Well, apparently all it took for us to get better weather was for me to complain about it on the blog. Yesterday was a dream of a day, sunny and comfortable. I opened all the windows and let the air flow through the house, and sat out on the back garden bench for an hour or two just watching the birds and bugs and taking photos.
The morning was chilly. That's when I found this little ladybug hunkered down inside an azalea blossom. That azalea is called "Pink Spider" and it's one that I got for free during the Covid lockdowns years ago, when one of the garden centers was giving its plants away. There appears to be a second azalea in the same pot, with solid pink blossoms. I guess they make a good shelter for ladybugs!
This was my main job for the day -- cleaning all the windows in the living room and bedroom. It took a couple of hours because we have a lot of freakin' windows, but the room looks much better. I only do this once a year or so and it makes a huge difference. I still have to do the front of the house -- the dining room and the window next to the front door. I'll get around to it eventually.
Dave stayed home yesterday because he wasn't feeling well, but he was either asleep in bed or in his chair wearing headphones much of the afternoon, so honestly it wasn't much different from having the house to myself.
As I sat on the bench in the afternoon this little blue tit was flitting around in the maple tree overhead, evidently eating bugs.
And when I took a close look at the tree's tiny flowers, I saw that they were indeed covered with little insects -- that winged one at the top got my attention first, but look at all the others too! Aphids, I think? You can even see glistening drops of tree sap at the bottom of the picture, center-right. Bug heaven!
And then this morning, as I sat down to write, this happened. A young fox appeared at our window, peering in at me over the top of the television. It had climbed up on a patio planter to get a view indoors. As I watched it jumped atop the fence between us and the neighbors, and walked across the thick ivy that covers the fence. I'm guessing it's hunting something up there -- bird nests, maybe? It eventually jumped down without catching anything, as far as I could tell. Wild Kingdom!
I suspect that the young fox was checking you out and wondering what you might taste like*. Perhaps realising that he could not tackle you on his own, he has probably gone away to recruit some mates and they'll be back today or tomorrow so make sure you close those windows and stay indoors!
ReplyDelete*= probably tandoori chicken.
That sounds like a Monty Python skit.
DeleteFirstly I love your rug in the sitting room, so much colour! Foxes are no longer scared of humans, happily we no longer hunt them, they are much bolder, I do love their colourful coats. Good to see the birds after the bugs, it's the natural cycle.
ReplyDeleteThanks re. the rug! Yes, urban foxes are quite used to us, though they still run if I walk out the door.
DeleteMaybe the fox was birdwatching!
ReplyDeleteGood photo of the bluetit and the aphids
Well, you could call it that! LOL
DeleteYour living room is almost a jungle, but looks lovely. How lucky to watch a bird feeding on bugs.
ReplyDeleteHe was a very industrious little bird.
DeleteYour living room looks like a conservatory. So beautiful. I love seeing the fox and especially love knowing the blue tit is gorging itself on aphids. Thank you, blue tit.
ReplyDeleteYeah, keep it up, blue tit!
DeleteYou are almost finding yourself a job to do in your retirement. Not housekeeping but recording all the happenings in your garden. The living room is lovely its greenery echoes the garden outside.. Someone over many years recorded everything thing in their garden, I think she was called Jennifer Owens.
ReplyDeleteThe garden could easily be a full-time job, but I prefer to let nature take its course out there as much as possible!
DeleteYour living room looks wonderful; I love how the rug picks up the theme from all the real plants in the room.
ReplyDeleteThat fox probably thinks he/she is a cat :-)
Thanks re. the rug. Yeah, we intended it to echo the outdoors!
DeleteI don't feel quite so bad now about my infrequent window cleaning if you only do yours once a year. 😁
ReplyDeleteDo people do them more often?! Once a year is all I can manage!
DeleteI wonder if that fox has been doing that while you were at work and he's a bit annoyed to find you're around all the time now, in his garden.
ReplyDeleteMaybe!
DeleteI never clean my windows. Although to be fair to me, we only have one that isn't always covered by curtains. I DID clean part of the one window a couple of weeks ago, but I should probably clean our storm doors at some point. I don't think it can wait until after my shoulder surgery!
