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Over the last couple of days

The garden is just buzzing with bird activity, its so entertaining to watch, as they tuck in to all the food we put out for them.  We have one little blue tit, which Mr Gaucho has called Morris, comes to our windows, tapping with his tiny beak, and jumping up and down in frustration that he can't come in!  Unfortunately, he won't stay still long enough for me to take a photo, but he is ridiculously cute.  We are not really sure what he is seeing, or thinking, but he makes us laugh every morning!  

The woods are full of pigeons, of course, moving around in huge flocks.  Every so often we get a couple in the garden, and yesterday this chap perched on the edge of the birdbath.  I thought the colours in his plumage were so subtle and lovely, he was definitely worth a photo.  And he was holding the pose!
On Friday we enjoyed a visit from our friend Kittie Jones.  I have written about her here before.  She is a printmaker, mostly depicting birds.  I do urge you to visit both her blog and website - it's all brilliant stuff.  http://kittiejones.com  https://flyingcreature.wordpress.com

After lunch we went for a walk in Pressmennan Wood, on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills.  On the way we passed Mr and Mrs Topiary in the village of Stenton!
The soil on the other side of the valley is the most beautiful soft pinky-brown.  The colour just flows into the wild landscape of bracken and heather on the hills beyond.  
We walked through the woods for a short distance, and then dropped down to walk back alongside the lake.  The wild garlic is beginning to show, all along the steep banks, and growing through the beech tree leaf litter.  Hooray - lots of lovely garlicky treats to come, and this weekend, enough to pick to make pesto, which we enjoyed last night, with slow roast lamb cooked with Merguez spices - yum!

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