THE WEEK I GAINED A BLACKBIRD NEST AND A PARKING FINE, RESCUED A WINKLE, PHOTOGRAPHED AN ABUNDANCE OF POPPIES AND COMPLETED THE DEBBIE BLISS TEDDY BEAR ALL- IN- ONE SUIT!

I had to show you this photo I took in my garden of this little lady, I spied her by accident when I was weeding yesterday. I though at first that the nest was empty but was so pleased when I took a peek later and saw that the blackbird was nestled inside.

I've done various things this week. On Wednesday Kate and I took Charlotte and Jessica to Mersea Island. Mersea is only about half an hour from here so the ideal place to go if you want to play on the sand. I parked the car, bought a pay and display ticket and spent a few hours happily on the beach, digging holes, collecting seashells, drinking tea and eating ice cream - perfect!
Having had such a nice time, I didn't take kindly to finding a parking penalty notice slapped on my windscreen when we returned to the car. It was my fault, my ticket wasn't clearly displayed, but I had purchased it and if we had returned five minutes earlier at least I would have had the satisfaction of waving it under the Civil Enforcement Officer's nose!
As I write, I am challenging the penalty charge with great gusto but only because it's making me feel better, realistically I know that it will not be overturned!

It was later that same day whilst I was in the kitchen preparing dinner that Charlotte came in requesting a lettuce leave for her snail. She had been out in the garden since we'd returned home sorting through her bucket of shells. On closer inspection I quickly realised that the little head frantically popping in and out of the shell was not a snail but indeed a winkle. Once I'd explained what a winkle is, what it likes to eat and where it usually lives, it was agreed that we needed to return the winkle to the sea. So we found a small bucket to put it in (Charlotte had at first wanted to carry it in her hand but as it was so tiny,  I had visions of it being crushed before it even reached the sea), we set off on our short walk up to the river.
The tide was out, so no water just mud. Being the good Granny that I am, I climbed over the sea wall, down some slippery steps and placed the winkle in the mud under a clump of seaweed so it could float out on the next tide. Charlotte, still remains hopeful that the little winkle will make it back to Mersea Island. Bless her!

I took these photos at RHS Hyde Hall on Tuesday. I had a lovely time there with Miriam and Diane. Lots of chatter, a slow amble around the gardens and  a very nice lunch.

The display of poppies was beautiful, I think this is the best I've ever seen there. I've got loads growing in my front garden this year, all self-seeded, courtesy of the birds I would imagine. So far, only a few are in flower, but I'm hopeful that I too will have a colourful display.
Michael was eager to pull them all up about a month ago, he was convinced they were weeds. Really pleased he didn't.

To finish off this week  I have completed the Debbie Bliss all-in-one teddy bear outfit. I am really pleased with it and it has been finished just in time. Lindsey, my friend Maureen's daughter, is expecting her son in the next couple of weeks. I've knitted the second size so it'll fit the baby through the autumn/winter months.
I've found a lovely pattern on the internet for a pair of fingerless gloves so I'm going to give them a try for my next project. I'm hoping to use up some wool that I have left at the bottom of my knitting bag.