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Fall 2020
End of Quarantine
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| End of Quarantine, at last! For these mice, at least. These 4 have been quarantined in the bucket for weeks. In the washing-up bowl there are 9, they have been in there for months! Chewing away at pizza boxes, shredding, them was their favourite occupation, taking turns. The box got filled to the brim with shredded cardboard and myriad tunnels through it all. So today was the day of their release. The first mouse was out of the bucket before the camera was even ready. This is the second mouse, taking a leap to freedom. |
The other 2 mice took their time. The last went straight into the bag of old muesli. Who want freedom when you can roll about in food…! When he was done with the cereal, he came out and went…. Into the washing-up bowl, saying hi to the 9 other mice, which had not made their move still. Why go out in the cold when you are a happy family in your own burrow, with daily food deliveries? After dozens of minutes, finally one brave mouse goes to check outside. After some 5 minutes, (s)he goes back in, to report! After another while waiting we left them at their own devices. |
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The next day, it seemed they had gone. But in case they’d be back to sleep the bowl got turned upside down to prevent filling up with rain weighed down with some big stones, so they can stay there permanently, if they like. Fresh arrivals in the kitchen that walk into the trap get put in stainless steel bucket (voles) and plastic bucket (mice), until it is their time to get released. |
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The 9 voles in these 2 buckets did not want to leave the cosy homes they made there. The fresh daily food supply and not to forget the nice classical music all day long they enjoyed in the kitchen made them refuse freedom. Or as they felt it, eviction. So they had to be encouraged to move back into the wild. Stroking them goodbye and finally just heaving them with the entire contents of the bucket out into the wild. Evicted! Into freedom. Some might indeed have made it back into the kitchen, the trap and then the bucket. Back into care.
This is where they were relocated to. Under the double glass pane is the washing-up bowl. In spite of opening, no mouse moves out just yet. Next the bucket and in the paper bag a large quantity of old muesli to supply their nutricious needs for the coming week… |
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It is fall, getting colder, windier and wetter outside. So the visitors come in with their whole families. This one is the third of the Voles (round faced mice) family. They eat so much that to me it looks like they’re preparing for hibernation. Unfased these ones sit in the trap and eat whatever you give them. Look at the half onion this one ate in the night! All mice go in quarantine, in lock-up, untill they will be released again. Too many came back in minutes for more food an shelter; one was in the trap every morning again for over a week. After having suffered from lock-up for a week she stayed outside. We now have a family of five pointed nose mice. No, not shrews, they’re too clever to come near the house. For the last week plus there was a fresh mouse in the trap every morning… now they’re all learning, like we all are, how awful the travel restrictions and lock-up are…
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And number six of the family stepped into quarantine line-up… |
…and nr 7… |
…and nr 8… |
November 5, low tide on a quiet sunny day. |
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| Damage from the first winterstorm. The 3 bottom steps are washed away. But lots of seaweed is left in their stead. That will make excellent compost. Heaped up on the side, only slightly eaten away by the storm, where it will be composted before to be taken to the gardens next year. |
Conifers and nasturtium growing well.
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Proudly showing off a big marrow (grown-up zuccini or courgette) from the poly-tunnel; 45 cm, 3 kg. The manager (with lock-down fase face) showing ingredient of the stirfry for the next month or so… |
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Storm damage. A helping friend on the Vladder with handsaw, relieving the trees and part still standing of the deadweight. |
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Some pictures here from (the path to) the bay on the hour that we were 5 years, 5 months, 5 days and around 5 hours old. |
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| It is a good place to be with Europe going deeper into lockdown again. The Power of Silence (and Space)! Just come and visit here in thought (without thoughts)… |
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| The first rainbow after the first storm marking the beginning of Autumn 2020 |
An apple a day, keeps the doctor away…
We are well set.
Before the birds got more than their fair share… we picked Elstar, Jonagold, James Grieve…and tasted several as well. |
Fresh wealth from our organic gardens. Bon appetit! |
September 6, 7 am. |
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