ReplyDeleteI love your garden, and as I've said before, would really enjoy spending an afternoon out there.
Doesn't it drive you nuts to have window coverings over your windows? I have to have my drapes or blinds open.
DeleteYour house does get a lot of light; I love all the windows.
ReplyDeleteThanks! One of the main reasons we moved into this place!
DeleteI think your house is already showing signs of loving having you at home to tend it. It is so light-filled.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the tit, pausing in her feasting is precious. Look at the expression on her face. I know, I know! I am anthropomorphizing but still...
And the fox. What a healthy looking animal. Can you imagine spending almost all of your waking hours searching out things to eat? That one is certainly finding enough to stay healthy.
She is a very demure-looking blue tit, isn't she?! Yeah, that fox is looking good. I hope he/she keeps finding plenty of food.
DeleteI LOVE that the fox actually visited you by the house! And boy, it looks terrific in there. I love your many windows and the plants are thriving. Nice view with your (relatively) new rug, too! Your video is especially nice -- it's fun to see the foxes in the daytime with "regular" eyes! And the wonderful colors!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's nice to see the foxes without those weird, glowing retinas from the infrared light.
DeleteSo far everything is going well in retirement. Keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteDoing my best!
DeleteWhat a nice photo of your living room. I was surprised by the size of your TV, though. Don't you watch a lot of movies? Maybe you have a bigger TV in another room? I forget. Hope Dave feels better.
ReplyDeleteNope, this is our only one! I don't need anything bigger than this.
DeleteMy windows are in serious need of cleaning. So many, 25 if I counted correctly.
ReplyDeleteWow! And I thought we had a lot! I guess ours are more big expanses of compound windows than individual windows. We really only have nine windows, if measured that way.
DeleteIn other words, I could count our bedroom window as one window, or ten (individual panes of glass).
DeleteRetirement So Fits Your Model Of The World - Stress Free , Fresh Air , & Happy Insect Observations - Way Flipping Cool
ReplyDeleteParty On ,
Cheers
I am happy watching bugs all day!
DeleteWild kingdom indeed. Lots of great photos today. I love the view from your windows. You live in a little urban paradise.
ReplyDeleteWe do indeed. We are always thankful we have it.
DeleteWindows are sort of an amazing thing. All they see is the occasional rain drop and yet over a year, become quite filthy. It always makes me wonder what my lungs look like breathing the same air that makes my windows so dirty.
ReplyDeleteHa! Well, they are dirtier in cities, in my experience -- though maybe not on the plains with all that blowing dust & soil.
DeleteGotta say I'm loving these retirement photos, and those windows. My goodness I love windows and your plants do too. I would love to have visiting foxes. We have a visiting squirrel, but it's just not the same:)
ReplyDeleteWe have visiting squirrels too, unfortunately! They keep digging up my plants!
DeleteFoxes are so agile and sure-footed. London foxes are so confident.
ReplyDeleteIt seems quite comfortable atop that fence, doesn't it?!
DeleteI can see where the expression "agile like a fox" came from. What a beautiful animal! As you noted, we're having similar weather, including a freeze warning for tonight. Then beautiful during the day. Enjoy the sunshine!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I think our freezing temperatures are past. (Dare I say it?!)
DeleteCleaning windows is a big job, but it makes such a great difference when everything is clean. My windows are on the list of jobs to be done.
ReplyDeleteWow! The fox is very curious. I thought they were shy animals and only out and about at dawn and dusk.
Maybe it's especially hungry!
DeleteWhat a delightful post, through and through!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. :)
DeleteI can feel the joy of the day in your writing. Very cool to watch the fox in daylight. During a London heatwave, in the 1970s, there was a plague of ladybugs, covering over surfaces in some places.
ReplyDeleteWell, as plagues go, that's not so bad. Better than locusts!
DeleteI stood and watched a little Blue Tit flitting about the blossom on our tiny apple tree yesterday morning, it was mesmerising. I hope it ate lots of the little pests that we might have had.
ReplyDelete