More Wildlife Tails

Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house 

not a creature was stirring 

not even that blasted mouse!!!!

Who has been; gnawing, clawing, munching, crunching, nibbling and gnawing some more - generally wreaking havoc in this house. Not content with just him. feasting on the delights here at number three he invited all his mates. What went on all over Granddad and Grandma's chairs, well, I was agog!

They arrived in the broom cupboard, worked their way through and under the kitchen cupboards, broke their way into Granddad  and Grandma's room, to eventually party to festival standards all over those chairs!  Gorging on mince pie leftovers and crisps. No licking the plates by theses diners - they ate their plates! Yes,  they actually devoured the tin foil plates and foil crisp packets, getting no doubt a sugar and salt rush to a frenzied high before the alcoholic highs from the dregs of Granddad's beer cans - what a party!!

How do I know what went on? - The overwhelming evidence! The carnage, the gnawed at packets strewn everywhere but mostly, ummmm mostly, the little black deposits strewn everywhere!!! I mean every where - they even ran amok in Grandma’s knitting wool! How so much deposit can come out of something so small, once again I was and still am, agog!

So the only stirrings, and nibblings I want to hear this Christmas Eve is from a certain creature crunching on his carrot!

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

On second thoughts, the deposits left by Rudolf?  Umm, maybe not!!!!!!

mu

Categories: Christmas Eve, mouse

Some Wildlife Characters

The Bucket

The distinct absence of wildlife in this photo, proves I am no wildlife photographer but be assured, this bucket  attracts wildlife!

Abandoned in the garden, I don't remember how long ago and left to fill up with rainwater, birds now actually cue up to use it!  They stack, then swoop down each morning to take their fill of water, then continue on with their ablutions, some more thoroughly than others. From pigeons to wrens they each politely wait their turn, then fly off adequately refreshed and suitably dressed ready for the day ahead. 

 Another identical bucket, I left right outside the backdoor in  my very tiny town garden. This bucket attracted a slightly more surprising visitor. I would regularly hear a sploosh each time I passed this bucket and see wet splurges on the surrounding paving slabs but saw no bird flitting off, disturbed by my regular tea breaks, taken in the garden. Then one very rainy day, gazing from the backdoor watching the raindrops plip plop into the bucket, from its dark depths I saw two eyes peering back at me - frogs eyes!

Francoise and I whiled away many an hour together - him in his bucket me on my bench sipping tea, we didn't talk much and we never kissed but I miss him!

The Bucket sketch

mu

Categories: bird, garden, photo, sketch, wildlife

It's Raining Cats & Dogs

Raining Cats & Dogs

mu

Categories: animation, cat, dog, gif, raining

British Summer Time

Raining in the Meadow

mu

Categories: animation, buttercups, daisies, gif, raining

Welcome To The Character Shed

The Character Shed

I have a shed in the garden, I call it The Character Shed, it's a place where I create all the characters that are buzzing around in my head. It is my home from home. I design characters in all media; from watercolour painting to digital art including pixel art through to puppets.

The shed provides me with a sanctuary from the world at large, in return, I make, draw, paint and click.

The Character Shed - live action!

I am currently working on an animated short involving pigeons, an animated dog involving, a dog and some watercolour character illustrations.This should keep me busy for the foreseeable future!

mu

Categories: editorial, The Character Shed