February Days

February weather has been grey and damp so far.  Local walks have lifted spirits a little even if we have to zig-zag and slalom around the rain filled pot holes and continual roadworks to get there.

Some encouraging signs of Spring at Trentham this week.

Witch hazel  

Daphne - the scent was wonderful, soft and sweet.  

Snowdrops, flowering on either side of the pathways, glowing in the dull air like little nightlights.

Little Egret - we hadn't seen one for a while but two were spotted on this visit.  Lots of Herons too.

Cooking in a warm kitchen.  Paul made Leek and Potato Soup and I made cheese scones to go with it.

Just the thing to liven up dull, grey days.  Not the most attractive scones I've ever made but tasty nonetheless.

Evening visitor to the garden.  I could just about snap this photo with the outside lights on, he or she wasn't at all bothered as it tucked into the fox's food.

Books from the library and one loaned from a friend.  Lots of interesting reading to write about possibly in a later post.

It's raining again today we managed a walk before the heavy rain started.  Now it's time for lunch and some of the soup left over from yesterday.

All for now.

Welcome March!

I woke up to sunshine this morning; the birds were singing high in the trees. Two doves were doing a courtship dance on the pavement outside - I'd seen them last week collecting twigs for nesting. Is it my imagination or does our garden world seem more lively today? The air is warmer and fresher. There is a definite buzz of excitement out there.

On 1st March 1927 Margaret Shaw wrote in - 'A Countrywoman's Journal' - words that seem apt for today.

'The last few days of February were horribly wet and stormy, but today was quite mild and fine. The yellow crocus are in full bloom, those under the dining room window are a serried mass of gold in the sunshine.'

On 2nd March Margaret Shaw's entry says:-

'Glorious spring day with warm sunshine. On our way to Guildford we saw some lovely "Palm" or "Pussy-Willow" in the hedges.'
I saw some of those today, too!


Welcome, March, Welcome!

White Rabbits

Did you remember to say white rabbits first thing this morning? Where I grew up in North East Derbyshire we used to say white rabbits on the 1st of March each year, you had to say it before you said anything else and if you could do that it was supposed to bring good luck. Paul, who hails from Nottinghamshire says 'rabbits, rabbits, rabbits'. Does anyone else have any memories of this? Or of any other 1st March traditions?

After a busy day yesterday, shopping in the City Centre, visiting the Museum and then a walk around Trentham Lake in the afternoon, today was a pottering around at home day.

I managed to get quite a bit of tidying up started in the much neglected garden. As I cleared away the dead leaves and plant stems I could see all the new growth coming through, the frogs were active in the pond, the birds were singing their hearts out up in the trees and for a short while, the sun felt warm on my back as I clipped and swept. Meanwhile Paul was busy in the greenhouse with seeds and compost and later with giving the car a much needed wash.

It really did feel like Spring was finally on its way. I was tempted to cut the grass especially where we have taken the 'For Sale' sign down from the front lawn where the grass had grown around the bottom of the post but I decided it would be better to wait another couple of weeks just in case we have more bad weather. In the end I completely filled the garden wheelie bin and there is still a way to go with the 'spring cleaning'.

The White Rabbit, Sir John Tenniel, 1865

Looks Like Spring

Today was a stay at home and gardening type of day. With a still quite poorly Tom confined to barracks - well the back bedroom - after a quick trip to the supermarket to stock up, we pottered around in a very wet and muddy garden. Paul was busy putting some potatoes in pots in the greenhouse and I was filling up the garden wheelie bin ready for our first collection of the season on Monday. Whilst I was in the garden I saw one or two early signs of spring:-

The Collard Doves had settled on top of the willow tree

There was frog spawn in the pond
Chloe was full of the joys of spring

She even had a gentleman caller
His name is Ollie and he lives on the next street to us - he would dearly love to come through that cat flap.

Tomorrow we are going to have wind and rain according to the forecast so I'm glad we made the most of today.