0715/1722

Some early childhood memories from "the old fields":
Hedges of Hawthorn and Blackthorn, grasses taller than me, the family digging for Pignuts, my brother chasing and studying butterflies while I collected flowers to press or make into photograms in Dad's wardrobe-darkroom.

I was so happy then. I had far less to worry about than I do now - but all those things still make me feel happy.

Today I spotted the first few Blackthorn flowers of the year. Tonight I drink my last little bit of Sloe Gin :)

0737/1700

At last we've had some snow! Which is only fair, I think, after the bitterly cold winds these last few weeks.

I went for a walk around my local nature reserve this morning. In between the whiteness and the withered fruits which still hang on the branches, I spied a few signs of new life. Not confused flowers or Winter plants this time - but green leaves on the Elder and the Hawthorn.

We may get more snow yet, and it's still too dark in the evenings for allotmenteering or foraging, but I'm ready. I've had enough of the numb fingers and toes now. Come on Spring!

:)

Just a quick blog entry to show you the e-card my brother Chris drew for my birthday - I love it!



I wish my cat would really ride in my basket like that.

Come to think of it, I wish she would help out a bit more on the allotment too...

2012

Christmas and the solstice have passed, the holiday is almost over and we've started a new year. I'm noticing signs of spring before we've had any proper winter weather - there are tiny buds on the trees, Daffodil shoots coming up in the hedgerows and Lords and Ladies peeking out from under the leaf litter. Today I even saw Cow Parsley in flower (confused perhaps) and eggshells dropped far from the nests of careful (but not so wise) birds.





My resolution is to make a positive, personal record of 2012 in my paper diary. I am going to write about, draw or photograph one event at the end of each day - something that has made me happy.

Autumn seems to take its time in passing. A few leaves still cling to the trees and shimmer in the low sunlight, even now the winter frosts have arrived and we're approaching our darkest day.



My allotment is in slow-motion, which is good news because I have very little opportunity to get over there at this time of year. Last weekend I moved a few blackcurrant bushes and took cuttings from some wild gooseberries. Most of my fruit trees are bare, but one small apple which I grew from a pip is still green and energetic. There are lots of wild and self-sown leaves to pick, my favourites at the moment are sorrel and cornsalad. I have a small patch of alexanders, which when it resurfaces each year on my boggy land-locked plot always amazes me. I plan to try a liqueur, perhaps John Wright's Gin Alexanders. I'm not convinced I'll have it ready by Christmas though...

Foggy morning

Maiden Erlegh Lake, Reading

Pictures without words

I carry my camera almost everywhere and I just love the light at this time of year. I keep wondering if I should start another photo-a-day project. Last time I didn't post the photos online; I stuck them into a book. Looking through it now I am swept back in time and I remember the way I felt when they were taken. They are not records of what I actually did; they are simply images of things I saw. I didn't intend that they would be symbolic, but they inevitably turned out so.

Perhaps instead I will just try to update my blog more often. I might actually manage that if I post pictures without words sometimes.