The Darkling Thrush and friends

As winter continues onwards towards a hopeful Spring, we have seen some interesting visitors in our garden.  We are so pleased that we regularly see about fifteen different bird species at Hazel Cottage.  Many of the relatively new arrivals such as the sparrows and starlings have become very regular in the last months.  We are also seeing more of the collared doves.

 

 

 

We are both trying to learn more about birds.  I'm pretty certain I can tell the difference between the sound of a collared dove (coo-coooo-coo) and a woodpigeon (coo-coooo-coo-coo-coo).  It is all rather subtle written down like that, but more obvious when you hear it, honestly.

 

We were excited to see this chap the other day.  At first from a distance I thought it was a female blackbird or a starling, but it moved very differently, and had longer legs. 

 

Luckily he moved far closer to the back door, and for once I had the camera to hand.  Wandering around our lawn was a thrush!  We don't remember ever seeing one in our garden before, although we have often wished for a flock of them to deal with our slug and snail population.

 

It is always great to see a new bird in the garden.  We are also seeing a lot of what we discovered was a Black Cap these last few weeks.  He seems to be on the feeder every day now, and Mr C zoomed in madly the other day to discover him sat in a hedge with our resident robin.

Much as I have enjoyed this winter far more than the last, we are both looking forward to Spring enormously.  The days are lengthening now and the daffodil leaves are peaking above the ground, so even if Spring isn't here, it seems at least a possibility.

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know
There are Spring violets under the snow."
-  R. H. Newell

A 'typical' Sunday at Hazel Cottage

I was walking through the house earlier and took pictures of some of the interesting and random things that are currently happening at Hazel Cottage... 

Soil warming on a radiator ready for seeds

Rye bread proving in the washing basket

Parsnip wine fermenting under the desk in the study

Old books rescued from a jumble sale

My still unfinished patchwork picture in the sewing area

Daffodils on the hearth

Rye bread just out of the oven

In the garden, the crocuses are basking in whatever sunshine they can find, the snowdrops are nodding in the wind and I spotted two robins on the bird table this morning - almost time for nesting to start perhaps?

Wan February with weeping cheer,
Whose cold hand guides the youngling year
Down misty roads of mire and rime,
Before thy pale and fitful face
The shrill wind shifts the clouds apace
Through skies the morning scarce may climb.
Thine eyes are thick with heavy tears,
But lit with hopes that light the year's."
 Algernon Charles Swinburne, A Year's Carols: February

 

Colour to cheer and inspire

On a dark wet February Saturday morning it can feel like Spring is a very long way off.  The garden is already sodden with rain and then the snow and sleet start.  None of it is laying, but the weather keeps me in the house yet again.  Luckily there is some sunshine in the form of the seville oranges I am making into marmalade.  Seville oranges and their perfumed bitter flavour are one of those rare completely seasonal items - they are only available in January and February here, so that means a couple of weekends of making marmalade each year.

 

In spite of my impatience finally the marmalade reaches setting point and I wonder why no recipe ever tells you quite how long this will take.  Many of them suggest boiling for 15 minutes which is a complete nonsense!

 

As its so grey and cold outside, I've made sure there are flashes of colour inside Hazel Cottage.  Although spring isn't here yet, there are splashes of spring colour to cheer and inspire.

 

 

 

Whilst waiting for the marmalade to boil up, I watched the birds in the garden frantically flutter around in the snow and sleet and daydreaming about all the flowers I hope to grow in the summer.  I really want to be better at growing from seed and in my plans I dream of a warm golden summers day sitting in the garden surrounded by flowers and bees and  butterflies.  In the meantime  I must get on and make the patchwork cushion I started before Christmas.....

 

 

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour."  - John Boswell