Sighted - the first sign of spring!

Forget the clocks changing, primroses and daffs coming out, lambs in the field and the temperature being so much warmer. On Exmoor the first sign of spring has been sighted – Styles ice cream van was up on Porlock Hill yesterday! I was coming back from Alderman’s Barrow after taking the dogs for a beautiful long walk up over the top and spied the van. Needless to say that I didn’t have a penny on me and had to go without a homemade stem ginger ice cream – sometimes life can be very unfair!

Yesterday we had our first evening walk of the year along the river at Larcombe Foot near Winsford. It was so warm and the birdsong was beautiful with a woodpecker hammering away in the distance. As usal the dogs spent most of the time in the river with Soda swimming for sticks and tiring herself out - (needless to say she is sleeping soundly in the sun this morning).

We had a busy weekend with our guests who all enjoyed lovely weather and lots of walking. Pat and Stella are staying with us again and their son and his family came up from Whimple in East Devon near where we used to live. They visited lots of the beautiful areas near us and had a cream tea at the Falconry and small animal centre in Allerford.

Last week we popped down to Otter Nurseries in East Devon to meet my mum and sister. It is very large garden centre and sells everything. All the plant stock looks very healthy and Julie who is a very keen gardener (bordering on the extreme) spent a happy hour choosing clematis and debating the best compost to buy. Derek and I meanwhile had a look, sit, snooze in all the garden rooms and conservatories!

On the way home we called in to see Aunty Lil and then to see Aly and Martyn for a catch up. Soda came with us as she does like a day out. On the way home there was a badger trundling on in front of us much to Sodas excitement. Not sure what she would have done if we had stopped the car and she had got out - probably run as fast as she could in the opposite direction!

The garden is starting to come alive with LOADS of daffs, hyacinths, aubretia, pussy willow and the lawns have actually been mown twice. Doesn’t seem very long ago that we couldn’t see them because of the snow. As the clocks are going forward next weekend, Derek will be able to start spending more time in the garden working (or chatting)!

Spring is in the air - honestly!

The weather has been beautiful over the past few days – dry with bright sunshine and perfect for walking. Yesterday I took the dogs up to Dunkery Hill Gate and walked across the fields and down into the valley. It was so lovely not to have to get kitted out in wet weather gear but just a couple of light layers and walking boots. The dogs loved it too – they just galloped for miles. There was plenty of wildlife about with 2 large herds of deer who didn’t seem to be in the slightest bit perturbed about us being there, four buzzards hovering on the wind currents and a woodpecker hammering away.

The dogs dived in and out of the gorse bushes looking for rabbits with Soda looking on supervising the situation (with no intention of actually going into the gorse – far too prickly). A couple of rabbits popped out, took a look at the dogs who were too busy to see them and then disappeared into the next bush – this continued all the way up the hill!

Our bed and breakfast guests have certainly made the most of the dry days. Walks to Dunkery Beacon, Dunster and Culbone Stable to name a few.

The countryside is looking beautiful and the fields are starting to green up. The farmers are gearing up for spring with fields being prepared for drilling, lambing well underway and hedges being cut and laid before the bird nesting season. The drier weather isn’t good for everything as lots of the frogspawn laid in the puddles is starting to dry up and die. Derek managed to get another 4 loads of wood from Ashwick ready for next winter – we now have 2 very large piles of wood in the car park!

We have heard about most of the puppies and all (including owners) are doing well and very happy! As you can see from the photo, John and Lyn who took Meg and Molly are taking the act of bonding with their new offspring very seriously - although I'm not sure who is more tired out! Jo brings round Charlie quite often and Wistful and Wagtail play like mad with him.