Sunday 25 March 2012

Two sure signs that Spring is here.



It is a glorious day today - haze and already at 9am wall to wall sunshine. The clocks have gone forward one hour and it is officially British Summertime. The farmer is walking with two friends today. They are going up to the top end of Swaledale on the high tops. After writing this I shall be packing his sandwiches but I am leaving it until the last minute because he is having roast ham in the sandwiches and Tessn cannot resist roast ham. Wherever she is she can smell it from a mile off and will, for the rest of the day, refuse anything else. Oh, how I spoil that dog.

The two sure signs? Well first of all the marsh marigolds are out on the beck. I adore these. They remind me so of my childhood, when we called them 'kingcups' or 'waterblobs'.

Secondly, Mr and Mrs Magpie have spent this week constructing this year's house in a tree just across from the farm. As usual, it is quite large and has a little domed roof to protect the babies when they are born.

Blackbirds flit and lurk with mouthfuls of moss and bits of straw, so they are all building madly and the farmer is keeping his eye open for the first swallow as rumour has it that they are going to be early this year. Certainly if this weather continues then I think he may be right.

Our neighbouring village is trying Sunday Afternoon Teas today from 3pm to 5pm and several of us are going to give them a bit of support. I hope the venture turns out well. They are presumably doing it for Village Hall funds and when I came through yesterday they had signs out on the roadside advertising the venture. Might take some photos for tomorrow's blog, to whet your appetite.

11 comments:

Cloudia said...

How nice it is to be able to spoil our kind animal companions so easily.



Warm Aloha from Honolulu
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Heather said...

We had a cat who would do anything for roast chicken - he was so naughty and I couldn't leave it out to cool without a guard!
I have kingcups just coming into flower in the pond and have been watching our neighbouring magpies' nest getting larger - they have been very busy with their home improvements. It is such a lovely time of year.
I like the sound of the village afternoon teas - they should do well if this weather continues.

Dave King said...

What a cheering post! Much thanks for it.

Tom Stephenson said...

I always get caught out. I turned on the radio and wondered why the Archers was on an hour early... another sure sign of Spring.

Elizabeth said...

Yum to the teas.
Please supply suitable photos.

Gerry Snape said...

OOh! early swallows and kingcups...couldn't be better! thanks Pat.

Anonymous said...

I hope the afternoon teas are popular, I do enjoy them.

We have so many Magpies here, there were 31 on the roof opposite the other day, there seems to be an awful lot of fighting going on.

I hope the Farmer is right about the Swallows.

Acornmoon said...

What wonderful weather for walking, the farmer chose a great day.

We have marsh marigolds too, although the little woodland stream where they grow is much dryer this year, maybe the reason why they seem fewer in number.

Dartford Warbler said...

Lovely signs of spring. We have a crows nest in one of the boundary oaks and I have been watching them coming and going today.

My Lincolnshire Mum used to call marsh marigolds "waterblobs"!

I hope the Farmer had a wonderful day walking in Swaledale on such a beautiful day.

MorningAJ said...

Mmmmm. Afternoon tea.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for the comments.