Winter cometh

Wheelie bin over on its side, lid of galvanised bin (used to store compost) in a bed yards away. Just wish one of the big trees across the brook would blow down - not in my direction, of course. Evil

Not that windy here. But waterproofs came back sodden. They worked though - just a wee bit of dampness on the shins.

What was there to notice as I went striding in the rain?
Scarlet dogwood and rosehips were obvious
And that robin on the corner, loudly staking his claim
The wood is sodden, brimming, streaming
A few splashes of autumn browns
But mainly muted greens
It is the season to admire the subtleties of lichen
Grey green orange lime and verdigris blue

Grey, grey, grey and rain,
Nothing but sparrows feeding,
And I've got a cold.

'The subtleties of lichen' - yes indeed Jess just lovely.

jess,

broomsticks, . Get well soon.

Thanks for sharing, Jess...lovely words.
Find yourself a snuggly place to relax, broomsticks Get well soon.

Glad you liked. It was squelchy.
Sorry you have a cold broomsticks we will try to keep you posted re the outside world.

The outside world is nasty. So's the inside world. Mutter, mutter, mutter ...

Sunshine streaming horizontally
Into my kitchen,
Dazzling me as I make the coffee:
Bright winter joy.
Snow gullies on the hills.
Silver birch twigs
Shining coppery red.
A bluetit bathing in the pond,
Chaffinches, sparrows, and blackbirds
Coming to see what's going on,
And joining in.
Splash time.

A perfect morning.

My view across the park brightens my every day
So lovely to start each day that way

People walking their dogs and having a run
Everyone so happy to see and feel the warm sun

I love the walks that I have in my park
Sometimes I walk and walk until it is dark
My savior so it is this wonderful view
I really wish I could share it with you....

You have just shared it, cheelu.

Here's a blog post about winter weather 'magic' and awesomeness by Willis Eshenbach

I've just seen a flock of long-tailed tits in the garden which reminds me that I need to replenish the bird feeders. GD gave me a seed feeder (with seeds) for Christmas which is still in my case. I haven't seen the fat squirrel this morning - perhaps it's gone off to my neighbour's bird feeders.

Just been out for a muddy slosh around the lanes and found myself looking for violets in the banks. I was sure I'd caught a glimpse but I expect it's because the weather is remarkably mild, and not that my mood today just fancies a bit of Spring.

anno. We have them in the area but they stick to the hedges. Trees not big enough around the houses I think.
It is incredibly warm here too. I think a few days of this and the hazel will certainly be in bloom. The very first thing in this area.

Butty Violets clusted on mossy banks. One of the most uplifting sights...

Our temperatures have switched from near freezing to mild overnight (change of wind direction from northeast-ish to southwest-ish). I expect they'll swing about a bit as usual before the end of the winter. Grim grey and soggy today but the flowering currant buds are looking lively

I might go out for a soggy violet search too, but it's usually April before ours flower. Looking out for snowdrops from now on!

Found two violet leaves but the others remain buried under rotting leaves and grass. No snowdrop leaves visible yet and my records suggest they won't flower until late January. But I did find some daffodil leaves just peeping through in a sheltered spot, and some primrose leaves, and one battered-looking ox-eye daisy flower hanging on for all it's worth!

And I found, in my garden yearbook, a note by DD3, aged five, on 12 Jan: : "Crocksis red 2006" (she wrote the 2 backwards ). I think it might have been a red cyclamen

Oh, I forgot!
A find on my violet search:
Bright mossiness
Under the silver birch -
Ever so green and fresh.
Now.... I need to go and
hang washing
on a gnu.

Yes, fresh green mossiness (lovely word) all around. Lovely.

A late, bleak dusk walk,
Suited my mood
Trudged angrily
Spitting back at the rain
Leaning into the wind
Which swallowed my shouts
And the life of nature heard me
Held me
Invigorated me.