Announcement! The first swallow of the year appeared above the skies of Damson Cottage on Friday! I spent the whole day gardening and at 10 a.m I heard a familiar trilling, looked up, and there it was - swooping above me, and I am SURE it was saying, ‘Hello! I am returned!’
Of course, I greeted it with equal and great enthusiasm.
‘Hello, swallow! How wonderful to see you. Congratulations on arriving safely home!’
I wondered if the swallow was one of the parents from last year, or one of the nine babies. Anyway, it’s been hanging around the house, perching on the TV aerial and singing away, waiting patiently for the return of more of its family before the ‘Battle For Laundry Nest Ownership’ begins in earnest. I feel very joyful at its return and am looking forward to hosting many angry baby swallows as the season progresses.
The gourmet mushrooms are progressing at great speed, too. Here is the Status of Mushroom this fine and dandy Sunday morning:
My brother wanted to know why I was growing them, on account of our parents growing them for YEARS until we were all heartily SICK to DEATH of them. I said it was a) novelty value and b) they were gourmet mushrooms and NOT bog standard ones, and, given I am now a woman of a certain age, standing and financial security, I felt it was time to expand my gourmet palate. I don’t know if it will be cheaper to buy them or grow them but I shall keep detailed records of poundage and ounceage etc and work it out with a pencil, as the man who got a peanut stuck in his ear said.
More geraniums, lupins and asters are popping up in the greenhouse but still no sign of the tomatoes. Perhaps it was a dud packet of seeds. Very disappointing, anyway. I sowed some sweet peas.
I have another ‘thing’ to put on my ‘Sixty for Sixty’ list. Well, two things actually - both garden related. One is to install an auricula theatre on the laundry wall. I love auriculas and the laundry wall is bare and unappealing. Little auricula faces would jazz it up very well. And the second is to buy a sundial which is something I’ve been after for years and can’t think why I just haven’t done it. I was thinking about Auntie Pollie this morning and the number of times she said she fancied to have a conservatory built on the back of her house. And she never did and now it’s too late. Anyway, there is a lovely spot in the centre of the raised bed area which would suit a sundial very well indeed. I plan to put two of Auntie Pollie’s garden ornaments either side, so she can supervise my veg growing.
On Friday evening, I had a video chat with a friend who lives in Brazil. I was telling her about the return of the swallow and all the leaves and blossoms bursting out all over the place, and she said they don’t get that kind of defined seasonal shift where she lives. She said the temperatures remain pretty constant all year round. There isn’t really what you’d call Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. She said it’s mostly hot and there is a rainy season. No days growing longer, then shorter, then longer again.
And I thought how glad I am to be living in England, even though we seem to complain about the weather all the time. I am glad for the ever-changing views from my window as the Wheel of the Year turns. For the cosy inside times when Winter slows and we can rest. For this mad, crazy Springtime when everything spurts into growth and I wonder if I’ll ever keep up with it all. For the visits of the swallows who stay here for six months, before leaving.
For if they didn’t leave, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the thrill of their return.
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KJ