Warm, Wet and Windy.

With Christmas well behind us now and daylight hours beginning to lengthen it is time to get back outside and see what we can reasonably do when the weather conditions allow.    Warm, wet and windy sums it up, in that order.  Thankfully we have no fear of being flooded out; we are at the top of a hill, but I do keep a wary eye on the willow trees around the pond.  I keep expecting some of them to give way.  They have not been pollarded for many years and, in fact, I had already arranged for just that to be done early in the New Year.  It will change the view enormously but it really must be done.

Filling the bird feeders is a regular job at this time of year.  I could set my clock by the time the birds feed, which is useful when I want to look out for any newcomers.  House sparrows and many other small birds leave the farmland in winter and go  for garden bird feeders where fat products are particularly valuable.  I provide suet balls, which are less costly than peanuts and do not attract squirrels.  Having said that it is entertaining to watch the squirrels running around in the leafless trees and jumping from branch to branch.

If you are a traditionalist it will soon be time to take down the Christmas decorations; twelfth night; is it January 5th or 6th?  The discussion comes up every year;  perhaps you could give me your opinions   The village has looked particularly attractive this year, with a Christmas tree, kindly donated by parishioners, Suzanne and David Green and surrounded by "pretend" parcels made up by children and villagers.  The Cross Keys also did its bit with a Christmas tree and a splendid pudding adorning the steps.  The Christmas dinner, attended by a number of village ladies was very enjoyable as will be the New Years Eve party, scheduled for tonight.

    

  

   

Christmas is Coming.

A lot of rain recently has made outdoor activity rather unnattractive.  Happily the programme of local events has provided a pleasant alternative.  The Bookcase put on an unusual seasonal talk, starting with a potted history of the Christmas Tree, and its introduction to the festive scene in Britain.  Not surprisingly, as it was a feature of German festivities, it appeared in the royal household, at the time of Queen Victoria.  From there it was quickly adopted by the general public and has remained, ever since, an essential ingredient of our Christmas decorations.  The remainder of the afternoon was given over to showing pictures of unusual baubles, mainly glass, but some in other fabrics, collected by the speaker, Peter Smith, over a period of years.                                                 
  

     

Initially most of these baubles were to be found in the USA but as their popularity and variety increased they became more readily available in this country.  Techniques for their production developed.

With a collection of over 200 to choose from Christmas in the Smith household must be a daunting undertaking every year.      

Writing about Christmas decorations reminds me that our holly trees, which were thick with berries a few weeks ago, have now shed most of them, making a carpet on the ground beneath.  This happens nearly every year and I should really like to know why.  It may be the few windy days we have had; it certainly is not lack of water.  Oddly enough the birds do not seem interested in them.  The blackbirds prefer the fallen apples and have now been joined by flocks of fieldfares.  A sparrowhawk is to be seen regularly hovering over the long grass in the paddock before swooping down on some small mammal; what amazing eyesight they must have.  Another welcome sighting has been the barn owl, flying low along the hedge in the same paddock.  The tussocky.grass provides a good supply of voles which are a favourite source of food for the barn owl.