In the Woods

 A short walk yesterday morning in the local Hem Heath woods.  Lots of work has been done by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust over the winter months.  Many Ash trees have been taken out because of Ash Dieback disease.  New paths have been made, now much firmer and cleaner underfoot.  

The sound of birdsong played in the air as we walked. The trees still bare of leaves looked wonderful against the blue sky.

We walked along the circular route back towards the car park.

Many areas under the trees were standing in water.  I'm sure this will take some time to drain away.

We stopped by the pond.

Signs of life here.  There will soon be Flag Iris and Marsh Marigolds to enjoy.  Possibly little ducklings too.

We made our way back to the car park. 

 We'll return in a few weeks time to find the woodland floor a sea of blue, as this wood is noted for its glorious display of Bluebells.  

All for now. 

In the Garden

 It's been much warmer and brighter over the last few days.  I was concerned that I hadn't seen any Wood Anemones growing yet in the garden but all of a sudden two or three flowers have appeared hidden under a Hebe bush.

We've had some unusual visitors to the bird feeders.  The Great Spotted Woodpecker is back.  I was able to catch him for a photo last week.  It is a male as he has a red spot on back of his head.

We've had three other different birds visit recently.  Paul managed to take photos of them.

Siskin

Female Blackcap

Linnet

Newts are back in the pond and coming up to the surface now the sun is shining.

The Rhubarb is doing well.

We enjoyed the first few sticks gently stewed and served with some Greek yoghurt. 

We have now had another lot from the plants and these will be made into a Rhubarb Crumble.

I think the Comma butterfly was enjoying the Rhubarb too.  This is the first we've seen this year.  

Not long after a couple of Peacock butterflies were spotted flying over the garden, they landed on a raised bed.  A Brimstone was also seen flittering about over the garden. It was too quick for the camera though and didn't settle at all.

It's good to see so much wildlife back in the garden.

Parents

Mothering Sunday tomorrow.  My Mum died in May 1999 just three weeks after her 83rd birthday.  Seems such a long time ago now, she never made it into this century.  

Over the last couple of weeks I've also been thinking about my father who died aged 45 in 1955 when I was just five years old.  I decided finally to see if I could find out about his second World War service records.  

Initial details were found on line.  I know he spent the first couple of years of the war in the Home Guard before he was finally called up.  I was told  he was sent up to Scotland. I know he was a cook.  His profession was Baker and Confectioner before and after the war.  

I also know from photographs that he was sent somewhere warm.  Possibly the middle east?  Amongst my mum's possessions are several postcards from Firenze, Italy (Florence) as well as one from Tripoli.  These must be a clue.

I've now applied to see his service records.  What I do know is that he was in the Royal Army Service Corps and he was finally discharged in Germany in March 1946.  I would just like to know where in the world he was stationed before then.

There is an entry on Thursday 18th July in Mum's diary for that year which just says 'Harry came home'.

On 14th March 2005 I started this blog.  Twenty one years. Perhaps this is far too long.  I'm thankful for everyone who has visited me here, left comments and become blogging friends.  

Best wishes to you all.

Spring Flowers

  The weather has changed over the last week and felt quite Spring like on a couple of days, although it's colder and duller today and there was a misty haze this morning.  I don't think we are out of the woods yet but winter is loosening its grip.

 On the Brampton in Newcastle-under-Lyme the Crocus are in flower all along the paths, so delicate and fragile.  Some had been trampled, possibly by squirrels or perhaps dogs taken off leads. 

Meanwhile at Trentham Spring has also sprung.  Snowdrops are going over but are replaced by another carpet of white.

Wood Anemones also known as windflowers. They are well advanced the ones in our garden haven't appeared yet.

They are one of my all time favourite flowers.

Hellebores are still flowering alongside the primulas.

At Westport lake trees were in blossom.

Above Pussy Willow catkins.

Last but not least - daffodils.  They are out now in gardens and along verges.  

Always a welcome sight.

