Wasps

 Who invented wasps? and why? What nasty trick was God playing that day!?

There were three pears on my young pear tree ...................

............................now there are none.

And this is why. A friend said they sting the pears which gives them a way in to the flesh, but they don't. - they just nibble their way in, especially when the weather is dry and they are looking for moisture as well as food.

Actually on closer inspection the critter on the pear above could be a young hornet, it flew away anyway so didn't get killed. I'm sure it's not one of the invasive Yellow Legged or Asian hornets - thankfully.

Definitely smaller common wasps below on a blurry photo as I didn't get too close for this photo of dozens of them on the pear that had fallen off.

I'd already killed dozens more the day before that were on the ground drunk and dazed after they'd had their fill of the first pear.

I've not been stung yet this year - thankfully, but there must be a nest not too far away for there to be this many all at once, so it may yet happen. 

Yes,  they are good for pollination and some feed on aphids and carrion. But I'm still not a fan.

And isn't it odd that if a cat, dog or human gets stung in the mouth by a wasp it can be a nasty business, but birds eat wasps with no problem. A young Thrush was picking up the wasps that had fallen drunk from pear juice onto the grass, giving them a good shake and eating with no ill effects.

The wasps will be needing moisture over the next few days - as will the humans- the temps are set to rise for another mini heatwave ....that's an English heatwave not a Hot Country heatwave!  

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More Cucumbers Than I Thought and Tennis News

 Yesterday there was a good match with the young good looking 23 year old Italian Flavio Cobolli (I'd never heard of him 'til this year) beating Cilic. Both had knocked out British players previously. Then I turned over and found Djokovic was a set down - losing it 6-1 !- did that last? No! He won.

There are a large number of Italian men playing nowadays, when I was a teenager the tournament had mainly American and Australian players, now it's Spain and Italy who seem to be bringing on new young players all the time.

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My two cucumber plants are growing well but I've not really left them enough space - I'm used to growing in pots rather than the growbags I got to use this year to save shifting heavy pots later and to save money on compost. I can just about get the watering can nozzle between all the leaves and into the compost for watering and even though I nipped off some growing tips the plants are still heading across the floor and will soon be out the door!

There were definitely two cucumbers hiding among the leaves but turned out there were 5. [These are the two plants that I bought at a boot sale and are they shorter rather than longer variety].

Plenty enough to make some of  the Sweet and Sour Cucumber pickle that I enjoyed so much last winter. The recipe is on the separate recipe page but I decided not to use onions in it this year as I like the chunks of cucumber and celery but the small bits of onion are a pain to fish out of the jar ( I need a Victorian pickle spoon - those Victorians had something for every eventuality!). I also don't use the cloves.

It made just 3 and a bit 12oz jars, which won't last me long through the winter so I'm hoping for another good flush of cucumbers to make more.

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St Mary's Church, Little Finborough

It was about time I visited another Suffolk church and I'd read that this one is always open during the day in summer.

 This is a tiny church in a small parish south west of Stowmarket, there is no proper village, just farms and houses dotted in the middle of undulating arable land..

To get to the church you have to park at the gateway of the neighbouring farm house and follow the track to find the church hidden among the trees.

A Simple two-celled building with a bell-cote with origins in the C14 but it's been restored as so many were by the Victorians 

The church had no electricity until about 30 years ago and the tiled floor was restored very recently when the original tiles were found to be early C20.

Very Simple font and cover

This large panel below showing The Lord's prayer came here from the redundant church at nearby Wattisham.

About 20 years ago part of an original 14th Century wall painting was uncovered, it's impossible to see but it's a figure in red and yellow ochre with one arm raised

Thankfully there's a description

Up above where nave and sanctuary join is the coat of arms of George III. Royal arms were set in this position by decree of Elizabeth 1st but usually they were moved to the back of the church during Victorian restoration

The church is only used for a service once a month in winter and twice a month in summer but there are colourful kneelers for the worshippers.

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