Joys of Spring

Well, we thought poor us as well and bought a mute, BUT she gets a really nice sound out of it . It has been lovely.

offered her violin because someone was selling a small one. That's when she said: I don't want to play the violin. I want to play the trumpet!

She'll have to try something else when she gets her tooth brace in about nine months' time.

Trumpet! You poor thing. My daughter learnt at one point as well!

We had a lovely afternoon on Thursday. What is it about Thursdays?

That sounds so familiar Ariadne. Sunday school? Probably. It's nice.

Well, if the morning's anything to go by...... (just went to put lunchtime coffee in micro, found breakfast one still sitting there!

No wonder nothing's been done. Sigh!

Depends on your definition of useless, dunnit? In my stroppier moments (rare, as you all know), I'd call that sweet little verse puritanical pish.

Meanwhile, the seven day weather forecast at netweather says we'll get some on Thursday afternoon. That'll be nice.

"So here hath been dawning
Another blue day.
Think, wilt thou let it
Slip useless away?"

Oh, probably! but have packed several boxes....

Still lots of snow here, but I have just had my first visit from a bird - I think it was one of a pair of black-headed tits that I fed last year. I put out the fat off the cooked meats and bacon rind. At least as I am on the second floor they are not at risk from cats.

There's an idea! I think I might voice my 'need' for some tulips to DH when he takes DD round the loch for her trumpet lesson this afternoon.

The garden daffs are coming along. Some have flower buds now but I can't have them in the house as they do my sinuses in.

Tulips though......

I can't think of a better reason to get up and out than to find some daffodils, whatsup. I had a real need for some tulips yesterday and ventured out (big sunglasses on). This morning there they are, doing their thing on the kitchen table. Lovely!

The need for a bunch of daffodils got me out of bed this morning. A real need! Perhaps not as bad as the need for a bowl of porridge, but still...

The frogs in my pond in W Yorks are very active, if you know what I mean, they where very disgruntled when I was trying to scope out debris from the pond this afternoon .

NO ...what with snow until middle of last week ...biting winds!! Have been out and about ...this was a first this year. Today we had warmth ...but still no sun!!

Couldn't even do the RSPB count the other weekend ...freezing fog all day!!

Where do I live ...very open/exposed part of the North Downs ...nothing between me and Siberia ...or so it seems!!

Maybe in a town people don't notice it so much until it gets really loud .

Gosh, jacey! Where are you? I'm north of the 56th parallel and we've had birdsong for weeks!

Heard birds singing today!! The first of the year ...people were actually stopping to listen

....and why should you want to make it rhyme...?

Lucky you to see a kingfisher whatsup - fabulous colouring.

That's very good jeni

A kingfisher zippedby me
The swans were building nests.
The buds are breaking on the trees
I'll soon leave off my vest!

I'm sorry I can't make that rhyme.

I saw a kingfisher whizz up the river today. It was while I was standing watching two swans building a nest.

Indeed, butty, and I'm fortunate to be able to do work that gives me pleasure and in which I can take a pride . Meanwhile, I think I've acquired my first insect bite of the year during one of those garden bursts: I have an itchy earlobe! It's about right for timing. I often get the first bites in late February.

I can just imagine your day bagitha - it sounds a very contented one.
Nothing beats the simplicity of taking pleasure in one's daily life.

Two shorts bursts in the garden
Where honeysuckle leaf buds are opening
And the red grape-like bunches
Of flowering currant are hanging.
Bluebell leaves are visible too.
Another two bursts of patch-cutting
From leafy fabric, for a quilt I'm making.
Refreshing cups of tea between times,
Some mushroom soup,
And a sit-downery in my favourite chair
To look at sunlight on gum tree leaves.

Poor woodcock!