Sunday, April 11, 2021

Whitbread and Cuckoo Flower


Olga and I went walking on the Heath yesterday, and we managed to make pretty much the full circuit. Now that she's back on her anti-inflammatory meds she seems a little more energetic. We had a good walk involving some tennis-ball throwing and photography.


"Would you STOP TAKING PICTURES!!!!"


We found this patch of delicate little wildflowers blooming near a damp creek bed. It's cuckoo flower or lady's smock, which I don't remember ever seeing before but I probably just didn't stop to notice it.


In some woods I found the lower part of this bottle protruding from the ground. I thought it was whole, and got a bit excited, but it turned out to be only a broken portion of a bottle, as you can see. Still, I managed to identify it -- it's a Whitbread & Co. beer bottle, age unknown but probably Victorian. Here's what it looks like intact.

Otherwise, yesterday was full of small household tasks. I changed the sheets and dropped them off at the laundromat. (Yes, we have a washer, but it doesn't handle king-size bedsheets very well so I always have them washed for me. I usually throw our towels in too. A wonderful luxury!)

All the geraniums are back inside and the cannas are in the shed. Freezing temperatures are predicted for tonight. (Sigh)

37 comments:

Moving with Mitchell said...

Wow. I can't believe you're experiencing more freezing temperatures. Spring will eventually stick around. I wish you had found that battle intact. What a treasure. The walk looks beautiful as does her highness crying Off with their heads!

Ursula said...

Did you leave the "protruding from the ground" bottle in? That sort of potential health hazard, to both man and beast, gives me the shivers. It's why (see my recent comment) I will pick up other people's carelessly discarded banana skins.

U

gz said...

Good that you are getting decent walks in, and making interesting finds.
Lockdown is bad enough, the weather is no help!!

Tasker Dunham said...

Well done identifying the bottle.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

You could use the base of that bottle as a weapon of self defence if The Russians ever invade... from upstairs.

Debi said...

I have got the same bottle sitting on my sideboard!I bought it from a vintage shop about 10 years ago for £2.At the same time,I bought a clear glass bottle,with a ball stopper in side it,with the name H.Cohen,72 Commercial Road.E.written on it.That was £2.That is also sitting on my sideboard and now that I have just picked them up,I realize that they are very good at collecting dust as well,lol.xx

Steve Reed said...

Wow! That's cool! I'm glad to hear there are unbroken ones out there (and enough that they weren't expensive, at least not 10 years ago). Maybe I'll buy one myself one of these days.

Steve Reed said...

En garde!

Steve Reed said...

It took some Googling but eventually I figured it out!

Steve Reed said...

Last spring's lockdown was tolerable because it was warm and sunny. This is really a drag!

Steve Reed said...

She was quite emphatic about wanting to move along!

Steve Reed said...

Oh, the only part that was protruding was the part I collected. I have no idea where the rest of the bottle is. I didn't leave any safety hazards behind!

Anonymous said...

Finding part of a Victorian era bottle in the Heath is not to be sneezed at. The cuckoo flower really does look so delicate but it has done well out in the open.

Bob said...

All kinds of treasures, but Olga demanding less pictures is the best!

Steve Reed said...

There's a lot of trash on the Heath, modern and not!

Steve Reed said...

She gets so impatient with me!

Edna B said...

That's a great photo of Olga and that awesome tree! You have a super day, Edna B.

Ms. Moon said...

That tree! That massive, fallen, magnificent tree!

Anonymous said...

That fallen tree behind Olga is so beautiful. Interesting broken bottle find there.

Red said...

I really like your first photo.

Steve Reed said...

Glad you like it!

Steve Reed said...

It's a favorite gathering spot on the Heath.

Steve Reed said...

There are several interesting old trees, fallen and not, on the Heath.

Steve Reed said...

Thanks!

Ellen D. said...

I wonder what Olga's medicine is - I could use more energy! :)
Lovely photos (as always!) Thanks!

Kelly said...

Doing a little blog hopping this morning...

Olga looks really cute. It might be rude of me to ask, but why does she take an anti-inflammatory? One of my pack takes an NSAID pain med twice a day.

Sharon said...

Freezing temps again?? That is just not right at all.
I love that first photo on the Heath. People were out and about. And, another cute picture of Olga. Dogs don't get the whole picture taking thing.
You find all kinds of very old things up on the Heath. It's amazing the things that are working their way to the surface.

crafty cat corner said...

Love the picture of Olga but didn't need the reminder that I have to change the beds, lol We both have double beds and like you I take them to the launderette.
Briony
x

Debby said...

Olga will never be a mudlarker, I take it, despite her love of mud.

Steve Reed said...

Her medicine is called Metacam, and I believe it's strictly a veterinary medicine, so probably not something you want to take. Maybe there's a human equivalent, though! :)

Steve Reed said...

She has some joint stiffness and early-stage arthritis. She's 11 and especially after long walks she sometimes has trouble moving around, so she's on Metacam to help. (And fish oil pills!)

Steve Reed said...

It really is amazing how much stuff turns up there! Makes me wonder what's under the ground, but of course, digging is a no-no.

Steve Reed said...

It's worth it, isn't it? I do all our laundry otherwise, but in a tiny washer/dryer combo bedsheets come out looking like crumpled paper bags!

Steve Reed said...

She might have trouble getting a license! LOL

Debby said...

!!! I never knew that one was required. Off to google!!!

Kelly said...

Bless her heart. Mine takes Carprofen (for prostate cancer). We had two girlies (both of whom we lost during the past year) that took Previcox for arthritis. I guess there are as many drugs for dogs out there as there are for people! And I'm a believer in stuff like the fish oil. Whatever works! We had a Rottweiler who took cranberry capsules all her life for chronic cystitis. It kept her healthy!

Olga appears to be a real sweetie and I love her name. I'm a sucker for dogs. We currently have seven... all strays we've taken in.

The Padre said...

Right On - Excellent Outing For You Two - Bark On Girlfriend - You Got Extra Treats Coming

Cheers