A later arrival than usual for this early spring visitor.

The curlew have returned. Mr Smith saw one on Saturday while I was working at Gallery @ 12 in Eccleshall, I had to wait until this morning to see my first one of the year, I'd heard one earlier this morning and thought that was going to be all I was able to report , but after breakfast I went outside to photograph the grey cold and icy scene and what should fly past calling but my curlew!

Spring is definitely on it's way a little bit later than usual but that just helps make moments like this even more special.

The curlew usually stay now right through to the end of the summer. I just love listening to them calling.

Is this madness or what?

Mr Smith loaded his sea kayak onto the car last night in the snow, with the help of miss smith ( our daughter).
This morning he and miss smith have gone off to Anglesey for the day to paddle in the sea. They are collecting a second kayak on the way for miss smith to try out. Although we have snow here, apparently the weather conditions are actually very good, ie a gentle sea, there is however a 2 - 3 hour drive ahead of them if the roads are clear.

I call it madness

Feeding frenzy

Yesterday afternoon, our garden was bathed in warm sunshine for a short while which showed this heather off beautifully, one of the few plants in flower in my garden at the moment.

 Now our snowdrops are in full bloom too

and no it isn't snow that is sprinkled all over them, it is what has been left by our feathered friends.

Snow has been falling all afternoon today, it isn't settling yet but the birds are definitely stocking up, there must be at least 50 birds in the hedge and on the feeders.

( if you click on the pictures you will see them in more detail)

they just won't stay still long enough to photograph with my point and click.

We have great tit (one with no tail), blue tit, chaffinch (one with just one leg), greenfinch, goldfinch, robin, house sparrow and dunnock out there at the moment. and if you look carefully you can see some of our snowdrops too.

A view from the past

I have just been sent this from a local historian, it is a photo taken in the 1920's of our home, it has changed a bit since then, but not a great deal, I think this is wonderful.

Farewell dear Bramley

My husband has been asking me to let him chop down my dear Bramley for about 3 years now. I have finally given in. If it is to happen I want it done before the leaves reappear, so today is the day. I had plans for my future grandchildren to have hours of fun playing in it, but that isn't going to happen now.

We planted it in totally the wrong spot, but if I want the garden sorted the tree has to go and we will replant another one later in a more suitable place, and as Grandchildren are still a long way off maybe there is still enough time for another tree to grow strong enough for them to play in.

These lichen covered branches didn't produce very healthy looking leaves last year although we did still have a reasonable amount of apples, 2 or 3 crumbles worth at least and we still have 3 or 4 jars of apple jelly left from a bumper crop about 4 years ago.

On a happier note, the birds have started singing again!