Joys of Winter

Gally Jenny Wrens are so neat and nifty...

I like their perky tails and the fact that such a loud sound comes out of such a small boid.
Also their name: troglodytes troglodytes - cavedweller cavedweller

Wrens are one of my favourites too. Lovely to see one so close, gally!

I always think of little Wrens as secretive - tucked away in tiny places - but they certainly do have a voice.

Been bashing around everywhere today, and am home, at last, to enjoy with my mug, some Joys of Winter.

bagitha - I don't know quite how to put this, but when I read your post it left me feeling completely 'stilled'. Just lovely.

Gally I also live in a sweet little cottage, and we have wrens nipping in and out of the raised beds and my herb pots which are beside the glass back door. If the dog can keep quiet and not growl at them, they busy themselves just feet away, and I could watch them for ages - they're enchanting!

Enchanting is the word, carol!

Butty, I'm glad my little story had a pleasant effect. Serenity is a good thing to aim for, I always feel. Achieving it is something else ! xx

Temperature cooler by several degrees,
A little new snow on the hills,
Sunshine and light at sunrise
For a change.
Out the back, up the hill that is my garden
Twenty or more hungry wood pigeons
Scoffing the leftovers of the chickens' breakfast!
And as I spread my bread and marmalade
The first song of Turdus philomelos
This year.

All Jenny's are lovely! I haven't seen my were for at least a year,but I did see coal tits and a heron yesterday.

Meant wren. Also blackbird woke me up at 7.13 this morning!

Blackbirds and song thrushes - what a musical morning it's been for you.

No singing here, as we are encased in a low and heavy dripping mist ... very raw too ... so all the birds have tucked themselves away.

I did see a beautiful beech-martin yesterday morning, running hell for leather along the undersides of a hedge. Gorgeous colour!

Tis awful chill
on yonder hill
the trees they are a bendin' -
and down below
there's been some snow
ain't no use pretendin'
that winter's o'er
outside our door
'cos spring it ain't yet comin'
but still that cat
sits on the mat
pretendin' that he's sunnin'

Super [loud applause emoticon]

super - love it. Snowin' here too and flippin' cold

More applause and more .

Snow? What's that?

supernana

supernana love it! xxx

supernana... lovely!

Winter today on Rannoch Moor
In Glen Etive and Glen Coe.
The conical Buachaille Etive Mor and Beag
Standing out fierce and humbling
Between raw squalls of wind and sleet.
The winter bracken russet brown
The winter grass pale straw
Tiny rushes standing proud
Not to be blown, hardly bent at all
By that wind that would have flattened me
On those hills today.
On green mossy parts red deer browsed.
Wonderful colours and wonderful life
In a harsh sub arctic climate, surviving.
Beautiful, awe-inspiring, refreshing
In its bleak bluntness.

What a day to have had. It sounds wonderfully invigorating. Makes me want to visit wild, wild scotland on such a day!

I hope you can one day, butty. I wrote some more about the day on Vol 2 of the "Today I have been mainly" thread but we have since moved on to Vol 3 so you may not have seen it.

The wind has been howling all night as well. Some people are calling it Bawbag v.3 (the hurricane that hit Scotland on 8 December during which winds of 165mph were recorded on Cairngorm was called Hurricane Bawbag; none of your girlie hurricanes for Scotland! ).

wheeeee! Looks like these westerlies are set to carry on all week...

bagitha your word picture captures the spirit of Scotland's wonderful wilderness. Rannoch Moor has a special place in my heart. At times it can appear brutal - yet, it lifts the spirit sky-high.

Last night a fiery grate
Chilli to make you sweat
Shutters closed
Candles lit
Table laid for eight

Blackberry tart, autumn picked
Stored Brambly, stewed
Tart blue cheese
Crumbly cheddar
Home made bread with seeds

Wine flowed, cheeks flushed
Plans were made in jest
Table moved
Smiles all round
Dancing just because...