 First light at the beginning of January |  Sunrise at the beginning of February |
Well here we are in February - the 10th to be precise. And just haven't written in our Diary for some time, as is apparent. This is mainly due to our Quilly Pens having frozen up during the cold weather or our Parchment, upon which we make notes, having been wet and soggified. Our efforts to keep warm have not been in vain - most of us have survived the dark days of winter - and now we are looking forward to spring. The mornings are getting gradually lighter earlier and the evenings too, are miraculously staying lighter later. The honeysuckle is sprouting her first leaves in the hedgerows and the primrose is pushing her green undergarments up amongst the dried, pale brown oak leaves in the bank.
 There it is! Growing under the snow all the time! The welcome primrose. |  Harvest dans la piscine |
Mum and Dad have sported an assortment of strange clothes during the cold weather. They seem to go for the layered look - piling as many coats on top of coats as is humanly possible to walk in. Dad has not been spied without a brown furry Balalaika on his head. It has long ears and reminds us of Sammy Squirrel. Mum says it is a sort of Balaclava - but we're not so sure. And Mum has taken to wearing an old-fashioned headscarf! What is that about? Kizzie was frankly horrified - as are the motorists that see her at the wheel of her car.
"It keeps the wind out of my ears," she explained. "You know Gordon - everyone wore a headscarf like this when I was a young pullet."
What even Dad?
"And Princess Anne still wears one!"
It does have it's disadvantages though - the woolly hat that perches on top most precariously, slides off at the drop of a hat. Many a time Mum has returned from feeding Lois minus her bobble hat. We think there are three to our knowledge scattered around the field somewhere. Come to think of it - that will be a good idea for a Treasure Hunt when this year's chicks get under our feet! Gordon xxx
"It keeps the wind out of my ears," she explained. "You know Gordon - everyone wore a headscarf like this when I was a young pullet."
What even Dad?
"And Princess Anne still wears one!"
It does have it's disadvantages though - the woolly hat that perches on top most precariously, slides off at the drop of a hat. Many a time Mum has returned from feeding Lois minus her bobble hat. We think there are three to our knowledge scattered around the field somewhere. Come to think of it - that will be a good idea for a Treasure Hunt when this year's chicks get under our feet! Gordon xxx