In the meantime, while we have been busy doing other things, a turtle and a family of frogs have moved in!
Here, Mr. Turtle (or is it Miss?) is checking out his new digs.
"Hmmm.. yep! This'll do just fine! What's the rent on a joint like this?"
The frogs have been busy and there are quite a few tadpoles swimming around in the murky water. Too tiny for me to take pictures with my cheap-o camera. We usually find between 3 and 5 frogs in the pool and the girls are having fun trying to catch them.
We have also discovered a family of toads living under a tarp that we have neglected to put away. (detect a theme of neglected items, do you?) I pulled the tarp out to lay it flat and let dry so we could finally put it away, when the girls spotted them. We counted 4 toads, so we put the tarp back and come Fall, we will put it up, because, surely by then, the toads will have moved on to find a more secure home for the coming winter.
What a perfect chance to learn about cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles!
4 comments:
Oh Jenny
That turtle is so gorgeous! You are so blessed to live where you do. Did I tell you my mom is over here for a visit? So now that my hols has started it is Blackberry picking next week and then we be jam'min!
P.S. Please could I have your recipie for blackberry wine? Tell you what, let's make a deal... You email me your recipies on occasion and I will pay you in kind with a copy of 'Without Alice' next year! I don't think it owuld be fair for you to keep sending me your fabulous recipies for free, after all you should be compiling them into a sort of modern woman's survival guide, a 'Let's get reaquainted with our world' sort of book.
Dj-- Aww sweetie! You don't have to do that! I don't mind sharing my recipes with you. But you also don't need to twist my arm! I'll gladly accept your offer! :o)
Blackberry wine is easy!
1 gallon of distilled water
7 heaping cups of blackberries
7 cups sugar
mash berries and put in large container. Boil water then add to berries. keep in a cool place for one week with a loose cover, but tight enough so the buggies don't get a taste! stir daily.
After 1 week, strain out the berries. Add sugar to the remaining liquid and stir daily for another week.
Pour liquid into wine bottles and loosely cork and then store in a cool dark place for at least 3 months. The longer you store it, the more potent it'll be.
The strawberries are supposed to ferment for a year. This is a slightly different recipe and the ferment period is shorter. You can try one at 3 months and then decide to wait on the other ones or if it's so good, finish them off then! :o)
Enjoy!!
Thank you my friend. A signed copy of my book will be making its way to you next year. xo
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