Growing butterflies

We found some catterpillars at the end of the summer and put them in a jar with fresh nettles each few days. We enjoyed watching them grow and build cocoons. Then we kept checking them to see when they would emerge.

A few weeks ago, all three emerged as small tortoiseshell butterflies. This should be a time of joy as we watch them fly across the flower-filled meadows to take part in the great circle of life. However, ours emerged to a distinctly cold spell at the end of October.

I think they are now hibernating in the shed. At least I hope they are.

Moles - love or war?

We saw this line of molehills in a field. I'm not sure of the size of moles' territories, but it looks like two coming together. So were we witnessing a beautiful moment in these two moles' lives, or were they fighting over the best bit of the field?

More kitten action

Here's Cleo showing her killer instinct. We hope she'll be this good with mice once she grows up a bit.

 

 

Fungus season

We went for a walk the other day and found lots of fungi in the fields. Here are a few of the better looking ones. I think we've got ink cap and puffball. We also had a look in a wildlife book and we think the one bottom-right might the nasty-sounding "sickener". I thought the little purple one was quite interesting. Feel free to add any names, or correct mine.

Kitten

My sister has been mithering me to update my blog. And she's absolutely right. It's been about a month. So here's a pici of our new cat, Cleo. Enjoy, big sis!

Our existing big bruiser cat, Casper is currently showing how unbothered he is by sitting on the table above Cleo and cleaning himself.

Longshaw Fell Race

The race was delayed by 45 minutes due to fog! I know that sounds pretty weird, but the sheepdog trials competitors couldn't see the dogs or the sheep. So the whole programme (including the fell race) was moved back to wait until the fog cleared.

It turned into a lovely sunny day. Here's the video (I'll add the actual video instead of a link once youtube and my blog will talk to each other!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSX2-rnuTc&feature=plcp

Grasmere Senior Guides Race

For those who do not know the history of this race, let me enlighten you. It was the first girl guide-only race and was run solely by girl guides from 1903 until 1971, when cub scouts were also permitted. However, it reverted to its original format 3 years later after some nasty name calling near the summit.

In the late nineties, it became very popular as a fell race, and many grown men would enter it in disguise. Although it cannot be verified, several eye witnesses believe "Isobella Smith" was actually Ian Holmes in a brown skirt, when "she" won by over 8 minutes from "her" nearest competitor (13-year-old Georgina Phillips) in 1997.

By 2001, the guide-only format was abandoned and both adults and non-guides were allowed to enter the race. This was met with by fierce opposition both from traditionalist corners of the guiding community, who saw it as political correctness gone mad; and by several notable fell runners, who said they would miss the opportunity of cross-dressing. Since then, however it has established itself as one of the best fell races in the calendar.*

The 1958 winners

Mrs Noel has done this twice before and had come second both times. Luckily, Pippa Maddams wasn't there this year, but Sharron Taylor was, to take first place. Mrs Noel was second yet again, and was first lady vet 40.

It was my first time to run this race. Although I had my sights set on outright victory, several notable fell runners turned up, as did several reasonable club fell runners, and probably a few fit locals. These combined to narrowly edge me into 26th place, a mere 3 minutes behind the winner. But I was very pleased and have my sights set on top-20 glory next time.

*Some of the above might not be completely true