Nature Notes

It is strange how the daffodils are opening and the snowdrops still hold their dainty heads high. Normally they are all done by early February. This winter has not been particularly harsh i.e. little snow (sadly, it has diminished every year of the five that I have lived here). To date we’ve had but two dustings (despite unusually good snowfalls in Scotland) and none of those have fallen before Christmas (we have had falls in November and December every year but this one). So although not a really harsh winter, perhaps it is the fact that it has been rather a long one that makes those snowdrops linger…

The rabbits continue to suffer. While out walking the other weekend, I came across the tiniest little brown lump on the path in front of me. Huffing and puffing, barely 2 inches long. I’ve never seen such a tiny rabbit. Clearly not well, with a dead sibling beside it. I wanted to scoop it up and take it home with me, but knew it would serve no purpose. Earlier Today I passed an adult one hunched up by the side of the lane. When I came back down the lane this evening a friend’s dog had it in her mouth, clearly feeling rather chuffed with itself for having ‘caught’ it – but I knew she was cheating. Momentary confusion while E thought I’d said my friend had the rabbit in her mouth. No dear, the dog. Still, conjures up a lovely image…

Talking of dogs, I have become a sheepdog in recent days. L was reduced to asking, with suitably furrowed brow, as two sheep and five chickens ambled about the lawns: ‘why has our garden become a farmyard?’ Indeed. I found it quite amusing until I saw they’d been munching my tulips. I now find myself almost daily shooting out of the back door with much screeching and clapping of hands till the little buggers bugger off back to the field from whence they came. Who said sheep were stupid, eh? Let alone the chickens…

Saw my first blossom tree the other day. That one snuck up on me. Others will surely follow. Is it really spring? Snow was forecast for the weekend, but I will believe it when I see it. I’ve just checked the internet and it seems that it has already turned to the usual rain…

Anyway, I shall not be here. I leave on Good Friday, after the village Easter Egg Hunt, for the softer climes of Sussex. And from thence to France – where rain is also forecast. Never mind, it will be good to have another taste of a country which is my second home. Last time we were there was Christmas. It seems a lifetime ago….

Happy Easter to you all.

Comments

Pondside said…
I hope you have a lovely holiday in France - your busy schedule left at home, I hope!
It's been an odd winter and an even odder early spring here, with freezing temperatures some mornings. No sheep in the garden though - that is certainly a unique problem!
Oh Happy Easter to you too. So sorry to hear about the rabbits - guess it is the nasty man made disease . . we have had that here . . almost wiped out our rabbits - but now they are back of course stronger than ever and putting up two paws to mankind.

Have a fabulous Easter Holiday . . . hoping for snow here - but snow ain't what it used to be it almost always turns to rain now.

We have few flowers up here - but we are always late - perhaps the rest of the country is slowing down so that we can catch up . . . .
Milla said…
Freezing here today, can hardly type, am sure we've had a decent amount of Godawful days this winter. Have a lovely time in France.
Elizabethd said…
Hope your holiday in France is a time of rest and rejuvenation. Depends where you are going, but it's cold up here in Brittany, so take warm clothes!
bodran... said…
We've got myxi here to, the dogs won't even kill them because they don't run away horrible disease...As for sheep we won't mention them argghhh have a lovely break x
Cait O'Connor said…
Ah I envy you going to France!
We don't get enough snow here lately either, I love it. Our daffs are in full swing and other bulbs too.
Thanks for yuor kind comments on my blog.
Dusty Spider said…
Just found your blog. Great stuff! The High Peak is one of my favourite areas. Love the snowy picture. Have a lovely time in France and give my love to Sussex (where I come from) on your way through. Flick x

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