Gone...

...January, that is. It seemed to pass very quickly. One of the things I enjoy during January is putting food out for the birds and watching to see who visits. So far this winter we have seen:-

Many... sparrows, jackdaws, starlings
Some... dunnocks, chaffinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits,
A pair of... robins, collared doves.
A solitary... thrush, wood pigeon
The occasional... magpie
One time only... a wren, a bullfinch, a redwing.

I have had a feeder with nyjer seeds out for about two weeks now to attract goldfinches, but it hasn't worked. The sparrows eat the seeds but only if all the other feeders are empty.

Here are some of the sparrows sitting on the branches of the white lilac tree enjoying the sunshine.

To get the blackbirds and thrush to visit I put out apples.

 I like the star in the centre of the apple when it's cut across its middle.

And I like the pecked effect too.

This winter, to my knowledge, the cat has not caught any birds. So much better than last year. Then I think it was a novelty, now she likes to spend most of the day sleeping.

Also in January we are treated to some lovely wintry skies. Cue lots of pretty sky photos, all taken from the back door or thereabouts...

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now it's February. Already the days feel lighter though Spring is still a long way off. I have another interview at the end of February - same course, different location. I should find out how I did in my January interview by this Friday. Thank you to all who wished me well, it is much appreciated. I've been in my current employment for eight years now - the pay and hours are rubbish but it's been great fun (I'm a "full time Mum" for anyone new). It's time to move on as my youngest will be starting school in August. I mentioned I was concerned about childcare juggling, I'd rather not leave the children in care + school from 8am till 6pm five days a week, so we'll see what we can work out...

Before I finish, here are a few more random January scenes before it's too late...

 

 

And last, but not least...

 ...one of our craft group members had a little baby girl in November. We finally got the blanket finished a week or so ago. We didn't know at first whether it would be a boy or a girl, we found out soon enough to add a few squares of pink. It's a mixture of knitting and crochet and the squares were made by different people - there was much swapping of balls of wool and completed squares at the school gates. Originally it was to have been solid blocks of colour, but that was considered too boring - people wanted to play with patterns. I think it's worked out really well, it's certainly one of a kind!