Thursday: #30DaysWild - Red Headed Cardinal Beetle

… if I’ve identified it correctly - https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/beetles/red-headed-cardinal-beetle

If you don’t like insects then please enjoy my beautiful white roses, which are often overlooked/forgotten because they grow at the bottom of the drive, they have a very delicate scent unlike their red and pink cousins who don’t often get invited indoors because MrD and I don’t like overpowering scents :-((

Rather a slow day today, MrD and I have an assortment of symptoms: aching knees, snuffles, lack of energy, hot & cold (which may just be the weather!) gippy tummy - otherwise we’re fine!

I managed to get a very large tray of homemade compost dried in the sun & wind, mixed it with inferior commercial compost then sieved it for future planting. Also started cutting back the lemon balm, Aquilegia and other tall plants next to the side fence, moved some large tubs as well - as soon as I moved away the blackbirds and other birds were there scratching away finding tasty treats. The wind has made the garden surprisingly dry, must put out more saucers of water for the birds tomorrow.

Made Airfryer chips for tea but found a different recipe - cooked at 180°C for 30 minutes having peeled and cut them thickly, tiny amount of sunflower oil to coat them, sprinkled with salt and some cornstarch/cornflour, turned them over every 10 minutes. MrD had beans and sausages and fried egg with mushrooms on his, I had red pesto, grated cheddar cheese and black olives with mine - will have to remember this method for next time, much nicer and tastier :-)

Loads of love and hugs to all my family / Cariad Mawr
Nos da pawb / Goodnight all XXXX XXX XX