WEATHERING ON

 Here are the dark days, the wet days when the stream overflows, new springs erupt from the bankings. Yes there are a few bulbspushing up - snowdrops and daffodils - but we are a while from flowering.

The ducks and moorhens have not returned to the pond (yet) (we have hope) so we are stuck with the pheasants, pigeons and small birds - and, Oh! yes - the grey squirrel trying to rip the top off the feeders.

And when it is miserable outside we light the wood burner and turn our backs on the weather.

But there are flowers about - we went for a walk near Snows and the gorse was well in bloom and in the garden the quince is out.

And walking around I come across these plants - have forgotten what they are but suspect they were a free bonus of small alliums - time will tell.

There are still sticks to collect and place on the bonfire which grows and grows.

One has to look for interest other then contrasting leaf colour - like the shape of the leaves ofslowly growing rhododendrons we brought back from Stonefield Castle Hotel some years ago and the black berries on the privet.

The ladies with the horses in the paddock have become concerned that our notable sycamore (registered with the Woodland Trust) is so big that should it blow over it might fall on their stable. I do not think that is a risk at the moment but it would be sacrilege to chop off the top.

And for all the wet weather we have had the odd frosty day, and hail, and sleet and gales.