Author Archives: JDO

I heard him before I saw him. As R and I were leaving the house this morning to run errands in Stratford, I wandered across the front lawn (as I’ve been doing every day for the past couple of weeks) … Continued

The good times continued to roll today when I made a late, snap decision to drive up into the Cotswolds after owls. There was a lot of cloud and the light wasn’t great, and several times en route I slowed … Continued

On my way out to town this morning I noticed the first hedgerow blossom of the year; and this afternoon, having decided that a 30mph wind was not likely to be conducive to the owls leaving their roosts, I climbed … Continued

I don’t know if this is my best photo of the day, but it leapt out at me as I was culling the 799 I took over the course of today. I do know that I shouldn’t have been out … Continued

While I was processing the photos I took in the garden this afternoon, my Met Office app beeped a rain warning at me – which I’m going to describe as too little, too late. Shortly after that, R came back … Continued

This is one of the beautiful irises from my Mother’s Day flowers. I’ve been spoiled in other ways too today: both Offspring have phoned home, and R cooked me a lovely meal. I’m feeling very lucky. The weather wasn’t great … Continued

I was watching this mute swan bathing, and I knew he was likely to rear up like this, because it’s very often the last stage of the bathing ritual before they shake all the feathers back into place, give a … Continued

The weather being horrible, and these tulips being almost over, I froze a new one – but I didn’t start it early enough and by dinner time it still wasn’t ready to be photographed, so I had to do something … Continued

….that something’s watching me….. You could be right. A hare might possibly be watching you, or a kestrel, maybe – it’s a long way away, but their eyesight is superb, of course, and anyway, you’re quite… ummm…. chunky. Or maybe … Continued

I had a busy day today. This morning I reported some more bugs from last summer, and then designed and ordered some new business cards – not that I do this nonsense for money, but if I ask someone I … Continued