Granny's washing line

Sometimes there is washing on the washing line. But one day when granny walked into the kitchen she saw the line waving about because a big bird had just taken off from the clothes prop. Dave found a picture of a buzzard

Granny didn't see it properly before it flew away but that might have been what she saw.

The last week she was in the kitchen making jam at half past nine, just before it started to get dark. There was a big owl on the clothes prop, with feathers sticking up like ears. It stayed there looking in while she got out her bird book to see what it was.

Picture from RSPB guides

She read about it and found that they are usually hard to see.

Funny leaves

Emily was helping to pick blackcurrants and noticed that the leaves on some of the bushes were all crinkly.
Granny found out that it was currant blister aphid.
Picture from RHS website