TINY TUESDAY

You may remember I posted a shot of Mr. HCB’s mother’s poppy last week, but not actually growing on the plant - having been broken off by the wind and rain.  However, today when we looked out of the window, we could see that the first poppy to be standing, was open and showing itself off in all its glory.

When Mr. HCB’s mother, Joan, died in 1996, her house was sold but we wanted several plants from the garden to put in our own garden.  She was a keen gardener, like Mr. HCB’s father, Harry, and loved nothing better than to potter around - she was in charge of the flowers and Harry grew the tomatoes in his greenhouse and the vegetables on his allotment - so they both got much enjoyment from their garden.  Every year, when the poppies bloom, we think especially of Joan and I know she would be thrilled to think that these were still blooming 24 years later.  

However, the poppy can’t really be classed as “tiny” so I have put it in as an extra - which is not to consign it to second place, but I felt that this shot of the little blue tit coming back to feed its babies was a better contender for the challenge today.  It’s not a particularly good shot, but I wanted to record it.  

I stood on the grass and then on the little path behind the herbaceous border, trying to get a decent shot, but although I am wearing a flowery top, that didn’t fool these little birds.  They knew I was there and they were, if you will excuse the pun, getting very “twitchy”.  I could almost hear them saying, “We have babies to feed and this blipping woman is intent on taking photographs - why can’t she just leave us alone!”  

I took several shots, but then felt that it was unfair to stay any longer, besides which, I was hand-holding my Panasonic camera and even though it’s quite light, my arms were getting tired, holding it out at arm’s length.  So here is Mr. or Mrs. Blue Tit, with a mouthful of food for the babies - they are such industrious little birds and are in and out of the nest constantly and will be until their babies fledge. 

We watch them all day long and they bring such joy - in fact, for them the world is the same - feed the babies, watch out for cats and other big birds, such as the magpies - go to sleep and then start all over again the next day.  Life for them is still normal, and of course, it will be again for us soon, we hope - but it will be a "new normal" - so we are doing all we can to keep well and stay safe, and hope you are too.

We will be attending a “virtual Funeral Service” at 11.15 this morning for Philip - a lovely man we have known for many years - he was the father of a friend of our older son, and also a wonderful surgeon, who had dementia for several years but is now at peace.  So sad that only ten members of the family can attend the service but there will be a Memorial Service later in the year and I’m sure that there will be many there to pay their respects to a true gentleman.

“A bird in a nest is secure, 
     but that is not why God gave it wings.” 
Matshona Dhliwayo

P.S.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments about yesterday’s Blip which is riding high on the Popular page - my model, Signor Chiaroscuro was delighted with his fee!