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The Blackthorn

22/3/2011

 

This morning Mrs Buzz flew silently over the big field, her wings steadily and rhythmically guiding her towards the trees,  and a lone crow mocked her. She flew on unconcerned and as no friends came to join him he very soon went about his business again. The Lapwings rose in a fountain from the middle - from still and quiet to a crescendo of aerobatic calls and dances. Mr and Mrs Fox had left dewy prints in the morning grass around the edge of the field, a well used path to the rabbits' bank. The oak and ash buds are tightly shut and look as if they will stay that way forever!
The blackthorn bushes have clusters of buds waiting in the wings. There can often be a cold end to March. Three years ago the Easter weekend in late March was marked by a hefty snowfall that produced a winter wonderland. This cold spell was so common in the past that it used to be called the “blackthorn winter”, when ancient folklore described how the blossom of blackthorn bushes appeared during mild weather, only to be destroyed by a cold snap at the end of March. Maybe the blackthorn knows we aren't out of the woods yet.
The cold closing days of March were also known as borrowed days, as one rhyme goes:
March borrowed from April
Three days and they were ill.
The first was snow and sleet,
The next was cold and wet,
The third was such a freeze
The birds’ nests stuck to trees.

There are bleak folklore tales about the end of March across much of Europe. In Ireland, the legend of borrowed days describes a cow that complained about the harshness of March weather. The month of March took exception to this and borrowed a few wet and stormy days from April to teach the cow a lesson. Lois told us that she wasn't going to say a word! Gordon x
                                                                  ===================

Just a quick Hello from me! I am still having a lovely time with Martin and the girls. He is most attentive to our needs and we are starting to lay eggs in our cosy nest box. Dad seems very pleased with us too. It won't be long before I am back exploring with Gordon again. But I am quite sure he is very capable of keeping you up to date with the news!
Lots of Love Sylvia xxx

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    About Us

    Hello! My name is Gordon and I am a Gold Sebright and my best friend is Sylvia. She is a Silver Sebright. We live with our foster parents on a small farm in the country.  We thought that we would put our take on life and what we get up to through the year into a diary for you. All the characters are real and the events are a true record,  interpreted with a modicum of poetic licence. We hope you enjoy it. Love Gordon and Sylvia

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