Himself tells me the water in the ditch down the road is positively heaving with rampant croaking frogs...the starlings who nest in a hole in the little potting shed are back...stuffing in bits of dried grass and the occasional stray feather...they hurl insults at us when we walk past...
I think the wrens nest in the old apple tree has been used as a place to sleep on the cold nights...there is a trail of droppings on the bottom edge...if they had babies, there wouldn't be any evidence because they clean the nest out...flying away across the garden to drop the poo...obviously don't bother if there's a group of them huddled together for warmth.
The pigeons will be back soon...dropping a bit of stick into the top of the tree then standing back to admire their handiwork...funny how the smaller the bird the more complicated and intricate the nest they build...the pigeons are incredibly lackadaisical when it comes to caring for their eggs and then the young...the eggs fall out onto the ground where they smash...if one happens to actually hatch the squab will often fall out as well, where it'll lie on its back with its horrid translucent tummy pulsating...
The month of March is so often associated with Mad March Hares...the males box each other...standing upright on their back feet, they try to prove themselves more suitable a mate for the female they both have their eye on...I've only once seen a pair of boxing males...it's quite impressive.
The Irish Hare is much larger than its British counterpart...beloved of the Pagans of course, because of its reputation as a shape-shifter and its connection to the ancient magical tales, the Irish hare is the sacred animal of the Goddess Eostre...she and the Hare are symbols of regeneration and rebirth...new beginnings and new lives.
Early Christians altered the name of Eostre to Easter...gave the Hare an unwarranted reputation as being the sole cause of birth defects...especially that of a hare-lip...but only succeeded in blackening the animals reputation in England. Ireland didn't subscribe to the Christian view of one of their favoured animals and Goddesses.
We often see them here...racing down the old bog road before turning rapidly onto the bog itself and disappearing from view...
It is said to be fortunate indeed to be roaming the highways and byways at night and to come across a circle of Hares gazing at the moon...love and luck and good health will follow you all of your days...so long as you don't disturb them in their reverie.
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Thanks Vashti. I love hares. There's a fabulous folk tale of Melangell in Wales. She was an Irish princess who came to Wales to find peace and solitude to pray. One day she was sheltering under a tree and the prince came past with his hounds. They chased a hare under the tree and she hid under the skirts of Melangell. The prince sent the hounds in to get the hare but they couldn't do it. The holiness of the young woman overcame their instinct. The prince was so impressed by her piety that he gave her land to found her own community. This is right in the heart of Wales, up a valley. The church has recently been restored and is open all the time. It is decorated with many statues of hares, wood, stone, pottery, and instead of the usual "Please don't touch" the notice reads: "Please stroke the hares." Hares in the valley are known as Melangell's Angels. And no one would dream of hunting them. We called when they were holding the annual Hare Festival and I bought a colorgraph picture of the story.
I can't add a photo to a reply or I would post it.
Thank you Vashti, I loved hearing tales of the Hare in Ireland.My Daughter loves them and I am secretly creating a picture for her of two mad hares dancing about😁 I'll be able to tell her how they are symbols of regeneration and rebirth. huff xxx
Lovely picture ,I like to see the hares but living in Suffolk we do have a problem with hare coursing and more so in Norfolk . I don't think I have ever seen any sitting in a circle looking at the moon but you never know and I did have a cow ask me the time one night on the way home from the pub . I have never been to Ireland but I must some time as my mum gave me my Christian name after seeing one of your bogs . Kind regards Allen
Have you seen the Three Hares carvings....three hares in a circle with one ear each, but it looks like they have two ears each. The carvings can be found in the Middle East and in churches in Devon.
I think in Wales hares were seen as witches in disguise or witches familiars .
I've been an avid collector of all things to do with hares, ever since one early Spring morning many years ago, when I lived in the beautiful County of Shropshire, I was going to work down a lane and saw a Hares Meeting in a field - what a wonderful experience it was - I was mesmerised. The sight stays with me forever. As knitter says, carvings on roof bosses of the three hares are not confined to Churches in the UK or across Europe either, and many appear to be interconnected with those of the Green Man.
The secret is not great when one knows it.
But it is something to one who does it.
Turn and turn again and we will also turn,
So that we give pleasure to each of you.
And when we have turned, count our ears,
It is there, without any disguise, you will find a marvel.
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Ok - so what made you leave the beautiful county of Shropshire & where did you live when you were there? Shropshire is my home County although I have to confess to having left many years ago as husband was in the RAF. Our home town was Market Drayton.
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Must have been mad Helen, but not as a March Hare obviously Lived in Ironbridge and then Broseley across the River Severn for many years. Circumstances changed, sadly. I am in close contact with many of the friends I made in Shropshire. I have lots of memories and stories about the amazing characters and things that happened during my time. Ironbridge has changed - it is now mainly commuter populated - different people who work in Telford etc..
Market Drayton is a lovely town. Shropshire is home to many RAF personnel even now isn't it.
Where are the hares in the Devon churches, we have an elephants head, so on good days I go round the churches in Devon looking for other carvings.
I was told by a farmer that boxing hares were the female telling the male to take his amorous intentions elsewhere (but old Percy didn't say it quite like that)!,
I've only seen a hare once in my life, It was so beautiful - and so much power in those back legs when it leapt across the field. Easy to see why they're associated with magic, I felt very priveleged to have seen one. Love the picture.
Thank you Vashti, beautiful picture of one of earth's most venerated creatures; hares appear to be connected with the old ways everywhere - surely can't be coincidence. Son gave me a water colour of a leveret Christmas before last, it has a feeling of stillness about it that isn't fear, just an instinctive awareness of danger, beautifully done by an artist on e-bay of all places. I almost feel I could touch the fur on his head, so real.
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Lived in Ironbridge and then Broseley across the River Severn for many years. Circumstances changed, sadly. I am in close contact with many of the friends I made in Shropshire. I have lots of memories and stories about the amazing characters and things that happened during my time. Ironbridge has changed - it is now mainly commuter populated - different people who work in Telford etc..
