Deep in the Ocean and wildlife in the garden

Morning all, time for a new challenge at Allsorts and Christine has selected the theme of Seaside along with the usual A/G. We have two prizes of Sentimentally Yours stamps from Grafton Crafts.

As I've been asked a few times, so an update on new migraines meds recommended by my neurologist as my body built up antibodies to the injections I've had the last few years (which were a miracle and cut them down from 20 to 4/5 a month). NICE gave guidance approval for local Health Trusts to make it available last July but our Trust consistently refuse to fund. It's been a battle and in the end I wrote to The Department of Health who replied saying "The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

So they have taken up my case, I appreciate an outcome will not be immediate so in the interim I made the tough decision to receive the new ones on a private basis......£10 per daily pill. Excessive yes, but I was getting to the stage where I couldn't function with daily migraines which have been ongoing for months now, never in my crafting years have I been rushing to make a card for that weeks challenge, I'm usually weeks ahead.

Back to craft and I'm at the seaside but gone deep into the sea for my share using Lavinia's gorgeous Althea Mermaid, an inky background using Elements and various worker stamps to build built up the scene. Althea was coloured with Ecoline Pens then gold added to her hair and back using a glue pen and Gilding Tilsen to add some sparkle. I also added some Tilsen to the edges of the piece. 

Double D challenge has the theme of Let's go to the Beach so I am linking up the above. At The Paper Shelter they would like to see Fantasy so a Mermaid fits in nicely.

A second one created in MCS using a number of sea releated elements and judging by the outfits of the two little boys I added walking along the quay it's way back in the 1940/50's. I have a bag of shells purchased years ago in Majorca so added a few to the bottom corner over some netting.

Last weekend I shared some of the Roses from the garden, this week some trees and wildlife which we are blessed to see in abundance from our own back door, I often sit watching and think how lucky we are. 

Back in 1981 when we moved into the old farmhouse we plated 50 young trees as part of a Cambridgeshire tree preservation incentive. We lost a few along the way but those remaining are reaching maturity and this particular Horse Chestnut which is one of four is my favourite, such a perfect shape and habit (along with roaming Labs).

One of several Cherry trees which produce lots of these below.........but getting to the higher ones before the Pigeons is challenging as they are about 20' high now.

One of three beautiful Oaks, this one stands on the edge of the section of the paddocks we've left to go wild to encourage wildlife.

When the lawns are cut we also run round the headland so we can walk the field and take photos (if we're quick) of things like this below....a gorgeous Barn Owl, this time of year when they have young they hunt by day as well.

Below....which is likely a young female Red Deer, we also get Roe which I aways thinks are very majestic plus Muntjac, much smaller than the other two.

Dozen of kits (baby bunnies)....not long out of the burrow so about three weeks old and at this age totally independent of Mum and Dad who by now will be close to welcoming their next litter (gestation is about 28 days and they have several litters in the breeding season - hence that old fashioned saying!).

An extremely tall Pine produces an abundance of cones throughout the Summer and Autumn and where Rosa spends hours waiting for them to fall, she hears the crack as they leave the bough and rushes to catch. She's been obsessed with them since she was a puppy.

A Fox caught at night on the wildlife camera....bit fuzzy I'm afraid, likely a male with that beautiful brush.

Finally a bit of bird activity in the Orchard, the Greater Spotted Woodpecker (male) is a daily visitor, the female who has less colour (naturally with birds!) comes occasionally but we figure she's on the nest still.

The Green Woodpecker is also a regular visitor although always seems more timid than the Greater Spotted and keeps his distance if they are both out and about at the same time.

A pair of Red Legged French Partridges visit most evenings to feed, this and the above photos were used by the local newspaper who encourage reader submissions.

Thanks for looking, hope I've not bored you, but I so love Nature, all thanks to my dear Dad.