Tags
bird-scare cannons, Christmas box, crocus, Cymbidium orchids, dandelion, Diary, Germander Speedwell, Homersfield church, mallards, miniature iris, Periwinkle, primroses, snow, snowdrops, St Mary's church Homersfield, Suffolk, sweet violets, walking, winter-flowering honeysuckle
This is the view from our spare bedroom window. We had had a few days of snow showers but nothing had settled until we woke on the Sunday morning to this. Up until a few years ago we got snow every winter, sometimes a lot of snow; but not now.
Richard and I went to church together that Sunday.
Homersfield church is beautifully situated on a bluff above the River Waveney with its water meadows and marshes. My favourite approach to it is up a track through woodland.
The snow had all gone by the end of the day and the beginning of the following week was mild and sunny.
Richard and I went out for a short walk down the lane. He can’t walk too far as yet so we weren’t able to do our usual circuit route but it was good to be out together.

We have been listening to bird-scaring cannons going off at intervals every day, from dawn til dusk since the middle of autumn. Wood pigeons do considerable damage to leafy crops such as oil-seed rape.
Further up the lane was the sheltered bank of a ditch on which I found a number of tiny plants. They had begun flowering in the milder weather we had had that week.

Primrose. This is a ‘thrum-eyed’ primrose flower. If you look at the centre of the flower you see its long stamens, the short stigma is hidden below. A ‘pin-eyed’ primrose has a long stigma visible and its short stamens are concealed. I will see if I can find a ‘pin-eye’ flower so you can compare the two.

