Friday 23 January 2015

Suddenly, today, the snow has started to go.   It is going slowly and has been doing since mid morning.   Most of our yard, drives and lawn are now clear, although the field opposite, which is sown with corn, is white over.   'A slow thaw' says the farmer - the very worst sort - it always means that more will be back.  'There's the whole of February to get through yet' he continues - always the cheerful one where the weather is concerned.

Not that it feels any warmer.   I seem to pile on the layers when I emerge from the farm - as I did this morning to meet my friends for coffee in town, as we do every Friday.   What would we all do without that get-together?   I think it is just such meetings which keep everyone going now.

I don't wish to sound defeatist but up here in the Dales this time of the year the Deaths columns in the newspapers get longer and longer as more and more elderly people seem to succumb to the cold, dark, damp weather.   How to avoid this (assuming reasonable health) in my book is by having a large circle of friends and keeping cheerful by having a good laugh and keeping the grim reaper at bay.  (if I suddenly fall off my perch then he will after all have had the last laugh, but at least I shall go down fighting.)

One cheerful note is that there are a tiny few aconites out just under our bay window - maybe a dozen.   I thought we might have lost them all after the farmer dug the whole of the front garden over to get rid of a lot of rubbish prior to lawning it later in the year.  There is nothing like a few of these perky little fellows to liven up Winter.   And, speaking of perky little fellows, a dozen long tailed tits descended on the fat balls at our bird table just after lunch.   When they settle on the fat balls their striped backs and tails make the most beautiful pattern.   They never stay long, they just include our bird table in their forage up the holly hedge, making a small detour.

So that's three things today - the aconites and snowdrops under the front window, the long tailed tits and the friends for coffee.   Now there is a cosy wood burner to sit in front of and two magazines through the post this morning to read - that'll do me for the day.   Keep warm bloggers all.

15 comments:

Gerry Snape said...

Well that all sounds good to me...I agree about the deaths...we've been to two funerals in Rochdale this month...still you catch up with family gossip after them in the pub....that can be fun!!

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Had to look up aconite (hangs head).
They did a little write up in the paper two years ago about my Auntie Rose when she turned 90. She said her advice for a long life was, "an active lifestyle and a giving attitude." So I would say you are on the right road to 100, Pat!
:) m & jb

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Farmers pessimistic about the weather? Never heard of such a thing! :-)

angryparsnip said...

Your Fridays always make me smile.
I so enjoyed your three things today.

Wurfs from The Square Ones to Tess !

cheers, parsnip

Joanne Noragon said...

Tiny yellow flowers looking for spring.

Heather said...

That sounds like the perfect winter day to me - I would enjoy all of those good things. I have tried to grow aconites but they didn't like our soil, or maybe the location. Perhaps I'll have another go - it took years to persuade hellebores to grow for me and now they are having babies all over the place.

Em Parkinson said...

I do love Long Tailed Tits Pat but they never come in to the feeder; just sit in the trees, fluttering. Glad your snow's gone - beautiful but disruptive.

Penny said...

Sounds good, friends are so important.

Twiggy said...

You are so right laughter and friends keep us going
Twiggy

Cloudia said...

Sounds a very good day.




ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3

Cro Magnon said...

The Long Tail Tits turn up here just once or twice a year. They come in a gang, behave like hooligans, and are gone again. Beautiful little birds, but very odd.

The Broad said...

Aconites, snow drops and tits -- sounds like Spring is promising to come! You are so right about weekly get togethers with friends -- the rigours of winter disappear in the warmth of friendship...

The Weaver of Grass said...

More aconites - and the sun - have appeared today - and all the snow has gone overnight - can't be bad. Thanks for calling round.

Terry and Linda said...

Your farmer and I think alike. A slow thaw means more is coming.

I enjoyed reading your three things!

Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer/

Julie Clay Illustration said...

The simple things are alway the best. Long tailed tits are just so lovely, they make amazing nests if you've ever seen them on Springwatch. They only deigned to visit my garden feeders in the very bad winters we had not so long ago, such a treat. Hope there's not too much more snow to come, my old dog struggles to stay upright in the slippery conditions, his back legs are so weak, down he goes :(