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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Uncle Luke @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social popped round today for Round 2 of apple picking. 6 hours later, he left with sacks of Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, HMJ's, Royal Somerset, plus a few King of the Pippins & Stoke Red. Waiting to hear what it measures up to after pressing. #cider #wholejuice 🍎🍏

Looking upwards into a Yarlington Mill bittersweet cider apple tree.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

My take on the 1921 recipe for 'Oatmeal Betty' by May S Metzler, shared by Darren @orchardnotes.com Converting US 'cups' to grammes & ml was a bit hit & miss. Used our own 'Royal Somerset' apples which stay firm when cooked & swapped the Cinnamon for Ground Cloves 😋👍 #food #oats #dates #apples

The mixed base ingredients of cooked oatmeal (porridge), chopped Dates & apples, sugar, & Golden Syrup. Now spread out in a greased dish ready for the oven.

After 30mins @ 180°C it still looks anaemic...

Left the 'Oatmeal Betty' to cool & set (congeal?) before serving up the first tasting portion. 👌😋 Unsweetened natural Yoghurt would have made the perfect match & balanced the sweetness.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

After trekking to the Copper/Bronze age stone circle at Duddo, it was disappointing to find no virgins to sacrifice. So we plodded on to the village of Etal & The Black Bull, purveyors of fine ales & good food. Pints of Durty Brewing's "Gold Run" & Firebrick's "Pagan Queen" went down very well. 😋

Duddo stone circle looking West to the late afternoon sun.

The sign for The Black Bull in Etal, Northumberland - the only thatched pub in the county. A pint glass of Durty Brewing "Gold Run" beer in the foreground.

The sun setting behind Etal castle, which sits at the side of the River Till, viewed from the pub.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Good for the old cardio-whatsit 👍 There are a number of Battle Stones local to here. That one was originally raised during the early Bronze Age (c. 2400–2000 BC) as part of a wider ceremonial / ritual landscape. But then "adopted" for a 1415 skirmish between Anglo & Scos forces. Take your pick. 🙂

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

So: get the Slow Cooker going & then stretch our legs.👌 Just under 7 miles in total & just under 3hrs - we spent an hour picking Sloes...🙄 Some of those hills are steep! Beautiful countryside right on our doorstep, complimented by great beers in the village pub - perfect finish. 😋🍻 #walking #sloes

Our route from Footpath signpost to Footpath signpost, plotted using the O.S. app. Worth every penny. 👍

Lovely woman & some old bloke pictured at the start of our descent.

On our descent deciding whether to follow the "high route" (metalled road) or "low route" (proper grass & mud path). We chose the latter. 👍

Back at Base Camp (Red Lion, Milfield) with a bag of hand-picked Sloes (Endrinas) + pints of hand pulled real ale.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Bright sunshine swiftly changed to grey clouds - then rain stopped play.🫤 So as it's our last full day, a bit of shopping & packing, then retire to the pub. Local ales from Anarchy & Firebrick brewers going down well, & Stokey🐾 is very content with a bag of pork scratchings. Woof! #beer #micropub

Stokey 🐾 waiting patiently for The Word to devour her pork scratching. 🍺

Action shot - surprisingly all of my fingers survived intact. 👌

Two pints of ale from local breweries. Unfortunately & unusually they are the only 2 on tonight.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Nice to see this prominently displayed today.👍 Chatting to the staff, it lists what they are both keen to & will uphold. 👌 I did point out that "Fosters" needs company, such as Lilley's & assorted shite "fruit ciders", plus kak such as Madri et al. #basicdecency #liferules #standards

List of basic zero-tolerance rules displayed behind the bar in the Brewis Beer Co. brewery.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

No ice creams today...😮☹️😳 But a circular walk along the coast then overland to Brewis Beer Co. for pints of excellent beers & yummy fresh-cooked pizza from Lucca pizza co. Nom nom nom. Oh - & Stokey says free dog-biscuits to die for, made from the spent grain used in the brewery. 😋🐾 #BskyBeer

We miscalculated the time to complete the walk. Waiting for opening time @ 16.00.

