Helen Clayton

helenclayton@mas.to

Walker, bimbler, nature lover, home baker and inexpert gardener. Toot musings mostly on those subjects but political opinions may slip in. Member of the Green Party and proud member of the wokerati. Devon born and raised, now living in West Wales, UK.Work for the Open Spaces Society, protecting public access to paths & open spaces.   Views very much my own. She/her.

Posts

Post #4481869
Little newt friend made it 🥹. I think I found them just in time.
Post #4461558
#SilentSunday
Post #4353856
A #hedgehog just sniffed my toes 🥹
Post #4349378
@Sarah111well@mas.to your toots inspired me to check out birdle! I’ve done a few so far. Not always as easily as today’s, mind. Birdle 🇬🇧 03/08/2026 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 https://birdle.co.uk
Post #4324485
#SilentSunday
Post #4277840
I’ve just eaten my first peach from the tree this year. It was super juicy and delicious. The fruit is so much bigger this year since I tackled the greenhouse spider mite problem (biological control). I don’t have a photo of me holding a peach last year for comparison purposes but I do have a photo of a squirrel holding one!
Post #4106289
Well I made it to Melbourne, after 34 hours travelling in all. Managed to get some sleep so I don’t feel too spaced out. Collect hire car then go see my brother. Oh and going through immigration my stepmum went first and when asked if just herself travelling she said yes! So then I also said yes so she didn’t look dodge but our immigration cards both have the same address so we either look very dodge or that we disowned each other on the flight. Haven’t been booted out yet though.
Post #4015085
I’ve been up the scaffolding today to look at the roof. It’s a long way up! I’m ok when I’m up but I am not keen on going up and down the ladder. Slightly regretting that I’ve said I’ll redo some of the pointing while we have the scaffolding here. I expect the slates will all be off by the time I get back from Australia and we’ll have a clearer idea of what’s going on underneath 🫣.
Post #3939141
#SilentSunday #BloomScrolling
Post #3917666
Husband pointed out a ‘lovely tiny moth’ on a kitchen cupboard door. I said it wasn’t a moth, that it was a chip in the veneer. Turns out it was a dried bit of lettuce or spinach. No doubt it says volumes about our psychology and housekeeping at the moment.
Post #3894058
I’m sitting outside enjoying the cooler air and a hedgehog is crashing through the shrubbery. I can’t see them yet but all the foliage is shaking.
Post #3887831
#BloomScrollingWithABee
Post #3843279
#BloomScrollingWithABee
Post #3763551
A branch has come down on our electricity line. And we have low water pressure. Apparently both issues heat related. Yay.
Post #3737815
#Hedgehogs are strange. I’ve just had two feeding. One inside the feeding station, the other al fresco. They then had a drink simultaneously, at dishes about 2 metres apart. One then made a ‘hogline’ for the other, bulldozing them, before trundling off in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of rustling under the giant hydrangea.
Post #3718584
In addition to dolphins (best shot I could get) I saw a couple of grey seals loafing on a rock. Also, a baby song thrush asked if I was their mother. I scattered some tiny morsels of my peach in case they or mum needed food. It was all I had to offer. #wildlife
Post #3711801
#FootpathFriday from the Ceredigion Coast. #Cymru
Post #3694177
We have this big piece of timber along the edge of our pond. It’s rotten and needs replacing but this is on a long list of jobs (it’s on top of a wall that needs to be reset 🙄). In the meantime, a leaf cutter bee (or bees?) has been tunnelling into it to make a nest, a collection of individual cells capped with circular pieces of leaf. I have a good excuse to leave this job on the list a while longer. #bees
Post #3681924
Have just been sitting out watching a #hedgehog. They hung around for about half an hour, polishing off the decoy biscuits that are meant to distract the mice and voles from the hedgehog food. They then hoovered up the hedgehog food I’d scattered in front of the feeding station, and had a good drink or two, before trundling off.
Post #3639190
#SilentSunday #BloomScrolling
Post #3630631
#BloomScrollingWithABee
Post #3590410
I did a rather absentminded online grocery order this week with the result that we now have 1.5kg of butter. I didn’t know that butter could be bought in 500g packs. Assumed they were always 250g. Oh well, cakes it is then.
Post #3578201
I got caught in traffic on my way home yesterday. As the farmer thanked me for waiting, he said I’d sleep well 😅. #Defaidodon #SheepOfMastodon
Post #3563894
I had a much needed dose of nature today. #walking #cymru
Post #3526954
Just met this sweetie on my walk to and from the shops (wine required) and we had a bit of fuss each way. 12/10 I think that’s right isn’t it @sheepnik@toot.wales 😁? #CatReview
Post #3526951
This is Gatsby who lives down the road. Always runs to say hello (except when there’s some pigeon-watching to be done) and gives the biggest bunts (my jeans are now covered in cat hair). He was also very talkative today. A solid 12/10. #CatReview #Cats
Post #3470189
I think one of my hogs may need a bit of medical intervention. I’ve heard them cough and their breathing has a rattle. I’ve sent a video to a #hedgehog rescuer I’m in touch with and if she thinks he (clearly a he) needs treatment I’ll be on a stakeout to get the right hog. There were two or three last night and a scuffle in the feeding station.
Post #3470032
The robin giving me a look (and preventing me from finishing my coffee) because I don’t have any mealworms to hand *goes to get mealworms* #birds
Post #3445231
#SilentSunday
Post #3368386
Finally made it home, stopping on my way back from the station to watch the sun set over Cardigan bay. I also saw a lovely fox just standing at the side of the road. I slowed and they casually ambled away. Thankfully before the BMW steaming up behind me.