Tuesday 16 February 2021

February

 

As I noted in my last post, life here trundles on much the same, week after week, with the exception being that we are now on our half term break - yay! This has meant we can put all notions of home learning aside, for this week, at least, and I can't stress just what a relief that is. I have felt under much more pressure this time round, so I can only imagine it feels far worse for Lily, especially being away from her friends and the reassuring routine of the school day. 





Thankfully, despite the bitterly cold temperatures we've been experiencing, another difference is the noticeable brightening and lengthening of the days, a clear indication spring is on the way. That, and we discovered some early bright green shoots of wild garlic pushing through the frozen earth last week. It's hard to think that in just a few weeks time we will be walking there in the warm sunshine to gather some for making pesto.

As it's been so cold, I've made sure to keep the bird feeder well topped up. Since the beginning of the year we have been fortunate to have many birds returning to the garden. For ages, it seemed, we didn't get any feathered visitors, which was really disappointing. I wasn't sure if it was down to our garden receiving little in the way of sunshine at this time of year, so I eventually stopped putting any food out at all. In a determined effort to encourage more of our feathered friends I once again began putting out a variety of nuts and seeds and have since been rewarded with a steady stream of blackbirds, blue tits, and robins. Although, I must admit they have been a bit of a distraction from our home learning, with both mother and daughter having the same tendency to gaze longingly out of a window, rather than getting on with the task in hand :) 








Even though I've still been working, we've taken every opportunity to get outdoors when the weather has allowed. These daily walks, although becoming a little repetitive, are necessary to my wellbeing. I know I've said this before but if you look closely there is always something new to see as the seasons change and nature does her thing. I hadn't, however, prepared myself for the sight of this stunning display of icicles down by the river. We were amazed. So much, in fact, Lily insisted we went back the following day for another look. 

J. X

68 comments:

  1. Wonderful pictures of the icicles it is a true wonderland and so many snowdrops - ours are only just making an appearance here.

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    1. Thank you, Viv. There is an abundance of snowdrops here, both in the woods and along by the river. X

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  2. Icicles - exquisite.
    Snowdrops - sheer poetry!

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    1. The icicles were unexpected and quite magical. X

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  3. What amazing photos! Oh to be able to join you on your daily walks! Thank you for sharing, and enjoy your week. Don't ever feel badly about watching the beautiful birds outside your window during school. Perhaps that is a most wonderful form of learning too!

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. You would be very welcome to join us :)

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  4. That wash of snowdrops just made me stop and stare 💚🤍💚 oh so beautiful, the ones in my garden are a little sparse, I am waiting for them to become a flush but until then - I shall revel in your picture :)

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    1. They are lovely, aren't they. There are so many along the steep banks of the river. X

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  5. You're right, if you look closely you'll see something new shooting up every day.
    Lovely drifts of snowdrops and dramatic icicles. I was so glad to feel the kiss of the sun on my back this morning, I do hope we're over the worst of winter now. xxx

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    1. It never ceases to amaze me just how fast our surroundings change along with the seasons. The sun was trying very hard to shine here this morning but I'm not sure we've seen the back of winter just yet. X

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  6. My goodness, those icicles, it puts me in mind of a magical grotto. The weather's warmed up so much here over the last day or two, it was quite balmy when we went out for a walk today, well, in comparison to what it's been like just lately. Wild garlic, that's what it is. I saw lots of shoots on our walk today and dismissed the shoots as being those of wild garlic, I thought it much too early, I'm pleased you've confirmed my suspicions. Enjoy the rest of the week and your break from home schooling.

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    1. The icicles were magical and a complete surprise. Perhaps the reason I've never seen them before is because I wouldn't usually walk there at this time of year. The ice has all thawed now but it's still quite cold and windy here today.
      I also thought the wild garlic seemed quite early this year but I remember the woods were full of it by the end of last March. X

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  7. I often get lost gazing out of my kitchen window when I should be writing letters or blogging or doing one of many other things. The birds and ever-changing sea and sky enthral me. When I start reading blogs like yours it is just like gazing out of my window and I either get lost in my youth in the fells or in photos like the penultimate one today. I have seen bigger icicles hanging from roofs but I don't think I've ever seen such a collection in such a beautiful place before.

