Sunday, February 21, 2021

This, That and Recent Reading

I've finally been able to get out and walk around the garden.  It is still very wet and there are very few signs of Spring at the moment.  Some of the shrubs seem to be suffereing from excess water, not surprising after all the rain which followed the melting snow.


 Earlier in the week on a misty morning whilst the pond was still iced over a heron came down onto the garden to take a look at the corner where the ice had been broken up with an old screw driver so that wildlife could get in or out or drink from it.  It didn't find anything of interest and soon flew off over the gardens.  What strange birds they are, quite prehistoric in looks, it certainly frightened two of the cats who were exploring the garden.

 Every morning this week we've heard the sound of geese flying over the house and this morning on our way back from an early walk we both heard and saw them as they flew over the rooftops. Just three but you would have thought there were more from the sound they made.  On our walk we had spotted a woodpecker hammering away on one of the trees by the fishing pool, it stayed there for ages.  I didn't have a camera with me! 

Above a few  hopeful signs of Spring in the garden.

Below books I've been reading and also those read and to be read

 
 Over the last week or two I've read 'The Postscript Murders' by Elly Griffiths, 'A Song for the Dark Times' by Ian Rankin and 'Secrets on the Fens' by Joy Ellis all on my Kindle and all highly enjoyable.  I've got 'A Chelsea Concerto' by Frances Faviell to look forward to.

 Borrowed from the Library on e-books via the IPad (the library doesn't loan to Kindles) I've been reading 'Ferguson's Gang' by Polly Bagnall and Sally Beck in between and around those above.  I've yet to read 'Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman but I do know the story as I've been listening to it serialised and read by Haydn Gwynne on BBC Sounds.  I think it is still there if you are interested in it.

Even though February is a short month this year it has seemed unusually long.  I don't want to wish time away but a few slightly warmer, sunnier days would help banish the inertia that seems to have overtaken both of us in the last couple of weeks.  Here's hoping for slightly brighter days, they surely can't be that far away.










26 comments:

  1. I love the sound geese make especially when flying overhead. One of those sounds that make me happy:) I shall check out your reading list especially The Secret Of The Fens. Have a good week...nearly March 😊 B x

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    1. Yes, the sound of geese flying over is wonderful and always makes me smile, same with the sound of a Curlew or Cuckoo if I'm lucky enough to hear them. The Fens book is the latest of a series I've been reading over the last couple of years but you could read it alone as the author always explains the relationships and back history of the main characers somewhere along the way:)

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  2. So nice to see a new post!!!!

    Lovely to break up some ice, so wild life can get a drink.

    When we see only 3 geese flying over head... We know they are the "locals," who live at the pond in the city park. Sometimes they up-and-fly-over-us, to another big pond, at the college, just by us. A very short flight! That's the extent of their flying, but I suppose it gives them a taste, of life of a more wild bird. -smile- But I guess, since they were born, in a city pond, they only know that life...

    Ahhhhh, books you have been and will read!!!!! Love to find them!!!!!!!! -smile- Thank you.

    Oh my, oh my!!! A new and delicious sounding one by Elle Griffiths!!! -clapping hands- And I have a pre-order in, for her latest Ruth Galloway book, too. You have had it, but we do not, till in a bit.

    Did I say THANK YOU?????? Well, I say it again, a zillion times! -smile-



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    1. I'm waiting for the new Elly Griffiths book to come on to the library list. 'The Postscript Murders' is a follow up to her book 'The Stranger Diaries' and features her newest detective Harbinder Kaur. I enjoyed it. We have various areas of water around us on a couple of nearby country parks so I would think they are moving between one and the other. Thank you for visiting:)

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  3. It's been remarkably mild down here over the weekend and feels quite Spring-like. I quite often have geese flying over my house; I must be on some kind of flight-path between two wetland areas.

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    1. You must get quite a lot of different kinds of geese flying over being so close to lovely fenland and wetland areas. Apparently it is going to be milder here too over the next few days:)

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  4. Lovely to see the newly emerging signs of Spring in your garden. We occasionally have Heron visiting the pond - sadly they are after the frogs which is distressing. By coincidence had first Great Spotted Woodpecker sighting in the garden this year today. Books look good - looks a new Fen book just been to check but only seems available on Kindle Unlimited which I have no wish to join. Ferguson's Gang I bought from a Charity Bookshop and loved. You can't get library books on kindle from our library either and sadly I don't have an ipad.

    The weather looks quite mild next week here. It certainly has felt a bit more Spring-like the last couple of days. Take care Rosie.

