April 17th – Spotted in a canalside garden on a dull. overcast bank holiday afternoon, this black and white puss feigned disinterest, but was clearly watching me closely as I passed on the canal at Catshill.
I love how cats balance and seem comfortable on the thinnest, most awkward looking things.
April 16th – At Chasewater, someone has designed and implemented a cunning Bob-trap, by planting the dam with my all time favourite flowers: Cowslips.
On this grey, showery afternoon without much to commend it, the sight of thousands of these bright yellow blooms forming a veritable carpet was a joy to the heart.
When I was a kid, you couldn’t find a cowslip for love nor money, and I feared they’d die out: now, thanks to seeding like this and the odd bit of guerrilla activity (cough) they greet me everywhere.
Do get over and see it if you can: my images really don’t do it justice.
My compliments and thanks to whoever did this. You made a man very happy today.
April 16th – Running an errand to Chasetown, near St. Anne’s Church I spotted this fake owl, someone had mounted high in a roadside tree.
I have no idea, really I don’t: that took serious effort to get up there (and I’m still not sure how it was done) and from the bird poo splashed on it, it’s not really scaring birds.
An oddity, for sure…
April 15th – A good 50 miler over the Chase, Shugborough and around Blithfiield Reservoir rewarded me with sights of deer, rabbits and even a sheep with a curious resemblance to an old-fashioned teddy bear. So good to be out in the spring, despite the gloom, cold and strong winds.
Such a pleasure too to see the fallow deer who’ve been scarce of late, looking scruffy in the moult. Summer is coming for sure!
April 15th – A better day, but with a keen wind and I headed out for a ride late afternoon. Passing along the canal in Brownhills, the local feline population didn’t disappoint: At Catshill just on Clayhanger Common, eyebrow cat cast a surly, but authoritative figure as it disdainfully regarded me, and on a canalside deck but the Watermead, an old puss had fallen asleep, seemingly unaware his tongue was still out.
I’m loving the cats at the moment…
April 14th – Unexpectedly, I came upon a beautiful sight in Brownhills – over thirty moored narrowboats from the Historic Narrow Boat Club who’re on their Wyrley Wander tour and stopping here until Monday when they move on to Town Arm in Walsall.
This is a really great spectacle and worth a visit – even in the rain! Find out more on the main blog here.
April 14th – Nipping to Brownhills for a bit of shopping, late and in quite heavy rain. It was warm rain though, so not too bad.
I paid a visit to the Watermead swans, to see if we had hatchlings, but one bird was still sitting and no sign of the partner.
I think they’ll hatch any day soon!
April 13th – Spring flowers are coming thick and fast now, from dead nettles to bluebells, both Spanish and English lining the hedgerows, edge lands and verges.
Spotted at Shire Oak, some beautiful sights just growing in a mundane, roadside here that most would just pass by.
There’s beauty out there in profusion if we’re open to it.
April 13th – This made me double take: on the cycleway at Telford, what I thought was one cherry tree with two different colours of blossom. Closer inspection showed it to be two separate trees, growing intertwined. What a beautiful sight!
Also beautiful is the oceans of petal confetti decorating the verges and paths. Such a wonderful time of year.
April 12th – A further delight of the rain on Clayhanger Common – cowslips and pear blossom bearing jewel-like raindrops. In spring, even the rain is beautiful, and sights like these, even when you’re soaked to the bone due to lack of waterproofs – gladden the heart.
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