View from a (damp!) bench #2

It's one of those damp, grey, dispiriting days when staying in is a good option so I have my twiddlemuffs ready for sewing up and I'm going to catch up with my Blipbook (I've only reached February!)  Maybe next year I will organise my folders better, maybe copy the daily blip in to its own folder with a proper filename.....maybe not!

So I've put the shopping away; filled the bird feeders and sat gingerly on the edge of a very damp garden bench to the side of our terrace house and this is the view.  Tony drew my attention yesterday to the mini meadow for a first.  It contained a number of blue and great tits in and amongst the dying foliage, taking seeds and bugs.  In the four years since its creation I have hoped that would be the case, but having our bird feeders close by I had reconciled that it might not.  It confirms my decision not to cut it down until the end of November, sorry Monty.

This second garden bench is the one I use when the mini meadow is at its best and heavy with insects, or when it is too hot to sit on the south facing bench at the back of our house.  It is nicely secluded from the footpath which you can see here and which is used by neighbours; regulars taking a turn on the moor; dog walkers and walking groups.  Once upon a time those steps would have rung to the sound of clogs as residents of our street headed down to work in the mills in the village.  Now, during term time, they ring to the sound of our mini neighbours heading to school.  They are very worn and have to be negotiated carefully on slippy, wintry days.

The neglected broken pot bottom left is used to prop open the shed door.  It still manages to throw out delicate yellow poppies and bright pink geraniums despite me.  The mini meadow is in its autumn colours but the bright blue of chicory blooms continue still, welcomed by the few bees still out and about.  I am hoping we may have some cornflowers in there next year.

It's mid morning cuppa and Hobblwordl time!