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    1. I was always guilty of gazing out of the window when I was at school, so it shouldn't surprise me that Lily is just the same, especially now the garden has a steady stream of visitors. Thankfully, it won't be long before we will be spending more time out there ourselves, as the weather begins to improve. Fingers crossed I'll be getting back on the fells again as well. X

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  8. So beautiful to see the icicles. We had just one hanging from our water butt :). Glad you have a week off from home learning. Our children are still in school thankfully but it’s hard for the teachers with all the mask wearing and keeping distances. Won’t it be wonderful to be back to normal. B x

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    1. The last twelve months have been long and challenging and I've been so grateful to have some beautiful countryside this close to home. I truly hope that we are now finally beginning to move forward towards a new normal. X

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  9. Amazing ! I agree going out is vitally important. Mental and physical.

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    1. I realise how important it must be for you, Jill. X

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  10. I'm with Lily, I would go back for another look too. The photos are great, I can almost hear the water in the first shot and the icicle pics are brilliant, I love the next-to-last one and the shot two above it :)

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    1. I didn't need much persuading, Eunice :)

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  11. It is so pretty! A frozen waterfall! And the carpet of snowdrops! I'm glad you are enjoying your half-term break and getting in some nice walks! :)

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    1. Thank you, Bless. We are getting out each day, as long as the weather allows. X

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  12. That is quite an impressive display you captured by the river! Thanks for sharing. Nature is wonderful, isn't it?

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    1. Over this last year I've begun to realise just how important it is for me to spend time in nature. X

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  13. Oh, the snowdrops are beautiful! And so many different types of freezing water! Very fun to look at. Thank you!

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    1. I needed to tread very carefully on those rocks. X

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  14. Your photos of the ice are beautiful. I just finished catching up on your Christmas posts so the icy weather is right in theme!

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    1. Thank you. And I hope you enjoyed the Christmas posts just as much as I enjoyed writing them. X

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  15. Wow! Beautiful photos. Love the snowdrops. Where I live we have a place called Snow Drop Valley

    Julie xxxxx

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    1. Thank you, Julie. Snow Drop Valley sounds beautiful. X

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    2. It is. Google it its on Exmoor x

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    3. I did take a look. It is beautiful. X

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  16. Those icicles look like a natural wonder of the world, they are amazing!
    It does feel milder now. I actually saw a little tortoishell butterfly yesterday, but unfortunately I think it had emerged too early as it wasn't moving. X

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    1. Oh, that's so sad about the butterfly. The windy weather here is making it feel quite cold still, although the ice has all disappeared now. X

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  17. Your photos are stunning. It's good you have some time off from the home schooling and I can't imagine just how difficult it must be for you and all parents and children. I'm sure you're doing a grand job and things will get better I'm sure of it.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. I was initially tempted to do a little catch up work, but it feels good to have a complete break from home learning. X

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  18. Fabulous icicles - no wonder Lily wanted to go back a second time.

    Take care my dear, hope half term is going well for you both. x

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    1. They were pretty awesome. I wouldn't usually walk there at this time of year, so that will be why I've never seen them before.
      I'm having a very lazy half-term break, but there is crochet! X

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  19. How beautiful, it is so uplifting to see the small daily changes at this time of year. Hope you're enjoying half term.

