Post Christmas Bench Visit

Time as usual to visit the bench.

This time my daughters were able to pop in to see their Derbyshire side of the family.

A lovely sunny day to sit and stare.

Easter tea time on the bench.

Tea on the bench around Easter time is becoming a bit of a family tradition. And to mark it we do like to bring out our cups, saucers and a pot of tea on a tray - cakes and biscuits are optional.

After tea I took the camera out and took some photos of some ivy leaves backlit in the fading Spring sun.

I found several bones at the base of the Holly tree besides the stone wall. When I checked I found two weasel skulls and numerous rib and leg bones.

I wonder what would have killed and eaten a weasel? A fox? An owl?

Funny to think of my little piece of human civility amidst Nature, red in tooth and claw.

A evening's sitting

I had a few minutes sitting on the bench this evening.

It was cool, but in the early evening Spring sunshine I managed about 20 minutes of sitting time.

I was listening to all the bird life. The first Chiff Chaffs stuttering from the tops of Oak trees and setting up their territories. Squabbling Jackdaws, twittering Goldfinches, Song Thrushes in full song and one bold Robin who flew down to grass in front of the bench.

A couple of dog walkers walked past and said hello.

I got up after they had left and after the local farmer Roger had put on his noisy machine I think he uses when he is milking his herd - his farm is over 500 yards away, but the racket disturbed my contemplative mood. So I got up and took a photo of the bench with my hat on it, and my shadow.

I like having my own bench.

I hope others like sitting on it too.