Nice to see easily identifiable entrance doors.

An impressive beer board. Can't say the same about the one "cider".

The pizzas were excellent. I tried the Porter (L) & the Stout (R). The stout had it, so finished with a pint of this: "Endeavour" by Brewis, so 'home-grown'. 5.4% ABV & most importantly for me, both Porter & Stout had zero Coffee notes. Yay! 😋

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"I chuffin' swear Australia is down here somewhere...!"

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"Where's the dog..?" "No idea. Isn't she with you?" "No..." ~~~~~~~~~~ Stokey🐾: "You go ahead & I'll catch you up. Still trying to find Australia..!"

Dog in the middle distance frantically digging in the sand.......

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Afternoon in 3 pints: Walk to Warkworth & the Castle Brew House. But none of their beers available! So had only cask ale on from Anarchy Brew Co. After exploring village, into the Hermitage Inn for pints of Wainwright's Gold. Then steady walk back to Amble for ice creams & now more Anarchy beers.

Sat outside Castle Brew House across the road from Warkworth Castle.

Pint of Wainwright's Gold by the fireplace in The Hermitage Inn.

Post ice cream pints of Anarchy Brew Co ales in Amble.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

An afternoon in 3 acts: The tide was out, so a walk along the beach from our front door following the coastal path to the far end of Hauxley beach; then hot foot it back along the beach to Spurelli's for today's ice cream ration. 😋🍦 Now relaxing outside in the warm late afternoon sun with a pint. 😋👌

Quick photo opportunity with a British Standard Rock that was on hand while the tide was out.

Today's ice cream ration was thoroughly savoured.

Excellent beers once again to tie up the day.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

En route to Spurreli's Maison de la Glace, where The Goode Wyffe had Bubblegum & Sea Buckthorn ice cream, while I had Rhubarb Crumble & Chocolate. 😋 Then into The Harbour Inn for a couple of different ales brewed by Alnwick Brewery.🍻 Stokey very content to devour a packet of pork scratchings. 🐾👍

Photo opportunity on Amble Pier (south jetty), at the side of Warkworth harbour (River Cocquet). Warkworth Castle just visible middle-distance with the Cheviots rising behind.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Thanks for that.🙂 No big wall but space for posts & wires...🤔 These 2 images show details of 1) the "wild" Damson(?) with lots of growth from below soil level & 2) a Damson cultivar growing on a Pixy rootstock. I'm thinking the best plan is to sit back & see what happens. And what fruit #1 produces.

Lower part of young self-set Damson(?) bush showing many fresh shoots / suckers. Growth is strong.

Lower part of young Damson growing from graft onto a Pixy rootstock. Damson variety is "Blue Violet". Growth is "steady" as expected from Pixy rootstock.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Pffft! 🙄 A whole 5-odd hours spent answering questions from the "buyer's solicitor" this pm.. A few clearly copied from: "A British Standard Guide To Questions To Ask Of Someone Flogging A House. 2026 version". Luckily Stokey decided to drag us down to the pub for liquid sustenance & relief.🐾 #beer

Two almost-full fresh pulled pints of beer.

It was all her fault! She made us come here! 🐾

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Looking for advice from folk who grow #Damsons 🤔 This "self set" was growing under the canopy of our Merryweather. Yes: it may be 'orrid or amazing, may even revert to a Sloe🙄. Should I try to train it - or as I've just read "never train Damsons"..? Was thinking fan or espalier - but now..? #damson

Self-set young Damson growing on its own rootstock. 2 or 3 years old, transplanted winter of 25/26.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

First day of our annual "Ice Cream & Beer" pilgrimage to Amble, Northumberland.👌 Used to take us well over 3hrs to get here; now just over 50mins.👍 Excellent pale ales from Anarchy Brew Co "Midnight Metro" & Firebrick Brewery "Stella Spark" being enjoyed in the Cock & Bull micropub. #BskyBeer

Ice creams being consumed at Spurreli's in Amble, Northumberland. Bubblegum & Sea Buckthorn for her; Honeycomb & Chocolate for him.

