Charming Creatures

by Emily Steele

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Hello 👋 it’s been an age… or at least it feels that way.

But hey, I finally finished something!

A little zebra family for the scrumptious baby Jacob 🦓💚 #charmingcreatures

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Good riddance 2022, you were the absolute worst 👋💩

So I’m starting the year off with dogs, because no matter how testing things get, we can always be grateful for dogs, can’t we?

Hoping for more of whatever brings you joy in 2023 folks ✨

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🕷️

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This year for #isaiahsalphabet we have B, for Brown long-eared bat 🦇

Because bats are cool anyway, but especially when they have lugs like these guys!

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Another crispy day ❄️

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Salty sea dog enjoying his coastal holiday last week 🪸

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I have a lot of love for these little birds. Quail are known for being skittish and jumpy but when you get to know them (or you’re lucky enough to befriend them as I have) they are the most delightful birds you are ever likely to meet. Inquisitive, fierce, loyal and loving.

I made these three with my sweet girl Wilma in mind. She was with me for a number of years after being saved from becoming a meal for a captive bird of prey.

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Cosmic ✨

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A ‘confusion’ of Guinea fowl. Have you ever heard a more fitting collective noun? 🤡

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Pollinator patch 🙌🐝🐞🦋🪲

My favourite garden project that’s come into fruition this year. I earmarked this area under our old apple trees for wildflowers shortly after we moved here. After some back-breaking work to remove the old sods of couch grass, I have even managed to establish yellow rattle, which I’m thrilled about (!)

I’m looking forward to adding more native species to this mini meadow in the years to come and watching it develop into a habitat all our garden inhabitants can make use of.

Here you can see how this area looked in 2020 when we first moved in (feat. an old tire swing) followed by the take over of cow parsley in 2021 when I allowed it to just do it’s thang ✨

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So grateful for this cooler weather (and rain!) we’re having at the moment. This time last week my paint brush would dry up before I could even get any colour onto these ladies 🥴🔥

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High summer posy 🌾

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The laughing call of the Green Woodpecker has earnt it many a nickname. Of these, my favourites have to be - Popinjay, Rain Pie, laughing Betsy, Jack Eikle, Yuccle and of course, Nicker Pecker

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Small Copper 🧡

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The scientific name for the Red Grouse is Lagopus lagopus scotica.

Lagopus is derived from the Ancient Greek lagos, meaning ‘hare’ and pous, meaning ‘foot’, in reference to their fancy feathered snow shoes which are delightful, but rarely seen as they keep well hidden amongst the heathland.

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California dreamin’ 🧡

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Because we all need a little bit of Pomcat in our lives.

When my super talented friend made a crochet sofa for her girls, I couldn’t resist recreating this precious moment of her eldest child sat in the window people watching 💚