Wasps are Ok!

So this year thanks to Covid19 I’ve done a lot more drawing, and also, surprisingly, writing. Well, let’s be honest, this blog hasn’t seen a lot more action this year! And I read, articles online, library books, and I read about wasps.

I started writing about wasps because of that thing. That no one likes wasps. 

And I discovered that ecologically speaking, we do actually need them. I really wanted to get hold of one to draw too. 

We saw some soggy dead wasps on our dog walks, but I didn’t fancy picking any of those up and taking one home. But then one day I saw a shadow on my bedroom curtain and Wopsy became a guest of ours for a little under 24 hours. 

Even after a feed of honey Wopsy couldn’t fly so we just kept her in. 

Then I got to see how beautiful this pollinator and hunter of pests actually is. 

And I didn’t realise that wasps are fluffy. Saving all my photos of Wopsy here for reference. 

Lockdown life .... some thoughts

Lockdown life has thrust families together. It’s also enabled us to help those without family nearby, as long as we safely can. 

A routine has helped fill our days, and little celebrations are also important. We delivered balloons on a birthday by tying them down and retreating to a safe distance! The shadows of balloons should be enjoyed. Why hadn’t I noticed them before? 

If able, take your one outdoor exercise everyday, and drink in the sounds, sights and smells. It’s a good way to break up the ‘school’ day too. Much of it is administered via laptops and iPads. 

Bean and Flute remind us to be kind and look out for those older or more vulnerable than ourselves. 

Wearing a mask will help protect you and others and help you to feel safe especially when in the shops. I think mines cute, but I don’t seem to raise many smiles. Wearing a mask is clearly very serious business. 

Cuddles help. Ash wants more cuddles, he can clearly tell that the world is a different place now. Cuddles it is, then ...

If you can’t get out, you might find a way to keep fit indoors, like Bean. Especially if you do a lot of the baking and sampling. 

Above all, now and always, love each other deeply. This weeks prayer flag was released on Sunday. We were a little sad after saying goodbye to a second  pet since lockdown started. Stay home, stay safe xxxx

About time I blogged ...

There’s some useful work being done in my house on this soggy windy Monday. A bed probably destined for the tip is being stripped of staples and ancient brown fabric so that some structural work can be done too. It’s not the only bed like this in my house, Matty has the one I picked up way before she was born and gave to my eldest. Amazing what storage fits inside a gutted divan. 

We made a small wildlife pond ...

I went freecycling again, and I picked up a very sweet pre-moulded and pre-used pond. you can see but it has a cute little exit part for little things wanting to leave the water.



Also from the ponds owner came some lovely frog spawn from her main pond



So one woman and three girls set about digging a lovely hole for our new mini ecosystem ... Mary went off to trampoline after a bit, then she fell asleep on the sofa and woke up shaky! Poor baby ...




We smashed roots, hooked out stones and fed fat juicy worms to the chickens! Then we kept measuring the height until it was a perfect fit, even though the garden slopes!



And we filled the pond with rain water from the butts and out of the sandpit too, where we found lovely rotting leaf skeletons and wriggly blood worms too!


We are gently proud of ourselves!