Monday 15 February 2016

Spring Loaded




Spring hadn't sprung yesterday, but it certainly felt as if it was about to. Youngest Boy and I decided to go down the road to Kirby Hall, somewhere I've continually gone back to for, ooh, a very long time. Snowdrops gave a soft patterning of white as we went down the avenue, the Hall itself welcomed us with window bar shadows reaching out into the bare empty rooms. After the obligatory hiding from each other and then jumping out with blood-curdling shouts (annoying those with audio tours clamped to their ears) we ventured outside. The upturned willow had to be climbed, but I took great pleasure in seeing what had happened to it since it fell over six years ago or so. My first picture of it above was taken in 2010, and I was so gratified that it hadn't been attacked with a chain saw (probably because willow spits like hell in a woodburner) or replaced by a sapling in a rabbit-proof plastic tube. No, it had been left to itself, and now wands of new willow have shot up in profusion. Sometimes we manage too much.

It was all very invigorating, and when we got home ready to start preparing lunch (well, I did) we found that the daffodils had trumpeted out from the Adnam's jug. Spring really does seem to be around the corner. Let's hope.

Pledge for the Unmitigated Postcard Box here.

11 comments:

Philip Wilkinson said...

Good to see the willow getting on with the business of renewing itself. Mr Mabey would approve of the hands-off approach to management too.

Peter Ashley said...

Yes, I thought of Mr.Mabey and his comments about renewal after the Great Storm.

Sue said...

The daffodils are looking good on the Adnams. It has that effect on me, too!

Peter Ashley said...

And me Sue. I felt the need to crack open a couple of Broadsides to help the looking at them.

Gawain said...

And the birds are singing in the mornings, too. Crocuses and snowdrops in the Churchyard. Lovely.

Peter Ashley said...

Lovely Gawain. And down the lane here a very fat woodpigeon stared at me from a dead branch sticking out of a tree. Favourite haunt of a pair of crows so he won't be there long.

Biff Raven-Hill said...

Lovely - we so nearly went on Sunday ourselves. Gorgeous daffodils....

Dickie Straker said...

It does indeed feel like it's just around the corner Peter - on hols in a chilly but spring like Pembrokeshire - the daffs and birdsong at St Davids Cathedral a joy to behold! Shell guide in hand and all is well!! TTFN Dickie ps good stuff that Broadside

Peter Ashley said...

That's great Dickie. You've made me turn to both the Shell Guide and County Poster. For a wonderful spring day see Richard Eurich's Cornwall. I may post it as the season progresses.

Dickie Straker said...

I never travel without my trusty Shell guides on hols, great to do a comparison - thankfully not a great deal of change in Pembs! Those posters are wonderful, we have Dorset and Norfolk nicely framed at home - very underrated! TTFN Dickie

Peter Ashley said...

Dorset one of the best, John Nash's very red lobster.