TGIF... PPF

Well as they say...that was the week that was! 

Drama, storms, biblical signs and wailing banshees.

I kid you not peeps.

But before I natter away, I have finally (well nearly) finished the cacti and succulent watercolour I started after my trip to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.

I think I just need to tweak and add a few shadows and that's it. 

Here's the result... which is an amazing feat considering all that's being going on around here.

This photo is sort of the calm before the storm...quite literally.

The thunder and lightening arrived and the rain came bouncing down.

Why I thought to go out without a jacket on... I have no idea. 

Perhaps I was under the illusion that it was summer. 

No wait a minute...it IS summer! 

Maybe that's why I'm painting cacti and succulents?

Subconsciously I'm wishing for hot temperatures and more sun! 

I also missed a dental appointment due to my new mobile phone, that I haven't mastered yet.

The memo's and diary are still blank, hence missing the reminder, but I'll get there. 

Thankfully, I wasn't in any pain...my appointment was just for a brush and polish.

I didn't even twig when I got a phone call....mainly because I didn't recognise the new ring tone and didn't answer the call; wondering why someone didn't answer their phone.

Numpty! 

I know...but in my defence as I said, it's been quite a week.

For those followers of my Instagram and Facebook, I apologise that I may be repeating myself here, but I feel I have to share this lucky chooks near miss.

Say hello to Annie...who's very lucky to be here today.

Not more than an hour after I arrived home from a lovely weekend in Edinburgh...my hubby shot up from working on the laptop shouting 'FOX' whilst dashing for the door in record time, kicking off his flip-flops (thongs) to maximise his speed. 

His cries were ear piercing and certainly frightened me! 

I had no idea that he could either move that fast or get such volume and pitch to his voice!

Thankfully, the fox was terrified too, as the wailing banshee advanced.

Annie, who was joining in with her own squawks as she was dropped from the jaws of the fox, made off to hide in the corner of the patio...then more squawks came from the top end of the garden. 

More feathers flew and my hubby cries changed to rather colourful language 

(maybe he thought he was near enough away from me...or the circumstances certainly called for it)

Chickens were flapping and squawking all over the garden... it seems that we had far more than just four chooks. 

With the fox's escape under the conifer bushes and over the wall, we began to carry out a roll call.

Annie...yes, but traumatised and injured.

Bertha...present... (maybe too heavy for the fox to carry?)

Winnie...present (although hiding behind the rose bushes)

Flo? Flo? FLO?

Oh no...Flo was nowhere to be seen. 

Only a mass of feathers were floating all around the garden and so with heavy hearts and sickly stomachs, we assumed that Flo had been taken.

I was so mad because I'd been telling hubby that he was being too blasé about them being free to roam, especially when he wasn't in the garden with them...but I had to back off because I knew he was so upset and guilty. 

We scooped up Annie and checked her over...four puncture holes either side of her spine seemed to be the extent of her injuries. We've later found out that her leg is injured, as she now has a limp.

She's full of character and we're hoping that she has a lot of fighting spirit in her too.

She's recovering each day so we're hopeful she'll be fine.

Meanwhile the others were put in lock down!

Later as I was trying to calm my stomach with deep breaths, washing down the patio 

(no blood... just feathers, bird seed and of course poop due to the fright).

A few minutes later my hubby called me to come and look.

I knew I couldn't take any more carnage, so declined, but he was insistent.

As I walked towards his voice and along the path...there he was holding Flo!
His favourite and with a huge grin to prove it.

She'd ran and just missed being grabbed by the fox (her lack of tail feathers are a new testament to her near miss and will be this seasons attire...basically minimal).

Phew... so now they're all together rallying around Annie and safe within the 'folly' walls.

They'll get a taste of free ranging (of sorts) by being in their movable run and we'll reposition it every day...but at least we know that they'll be safe and that's the main thing.

So on a lighter note to finish... here's something that gave us a giggle, this morning...

our 'wonkie' veg.

I would have taken the photo with all the greenery attached, but hubby just chopped them off before I had a chance. Ho hum...it's a work in progress...even after nearly 40 years!

I hope you have had a better week and a brilliant weekend lies ahead.

I think I'm going to lie in a darkened room ;D

Happy Friyay Everyone.

As usual I'm linking up with the Paint Party Friday gang.

p.s. I hope to have a finished completed piece of artwork for next week...see you soon I hope and thanks for popping by :D