Today we planted the fruit bushes, strawberries and tomatoes that we bought yesterday. I’ve noticed that rabbits are now trying to assist our house renovation plans by excavating a cellar under the house. However, as they did not request planning permission from us, I regret to advise that these digging operations must cease forthwith.
I had noticed that the aged FIL had a live “humane” rabbit trap in one of his outbuildings, so after visiting him, we brought that back with us. A careful examination revealed that, even though a bit rusty, it still worked. Unfortunately we don’t have any carrots, so I have just set it up empty in front of one of the rabbit holes in the hope that this particular rabbit will be a bit curious. Or stupid. Or both.
“What’s this thing?”
“Can I eat it? No, apparently not.”
“Can I walk through it? Oh yes I can.”
Snap.
“Oh bugger.”
I also brought back a couple of tall metal poles, as LSS has been requesting a washing line for a while now. I dug a fairly deep hole for the first one, set it up, and anchored it to a metal stanchion with some fencing wire. Then I attached the washing line. Unfortunately I then discovered that the distance from the metal post to the side of the outbuilding (where I had drilled a hole and mounted a steel eyebolt) is 10.17 metres. Length of washing line? 10 metres. Oops. Still, I used some more fencing wire to make good the shortfall. We’ll see if we can buy a longer washing line the next time we’re in town.
Wildlife diary: I returned from the half-finished washing line installation to discover an adder (Vipera berus) trying to get in under the kitchen door. It was a juvenile, only about 15cm long. I picked it up with the ash pan and brush, and carried it to the back of the garden where I threw it carefully into the long grass.
It was very windy again today, so once again we carried the bathtub into the kitchen for our Sunday wash.