Sunday 31 March 2019

Pallet to Planter



Thought I'd have a little fun today. We all know if you want a big planter it will cost  quite a bit of money so why not make one. Well that is just what I did.
I got hold of a plastic pallet but a wooden one will work ok as well if you treat it to stop it rotting away to quick

























The pallet I got hold of was one that you could fit sides on so I built it up like this




Above you can see that inside I lined it with weed membrane to hold in the soil & compost. If you used one that had wooden sides you need to treat it before adding the membrane.
In the corners I glued four square wooden battens then I screwed on lengths of deck board to the battens, (if you used all wood pallet and sides the battens are not needed) & the sides. The top was finished off with more battens





Add a bit of paint , plant something in there
and you end up with something like this. I might add I did the same with a disused water butt. You do not have to use deck board yo can use just plain rough sawen treated timber. There you go nice little project to keep you happy


Making a nest



The other week I could not beleve my eyes, a Great Tit was at a nesting box in my garden

A return with a beakful of nesting material
 Admitidly some of the stuff was too big for the hole
 But give him his due he kept trying
 Also noticed this fellow with his head in the feeder
 The another came along for a feed
As Far as I know the Great Tit is nesting in the box and on to of tha I have a Robin nesting in another  so I'm a happy bunny watching the birds in my garden
Tking part in Our World Tuesday

Saturday 30 March 2019

St Mary the Virgin Ashbury


This week the Church Explorer visits St Mary Ashbury a 13th century Norman church full of charm




Thursday 28 March 2019

Stripe of blue sky




The other day I spotted a rainbow over the village hall 
 By the time I got my camera and came back the rainbow had faded, you can just make it out

A little later I looked and saw a blue stripe between the dark and white clouds.
Happy Skywatch

Monday 25 March 2019

Mating Swans


Normally I have an idea whet I am going to post on Our World Tuesday in advance then the night before I write up the blog but there are times I m out and get some photos that throw the whole lot in the air. Last week I was walking around a small lake at the Campsite we go to and noticed a pair of swans dipping there heads in the water and then preening, while doing this they mad odd mewing noises. The swans were not the only reason I was there so I wandered off to see what I had come to see which took around 15 min.




They were still swimming together




Dipping their heads in unison





The the male mounts






the female. I had witnessed a mating ritual 





Then they faces each other 
Making a heart.
I Began to wish I had taken some video. I felt Privileged to have witnesses such a thing
Taking Part in Our World Tuesday



Saturday 23 March 2019

St Nicholas Baulking



This week the Church Explorer takes you around a mile North of the last church and back in time with wall paintings and reminders of a time long past in St Nicholas Baulking


Thursday 21 March 2019

Sky at Blooms Cottage



I took these photos a couple of weeks ago after going for a short walk to check if any progress had been made on a building site. The sky looked perfect with the clouds over the cottage.



They looked good over the stations well. Happy Skywatch


Monday 18 March 2019

New Thatch


Walking along Station Road in Cholsey I noticed some scaffold around this thatched cottage, the owner told be it was having the ridge re-thatched.  A day or so later the thatcher had started





Lots of material falling off the roof





A few days later it looked finished and the chicken wire was being placed over the thatch











The front was nearly done





Days later it was finished and the scaffold gone
The chimney was finished off with mortar to inhibit water ingress
The whole roof looked much better and I'm told added another ten years to it's life
Taking part in Our world Tuesday


Saturday 16 March 2019

St Mary Uffington



This week the Church Explorer visits Uffington & St Mary's church which is know as the Cathedral of the Vale. It is unusual from its octagonal bell tower