tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post222555796274221859..comments2023-10-31T15:39:09.651+01:00Comments on box elder: Eve of departure, and the Moncontour magnolia.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-73513686428726732382014-06-05T09:01:32.763+02:002014-06-05T09:01:32.763+02:00Hello Clive, I'm very touched that you read ba...Hello Clive, I'm very touched that you read back this far then!<br /><br />It's an odd thing, and the bird book confirms it, but we don't get rooks in this corner of France. It's quite local absence, a friend who lived and was a nature warden on the Ile de Bréhat said he had seen them there. At my primary school there was an old plantation of Wellingtonias and other trees at the bottom of the grounds with a magnificent rookery, and the rooks were our playground companions. The jackdaws here seem to mix with the ordinary carrion crows quite freely. We get ravens on the coast, magpies of course and a lot of jays, who are quite bold in the gardens. At some times of year the daddy-long-legs reach plague proportions, I almost wish something did mine the garden for their beastly offspring!Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-26844039488530792642014-06-05T08:29:57.572+02:002014-06-05T08:29:57.572+02:00I enjoyed this enormously. I've always relishe...I enjoyed this enormously. I've always relished your ramblings in France, but life has been so full of late that I don't get around blog-world as much as I once did, which is a definite loss in my day-to-day. (Must try harder!)<br /><br />Jackdaws. Mmmmmm. We have 'em here, and rooks too, and it's true that between them… and there always seem to be jackdaws where there are rooks… there is the tiresome combined mess of roosting detritus and droppings. (They seem to drop far more twigs than ever get used in the nests.) And yet, and yet… I do love these benign and clever acrobats, that always bring such liveliness to the garden. It's true that I occasionally get weary of clearing twigs from the flat roof outside our bathroom… though I use them for kindling when dry… and I get cross when the rooks leave the lawn looking like a minefield in their hunt for leatherjackets. Nevertheless, I'd be bereft without them, and I welcome the sounds from the rookery as they get well and truly into major egg-laying mode. I can imagine how they'd love that wonderful tower!Clive Hicks-Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00573698513351018726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-82536099227902990802014-04-04T04:36:14.581+02:002014-04-04T04:36:14.581+02:00Lucy, this is beautiful. i'm so glad you did t...Lucy, this is beautiful. i'm so glad you did take the pictures, and it's hard for me to imagine them being more beautiful with different weather, but I trust your judgment on that. I wonder who planted the tree....Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03592157819188364751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-56042066097706494142014-03-31T02:49:12.301+02:002014-03-31T02:49:12.301+02:00Lucy, I got the chronology all wrong and thought y...Lucy, I got the chronology all wrong and thought you were leaving and returning last week so I've been waiting for a report of your voyage. <br />Anyway, glad to know you're back safe and sound and happy to see the magnolia tree and the bell-tower.<br />Natalie d'Arbeloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757081405040926647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-91103840693715596862014-03-30T22:40:26.848+02:002014-03-30T22:40:26.848+02:00Thanks all. Back safe and sound, and getting a po...Thanks all. Back safe and sound, and getting a post together, but today was beautiful weather and a walk on the beach in the morning and an afternoon's gardening took precedence.<br /><br />Tristan! Your early start makes me feel a fraud, more of that anon!Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-77827433687345857232014-03-28T22:09:48.306+01:002014-03-28T22:09:48.306+01:00i'm pleased to inform your friends that you ar...i'm pleased to inform your friends that you arrived safely and looking un-frazzled ... top marks for initiative and organization, thentristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13268216095376583052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-86946216062716615982014-03-28T11:38:24.105+01:002014-03-28T11:38:24.105+01:00Tom should just about be enjoying that Mars bar .....Tom should just about be enjoying that Mars bar ... I hear the crinkling of the candy paper. <br /><br />Thank you for the magnolia photos! Sending you warm thoughts on your journey.Rouchswalwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01393987883437907945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-72339682134032165422014-03-28T03:05:27.114+01:002014-03-28T03:05:27.114+01:00Three of the clock and all's well, so far! Wo...Three of the clock and all's well, so far! Woke without the alarm, kettle just boiled and bathroom heater on. <br /><br />Thank you my dears!Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-85853283413609870742014-03-28T02:40:03.023+01:002014-03-28T02:40:03.023+01:00i believe your alarm has sounded and you are on yo...i believe your alarm has sounded and you are on your way! <br />Safe travels, dear friend.<br />And thank you for these photographs. i love each one of them.<br />Yes. Now. <br />Will eagerly await news on the other side.zephyrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-15176350142319421032014-03-28T00:00:41.895+01:002014-03-28T00:00:41.895+01:00Once again, I am pleased to have you as a friend. ...Once again, I am pleased to have you as a friend. You had a visitor to Compasses recently at my suggestion, a poetess from Singapore, who was looking at collaboration. I trust your journey will go well and that Tom will putter about the house just fine without you.christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201537517464996231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-68381546266484960422014-03-27T23:55:43.334+01:002014-03-27T23:55:43.334+01:00Your alarm will be going off in two hours. Not wan...Your alarm will be going off in two hours. Not wanting to wake you, I am whispering "bonne route dear Lucy".Ellenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14965850008354379369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-15744144191711029102014-03-27T19:59:53.638+01:002014-03-27T19:59:53.638+01:00Take care, friend. Safe journey, and drink in the...Take care, friend. Safe journey, and drink in the comfort of being among friends who understand.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846997590157958766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-44753512514297889972014-03-27T19:55:05.133+01:002014-03-27T19:55:05.133+01:00:-) xoxo:-) xoxoDalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523194846272870013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-61588704922369972812014-03-27T18:51:41.933+01:002014-03-27T18:51:41.933+01:00An nteresting pilgrimage of sorts, Lucy! I love t...An nteresting pilgrimage of sorts, Lucy! I love the contrast of the beautiful magnolia against the ancient town. Ours is somewhat late this year but starting to show promising glimpses of colour, as are some other spring flowering shrubs.<br /><br />Wishing a safe journey! Greetings to Robbie and V.<br /><br /> marja-leenahttp://www.marja-leena-rathje.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-40429017387002821812014-03-27T18:45:16.663+01:002014-03-27T18:45:16.663+01:00thank you for the little taste of spring. we have ...thank you for the little taste of spring. we have been promised a definite maybe in the spring department…by mid april. usually at this time we are at least not knee-deep in freshly fallen show, alas, this year is different. still, there is a beauty in the sparkling fluffy stuff, even if it's past its expiry date. and really, what CAN one do about the weather, other than dress for it?<br /><br />have a lovely trip and take good care of yourself.the polish chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09929281676865641560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37070024.post-54614768474502030632014-03-27T17:45:07.975+01:002014-03-27T17:45:07.975+01:00Pink blossoms! I appreciate your effort. We're...Pink blossoms! I appreciate your effort. We're just getting our crocus and daffodils now. Forsythia and flowering trees are still to come.Nimblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16426446791363667887noreply@blogger.com