Sunday 14 February 2016

Valentine's Day

It is a lovely morning here - cold with a sharp wind blowing, but bright and sunny.   As the farmer drew back the bedroom curtains at ten minutes past seven (Sunday is the day when he has a 'lie-in') a barn owl swooped past the window.   Sadly I didn't see it but we do know it lives in one of our barns.

And true to the old adage about St Valentine's day being the day when the birds choose their mates for the year, as I stood at the sink I saw Mr and Mrs Sparrow busily chucking bits out of a nest box in readiness for their new nest this year.   So in spite of there being snow on our moor and on Penn Hill it is reassuring to know that Spring really is getting  close to the corner.

18 comments:

Dartford Warbler said...

Happy Valentine`s Day to you and The Farmer!

It is fine and mild here this morning. The birds have been pairing up in recent days. The Birds` Wedding Day is a lovely thought and full of the hope of spring.

Librarian said...

It was sunny when I got up, but now it's gone grey and cold. I guess it'll be a nice cosy day spent at home.
Listening to birdsong here while still in bed, it sounds like spring is already here. I guess for them it is.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

mrsnesbitt said...

A splattering of snow here - watching the birds as we speak Pat.

AMIH said...

I didn't have a Valentine present for my husband so I kissed the bald patch on top of his head instead. It seemed to go down well.

Sue said...

Makes me feel homesick when I hear of snow on Penn Hill (I only lived in Wensleydale for five years but they were very formative years).

Heather said...

We have two pairs of love-birds in our family, celebrating wedding anniversaries today.
How wonderful to see the barn owl. I haven't seen one for many years.
It's cold and bright here too, but we have heard mutterings of possible snow during next week, but whatever the weather does now, Spring is on the way.

Maria said...

It is pouring with rain here today. No bursting of buds, blooms or blossoms. No bees or bugs, and not a single birds in sight, probably all tucked away in their nest. Greeting Maria x

Elizabeth said...

Happy Valentine's day!
Minus 18C here today!

Joanne Noragon said...

It's below zero here, Fahrenheit, and we've had wrens and sparrows working on nests for a month, when we started our first spring.

donna baker said...

I didn't know that about the birds, but I do know that several species, like doves, mate for life. I did notice last week that the red tailed hawks were loudly squawking high in the sky in circles, which they do every year to find a mate. Haven't seen them nesting yet but I'd better get the birdhouses ready. I did hear a robin fussing at me near a Bradford Pear tree next to the drive. Guess it wasn't happy I was near its nest.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Where did you live in Wensleydale Sue?

Wilma said...

Enjoy your sunny St. Valentine's Day! We are cool with a steady drizzle, but since we need the rain, that is OK. I am watching hummingbirds visit the feeders outside the window. I have noticed an increase in ruby-throated hummers as they begin to migrate through on their way to the states for their breeding season. The other species live here year-round.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

A cold morning. Snow forecast for overnight. That will make for a fairly unfunny cycle in, I fear.

angryparsnip said...

The quail are running around right outside my window in a merry little dance.

cheers, parsnip

Jennyff said...

10 past 7 isn't a lie in. Someone here, not me, was still in bed drinking tea and reading the paper when a friend phoned for a chat around 10.30. Mr FF did have the decency to put his dressing gown on before taking the call.

Sue said...

I used to live in Bainbridge, went to the old grammar school in Askrigg.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Sue - we were almost neighbours - we live just outside Leyburn. several folk I know went to the old grammar achool, which is not there any more. I think it has been taken over by the primary school - the building is still there anyway. The grammar school in Bainbridge is now a very posh hotel.

Jenny - seven is a lie in for a farmer, who has got up at 6 since he left school¬!

Thanks everyone for calling.

Terry and Linda said...

Happy Valentine's Day to my friends from across the pond!

Linda