Dear friends -
I apologize for the break in blogging.
There are and were various health issues affecting not just me but beloved members of my family.
And there was and still is the cold ...
Miss Sophie needs so much training still, and we're doing our best but lots of patience are needed.
She does recognise the ravens who do turn up, and she actually makes play-bows at them, when they sit on the high fence enclosing the tennis courts, while they peer down at her.
But - between the training and the cold, not much is happening.
So forgive me if I prolong this break for a bit, until both the weather and above all the issues affecting my family are resolved.
Thanks for your patience!
Town Raven
In flight
Location Map
This shows where we walk and meet the ravens
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Saturday, Jan 15th, 2011
Miss Sophie is back from her visit to the boarding kennels. She was there two nights and I picked her up yesterday. She was well-behaved, and once she had noticed me she was happy to see me. Back in the house, she rushed everywhere, as if to make sure it was still the place she knew.
We had quite a few romps, and eventually she did do her lovely little wolf-howls the way she used to. She wasn't clingy at all - so I think this training exercise went very well.
We did go out this morning. It was raining, everything is very muddy, so I took her to the tennis courts. There, she had her run-arounds, chasing crows - and I saw that we still have to work very hard to get her to come back when called. Ah well - Rome wasn't built in one day either ...
We had quite a few romps, and eventually she did do her lovely little wolf-howls the way she used to. She wasn't clingy at all - so I think this training exercise went very well.
We did go out this morning. It was raining, everything is very muddy, so I took her to the tennis courts. There, she had her run-arounds, chasing crows - and I saw that we still have to work very hard to get her to come back when called. Ah well - Rome wasn't built in one day either ...
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Wednesday, Jan 12th, 2011
It has been raining heavily here for the last three days. We've not been out for log because it is still cold, and we didn't see any ravens - but did hear them croak in the trees.
Today I have taken Miss Sophie to boarding kennels, where she will stay for two nights.
This is an exercise, if you wish, because I want her to learn that going to kennels is no big deal for her because I will be back to take her home again, and am not abandoning her.
She is still young (three years old this year) - and for family reasons I must be able to go away, knowing her to be safe and and not panicking nor feeling abandoned.
I already miss her lovely wolf-howls ...
Today I have taken Miss Sophie to boarding kennels, where she will stay for two nights.
This is an exercise, if you wish, because I want her to learn that going to kennels is no big deal for her because I will be back to take her home again, and am not abandoning her.
She is still young (three years old this year) - and for family reasons I must be able to go away, knowing her to be safe and and not panicking nor feeling abandoned.
I already miss her lovely wolf-howls ...
Monday, 3 January 2011
Monday, Jan 3rd, 2011
Firstly - Happy New Year, everybody!
Secondly - not much blogging going on, for various reasons, such as weather, my health, and Miss Sophie's training.
I am planning to take her to a boarding kennels-and-training place in the vicinity, so that she will be not traumatised should I have to send her there in an emergency. This will not leave me much time for blogging, but I shall try and do my best.
Meanwhile, we have been out, Miss Sophie enjoying the snow and later the plain muddy fields. It is still cold, and there is icy rain.
The ravens have not changed their behaviour at all, snow or not.
However, one of them is definitely 'targeting' Miss Sophie, swooping low over her back, from tail to head. He does this from wherever he sits: fence, tree, netting.
Today, we took a long walk along the river, across Pontcanna Fields. I took her on a pedestrian suspension bridge because two swans were swimming there. She was at first fascinated by the swans - and then got worried about the bridge's movement - so I turned around and went back. We'll have to train this, obviously, in small instalments.
Oh, btw - unlike Big Dog and Madame Dog, she was not upset by the New Year's Eve fireworks at all. That was much appreciated by me ...
Secondly - not much blogging going on, for various reasons, such as weather, my health, and Miss Sophie's training.
I am planning to take her to a boarding kennels-and-training place in the vicinity, so that she will be not traumatised should I have to send her there in an emergency. This will not leave me much time for blogging, but I shall try and do my best.
Meanwhile, we have been out, Miss Sophie enjoying the snow and later the plain muddy fields. It is still cold, and there is icy rain.
The ravens have not changed their behaviour at all, snow or not.
However, one of them is definitely 'targeting' Miss Sophie, swooping low over her back, from tail to head. He does this from wherever he sits: fence, tree, netting.
Today, we took a long walk along the river, across Pontcanna Fields. I took her on a pedestrian suspension bridge because two swans were swimming there. She was at first fascinated by the swans - and then got worried about the bridge's movement - so I turned around and went back. We'll have to train this, obviously, in small instalments.