World Book Day

 Today is World Book Day.  I can't imagine being without books.  I have to be reading a book and have books around me.  It's good to escape into the pages of a book especially in troubled times.  By books I mean any means of reading them.  On line, on an e-reader, cloud library, audio book or a physical book from the library or book shop.  I do struggle with font size nowadays so some of the favourite books I've pulled off our bookshelves would probably not now be read as they stand but I still have them and wouldn't want to be without them.

I've read lots of wonderful books over the years but the ones I've photographed are enduring favourites.  

In the centre my very favourite book, read many times 'A Month in the Country' by J L Carr.  Also re-read many times are 'The Enchanted April' by Elizabeth Von Arnim and 'The Daughter of Time' by Josephine Tey.  

 

I read 'A Child in the Forest' by Winifred Foley when I found out that one of my ancestors my 4xgreat-grandfather came to Derbyshire from the Forest of Dean in the 1780s.

Two other favourite books I can't find at the moment, perhaps they are in a box somewhere or maybe I loaned them to someone and they never came back. Anyway they are 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain and 'Katherine' by Anya Seaton.  Winifred Holtby who wrote South Riding was a friend of Vera Brittain and the preface of my copy was written by Vera's daughter Shirley Williams.

I did find both copies of a book that introduced me to Georgette Heyer whilst I was still at school in the 1960s.  I read the older version from 1946 from my Mum and Dad's bookshelves and then must have later bought a copy for myself.  It cost three shillings and sixpence.

Many of these books are old, much faded with browned pages but somehow I can't part with them, they are old friends. 

 I haven't even touched on favourite classics or non-fiction.  Perhaps they will be for another day.

Right, I'm off to sit in my comfy chair, with a mug of tea and a good book.  Do share your favourites, it would be lovely to hear your choices.  I expect they will all be very different.

Take care.

It's Friday

It's been a busy week.  Medical appointments Monday and Wednesday for me.  A Geological group meeting on Thursday for Paul.  

Whilst out for walks over the last week or two we've spotted some bright and cheerful things.

A Snoopy Trail is coming to Trentham Gardens in March.  That will be fun.  Love Snoopy.  Many years ago I had a yellow Woodstock (Snoopy's little bird friend) I wonder what happened to it? I probably gave it away.

There is another outdoor art exhibition in the City Centre in the Bethesda Chapel Gardens opposite the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.  The Museum building is closed at the moment for refurbishment.

Charles William Brown (1882-1961) was born on Biddulph Moor* and worked in both the farming and mining industries.  He took up painting on his retirement.  Here is a -link- to more information from the Barewall Gallery in Burslem.  * The source of the River Trent is on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor where it rises as a small stream making its way through Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire across country until it meets the River Ouse and the North Sea between Kingston-upon-Hull and Immingham.

The paintings are of local places and happenings.  All painted in the early 1950s.  The three below caught my eye.

Landscape with bus 1955.  I'm guessing a day trip into the Staffordshire Moorlands or the Peak District., mainly because of the stone walls around the fields.

Shelton Bar from the Allotments 1950.  Shelton Bar was a major steel works in the city.  Closed now, of course as are the coal mines and many of the pottery works too.  

Washing Line 1952.  A riot of colour.  It looks like a warm Summer day.

A red squirrel at the Peak Wildlife Park.  He had a damp tail but was enjoying tucking into his breakfast hazelnut.

Snowdrops at Wolseley Bridge nature reserve.

My photos don't do the carpets of white under the trees justice.  There were a few daffodils dotted around amongst them.

A trip to the Library this morning to take books back and seek something new to read.  I took ages to find books to bring home but three came with me.  All authors I've read before.

Bad news this morning when we learned that a friend had fallen and broken her ankle and leg.  We will go to visit next week hopefully.  She and her husband spent most the the Summer and Autumn last year helping a neighbour who had fallen and broken her ankle quite badly now our friend has done the same.  

All for now.