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    1. Thank you, Sam. I hope you'll be sharing photographs of the garden again this year. X

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  20. How beautiful do those icicles look! Apart from the moors and surrounding areas, we didn’t get the snow, only Jack Frost doing his rounds here. Now we have the rain again, Jules, so it’s lovely to see your lovely photos xx

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    1. I'm glad we had the opportunity to see them. It's back to wet and gloomy weather again. X

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  21. We are on half term too but I kind of liked that school tasks knocked a hole in the day, the days seem very long at the moment when we would usually be out and about. Jo x

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    1. I know what you mean but, unfortunately, Lily's lack of interest in the subject matter didn't really help :)
      I really hope we are beginning to see a way forward, finally. X

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  22. Hi Jules. I think everybody is getting to the end of their patience now. I know the young Mums in my extended family have definitely had enough of home schooling little ones while trying to also do their own work. The photos are beautiful as always. I've bought some veg seeds this year, something I've never really tried before so that will be interesting. Enjoy the rest of half term. xx

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. And I do hope this means what I think it does ;)
      I've decided to give vegetable growing a miss this year. Instead, I'm hoping to entice the bees and butterflies with a garden full of flowers. X

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    2. It does Jules. After thinking long and hard I've dipped my toe back into blogging. xx

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    3. It's lovely to see you back. Xx

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  23. Gorgeous icicle display!!!!

    Well worth a repeat visit.

    Wonder how long they will remain?

    And of course, there is something different in nature, each day. -smile- If we notice. And it is wise, to notice.

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    1. They've already disappeared, sadly. The weather has returned to being grey and wet! Soon we will see lambs in the fields and daffodils edging the lanes. X

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  24. It's hard to believe that we are now in mid-February, the days still pass by so quickly!
    Your photographs are all so lovely but those icicles are AMAZING.

    Enjoy the remainder of half term week.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I think this year, more than ever, we are longing for brighter warmer days. X

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  25. Natural beauty! Thanks for sharing with those of us who don't have such wonders in our space. I'm in Texas. Our freeze wasn't as photogenic. :)

    Be well.
    aLimner

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    1. It's been a long time since I have seen icicles like this, so I'm glad I managed to captured these images. X

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  26. Yes, those icicles look really magical. It reminds me of a fairy ring. Your birds sound wonderful. I enjoy the woodpeckers, orioles, and blue jays up here in the mountains.

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    1. It's just wonderful to have birds returning to the garden once again. They are fascinating to watch. X

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  27. The frozen waterfall pictures are amazing; so pretty and quite magical. It reminds us that even a pandemic doesn't halt nature. Hopefully the children can return safely to school soon. How hard for them to have coped without friends and routine

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    1. Thank you, Eloise. Yes, it's reassuring to see the seasons changing, no matter what is happening in the world. X

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  28. OMG Jules...what beautiful icicles....no-wonder Lily wanted to return...it's like looking at another world. x

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  29. Wow, those icicles are amazing, and what a beautiful display of snowdrops! What a fab walk. Glad you found some solace in the half term. I too have found lockdown harder this time. I think that's mostly down to the time of year - I struggle with winters. Last spring, we were out in the garden a lot and our littlest kid was at nursery, so could just muck about and go feral. Now I feel the pressure of teaching her how to read. Luckily our eldest mostly just gets on with it. Spring is on our doorstep and restrictions will gradually lift, so it will get easier. Take care, Lulu x

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    1. Winters here are often damp and dark and, with the added stresses of lockdown and home learning, this year has proved more challenging than most. It's not been easy keeping little ones entertained and I've resorted to screen time more often than I would have liked.
      Spring is on the way. Time to get outdoors and get mucky :) X

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  30. I went to our local falls yesterday when we finally got out of a deep freeze. Your pictures are stunning. I love seeing green even though my area of the world is months from spring.

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    1. Thank you, Sam. It's reassuring to see the new green shoots. Only yesterday I noticed some bulbs beginning to show in the garden - I had forgotten I'd planted them! X

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  31. Beautiful photos. Thank You so much for sharing them.

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  32. beautiful pictures, you've captured mother nature in both winter and spring. Always happy to see the spring growth, right on time year after year. Nature knows what it's supposed to do...amazing.

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    1. Thank you, Faith. It's a wonderful thing to see nature waking up after it's long winter sleep. X

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