Oh, btw - unlike Big Dog and Madame Dog, she was not upset by the New Year's Eve fireworks at all. That was much appreciated by me ...
Friday, 24 December 2010
CHRISTMAS EVE - Friday, Dec 24th, 2010
We didn't go out today either, it is very precarious because there was a hint of thaw yesterday afternoon and it all froze over in the night.
Miss Sophie has spent a long time in the back garden while I got the last house chores done, and was a bit disappointed because there were no cats to bark at.
We wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas!
Miss Sophie has spent a long time in the back garden while I got the last house chores done, and was a bit disappointed because there were no cats to bark at.
We wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas!
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Thursday, Dec 23rd, 2010
No - we still haven't been able to go out into the park!
The snow sitting here since last Friday has been compacted, and there was an addition to it on Monday as well. It has been below freezing, with very cold nights, and the couple of hours of winter sun have not had any great effect on the snow. The icicles have grown, however.
As a few cars here in our little road have made it out into the main road, I grabbed this last opportunity to get a taxi into town and back. The state of even main roads is beyond belief, as were the pavements in town - not that I walked there ...
So Miss Sophie had the chance to chew a nice Christmas bone while I was away, which did not prevent her from dragging my proper hand bag off a chair, knocking over the waste paper basket in the living room, nor from getting a couple of balls out of the box in the hall! And then she ran into the front room as I came through the door, not wanting to even look at the balls she'd taken out ...
Now we're snug and warm, everything prepared - and if the weather and snow allow us to go out during the next few days, we will do so, to feed the ravens.
The snow sitting here since last Friday has been compacted, and there was an addition to it on Monday as well. It has been below freezing, with very cold nights, and the couple of hours of winter sun have not had any great effect on the snow. The icicles have grown, however.
As a few cars here in our little road have made it out into the main road, I grabbed this last opportunity to get a taxi into town and back. The state of even main roads is beyond belief, as were the pavements in town - not that I walked there ...
So Miss Sophie had the chance to chew a nice Christmas bone while I was away, which did not prevent her from dragging my proper hand bag off a chair, knocking over the waste paper basket in the living room, nor from getting a couple of balls out of the box in the hall! And then she ran into the front room as I came through the door, not wanting to even look at the balls she'd taken out ...
Now we're snug and warm, everything prepared - and if the weather and snow allow us to go out during the next few days, we will do so, to feed the ravens.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Tuesday, Dec 21st, 2010 - WINTER SOLSTICE
The snow we had yesterday was frozen over during the night, and Miss Sophie came back indoors from her first outing in the back yard, licking her hind leg and looking worried.
So we stayed indoors.
The icicles meanwhile have been growing, even my small ones are now a good ten inches long while those on other houses are two feet ...
No sun, no wind, grey sky and cold - don't know yet what we'll do tomorrow ...
So we stayed indoors.
The icicles meanwhile have been growing, even my small ones are now a good ten inches long while those on other houses are two feet ...
No sun, no wind, grey sky and cold - don't know yet what we'll do tomorrow ...
Monday, 20 December 2010
Monday, Dec 20th, 2010
We didn't go out yesterday, it was too scary because I could hear the thin layer of ice on top of the fallen snow crunch when Miss Sophie went into the back garden. I have no desire to slip on ice ...
Today, I tried the conditions before taking Miss Sophie into the park - I delivered my Christmas cards to all my neighbours. It was very cold, but walking was ok - so we ventured into Llandaff Fields around 8.40 a.m. It was grey, but the walking was fine because the snow had somewhat sunk in on itself, so no more wading through ten inches of snow - it was about six inches.
We dodged a couple of dogs and I let Miss Sophie run in the toddlers' playground: no toddlers there, and it had started to snow, so I was able to shelter under one of the futuristic climbing frames.
A murder of crows had assembled in the trees.
Today, I tried the conditions before taking Miss Sophie into the park - I delivered my Christmas cards to all my neighbours. It was very cold, but walking was ok - so we ventured into Llandaff Fields around 8.40 a.m. It was grey, but the walking was fine because the snow had somewhat sunk in on itself, so no more wading through ten inches of snow - it was about six inches.
We dodged a couple of dogs and I let Miss Sophie run in the toddlers' playground: no toddlers there, and it had started to snow, so I was able to shelter under one of the futuristic climbing frames.
A murder of crows had assembled in the trees.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Saturday, Dec 18th, 2010
We had ten inches of snow here, but we did go out at 7.55 a.m. - about twenty minutes before the official sunrise.