An oak tree in a hedgerow. A dead branch has broken and is dangling from the tree. You cannot see it in this photo but a single track road runs this side of the hedge.
We stood for a while and looked across the fields; we tried to walk a little further towards the village of St James but Richard soon knew he would be too tired if he went any further. We turned for home.
For many months of the year our lane is covered with a thick layer of mud. Our cars are perpetually filthy and walking is a messy business!
I know it is spring once I start to see pairs of Mallards on our pond! We have also been visited by our Graylag geese friends and yet again we realise we have failed to clear the the willow and bramble scrub off the island they like to nest on.
I was pleased that my Cymbidium orchids flowered from Christmas until just a week ago.
Here is a slideshow of the flowers in bloom in my garden during February.
My music choice is ‘Laudate Dominum’ by Mozart and sung by Emma Kirkby. I have been fortunate to have heard Emma Kirkby sing on two occasions, in recitals held at the church in my mother’s village.
Thanks for visiting!
Listening to the Mozart and watching the spring flowers in your garden scroll by – I cannot think of any better way to pass a few sublime minutes – thank you Clare 🙂 x
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Thank-you very much, Liz! xx
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Fantastic photos, Clare! I especially enjoyed the picture of Richard “looking very Russian.” 🙂 Your church is so beautiful. Have a great week! xo
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Thank-you so much, Jill! Enjoy your week xo
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The picture of the Mallards is lovely. Head down in the Benefice office the beauty of our area tends to pass me by.
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Thank-you very much for taking the time to comment, Richard. I can only imagine how very busy you are at present.
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Lovely photos as ever, and Emma Kirkby is a great musical choice. She came to the Swaledale Festival last year and was utterly fantastic.
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Thank-you very much, Margaret! She’s wonderful, isn’t she? Her voice is still lovely and she has so many interesting anecdotes too.
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Happy first day of Spring, Clare! I am enjoying the pictures of all the new growth your area. Everything is coming along here as well, and the grass will be mowed this Thursday, the next hopefully dry day. We’ve had plenty of rain lately.
A beautiful music selection. 🙂
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Thank-you so much, Lavinia! Richard managed to give the grass a first cut a week ago and then tidied it yesterday. Just in time, as we have had a lot of rain today!
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Enjoyed that, Clare. Snow always LOOKS alright..I’m a secret admirer. Spring has crept up – banks of primroses always remind me of my grandmother (long story). And the music is lovely, and appropriate – though I’m just about to put some Chuck Berry on (of course). Thank you for identifying the Ivy-leaved Toadflax – I knew I could rely on you!
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My pleasure, Mike and thank-you! I’m an admirer of snow too, though I hate ice and slush.
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Lovely post to read with splendid photographs. I loved the primrose.
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Thank-you very much, Susan.
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I didn’t think that it snowed much there. Interesting (and disturbing) that you used to get a lot and now get hardly any. Weather is becoming worrisome.
Too bad you have mud. We have plenty here so it’s not hard to imagine how that makes you feel.
It’s great to see all the flowers! The indoor orchid is a beautiful thing.
I hope Richard recovers quickly so he can get out and enjoy spring.
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Thank-you very much Allen. We have never had as much snow as you get in New Hampshire but we would regularly have six inches or so of snow and it would stay put for a while before thawing. Richard is recovering slowly, much more slowly than he would like! He has started to do a little work outside but he can’t work for long.
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Sciatica can be so painful!
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It is terrible. His exercises have helped strengthen his back and most of the feeling has returned to his leg but each time he tries to do a little more work the pain in his back returns.
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He and I would have a lot to talk about but I haven’t yet figured out how to hurry along a healing back. Walking seems to work best for me but it’s easy to overdo it.
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Yes, walking helped my back when I damaged it but, as you say, it is very easy to do too much.
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Emma Kirkby is a wonderful singer. I remember clearly being stunned the first time that I heard her sing.
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Her voice is so pure and seems so effortless.
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Emma Kirkby! Such a voice, so clear – and seems like a nice woman, too. Lucky you to hear her in person. Your snow put a lovely bit of magic on everything, didn’t it?
That was your rector who commented above, wasn’t it, Clare? Your blog is famous. 🙂
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Thank-you very much, Lisa! Yes, That was Richard our Rector! Only for another four months though because he retires in the summer 😦 He was one of my very first followers!
I’m glad you like Emma Kirkby’s voice – it is still lovely even now.
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Yes! I was frankly amazed when I heard her sing something recently recorded.
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Oh, and – are your doors all installed?
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Yes they are all installed and are very good!
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Excellent!
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We’re getting out of winter and slowly diving into Spring. You are the opposite! Great pictures Clare, I like the snowdrops and the gorgeous oak by the hedgerow. 🙂
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Thank-you so much HJ! We are now slowly getting spring-like too!
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Snowdrops blooming in the snow! Love that and love all the photos of spring, mud and all!
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Thank-you very much Kerry!
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Oh Clare thank you for sharing these pictures of a new Spring and Richard’s fab hat. Bliss to disappear and revel in your blog for a while. ❤ Xx hugs Xxx
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Thank-you dear Jane! Welcome back!
xx ❤ xx
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wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing!!!!!!
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Thank-you very much, Tamara!
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Lovely pictures Clare. We rarely get snow anymore either so it’s an occasion when it happens!
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Thank-you very much, Andrea! Yes, you’re right – a real occasion.
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Great photos, Clare! Very fond of the field views – makes me miss the flatness of my homelands and the big sky. Thank you 😊
Best wishes,
Alice
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Thank-you very much, Alice!
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Your church is so beautiful – it’s easy to imagine walking up through the woodlands to greet it. I love the pictures of the snowdrops with snow on them and all of the colorful flowers. Happy Spring!
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Thank-you so much, Sheila and a Happy Spring to you too!
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I shuddered at the sight of that snow, and made a mental note to get my Russian hat out of the garage. It’s always good to see how other people are getting on. Great flower photos too. 😉
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Thank-you Simon! Fortunately the snow has kept away since then.
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🙂
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Homersfield church and its surroundings are gorgeous dear Clare… It seems it was a cold day, indeed. But Spring will soon be there in more graphical ways, right!? 😉
I truly liked the pics… Oh, Those flowers, the primrose, crocus and dandelion look lovely. I am hoping that the new seasons brings you Joy and Goodness, my friend.
Love & best wishes, always! 😀 ❤
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Thank-you so much for your lovely comment, my dear friend ❤ Yes spring is here and the flowers are blooming – but it's still sooooo cold! xx
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Clare, it’s always so good to go touring with you. Thank you for all the photos and details. Richard looks nifty in his Russian hat, and I am glad he can manage short walks. I know you both like to take long walks together and I hope that when the really nice weather comes along, you’ll be able to do so.
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Thank-you very much, Cynthia. He has improved recently! We went for a three mile walk on Saturday and he coped very well.
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Great news.
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Thank-you!
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Funny thing s we never quite know if we have seen the end of the snow, yet it feels like so long ago since all that. Love a good blast from the not to distant past though.
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Thank-you Ste J. Yes, the snow seems ages ago now (all of 7 weeks)!
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What beautiful orchids, Clare. A very cheering sight.
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Thank-you!
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