11th January 2006

Well, despite my eternally optimistic nature, I do find this a gloomy time of year.  The main thing to report is MUD.  I wish I could use adjectives like ‘glorious’ but I can’t.  There is mud everywhere and everything is covered in it.  Adding to my negative frame of mind is that lambing time is approaching and I am filled with the sense of foreboding that you feel when faced with any great task ahead.

What a wonderful sanctuary the cabin is from the mud and, if I were on holiday there, I would be snuggling in front of the stove with a book.  But perhaps you don’t have lots of mud at home and you should take advantage of the copious amounts in Obley.

After that miserable start, I look out of my window and I see the fog has lifted and the sun has come out.  The wonderful January green sunlight is unilaterally lighting the bare branches of an ash tree.  I think I will go for a short walk and write some more this evening because I ‘m not selling Obley to anyone at the moment!

Well, I went for that walk and although you have to look harder to be inspired in January I saw some interesting things.

These catkins on a hazel by the stream are a beautiful shade of pink (I’m not sure if that is significant – will have to research).  Catkins are probably the first welcoming sign that Spring will be here soon.

Isn’t the sun shining through the frostbitten remains of this sycamore leaf beautiful?

Winter is a wonderful time to appreciate the shapes and structure of trees.  This ash is magnificent all year round and I have taken many pictures of it.

This is something I have never really appreciated the beauty of before.  ‘Balls’ of this lichen (?) grow on the Hawthorn bushes and I often see them on the floor after a windy winter’s day.  Does anyone know what it is called?

It just goes to show that the extra effort it takes to look for nature on a cold January morning (although I admit the sun had come out!) makes an especially rewarding experience.
Look out for the lovely bullfinches and long tailed tits, two of my favourite birds, down in the bottom of Obley.  Enjoy the nature of Obley and please let me know if you see anything of interest or if you have any particular areas of expertise.