Near constant rain, nothing serious, just dreary. Making the most of rare clearer moments when the clouds part to enjoy the now noticeable lighter evenings, the robin’s song, a definite fragrance of early spring flowers (there are bushes with tiny white flowers with a strong fragrance, can never remember their name) the moon getting fuller and crossing the Pleiades, Jupiter, Orion and Sirius looking gorgeous on a calm, clear night. No frost, but fog. And then rain again…
Watching some blue tits investigating the bird box on my garage wall popping in and out of the hole and then sitting on an old rosebush nearby chirping excitedly. I do hope they like what they see.
The song thrush is back singing such a wonderful sound. Watching ponds for signs of frogs we normally have spawn by early Feb. My favourite sign of spring
Recording my episode on trees last week. The sap is starting to rise and there a chinks of spring in the winter gloom - snowdrops, crocus and I have seen an early daff. Not long now.
No signs of spring yet here in the highlands of Scotland. The hellebores are putting on a good show though. Patchy sparkly frosts in the mornings. Resisting the temptation to tidy up the garden as there are bound to be lots of wee beasties under the fallen leaves and dead foliage hunkering down away from the frost.
My neighbour has snowdrops on her lawn and all the bulbs I planted are thriving! Very excited for some colour. I'm going to be reading the February chapter of the almanac today, as I'm going on holiday tomorrow for some winter sun.
Bunches of Daffodils in the supermarket, although they aren’t up along the roads yet (I’ll get a photo when they are!). They’re such cheerful flowers, they always bring a smile to my face when I see them.
In connection with the 'running water underfoot'... In the same way the MCA Shipping Forecast has ignited imaginations with its poetry of geography, may I suggest that the same potential is shared by the Environment Agency list of flood alerts and flood warning?
With due respect to those who have incurred loss and damage in the latest incidents, the flood-vulnerable areas of Britain comprise a beautiful litany. I can't be the only one to find its repetition soothing.
From the Danes Stream to the Eastern Yar, from 'Properties Closest To The River At...' to the Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice to the Groundwater Flooding in the Devil's Brook and Groundwater Flooding in the Piddle Valley, catchment, confluence and tributary...
If the Flood Warnings for England sound ominous, then does not the Flood Warnings Removed sound like a prayer of relief and mercy? If 'running water underfoot' carries alarm, does it also not console and comfort somehow...? Or maybe come February the mood will go...?
a few month ago i came across an artist called Amy T Won who paints and writes poetry about the seasons and nature. She talks about wonder walking and getting the wonder from nature and how being outside is an adventure. i am trying to embrace some of this mindset in this dismal, dreary damp, cold weather we are having at the moment and to think of venturing out in it as an adventure. it sounds a little bit childlike but while adults are always trying to get out of the rain or inside out of the snow children always find joy in jumping in the puddles or making snow angels by lying in the snow or making snowmen or snowballs so who knows, maybe there is something in it.
It’s good to be childlike experiencing things as if for the first time . When taking my 3 year old niece out to the swings some years ago we never reached the swings as she was so enchanted by the river on our way there. She sat down on the grass and just looked, at the movement of the water
The sound of wind and rain. Welcome for when January is about hankering down and restoration. But not at all to diminish, negate or ignore and feel empathy for the affect and destruction the latest storm has had/is having on people around the UK.
We wassailed our 3 apple trees out on the green, with toast and warm apple juice and much banging of large metal kitchen items while singing the Gloucestershire Wassail. I have no idea what the neighbours thought.
Near constant rain, nothing serious, just dreary. Making the most of rare clearer moments when the clouds part to enjoy the now noticeable lighter evenings, the robin’s song, a definite fragrance of early spring flowers (there are bushes with tiny white flowers with a strong fragrance, can never remember their name) the moon getting fuller and crossing the Pleiades, Jupiter, Orion and Sirius looking gorgeous on a calm, clear night. No frost, but fog. And then rain again…
Watching some blue tits investigating the bird box on my garage wall popping in and out of the hole and then sitting on an old rosebush nearby chirping excitedly. I do hope they like what they see.