Two pints of real ale at The Cock & Bull" in Amble. Crisps & dog treats optional...

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A very good, well balanced perry that we demolished last night, big thanks to @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social 👌 From Hellens Manor nr. Much Marcle, Ledbury 🇬🇧 A blend of perry pears including a high proportion of the eponymous Hellens Early perry pear, which originated here. Lovely stuff 😋 #perry 🍐🍐🍐

Bottle of perry, displaying the label - from Hellens Manor, nr Ledbury, Herefordshire. UK

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A wander down to the village local for beer & food. First & Last brewery are based in Bellingham just north of Hexham, Northumberland. Tempest brewery is due east of us just over the Cheviots & just over the Scottish border in Galashiels. Well kept, very tasty beers.😋 #Bskybeer

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Image #1 has details of all 7 graft unions. I intended to use the "Z" graft style for all 7 but it was so cold in the garage I went for the quickest & easiest: inverted "V" cut into scion & matching cuts & trim to rootstock. Next year I plan to use Z-graft for all: orchardnotes.com/2025/03/16/h...

Graft unions between apple rootstock & scion 2026.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

How it started: April 2026. Current state: September 2026. Pleased with the growth of these grafts. 🙂👌 #grafting #apple

Newly grafted apple scion showing first signs of bud burst & growth.

Current height of the same graft - about as tall as me.🙂

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Today was a 1+🐾 exploratory foraging walk while The Goode Wyffe was in't' office. First stop was the wild apple tree earmarked for scions: crisp, sweet, dessert, very tough skins. Then spotted the most bright red apples think I've ever seen; need to contact the owner. Sloes: lots & lots of Sloes.

Refreshment & paddling stop by the River Glen at site of Langeton medieval village, Northumberland. Yeavering Bell in the background (L) from the footbridge, Newton Tors (R), part of the Cheviots.👍🐾💚

Apples picked from a large, suspected Wilding tree growing out from under the wall of a very old stone building.

Apple tree loaded with bright red apples in a meadow.

Sloes getting close to ready for picking.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

As I'm playing with Damsons at the mo, I needed one spice: Cloves.😋 None in any of Wooler's stores; then remembered 'The Good Life Shop' on the High St., hardly changed since the 80s/90s/00s/etc (apart from new paint job). Big glass jars full of herbs & spices, sold loose.👌That handful cost me 16p.🙂

Shop front in Wooler, Northumberland: "The Good Life".

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

This is the first glass of Yarlington Mill #cider I've had since Yarly passed 🐾🌈. So raising this glass of Luke's finest in memory of her; she's never far from my thoughts 💔. In other news we've had a very good offer on our house which we've accepted - & I won a tenner on the Lottery. Bittersweet.

Glass of Yarlington Mill SV cider, showing its rich colour.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Caught 697 Borders Bus as far as Akeld, to nearest micropub: The Cheviot Goat. Only 1 cask beer on now but very well kept: Allendale's Pennine Pale. Bottled ciders include Aspall's & Cornish Orchards "Vintage" - could be much much worse. Sat enjoying peace, quiet, & birdsong.👌 #pub #micropub #beer

Sign outside entrance to The Cheviot Goat micropub, in Akeld, Wooler, Northumberland.

