wagwaan?: Garden visitors, and other pictures

I've got the day off today, because it's Claire's last full day before she goes to the States. I had errands to run, but when I looked out of the window I saw the visitors my neighbours told me had taken up residence at the bottom of our garden. You can only really see the garden from the window by the computer downstairs, and from Claire's bedroom upstairs, and when you are downstairs you can't see what's lurking in the (rather long) grass. But today I saw them. Foxes! I went out in the garden and saw two foxes sunning themselves in the grass. One of them just looked at me, but the smaller, more timid one, took one look and ran to the safety of the brambles. I think maybe it's a mother and baby? Anyway, this is what I saw... First of all, yes, the garden is a mess. No pretty flowers left but lots of greenery. The ginger ball of fur in the foreground, looking up at me, is Lyle. The ginger ball of fur at the other end of the garden? A fox. I'd been outside at this point and scared one of them away.

Then the other one came back, and as the sun was out, they were rolling around seeming very relaxed. It was like watching a couple of pets, it was so sweet (although I know they are wild, so not THAT sweet in reality). They're still out there now... and from what I can see it definitely looks like a mum and its cub.

See? They're totally rolling around, basking in the sun.

Then, I think they heard a noise...

I've had great fun all day, looking out of the window periodically to see what they are up to. I checked out the RSPCA website and they say there is no evidence that foxes and cats don't get on. Night vision film has shown foxes and cats ignoring each other. If anything, cats will scare away foxes... They say if you want to discourage foxes, don't leave food out (we don't anyway), clear back overgrown bits of the garden (um, okay) and plant prickly plants (the place is overrun with blackberries anyway!). So I think we'll leave them for a bit. Until they become a nuisance, anyway. Apparently, the neighbour's nice flat well-mown lawn makes for a very attractive toilet! He told me they live in my garden and use his as a loo, so I'm not sure how happy he is to have them there!

So, on to my next little project. I have been practicing with Claire's 1.8 lens, because she'll be taking it with her (sob) so I'll have to either get my own or wait until she returns... I want to make some more cards, and here are a couple of outtakes. They feature French Fancies which were my darling grandpa's favourite. Towards the end of his life, he used to say he had nothing to live for, and when he refused even a French Fancy I started to worry :(