The song thrush is back singing such a wonderful sound. Watching ponds for signs of frogs we normally have spawn by early Feb. My favourite sign of spring
Oh yes - I noticed that too. It’s such a lovely sound !
Grey and wet, but the witch hazel by the door erupted into blossom, crazy little whirls of brilliant orange and powerful fragrance.
Birds singing in the pouring rain.
I caught up and spotted some wild snowdrops, just emerging white from green stems. They looked fine and delicate.
Recording my episode on trees last week. The sap is starting to rise and there a chinks of spring in the winter gloom - snowdrops, crocus and I have seen an early daff. Not long now.
No signs of spring yet here in the highlands of Scotland. The hellebores are putting on a good show though. Patchy sparkly frosts in the mornings. Resisting the temptation to tidy up the garden as there are bound to be lots of wee beasties under the fallen leaves and dead foliage hunkering down away from the frost.
My neighbour has snowdrops on her lawn and all the bulbs I planted are thriving! Very excited for some colour. I'm going to be reading the February chapter of the almanac today, as I'm going on holiday tomorrow for some winter sun.
Bunches of Daffodils in the supermarket, although they aren’t up along the roads yet (I’ll get a photo when they are!). They’re such cheerful flowers, they always bring a smile to my face when I see them.
Me too Vicki! I fill the house with £1 daffs!
In connection with the 'running water underfoot'... In the same way the MCA Shipping Forecast has ignited imaginations with its poetry of geography, may I suggest that the same potential is shared by the Environment Agency list of flood alerts and flood warning?
With due respect to those who have incurred loss and damage in the latest incidents, the flood-vulnerable areas of Britain comprise a beautiful litany. I can't be the only one to find its repetition soothing.
From the Danes Stream to the Eastern Yar, from 'Properties Closest To The River At...' to the Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice to the Groundwater Flooding in the Devil's Brook and Groundwater Flooding in the Piddle Valley, catchment, confluence and tributary...
If the Flood Warnings for England sound ominous, then does not the Flood Warnings Removed sound like a prayer of relief and mercy? If 'running water underfoot' carries alarm, does it also not console and comfort somehow...? Or maybe come February the mood will go...?
More deer in the field as I wait at the bus stop in the endless rain, sparrows chirping incessantly in the hedgerow.
a few month ago i came across an artist called Amy T Won who paints and writes poetry about the seasons and nature. She talks about wonder walking and getting the wonder from nature and how being outside is an adventure. i am trying to embrace some of this mindset in this dismal, dreary damp, cold weather we are having at the moment and to think of venturing out in it as an adventure. it sounds a little bit childlike but while adults are always trying to get out of the rain or inside out of the snow children always find joy in jumping in the puddles or making snow angels by lying in the snow or making snowmen or snowballs so who knows, maybe there is something in it.
Yes Nicola there is much in this
It’s good to be childlike experiencing things as if for the first time . When taking my 3 year old niece out to the swings some years ago we never reached the swings as she was so enchanted by the river on our way there. She sat down on the grass and just looked, at the movement of the water
A very sacred memory for me
Precious.
First yellow crocus' peeping out from the lawn. They shine so bright each morning under the blankets of mist hanging over our soggy valley.
The sound of wind and rain. Welcome for when January is about hankering down and restoration. But not at all to diminish, negate or ignore and feel empathy for the affect and destruction the latest storm has had/is having on people around the UK.
We wassailed our 3 apple trees out on the green, with toast and warm apple juice and much banging of large metal kitchen items while singing the Gloucestershire Wassail. I have no idea what the neighbours thought.
That made me have a little chuckle Mo 😆
I'm wondering whether to repeat it with my 5 year old granddaughter tomorrow 🤔
Yes go for it! 🤩😂