Frolics

Last night, while all were sleeping, I heard a Noise. Like someone was in the garden. And the security light came on. And stayed on. You can imagine how my heart leapt into my mouth. The boy L slumbered peacefully on, so I screwed up my courage and stuck my head between the curtains.

I saw a vixen and a small cub frolicking around on the patio, nipping each other affectionately and wheeling round and round playfully. They were about a foot from the bedroom doors, but couldn't see me - I guess because of the reflection - so they came close and were completely unspooked. It was delightful.

Originally uploaded to Flickr by kevinb_irl

Some people consider them a menace, I know, what with tipping over the bins and strewing the ground with greasy chicken boxes and babies' nappies, but it was beautiful, graceful and, well, kind of sweet.

It was a real reminder that while human may rule the school in the daytime, the night belongs to the animals ... even in the suburbs of London!

[http://www.thisbutterflymind.blogspot.com]

"Outside of a dog ...

... a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Thanks, Groucho, love it!

A friend of the Girl from the Island is starting a new business: a talented fine artist, she is undertaking commissions for pet portraits.

The work in progress section of her site shows the painstaking detail that goes into each stage. The result? Beautiful, hyper-real intelligent pictures.

Also fun, a gallery of animals in art with some fab Elliot Erwitt photos of quirky dogs in gorgeous settings.

Image: Katie Jones