Two fresh pints of ale on bench in the beer garden.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Meant to say it was "Under Station Road Bridge" we gave to Phil, we had another with our tea. 😋 We've also bought up some of your Yarlington Mill too. 😋

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

2kg of our Damsons passed over to next door for jam; 2kg left for me to prepare. Cold water soak, wash & rinse, de-stalk, then in the freezer. A few Plum Moth grubs but all good protein.😋 2pints of Luke's @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social cider handed over to Phil next door for looking after my grafts. 👍

A colander full of damsons being picked over & washed.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Time waits for no man or Damson. Heartbreaking to see the floor with a purple carpet of shrivelled damsons but with this ongoing drought, we're just pleased to have enough for a crumble or three.😋 They are sweet though.👍 Half the tree picked so far. #damsons #merryweather #pie #crumble #jam nomnom

A washing-up bowl & hand holding Merryweather damsons.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Enjoying some excellent full juice / whole juice #cider from Luke @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social which has been made from apples grown in our garden / mini orchard picked in 2025. Cracking stuff 😋 #cider #realcider #fulljuice #wholejuice #eastmidlands

20L box of cider (Bag in Box) from Luke, East Midlands cider maker based in Ironville, nr Ripley. Proper whole-juice fresh-picked & pressed real cider from UK grown apples.

The Goode Wyffe starting her pint of "Under Station Road Bridge" made solely from apples that we have grown in Hucknall, Nottingham in 2025.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Yesterday evening we cracked open a lively bottle of "Betty Prosser SV" perry from Kev of Monnow Valley Cider. Betty Prosser is a unique perry pear named after the owner of the farm upon which the original tree grew. Made in 2024 & bottled early 2025, the sweetness level had dropped to medium-ish.👌😋

A freshly opened 750ml bottle of Welsh Perry, an excellent "Betty Prosser" single variety. 😋

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Popped down the village to our local for pints of Loch Lomond & Tempest ales. Lovely well kept beers, along with excellent food.😋 The Wee Black Beastie 🐾 is quietly crashed out under the table; she's still not worked out why she is flying solo but seems she no longer feels she has to defend anyone.

Pints of Tempest Brewing Co & Loch Lomond Brewery beers with the Red Lion's menu.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

2 weeks on, finally plucked up the strength to unclip & remove Yarly's harness from the back seats. Stupid old fart that I am, I welled up while doing this.☹️ I miss her Back Seat Wooffit antics & pubs just aren't the same without her always at my side ready for a pork scratching & a good tab fuss.🐾

Yarly's favourite past time was looking out for bunnies.

Typical Yarly, crashed out in the pub, fully scratchinged-up & enjoying a tab fuss.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Removed grafting tape yesterday & trimmed side shoots.🙂 Also was told that I can't register a name for these mild bittersweet apples as they are "small" & therefore classed as "decorative". Pooh!🫤 Could have saved the cost of the DNA test if I'd realised size of apple would be an issue.🙄 #grafting

Details of seven graft unions onto MM106 apple rootstocks. Cherry Melville scions taken from the sole mother tree.

The seven Cherry Melville grafts 5 months on. 💚

Cherry Melville apples showing internal structure & pips to prove they are not from the Prunus family.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

And why not? Had heard of "Sassy Cidre Bio Normand", saw it on the shelf at Tesco in Berwick-upon-Tweed... so in for a penny, in for £5.50. Nice toffee-apple nose, rich amber colour; very fizzy with plenty of mousse, long lasting too. Rich, less tannin & sweeter than I'd hoped, but very pleasant.😋

Bottle of French Cidre showing the front label.

Bottle of French Cidre showing the rear label.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

In Notts we haven't seen, seen evidence of, nor heard Song Thrushes for well over a decade. 🫤 The habitats for wildlife have been devastated in the area. Here in Northumberland, we hear, see, & find evidence of Song Thrushes daily.😊 This stone in our garden is a favourite "anvil stone" for them.💚

Broken snail shells at the side of a large stone at the base of a tree.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

She was a great Pub Dog too, loved people - & Pork Scratchings even more. Every time she passed a pub door - open or closed - she'd pick up the scent of beer, then veer off & pull you towards it. Who was I to refuse...

