I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw what appeared to be a rosebud outside my kitchen window a couple of days ago. Surely not. In November?
But it is indeed a rose, and since it was frosty last night - enough to make a skimming of ice on the chickens' water bowls - I thought I should take a photo of it, to record its determination in the face of advancing months. I have picked it now, we have clear skies tonight and the potential for more frost, and it seems a shame to leave it outside where it will inevitably get frost damage and be destroyed by tomorrow morning. If it has tried so hard to flower for our delight, the least I can do is enjoy it for as long as possible.
Today was a day of relaxation after working yesterday so I fed the girls some chicken porage. I mixed together corn, oats, wild bird seed and hot water - they seem to enjoy it and it's good to see them fluffing up their feathers, preening and jostling for position at the food bowl, especially when you think that this time last year they were trapped in a cage about the size of a dinner plate and had never seen the sky.
I also went to the local garden centre and splurged on new bird feeders for the wild bird population. We have seen everything from wrens to sparrow hawks in the garden in the last year so I'm hoping they will be much visited this winter. This morning I heard the honking of geese flying over and jumped out of bed to catch sight of them flying north in a huge V. They were too far away to see clearly. Maybe I should look around for a second hand beginner telescope, it would be nice to get a closer look at them.
Are you a birdwatcher? Or even a ringer?
I'd love to know more about it all.
n
