Crash & Burn
Ado
Starting today, I am running a new Word of the Day series here on the blog. Most of the words will come from my book, Guardian of Giria, although I will occasionally include other words I find interesting or which I notice people sometimes misspell or don’t understand, such as today’s word, Ado. Many of the words will have more than one meaning, but for the sake of simplicity I will only include one definition, based on a particular use within the story. The words will be posted each morning, Monday to Friday. Continue reading “Ado”
Sparkling Webs
There is something soothing about September. After the build-up of spring and the crescendo of summer, things are slowly starting to wind down. The ouch is gone out of the sun but it is still warm enough to be outside, sometimes even in shorts and a t-shirt. The evenings are noticeably shorter but there is still enough light to walk the dog after dinner. By 9 pm it is fully dark, perfect for settling down with a good book or a movie without the guilty feeling that you should be doing something more “constructive”. Continue reading “Sparkling Webs”
High Tea in a High Hide!
This is how to do September – high tea in a high hide! Continue reading “High Tea in a High Hide!”
Cranes in the Mist
It appears our area is a congregation site for common cranes (grus grus) – thousands of them gather each autumn in the fields around our village, getting ready for the long flight south. They are a little skittish, so getting close can be tricky, but they are a magnificent sight to behold.
Continue reading “Cranes in the Mist”
Forest Frog
Strictly speaking, this is a common frog, but that seems like too plain a name for a creature so beautiful, and one who looks so at home on the forest floor, surrounded by moss, twigs and other detritus. So I’m calling him a forest frog!
Continue reading “Forest Frog”
Hedgehog Rescue
This morning, I spent the best part of an hour rescuing this hedgehog from certain death. Continue reading “Hedgehog Rescue”
Hoopoe (Kukutis)
It was very misty this morning and I didn’t have a great sleep last night, so when I saw this guy on the garden fence I was certain I was seeing things. Unfortunately, he flew off before I could grab my binoculars. But later, when I went out to the bin, I spotted him again and managed to grab my camera before he flew off. I think this is the most beautiful bird I have ever seen “in the flesh”! Continue reading “Hoopoe (Kukutis)”
Are Animal Books Waning in Popularity?
‘How could books about wizards, werewolves, hobbits and fairies be desirable, but books about real-life animals not be? Have the animal books that I loved so much in my youth died a death?’
My guest post for Mairead Hearne of the wonderful Swirl and Thread. Continue reading “Are Animal Books Waning in Popularity?”
