Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.
The first of Spring, St. Bridget’s day, birds building their nests, people building their houses, flowers forcing their way up through the ground, my goodness, life is taking off at a fierce rate. I’m tempted to say stop, slow down, all of these things deserve their own space in the normal scheme of things. February the first dawned mild and soft with the sun emerging out through the hazy clouds. It was everything that the first day of Spring should be and how lovely it was to take a stroll in the garden, get the feel of Spring, then go around and throw out a searching eye in an effort to see what is coming to life. The little crocus as always is plainly seen in its vivid purple coat, I have a tub of bluebells, why they’re in a tub I’ll never know, but they are and judging by their strong green leeks it won’t be long before they carry out their annual duty to please the passing eye. Do birds miss our presence in the out of doors. I’m sure they do. At least the little robin seems to anyway because whenever I go and spend some time outside he lands himself on the nearest branch and turns up the volume on his sweet voice. So so lovely to listen to and when I’m coming in I get an almost guilty feeling to be deserting him. The saddest thing for me in Spring is that I don’t have many places for birds to build their nests. They come and search but alas they don’t seem to like the places that I can give them and I can’t give them the places where they would like to set up home. Last year I gave them free reign and wound up having to cover the lawnmower etc in the closed shed. This time I’ll have to keep that place closed. But maybe I’ll still be able to find them another roosting place before their building season takes off in earnest. There is a doubt if the first of February ,is in fact the first day of Spring. Everybody is saying it but I’m not a bit sure. I think that this year ,we are all so anxious to get on with the year, and leave Winter far behind, that we’re willing to give February away to spring. It’s being widely debated at the moment, and who am I to set the record straight.
[read more …] “Eily’s Report 2nd February”
