Some things are worth the sacrifice

This morning we had to leave at daybreak to make a trip down to Essex for an early business appointment. I say 'we' - the appointment was my husband's - I was just tagging along to keep him company on what was likely to be a lengthy and tedious round trip.

We had to leave at 04:00am to make it in time and the sky was just starting to lighten and the birds were winding themselves into a full musical greeting of the dawn. It's a glorious sound and one that never troubles me - it's something to be enjoyed and rejoiced.

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As the light levels grew, it was evident that it was going to be a gorgeous morning. The sky was almost completely clear and the air cool. I really do love early mornings, they always feel like the best bit of the day on days like this. It was incredibly tedious to have to set the alarm that early, but well worth it when you get to enjoy the day coming to life in that way, even from a car on the motorway.

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There was a heavy mist from each body of water we passed, spilling over the fields as it dissipated and the light went from blue to golden within an hour and I snatched a few photos from the car window on my compact camera.

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I hadn't thought much of having to rise that early, but it really did prove worth it, it was a delightful start to a day.

This is just taking liberties!

Last night I saw the most amazing and amusing thing in the garden. I planted a few chrysanthemums last weekend, a lovely deep red colour and noticed a few days ago that one plant had been reduced to a green stump by my garden snails - totally beyond help.

My lovely deep red chrysanthemums before the snails found them.
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Yesterday, another plant looked to be heading towards the same fate. I'd bought some extra copper wire to put round my pots, as they're not supposed to tolerate walking over it.

I'd seen the likely culprit hiding behind a nearby pot earlier and had touched his foot with the copper and he really hadn't liked it, so I was hoping it might be a kinder way to protect my plants.

So I made a ring round the half eaten plant's pot and another around the plant itself and went out at dusk last night to see if it had done any good.

Not only was the blasted snail actually balancing on the copper ring to get a good position to munch away my plant, but the bugger was giving his mate a piggy back for a good chomping position too.

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I've never seen team work like this before. I'm glad I got something to show you as it was going dark and the shutter speed is so slow that they're not as sharp as they could be. Cheeky blighters!

Click the photo for a larger view. You can actually see the cheeky beggar balancing on the copper wire at the bottom.