Spring hopes

Sunrise

Despite the hard frosts – minus 7 last night - there is a feeling that spring is just around the corner. The snowdrops and aconites have bloomed in the lea of the hawthorn hedge and two slender yellow crocus blooms have survived the “ Janwar’s cauld blast”

The morning walk for the newspapers is accomplished in near daylight – well, the return leg, at least. Yes, there is definitely a feeling that winter’s grip is slackening.

The local farmers are, thanks to the lack of snow, “weel forrit” with the work, the ploughed fields looking like acres of giant corduroy with their complement of foraging peewits, though, sadly, in nothing like the numbers remembered from childhood. The tups have been at the work as well, the red marks on the ewes’ rumps the evidence of their productivity.

The rights of way and the paths around the village have, at long last been cleared and way-marked. The spur seems to have been the walking festival scheduled for this summer. A visit from daughter and her lurcher meant a new companion on the walks after the departure of NCC, and the environs were duly inspected.

The nest boxes have been cleaned and repaired.

The birds at the feeders seem to be brightening up their plumage, the colours seeming more vibrant than the dowdy duds of winter…….. or am I just hoping.. Well, they do say …hope springs and all that.