I was sitting in the garden on Thursday when this speckled wood butterfly passed through. It fluttered around the roses before settling on our fig tree, and obligingly sat with its wings spread so I could take pictures.
It looks like we have new upstairs neighbors. I don't know anything about them yet -- I've only met the man, and apparently there are (or will eventually be) kids as well. He got some stuff delivered yesterday and the driver left it with us, so I met him when he came to pick it up -- a fortyish guy, nice enough. Strangely, the real estate listing for the flat is still up, though it does say that it's "under offer." Maybe the broker leaves it up for a while just to attract eyes to their other listings.
I would love to know if the Russians are really getting £5,200 a month for it. But of course that's not something one can ask, is it?
It was very warm yesterday -- about 89ยบ F. Today is supposed to be slightly cooler and by next week our highs will be back down in the 70's. I ordered a new patio table and chairs, and they were delivered yesterday in a disturbingly flat box that seems to indicate a lot of assembly is required. I'll probably be working on that today.
When I was near Hampstead Heath on Thursday, I passed a house with a box of stuff sitting outside, free for the taking. Included was this little sheep, made of beads strung on stiff pieces of wire. Of course I grabbed it, because who could resist? Besides, I have a couple of other beaded animals that I got while in Botswana -- a frog and a pig -- and this goes with them quite well. A beaded farmyard!
I finished "The Man with the Golden Arm." Good, but not for the faint-hearted. I'm glad I read it, but literally everything that happens in that book is depressing.
As I was sitting in our garden and typing this post, some small creature ventured behind me -- a squirrel, probably. Olga streaked to the corner of the garden and chased it over the wall, then promptly got very dizzy and staggered back to where I was sitting before awkwardly collapsing on her haunches. She thinks she's very fierce.
Your collection of beaded animals is becoming a truly unique and culturally rich display.
ReplyDeleteOh No! to the flat pack - hope you have a good deal of patience for that.
ReplyDeleteI love that sheep. I would have grabbed that, too, if I had had the nerve to search the box. Sorry about the kids moving in up above. Hope it’s not as bad as The Russians’ construction projects.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you could be an entrepreneur with all the stuff you find on the street. Someone has painstakingly made that little sheep it is rather sweet. Painstaking will probably be the word for the flat pack!
ReplyDeleteI very much doubt that the speckled wood butterfly was deliberately posing for you as it sat upon the leaf. After all, speckled wood butterflies only have as much brain power as Donald Trump's two older sons. Have fun putting the flat pack garden furniture together! Maybe you can post pictures in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteAhh.. sweet sheep. I would have grabbed that too.
ReplyDeleteLots of luck with the flatpack. That will take time and patience. Let's hope kids overhead aren't as disturbing as endless renovation.
ReplyDeleteLots of butterflies here, too, though they're not obligingly posing for me. Too hot here yesterday - 33 degrees.
ReplyDeleteVery cool sheep. We just had the house next door to us sell and the apparent amount of the sale was less than half the Zillow estimate so I wonder what that's about. Of course, I can't ask our new neighbors either.
ReplyDeleteI think Olga is still fierce, she just needs a lie down after.
Like Olga, I think I am very fierce, but also require a bit of a sitdown when it's over. That sheep is very neat. I never knew beaded animals were a thing. I'd be interested in seeing your menagerie. Good luck on the new neighbors. Nice enough is a good start, isn't it? And maybe the children will be in your school! That would be interesting. You'll certainly find out a good deal about the family once you get to know the kids. I'll never forget the show and tell that my daughter told her class that I drank too much. It was true. I'd just gotten my first cappuccino machine and for the first week, I was so enthused with it that I was not sleeping at night.
ReplyDeleteThe Russians must have decorated very well. £5000 a month is extraordinary. That's around AU$10,000. That surely can't be. Who has that kind of money.
ReplyDeleteOn one of our god awful tv quiz shows I don't watch, a question was to complete the London park name, Hampstead ?? I think the contestant answered park.
Your garden attracts butterflies of all types and that is a very nice feature.
ReplyDeleteGarden furniture is always so enjoyed. I hope the build is not complicated.
The new neighbors can only be an improvement. The rent they are paying is eyewatering.
Some assembly required?
ReplyDeleteSometimes it seems like you have to build the damn things.
It will be interesting to see what your new neighbors are like. I really hope they are good people with quiet hobbies.
Olga's spirit is as fierce as ever, isn't it?
I've only seen two or three butterflies this year. Rather depressing. Hopefully your new neighbor won't be too noisy although with kids running around above you you might be wishing for the Russians back. Minnie thinks she is fierce too and has no problem chasing much larger dogs away if they venture into the yard.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the good weather while it lasts.
ReplyDeleteShe is fierce...she got rid of that squirrel, didn't she?
ReplyDeleteI'm always impressed that you can finish a book like that. I would have put it down right away. I think it's my age. I don't have time for depressing things. But then, I do read the newspaper which is pretty depressing stuff these days.
Fingers crossed that you have some good neighbors!
Oh and that rent amount is mind boggling!
First impressions are often a clue to overall behavior. So far, so good.
ReplyDeleteI would stagger like Olga after abrupt activity - and I just found out I have low iron levels. She still has things she loves to do, and that matters. Sometimes I just wish I could stop time, though. Just to savor the moments a little longer, you know?
P. S. and that sheep! I love it and would like to make one. Off to search for a pattern!
ReplyDeleteSteve, have a look at this - especially the price:
Deletehttps://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/294010939/wire-and-beaded-sheep-the-fluffiness-of
Would you put up a photo of all of the beaded animals together, Steve? I would like to see that. You are so good at spotting and photographing butterflies! I'm never quick enough!
ReplyDeleteI hope the new neighbors are good ones -- and not too loud! Love the sheep -- pretty cute. Did you ever see the film with Frank Sinatra? I'm not sure but I think he won the Oscar for it.
ReplyDeleteI call that kind of book "tragedy porn." We've read several of that type in Book Club. They make for a good discussion although the process of getting through the book can be arduous. Hope the new neighbors are better than the Russians--they don't have much to live up to though. :)
ReplyDeleteI read the ad for the apartment, and was fairly astonished by the price. I clicked on the ad's link to other London properties. I think there were two and they are farther out. Does UK have an MLS type system, or is there a very limited number of flats for rent? That could explain the price, if so.
ReplyDeleteThe sheep is cute! Does Dave rolls his eyes over stuff like that?
ReplyDeleteLike Olga, I still sometimes do things I forget I'm too old to do anymore! But she sure showed that squirrel (or whatever it was)!
Dr. M would love that sheep. He can't pass a flock without taking multiple photos of them. Sending sympathy from far away over Olga's travails.
ReplyDeleteSheep Darling!!! I would have taken that, too! The Russian's listing blew my mind- colud it be real? I guess that you and Dave are going to stay in that rental forever the way things are going in London real estate! Holy cow = absurd! Little kids upstairs will delight you - running and bouncing and squeals well into the night! Great....
ReplyDeleteLove the beaded sheep. I can imagine Olga streaking after a fox, then near collapsing, just like when I make a mad dash for a bus then spend half the trip trying to get my breath back and reminding myself that I wasn't going to do that anymore!
ReplyDeleteI hope the kids if there are any aren't the noisy type with stomping boots and ghettoblasters.