The snow arrived at 8 o’clock this morning and by the end of the day we had five inches or so…
Month: February 2018
Frozen solid
We have ambivalent feelings about our over-wintering Starling flock – our poultry food bills do seem to be up.
In the current Big Freeze different species can scritch and scratch for the food they need but when it comes to water…
The Wren has commandeered the compost bins as its exclusive scritch and scratch territory
Some birds are more stoic
The high pressure brings clarity of light
Meanwhile, we are preparing wood for next winter
Second time lucky?
The sun was shining
Dinah trotted out hopefully
and Bert excited without mishap
Snacks come first
a bit of reverse sniffing
and down to business
Lottie next door senses there is something in the air
the atmosphere is infectious
Geriatric sex
Three weeks ago Bert and Dinah had a tryst
But it would seem to have been unproductive as today, three weeks later, they were mooning together
Dinah trotted to the meeting place
and snacked as she waited
Bert was keen
but suffered an exit malfunction which made him incapable.
All he could do was show off his scars and iodine spray to his unsatisfied neighbour
Pretending it is Spring
With temperatures in double digits, still air, a little sun and NO RAIN we have been pretending it is Spring
Flowering bulbs help
The Cayuga house has had a Spring Clean
and they have a new Spring Bathing Pool
The owl box, blown down in Autumn storms, is back in place for a Spring Brood
and the Mistle Thrush has taken up his position at the top of the Ash
We know we will shortly be sent back into hibernation but for the time being it is great pretending.
Crataegus laevigata – Muriel’s Scarlet
Today we rooted in the earth of Gribin Isaf an ongoing life to continue that of Muriel Searle
Last week we brought back one of her favourite trees from the very excellent
The chosen location proved to be a tough dig
and to survive our winds much support will be needed
although not as tall as that
In position:
In a few years time it will look like this:
Snowbows and Snowglows
A Snowbow
A Snowglow
and another one
and a Snow-less Glow
The February fight
The February fight is between the thrusting growth and the falling snow
between the frozen ducks
and the freezing ducks
between the white fields and the green fields
between the red sky and the black sky
We know the winner.
Seeking the light
I think we must be civil
as we have enough light to see what we are doing until 5:45
During the day we watch the light on the snowy hills
as the slanting sun finds holes in the cloud to pick out golden highlights
It as if there is a golden valley just over the hill
Meanwhile the House Rat has moved onto an armchair
and is busy building an annex behind a cushion
Shadows and Reflections
The sun shone through the cracks today and with the air very still one did not notice the temperatures just a few degrees above freezing.
Enjoying the shadows of late Winter – or maybe very very early Spring.
Gribin Isaf 