Thursday 25 October 2012

Thankful Thursday


Tom: we have lots to be thankful for this week, starting with the help of our blogging friends yesterday in identifying this little flower:


Particular kudos goes to the gang over at Paw Relations, as well as to Oui-Oui. They both figured out it was a type of garlic flower. In fact, it's CROW GARLIC (Allium Vineale). #1 eventually found it herself on a site called Wild Flowers of the British isles. It's clear she needs more field guides!

We are grateful for our comfy and warm house as the days get shorter and the nights colder. We have had a very mild October so far, but have made fires in our fireplace the last couple of nights as it has gotten chillier. An arctic wave is expected starting tonight, so the central heating will probably go on too.


I am, as always, grateful for my long runs in the fields:


We saw this holly tree that thinks it's Christmas already!



We were very thankful to get confirmation a couple of nights ago that there are indeed barn owls nesting in our attic! When we went out at midnight, we heard the usual screeching and when we looked up to the specially build entranceway to the attic, we saw a young owl waiting for his or her Mummy! We couldn't get a photo so here is one off the Internet:


In France, barn owls are familiarly known as "Dame Blanche" or white ladies. We feel so honoured that this family has chosen to live with us!

Vidock and Big Tom are very thankful to be in their cozy and dry stable!


And last but not least, we are thankful to our friend Ms. A for this bounty of cèpe (porcini) mushrooms she gathered for us in the woods nearby!


23 comments:

  1. Oh my!

    What a great khollekhtion of pikhs and bits!

    Mom will be drooling fur the tasty treats fur sure!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  2. Pawsome collection of things to be thankfull of !

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  3. Wow this post brings back many childhood memories for the mum. She used to love picking those wild gatlic thingies and crushing them so her hands would smell funny.

    Also she remembers many woodland walks with her father looking for cepe mushrooms. The mum's dad was born and lived in Vienna until he was 12. He would always tell her tails of picking mushrooms in the woods to eat. Not something that is really done here int he UK.

    Those are all fantastic things to be thankful for and how exciting about the barn owls!

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  4. This is an amazing post. Garlic, mushrooms and owls. What a meal. Oooops- Äiti is now looking. I mean, what wonderful living things.
    We are amazed by the owls - don't they breed in summer ? Will there be enough mousies?
    How about a webcam next year??? We don't get barn owls here but Oulu is actually very famous for all the owls nearby including the great grey owls in the forests. We have not heard any owls here as it is too much of a city, but we think it would just add to the magic of the night. Äiti is VERY jealous.
    Now we guess the Chans had better behave .....

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  5. deawest Tommy, Tama-Chan, Sei-Chan, Bibi-Chan, Gen-Chan, Vidock, Violette

    so many wondewful things to be thankful fow.
    I'm glad you'we all cozy and wawm and that la dame blanche chose youw attick.Tommy, i love to see you wunning in those wondewful fields and I know thewe will be some yummie foods wif those lovely mushwooms
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  6. I do not think I would enjoy an owl in my attic, but I do so miss my fireplace at the other house. *sigh*

    Enjoy your day, my lovlies!

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  7. I don't think the owl would survive if near, the cat would have it I fear. Lots of great shots.

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  8. We see you've got wet ears again Tommy - we bet it was cold on the paws too this morning!
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

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  9. mmmm - shrooms (mom got distracted)

    mother nature here is having fits - it got colder and then it is now warmer.....ugh :)

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  10. Wonderful post with some our favorite things! Stay warm, furriends. XOXO

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  11. We are purrenially behind in visiting, but we love the flower and think someone should design a cat toy just like it!! We love the fact you have owls in the attic and Teri said she would love to nuzzle the horses velvety noses...

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  12. Wow. The owl family is especially amazing. We hope you manage to get some pictures of your own at some point.

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  13. An owl family! You are blessed! So beautiful and so fascinating! Mum loves them and could spend hours in their company at a sacturary for injured-non releasable animals where we used to live.
    Glad to see the horses are inside; warm and comfortable. Yes, Poupounette friends, with your lovely lives, you have lots to be thankful for.

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  14. Quite a little album of photos. Very nice!

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  15. How exciting that you have those beautiful owls in your attic! Although I guess that means you kitties can kiss any chance of finding mousies good-bye!

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  16. Dame Blanche-so magical and lovely in their ghost-like charm :)

    We love fires by the fireplaces even though we don't actually have a fireplace but LP had TWO in her home growing up so she tells us stories and we pretend to lay by the fire :)

    So much to be thankful for it makes us smile :)

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  17. Glad you found out what that beautiful flower is called. But it is too pretty to have a name like crow garlic:)

    So much to be thankful for - you are one beautiful family.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  18. Cozy is nice, it has gone from 70's to 40's in the past two hours. We know Vidock and Big Tom are warm and dry, but they don't look happy! Or maybe they are just sleepy!

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  19. Great photos and collections~!
    Barn owls~!! My bean recently in love that flying thing!!!

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  20. How cool that owl family is. We hope they stay around but their hooting won't keep you up at night. They should be good for the field mice.

    We've had a mild October too, but might have a visit from Sandy the Hurricane in a couple days.

    Thanks for the call out! Did we mention the mom has a BS in Botany? Now she has used her college education!

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  21. That flower is something else...Beautiful owl. We have owls around here too.
    Benny & Lily

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  22. What delicious mushrooms. It must be nice to be cool as even though it sometimes rains here, other days are pretty hot.

    the amigos and san

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