April Review: New Life The Baby arrived at the end of March. Life has been a bit topsy-turvy since then. Here’s a very brief review: She’s safely here! Our wee Trixie girl has joined the family. Her birth was joyful and peaceful and straightforward and I am beyond grateful for that. She’s got these wonderful …
March Review: Waiting for Spring (and baby) I’m writing the March review a little early because by the end of the month I might be completed lost in a bundle of newborn blankets and sleepy, milky days. March has been a month of waiting. I think I expect spring to whizz and pop into abundant …
February Review: Stormy but sweet This is how February went: snowdrops, muddy puddles, blackbird, pheasant, snowdrops. All with a background of wind. Outside, February was stormy. Dudley! Eunice! Franklin! More trees down, more powercuts. We found a whole nest, perfectly formed and still intact, on the ground. Beautifully arranged sticks and little fluffy white feathers. …
I have chosen the siskin as my bird of the month for May. These little yellow sweethearts have been our constant companions in the garden this month. We haven’t really seen siskins on the feeders here before – except the odd fleeting sighting in the winter – but this spring there has been at least …
I’ve chosen the oystercatcher as my bird of the month for April. I’ve always loved oystercatchers. They were my Gran’s favourite bird (and I have a Mairi Hedderwick oystercatcher print that was hers). They are seaside nostalgia. They are noisy and bold and a bit extra. They eat cockles like Londoners. There’s nothing not to …
I have chosen the jay as my bird of the month for March. Jays are woodland birds and we are lucky to live on the edge of a wood. Our neighbours have lovely mature gardens with lots of trees which brings the jays into the gardens. We’ve seen one on our feeders several times. Every …
My bird of the month for February is the mute swan. Here’s why: Swans have been really visible this month. At the start of the month the pond near us, at Tweedbank, was frozen solid and the swans stood awkwardly on top of the ice. I always think swans look funny standing. They are so …
We really love putting food out for the birds. Pig helps me scoop the peanuts and sunflower hearts and roll lovely round fat balls into the feeders. He’s very serious about carrying them back out to the garden without spilling any seed. Ross gave me a window feeder for my birthday and it has been …
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 7 of my sketchbook-learnings.] I’m a little behind with my update on the chestnuts. Things have been really very busy in my little business. It has been so hard for brick & mortar shops this year, and …
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 6 of my sketchbook-learnings.] These are the last few weeks of the dense, dark, green canopies. Slowly, slowly the golds will creep in and the burnt oranges will light their flames. Autumn’s winds will blow holes in …
The Drygrange Chestnuts Pt.6: July, August, and the last of the Greens Read More »