It was cold, just 28 F, but there was no wind at all. There was a light ground mist over the fields.
Nobody was about, so I let Miss Sophie off in the first field for the first time ever! She loved it, but the snow reached up to her elbows, so she did not roll.
It was cold, just 28 F, but there was no wind at all. There was a light ground mist over the fields.
Nobody was about, so I let Miss Sophie off in the first field for the first time ever! She loved it, but the snow reached up to her elbows, so she did not roll.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Friday, Dec 17th, 2010
It snowed during the night, so when we went out this morning everything was pristine. As we were one of the first to walk down the street and into the park, we didn't encounter any ice, formed by compacted snow. That was at 7.35 a.m., at dawn.
We got into the tennis courts,and Miss Sophie ran around. The two juvenile ravens came and sat on the fence, one of them making a soft croaking noise. They did get some titbits.
Miss Sophie hugely enjoyed chasing them.
We got into the tennis courts,and Miss Sophie ran around. The two juvenile ravens came and sat on the fence, one of them making a soft croaking noise. They did get some titbits.
Miss Sophie hugely enjoyed chasing them.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Thursday, Dec 16th, 2010
It is grey, gloomy - and the wind comes directly from the North Pole. Fresh snow predicted as well for tonight - it will be difficult again to get out.
We did go to Llandaff Fields today, and the two juvenile ravens appeared. They got some titbits but are still not happy for me to look at them when they pick them up.
sadly, Miss Sophie has taken to chase them, and I swear one of them enjoys this game. He sometimes swoops very low right over Miss Sophie, lengthwise, knowing full well that she will try to retaliate.
They didn't do this today - too windy, too cold, too gloomy.
Here's hoping we can make it into the park tomorrow ...
We did go to Llandaff Fields today, and the two juvenile ravens appeared. They got some titbits but are still not happy for me to look at them when they pick them up.
sadly, Miss Sophie has taken to chase them, and I swear one of them enjoys this game. He sometimes swoops very low right over Miss Sophie, lengthwise, knowing full well that she will try to retaliate.
They didn't do this today - too windy, too cold, too gloomy.
Here's hoping we can make it into the park tomorrow ...
Monday, 13 December 2010
Monday, Dec 13th, 2010
I am sorry I haven't posted for some time - and I apologise in advance for not posting every day for the time being.
There have been - and are - a bunch of reasons:
*) my health - getting better, but it is tow steps forward, one step back, so it'll take time;
*) the weather - it has been arctic here, with pavements, pathways and even some of the fields actually iced over, which has made walking far more hazardous than last year, especially since Miss Sophie is a bit more of a handful, physically, than Madame Dog was;
*) the ravens - they are erratic at the moment, because there are far more crows in Llandaff Fields than last year. This is due to the building works going on in the area where I live. A couple of trees where the crows used to roost have been felled, so they and the ravens are looking for new accommodation.
Please bear with me - I'll do my best to get this blog back to normal!
There have been - and are - a bunch of reasons:
*) my health - getting better, but it is tow steps forward, one step back, so it'll take time;
*) the weather - it has been arctic here, with pavements, pathways and even some of the fields actually iced over, which has made walking far more hazardous than last year, especially since Miss Sophie is a bit more of a handful, physically, than Madame Dog was;
*) the ravens - they are erratic at the moment, because there are far more crows in Llandaff Fields than last year. This is due to the building works going on in the area where I live. A couple of trees where the crows used to roost have been felled, so they and the ravens are looking for new accommodation.
Please bear with me - I'll do my best to get this blog back to normal!
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Tuesday Nov 30th, 2010
Grey - gloomy - cold - damp - frozen drizzle (couldn't really call it 'snow') - no sun: just right for the last day in November.
We left the house at 7.30 a.m., having a quick chat with Karen and Bas in the big field. There were no ravens watching that I could see in any of the trees.
We went into the ravens field because the one dog group had already walked past us, going back. We were the only ones, so I let Miss Sophie off the lead once we were in the far corner.
We left the house at 7.30 a.m., having a quick chat with Karen and Bas in the big field. There were no ravens watching that I could see in any of the trees.
We went into the ravens field because the one dog group had already walked past us, going back. We were the only ones, so I let Miss Sophie off the lead once we were in the far corner.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Monday November 29th, 2010
No snow overnight, no dreaded Easterly winds as yet, so the temperature (28F) at 7.20 a.m. felt positively balmy, compared to yesterday.
