.

Ruby was due to be groomed on Friday and so on Thursday, after a very muddy walk at Nostell, she was subjected to a bath.  We are members of a local pet shop club and so, when we went along to buy some new shampoo, Ruby was given a bag of treats as a birthday gift.

Ruby hates having a bath and we both end up almost as wet as she does. She’s not keen on being groomed either but enjoys the goodies that her groomer brings along as an after grooming treat. A habit that she has got into is that when she has been groomed she goes to the exact same place and strikes the exact same pose and waits for her photo to be taken.

Finally, two meals that I made last week using our homegrown vegetables were firstly a vegetable stew, which used our potatoes, onion, garlic, leek, and carrots. To these, I added tinned tomatoes, kidney beans, mushrooms, stock and basil. Secondly, I made a chicken, pea and leek ‘cottage’ pie using our potatoes, leeks and frozen peas, It was based on this recipe. I made my own cheese sauce rather than using a packet mix.

That’s all from me this week, until next week as always stay well, stay safe and stay warm.