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Feels like our hearts have just been ripped out. 🐾💔 We knew this was coming but it never makes it any easier. Go have fun, Yarly! Chase skiwwels & bunnies, paddle in streams, pee in puddles (& then drink out of them), roll in the snow, & go swim in warm seas. We'll miss you & never forget you. ❤️

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said a spider to a fly; "'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy. The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I have many pretty things to show when you are there..." Giant House Spider (Eratigena sp.) living behind our outdoor tap. #spider

Spider waiting patiently for something to wander onto her web.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Goodbye, old friend 🫤 Spring 1981: clutching some of my first teaching pay, I went into Moorgate Acoustics in Sheffield, where in their upstairs studio they'd set up a system for me to "audition": Mission 700's, Dual CS-505, & this A40. 😍 Just take my money - & they did.😊 Still works perfectly. ❤️🎵

Part of the front of an old Sansui A40 Hi-Fi amplifier.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

And verily, thou pooch shall say unto thee: "If thou doth leave the Holy Slipper without an overseer, then Lo! I shall taketh it up unto the wilderness, lick it, anoint it with slobber, & cast it upon the grass." And when thou doth cast thine own eyes upon thy slipper, thou shalt beg forgiveness...

The Holy Slipper awash with slobber & grass cuttings.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Talking of Festivals ... Not sure I'm totally "on message" with the Nottingham Beer & Cider Festival promo publicity for this October. But then I am a miserable old cuss. Perhaps there'll even be sossiges...🤔 Pass the Prosecco.

Promotional poster for the 2026 Nottingham Beer & Cider Festival

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

We're in the end zone now; the brain-racking, emotion-draining time of what is best for Yarly. 🐾 The vet said Yarly clearly has dementia, she also now has cystitis - & currently losing around 400g-500g a week. Shit. Then she comes to you wagging her tail, wanting to play, barking for treats. 🫤 #dogs

My hand holding our old girl's paw. ❤️ She's now 16 yrs & 7 months.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

I'm going to call this a win..? 7-0, no penalties. 😊 Very happy that all seven grafts have taken & are thriving. I'll still be keeping my fingers crossed but not quite so tightly.. 👌"Cherry Melville's" on MM106 rootstocks. 🍏🍎🌱🌳 #appletree #grafting

7 large pots containing apple tree grafts.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Peak irony today. Official Grant of Probate copies arrived. Only difference from originals received in Feb 2024, is that my late brother's name has been removed; he died suddenly 8 weeks after my mum in Jan 2024. The irony is that today would have been his 72nd birthday. Happy Birthday, Mike. ❤️

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Ears up for added cooling effect. Snoring softly so we know she's still alive & breathing. Sadly, countdown is progressing; no matter how much we love & care for her, time is against us all. 16 yrs 6 months & trying to make the most of every second left. Bloody dogs are heartbreakers. 🐾Yarly 💔 #dog

Head of a dog as she lies sleeping in her bed.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Out of curiosity & to check I wasn't seeing things... Each image taken 24 hrs apart over 4 days, of the growth springing from around the top of one of the apple grafts. There's a bit more substantial growth lower down & out of shot, which is presumably powering these shoots. 👌💚🍎 #grafting #apple

Collage of 4 photos taken 24hrs apart of shoots growing from the tip of an apple tree graft.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Sad git perhaps ... I've always liked spiders especially these GHS (Giant House Spider - Eratigena group). 😊 This cracking female was tucked away minding its own business, so after getting it to pose, I carefully moved it after it had run across my hand. Totally harmless & way more scared of you. 👍

A female Giant House Spider (Eratigena sp.) 🙂

"I've got my eyes on you..." All of them.

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Blockerz @huck-cider.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

You're never too old to have a bath...🐾 Celebrating Yarly's 16.5 years with a warm, wet & soapy shampoo, followed by a bit of canine haute coiffure.👌 A girl has to look her best, no matter how old. ❤️ #dog #washing #bathing

One very wet & very old dog having a bath.

I think she likes the taste of the shampoo...

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