SNAAAAAKE!!!

Woke up and instantly decided to go back to Dorset to photograph the bluebells I'd seen on Monday. WhenI arrived Lou was just tacking Winnie up so I quickly got Beans ready and off we went. Hadn't expect Lou to be home so this was a nice surprise.

Back for lunch, then Lou had to go to work, so I mucked out the stables ( well, sometimes I should work for my rides, right?! ) and then took a very excited Jackson out for a walk. Well, I walk and he races about, occasionally requesting I throw a stick for him.

We reached a large puddle of water and Jackson waded in for a drink. I was lining up a shot to show why I was returning him all muddy despite the ground being dry and it being a bright sunny day when I noticed he wasn't alone in the puddle!

Ok, so it's a grass snake and they're harmless but I still went into panic mode and yelled at the dog to " get out of there now!" My voice obviously made an impact on him as he got out and lay quietly off to the side as I took a few photos ( zoomed in using the telephoto lens, as there was no way I was getting near it ).

Then I heard a splashing noise and was about to yell at Jack when I realised he hadn't moved, so I looked to the far end of the puddle ( the puddle was about the length of two cars, by the way ) and there was a chaffinch having a bath! Honestly, so many Blips in one day! Didn't get a great shot of it tho. Couldn't get closer as the snake was in the way.

Back at the farm, Jackson and I sat out in the sun, near the chicken coop. They're still a bit nervous about coming out, tho the door is open all day if they feel like a stroll. As we sat there, 3 of the 6 came out to socialise with us, scratching and pecking about around us. They're quite friendly and let me stroke them. One of them even found a little slug in the grass under one of my legs and soon gobbled it up!

All to soon I had to come home ... To 2 hungry cats, very pleased to see me!

Sorry I haven't had time to look at your journals today. Will try to catch up tomorrow.