A peachy November morning,

frosty and still.

As the sun warmed up, the loch was briefly filled with mist.

This weekend I've been able to stop for breath and look around. I planted Mum's teasels on the bank at the back of the garden some weeks ago.

You can't see them?

There they are. They seem to have established OK. This bank is always a bit of a mess and I'm going to leave it that way. There's a pile of broken planks and fencing under those cut rushes to the left, which I hope is providing winter shelter for assorted wildlife. I'm going to plant more native species to join the teasels by gathering seeds from hedgerows, starting with red campion. I also have a beautiful deep red buddleia which I'm going to put in next to the hebe. I was disappointed that the butterflies didn't spend more time in the garden this Summer. I hope the buddleia will rectify that next year. I was standing, thinking and planning and basking in the joy of a garden, when this little lady flew down and started feeding right in front of me.

I should know what these plants are, they've been a familiar sight since childhood, when we used to run the stems through our fingers to pick the dried seeds off but I have no idea of its name, some sort of plantain? I have thought of it as a pest in the garden. It springs up everywhere, is a real bully, swamping other growth when it gets going and is difficult to remove. I didn't know the finches fed on it but this little girl was tucking in and fearless even though I was standing very close by. I think she must be one of this Summer's fledglings there is something shiny and new about her. It looks as if I am going to have to let those bully boy plants stay, at least on the bank, if they feed finches.

She left when the blackbird flew onto the fence post to ask why he hadn't had his daily apple. I reckon it counts as one of my five-a-day if the blackbird eats them. Apples are bought, apples are eaten, job done.

Grumpy old Smudge came and sat on the compost bin and glowered at us both,

looking like a little furry ET. She doesn't like cold mornings, the frost nips her toes and freezes her bum when she sits down. I tell her it's not my fault but she won't listen.