Yesterday we had so much rain. Not just rain. But real rain - of the heavy, incessant variety that forced it's way through the gaps in the roof of the barn and the stables. Just when you thought you had found a dry spot in which to shelter - there it was - drip, drip, drip on your comb. Ghastly.
And poor Stewart Stoat met with an untimely end. He with the gleaming red coat and pale yellow tummy was found lying in the middle of the road upside down and stationary. Very stationary. Mum had spotted him earlier dashing across the road in the middle of the afternoon. He hunts by scent and was after the baby rabbits in the bank we think. But he made just one crossing too many and whop! Off he went to the great Mustelidia in the sky. We peered inquisitively at his teeth. Not big - nothing like Harveys - but as sharp as needles. But then the most obnoxious odour emanated from his rear end - his final word on the matter - and we very soon retreated to our drippy shelters.
So the Vernal Equinox is almost upon us again. There is an old myth - or is it real - that you can stand raw eggs on end on the first day of spring. Astronomers define the beginning of spring as the time when the Sun is seen to cross the celestial equator, although as far as we can make out there is no astronomical reason why you should be able to balance raw eggs on the first day of spring as opposed to any other day! But if we can persuade the ladies to provide us with an egg or two we shall put it to the test!
Talking of seasons - we have decided in our wisdom that March, April and May are spring. And June, July and August are summer. September, October and November autumn and the three longest and coldest months of December, January and February are winter. Irrespective of what the Astronomers say. And to back this up we dug out four Ladybird books in Harvest's vast library. They were written by E.L. Grant Watson and published between 1959 and 1961 and they are called 'What to Look for in Spring' etc. and each one covers the three months as we outlined earlier. There! Absolute proof!
And just a word of condolence to Harry as we hear that Captain Peacock died yesterday.
Gordon & Sylvia xxx
And poor Stewart Stoat met with an untimely end. He with the gleaming red coat and pale yellow tummy was found lying in the middle of the road upside down and stationary. Very stationary. Mum had spotted him earlier dashing across the road in the middle of the afternoon. He hunts by scent and was after the baby rabbits in the bank we think. But he made just one crossing too many and whop! Off he went to the great Mustelidia in the sky. We peered inquisitively at his teeth. Not big - nothing like Harveys - but as sharp as needles. But then the most obnoxious odour emanated from his rear end - his final word on the matter - and we very soon retreated to our drippy shelters.
So the Vernal Equinox is almost upon us again. There is an old myth - or is it real - that you can stand raw eggs on end on the first day of spring. Astronomers define the beginning of spring as the time when the Sun is seen to cross the celestial equator, although as far as we can make out there is no astronomical reason why you should be able to balance raw eggs on the first day of spring as opposed to any other day! But if we can persuade the ladies to provide us with an egg or two we shall put it to the test!
Talking of seasons - we have decided in our wisdom that March, April and May are spring. And June, July and August are summer. September, October and November autumn and the three longest and coldest months of December, January and February are winter. Irrespective of what the Astronomers say. And to back this up we dug out four Ladybird books in Harvest's vast library. They were written by E.L. Grant Watson and published between 1959 and 1961 and they are called 'What to Look for in Spring' etc. and each one covers the three months as we outlined earlier. There! Absolute proof!
And just a word of condolence to Harry as we hear that Captain Peacock died yesterday.
Gordon & Sylvia xxx