Our Housemartins!
If you look carefully you will be able to spot a tiny head peeping out...
these are the recently hatched housemartin chickse , under the eaves of the back of our roof.
They built a nest last year and we watched the progress over the summer.
We were thrilled when they returned this year!
I will be following the progress again, armed with my camera but takingcare not to frighten anybody.
I have a great observation point....perched on the top of a stool in the bathroom.
The airbrick in the picture is actually on the outside wall of the bathroom, the window being just out of view in the picture.
The Maternity Ward of the Strawberries!
As you can see, 12 babies, now all in their own little beds.......being watched by matron!
So as we begin a new week it is with new life!
Alice's funeral 1.30 today in our village church.
For Everything There Is a Season
For every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
From Ecclesiastes
I have just taken this photograph....
Yesterday day of the maiden flight........and what a day it turned out to be.
Ella was sitting by the back door, wanting to go outside.......
the minute I let her out I knew something was happening.
Instead of scurrying down the garden she immediately stopped in her tracks and looked up towards the nest!
The chattering, normally confined to the nest was very loud and animated.......when I looked, one of the chicks was perched on top of the drainpipe, on the edge of the funnel which feeds directly into the drain.
Next to her was one of the parent housemartins, very agitated.
Ella went down the garden, myself in hot persuit!
I phoned Jon to tell him....he would set off straight away!
I went outside to find Ella with one of the chicks in her mouth!
I got Ella on the floor and managed to get the chick, no damage seemed evident.
I examined the chick who was looking at me all of the time.
I rested it on the shelf and quickly got Ella in the house.
I put the chick on the ground and watched carefully, it was trying to fly.
I picked it up and lifted it, and as I opened my hands it flew away into the low sky.
The following moments saw the parents scouring the sky, encouraging the chicks towards the shelter and safety of the nest.
At last they were in the nest and I could see the tail feathers of the parent birds and hear their chattering as they settled down for the night.
I would like to think they were discussing today's flight plan and talking about the nice lady with the camera who rescued one of the chicks.
Another second in Ella's jaws and it could have sustained damage which could have brought tragic results midst it's transatlantic journey!
Here's wishing Travelling Mercies to our family!
We will see what next year brings! 