It was a glorious sunrise, the sky pale blue and dusty pink in the North east, and the sun rising as a huge, golden orange ball around 7.50 a.m.
We met Bas and Karen at the top of the first field, and we walked across the big field together, Miss Sophie off the lead.
It was a glorious sunrise, the sky pale blue and dusty pink in the North east, and the sun rising as a huge, golden orange ball around 7.50 a.m.
We met Bas and Karen at the top of the first field, and we walked across the big field together, Miss Sophie off the lead.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Sunday Nov 28th, 2010
It was a freezingly cold night - even here in Cardiff the temperature dropped to 21F.
Thankfully, we had no more snow, and the winter sun had melted some of the ice on the pavements.
So we left the house at 7.45 a.m. and went to Llandaff Fields. Two ravens came flying over from the quarry side and sat in the trees at the first field, next to the toddlers' playground. One came down when I threw a couple of scraps. But they did not follow us.
Thankfully, we had no more snow, and the winter sun had melted some of the ice on the pavements.
So we left the house at 7.45 a.m. and went to Llandaff Fields. Two ravens came flying over from the quarry side and sat in the trees at the first field, next to the toddlers' playground. One came down when I threw a couple of scraps. But they did not follow us.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Saturday Nov 27th, 2010
It snowed a lot yesterday afternoon, and with the clear sky overnight, everything is frozen over. Pavements and roads are blank ice.
It is just as last year at Christmas.
So we stayed indoors, hoping for a bit of thawing.
Sorry, ravens.
"Wintry weather caused widespread problems on Friday, with schools closed, flights disrupted and a 26-mile tailback on the M4 in south Wales.
The UK has seen the earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years and forecasters say it could last for two weeks.
It is just as last year at Christmas.
So we stayed indoors, hoping for a bit of thawing.
Sorry, ravens.
"Wintry weather caused widespread problems on Friday, with schools closed, flights disrupted and a 26-mile tailback on the M4 in south Wales.
The UK has seen the earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years and forecasters say it could last for two weeks.
One of the coldest place overnight on Friday was Trawscoed, in west Wales, where -10.2C (14F) was recorded."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11852488
Friday, 26 November 2010
Friday, Nov 26th, 2010
It was much colder than yesterday when we left the house at 7.15 a.m., which is not really surprising as there's been snow in Scotland and down the East Coast, and on the hills and mountains in Wales.
So I wrapped up warm - Miss Sophie luckily doesn't need to, seeing that she's wearing a permanent fur coat ...
We took our time getting to the tennis courts because Miss Sophie did a lot of sniffing. I was hoping to get to the ravens field - but there were too many dogs around.
So I wrapped up warm - Miss Sophie luckily doesn't need to, seeing that she's wearing a permanent fur coat ...
We took our time getting to the tennis courts because Miss Sophie did a lot of sniffing. I was hoping to get to the ravens field - but there were too many dogs around.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Thursday, Nov 25th, 2010
Clear skies and a nice sunrise when we went out at 7.20 a.m. today.
The clear skies meant it was below freezing, and there was hoar frost on the grass.
Madame Dog would have loved it ...
The clear skies meant it was below freezing, and there was hoar frost on the grass.
Madame Dog would have loved it ...
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Wednesday Nov 24th, 2010
We were warned of a very cold morning early today - but when we left the house at 7.15 a.m., it was not as cold as we were led to believe. This was probably due to the low clouds which meant it was grey and damp - just like any November morning.
There was a glorious sunrise when we walked back - and now that the skies are clear, it is indeed colder than yesterday, even with the sun shining.
We walked to the tennis courts, but today the ravens were not waiting for us.
They took a while to appear, and then flew off quite soon, after having taken a few titbits only.
There was a glorious sunrise when we walked back - and now that the skies are clear, it is indeed colder than yesterday, even with the sun shining.
We walked to the tennis courts, but today the ravens were not waiting for us.
They took a while to appear, and then flew off quite soon, after having taken a few titbits only.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Tuesday, Nov 23rd, 2010
Another typical November morning: grey, damp, no sun - and cool. It was not as cold as the weather forecast predicted, so that was good!
We went out at 7.10 a.m.. it was still dark, so Miss Sophie wore her LED collar, blinking red.
Nobody was in the tennis courts this morning, and the ravens waited for us in the cherry trees.
We went out at 7.10 a.m.. it was still dark, so Miss Sophie wore her LED collar, blinking red.
Nobody was in the tennis courts this morning, and the ravens waited for us in the cherry trees.