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    1. Thank you, RR. I had to search hard for the signs of Spring as everything is still wet and brown, it was good to see the Lungwort flowers. What a coincidence about the Woodpecker. I pre-ordered the latest Fens book and bought it at the launch price of 99p. I'm not on Kindle Unlimited, I've no idea why it is suddenly that only. I'm sure the author wouldn't be pleased as she will lose sales. Perhaps it will come back for normal sale soon? I'm so lucky to have the Ipad - it is quite an old one a friend gave me when he bought a new one but it does the job - I use it to borow books and listen to BBC sounds also to check my blog etc. Take care, Spring is just around the corner:)

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    2. I avoid Kindle Unlimited although sometimes it is like Prime and hard not to join. I am not sure exactly how it works but I think you can have a certain number of books "free" although I think you may pay a subscription. Not sure if the books disappear when read. I have a feeling they do?? Take care too :)

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    3. Ive no idea how Kindle Unlimited works either, Amazon Prime vans are round here all the time, we have had a few things just from Amazon over the years, I had a new cover for the old IPad, but usually try to order from individual companies, this week we've had parcels from Screwfix, Boots and the RSPB. What does anoy me are those nuisance calls from Amazon Prime telling you about your account, we don't have one but those that do must surely wonder about the calls:)

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  5. Nice to see your garden starting to look Spring-like. I've seen a heron just once at our pond, but the blackbirds & wattlebirds love taking a bath in it. We've also got noisy flocks of birds, though they are mainly corellas or cockatoos. We also see large flocks of ibis, but they don't make any noise, just seem to float along. Take care, stay safe & hugs.

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    1. Hello susan, I love to hear about your different birds. Corellas, Cockatoos, Ibis- how wonderful! Take care and stay safe:)

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  6. Things are definitely moving in the right direction and hopefully the next couple of weeks should be brighter. You've still managed to find a few flowers in the garden and the birds are definitely getting louder. 🙂

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    1. I did see on the weather report that we have a few brighter, dryer days lter this week. Hurrah - I think it is just what we all need. The pigeons started cooing early this morning and the magpies were chattering too:)

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  7. For the last few days I've heard birds singing at dawn which pleases me. It's another sign that Spring is not far away. How lovely to see a heron, hear geese and a woodpecker. It's good to know some of my favourite writers have books out that I haven't read. I shall have to put the Elly Griffith's on my library reserve list.

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    1. Thank you Linda. It is lovely to hear the birds in the early mornings and yesterday with the lack of wind and the sunshine it felt quite Spring like. The Heron was quite a surprise but wonderful to see:)

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  8. Your spring is well in advance of ours.

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    1. I imagine you still have snow and ice, William:)

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  9. I always think herons look prehistoric too. Spring is definitely on its way Rosie, hang in there. :)

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    1. Thank you, March next week so hopefully a litle more Spring like:)

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  10. Lovely signs of Spring in your garden Rosie. It is definitely more springlike today(Tuesday) although a bit windy. The days are longer and brighter and it does feel (to me) as though I am coming out of a very long tunnel. You have read so many books Rosie that it puts me to shame. I rarely read nowadays although I have plenty of books to choose from. :)

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    1. Thank you Simone. Still windy and rainy here, I read too much really for my eyes but I'm not a crafts or creative person so have not much else to fill my time. It has seemed a long,long winter but we will get there,I'm dreaming of empty neaches and bluebell woods but I daresay I will have to wait for next year:)

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  11. How wonderful to have a Heron in the garden, they are a favourite of mine. I got the Richard Osman book for Christmas but it's still on my to read pile at the moment.

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    1. Thank you Pam, it was unusual to see the Heron on the garden they are rather wonderful if strange too. I'm enjoying the Richard Osman book - it is making me laugh quite a lot which is good:)

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  12. I'm with you in wanting brighter, warmer, and sunnier days. Feeling hopeful though as the snow is melting and we can see the grass...at least on our side of the street. Every little bit helps. Your flowers are so pretty, sounds like you're closer to spring that it seems around here. I'm been getting lots of books to listen to as I walk, but am not much into mystery. I didn't know you couldn't do library books on kindle. I'll have to check that out...maybe it varies from one library system to another? I am using Libby to listen to books on my phone. Hope you're staying well, staying safe from The Covid and are able to get your shots soon, if you've not already done that.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. Thank you Sandy, things are warmer and sunnier here today and it is lovely. We had our first jabs/shots at the beginning of the month and will have the second ones in April. Hope you too are staying safe and well:)

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