Joys of Spring

The snow is still lying on the garden, but the patio is just about clear. DH is out there fixing things - not his forte but the snow sliding off the conservatory roof has brought a gutter down. He has, bless him, restocked the bird trays and feeders too.

Same here: chaffinches and dunnocks are behaving in very spring-like ways these days.

Wonder how the cuckoos in Norfolk are doing?

www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking?dm_i=IG4%2COEMN%2C39HC

I noticed some very frisky great tits when i was out for a walk yesterday. Weather of not, they know the days are getting longer.

It must be the increasing light
Telling the song thrush
Through the dank and the dreich
That Spring is on its way
Because he's chirruping away out there.
I wouldn't call it singing, as such:
That's more the blackbird's sound.
Thrushes just shout.
But it's a lovely morning sound
Through the dank and the dreich,
And it reminds me that even Scotch Mist
Has its beauty.
It could be, too, that he has counted
The snowdrops.

And the freezing cold has dampened mine!

It's been a long, long winter's day, and rather short on joy, so I have decided to decamp to Joys of Spring instead. February is still mid-winter, yet buds of snowdrops, an open crocus and a beautiful dusk have all lifted my spirit.

Spotted that moon just over the crest of our hill earlier this evening.

I wonder if they have something similar in France, butty? If not, perhaps you could pester for one, you know, as you do for new emoticons.

bagitha - I would love to join the naturescalendar - such a pity I can't.

The thinnest, most beautiful crescent of moon this evening, surrounded by big gunmetal clouds.

I would like a little snow too, just a little,but unlikely,as I live in London.

Oh! Mamie - I think by the time it reaches me it'll just be raw rain. Would quite like a bit of snow, just a bit......

Well Meteo France is promising us "quelques flocons" here in Normandy next week which normally means we will be knee deep in snow and cut off for at least four days.

Saw the first daffodils out today on my way to see dd!

We are though down here on the edge of east anglia. ALthough not last night. Nice words.
We now do have a chilly northwesterly. Should have gone trotting earlier. But done now.

JessM Are you havin' a laff ?

not having a drought up there are you...

Water, water everywhere
drip dropping
splish splash
sploshing
pitter patter
puddling
wellie wading
wooping!

Apparently we're getting sunshine tomorrow! YAY!

Meanwhile here's another plug for scientific records that will help our understanding of weather patterns: www.naturescalendar.org.uk/

Do take part if you can. It's fun recording your observations of seasonal events, especially over several years. And you get to see how things vary from one part of the country to another.

Huh! Though there is a brightening now.

yes it is definitely OUT in the south midlands, or northern home counties, or the western edge of east anglia... here anyway.

I have a couple of new roses too, and primroses and snowdrops. It is a grey day here in Kent, though. But I have heard the s word mentioned.....!

This morning the snowdrops are flowering, there is a small rose that has opened in the front garden, and the blue tits are checking the nest boxes again. It worries me, because when we had frost a couple of weeks ago, some shoots were stopped in their tracks, and I don't want it to happen again.

7mm of rain water in my water guage last week - one overnight collection, and nothing since. It's been very mild, with only one half-hearted frost. It doesn't seem right for it to be so mild, but am enjoying, nevertheless, Mother Nature's contrariness. Love it.
for your solar panels, Jess.

Felt mild in the garden when i went to the compost bin bagitha - bit of sun, no wind. And I am the first to whinge about being chilly. But of course i will forgive you for being picky. I kinda meant generally mild which it seems to have been here. And rather dry. It will be interesting to see how the stats are for January, as we have had only a few frosts and some temps over 10 deg.
You have a different climate up there for sure.
We are currently generating 1.29 kwh on the panels on the roof! Did I remember to turn on the washing machine to take advantage... x

I think they're still tucked-up tight, jeni - sleeping the sleep of the innocent all winter long.