Our winter worn hedgerows are now showing very positive signs of spring life . Not the early uncharacteristic daffodils which seemed to have no proper sense of timing and were flaunting themselves in early January but delicate clusters of snowdrops and banks peppered with joyful primroses . I say joyful as they seem to be such a happy flower open and uncomplicated .Hawthorn hedges are tinged with green as the fresh buds of tiny leaves form . As children we used to nip them off and nibble them .And everywhere there is a sense of new beginnings . I had to drive today to our local market town and as we went up the valley , we passed spring lambs just turned out in the fields now the rain has stopped . They all seem to be wearing tightly knitted curly coats (one plain one pearl , one plain one pearl )compared with their shaggy coated ever patient mothers , stoically chewing and gazing absently into the distance whilst their energetic youngsters ,tails turning like propellers , nuzzled and butted their underbellies in search of breakfast .
Today was a day for clouds , great fat white billowing clouds scudding across the skyscape, constantly changing and reforming and making a mosaic of light and shade across the hills and and fields .I think I could watch it forever .
But I thought where we were last year and how things have changed in such a short space of time and I wondered where we would be next year - but perhaps best not to .The evenings are drawing out
but it feels as though our days and years are shortening .
Dec 31, are you here again???
