Spring-like
Perhaps it was a little unexpected but welcome all of the same. Sunshine and flowers. The flowers were everywhere you looked, (except for my garden!) Dafodils, snowdrops and crocus were popping up and sharing the splendid colours as the sunshine bounced off the buds encouraging them to open.
Actually, in my garden there was one, brave, lone crocus that popped its smiley face above the overgrown blades of grass.
Its a little blurred but I really wanted to get this image.On Sunday morning I suppose I was feeling all springy having enjoyed the Saturday sun I suggested to my daughter that a brisk morning walk was the answer.
We are so lucky with our surroundings and the Fells are less than a mile away from us. It was very busy with mainly dog-walkers. We felt a little like sore thumbs being the only ones without a dog. My daughter suggested we occasionally whistle and shout “Here boy!!” 
)
)The Fells is one of the last remaining areas of Lowland Heath in the North East of England. I get to be knowledgable as I point out the Heather, the Billberry and Matt grass. With the occasional sighting of a deer the Fell is also home to Lizards, weasel and voles and The meadow pipit.
The views are breath taking, remembering I am not a very good photographer I am still happy to share what we saw.
Here is hoping we have more weekends of Spring sunshine instead of the threat of late February snow!
Angel Birthday!
I have never hidden the fact that I stand firmly on the side of the Angel of the North. I look straight over to it from my office window and for whatever strange reasons I have I feel it inspires me.
Valentines Day has a double celebration in the North East as she reaches the grand old age of 10.
I remember how difficult it was to actually get her transported from where she was made to where she stands now.
I’ve sat at her feet many a clear day and stared out before me wide-eyed at the surrounding beauty.
If you have a look here you will see how they managed to transport the Antony Gormley huge sculpture.
February 11, 2008 at 3:42 pm
It is wonderful when the weather starts to turn. After a very cold Saturday here, the temperature will be 28 degrees warmer today. Amazing how fast it can change. Those are lovely photos and it looks like a great place to enjoy nature, and a funny thing your daughter said.
I am glad you gave the link to the statue, as one would not know how huge it is by the photo above due to perspective, unless one knew if the little dot on the hill to the left were a person.
Spring is in the air.
February 11, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hi Dawn, How lovely to see you here.
) It is really big, at the weekend we are going that way on our travels so I will get some photos of my own for you. My son thinks she is a rusty old eye-sore but I see her beauty! ;o)
The Fells are really nice and to think you can see our house from one of the hills, its really close. Its just a shame we tend to take for granted all of the wonderful rural parts of our area.
So has your snow almost gone then! ;o)
February 11, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Glad you have a crocus peeping out, my yellow ones have been out a while and the purple ones opened up over the sunny weekend. I would really have enjoyed a walk in your countryside~ the pictures make it look very inviting!
February 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Chris I am praying for a second crocus tonight when I get home. Its been lovely and sunny again so fingers crossed.
)
It is nice where we go for our walk but to be honest right on the other side of my garden fence is a large wooded area. (Noisy owls on a night!)Beyond that is a larger wood owned by the forestry commission.
February 11, 2008 at 6:22 pm
North of the Border, the weather and seasons are one of the few events over which our ‘government’ is unlikely to seek control!
Saturday was a ‘pottering’ day when you don’t want to get involved in a major job in case the weather breaks again.
It was lovely but cold, and removal of loeaves and other debris showed the snowdrops…but no croci. There was great interest in the turned soil by my local robin and an amazingly-friendly blackbird.
Even tidying it all up makes a great difference to the look of the garden, and must await another similar Saturday before the renovation can be continued.
I have never seen the ‘Angel’ in the flesh(!), but am pleased to say that the view from our front bedroom is the Campsie Fells.
We all await the heat and croci, followed by daffies.
February 11, 2008 at 7:34 pm
It certainly was a glorious weekend. Fingers crossed that we get plenty more like that.
It sounds, and looks, as though the two of you had a most enjoyable walk.
I’ve yet to see your Angel! I’ve always liked it, and reminds me of the 1930s art deco period.
Have a good week! xx
February 11, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Yay for your springy weather! May it continue! The weather here was downright summary being in the mid 80s. I finished some garden chores and took the kitties to the vet. Hope you start to see more blooming in your garden
February 11, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Hello Harry – I did a little garden pottering myself this weekend but as I said, we were blessed with the weather. Isn’t it strange how relatively close we are in milage terms yet the weather can be a season the difference. I have a friendly blackbird here, at least I think its the same one.
) I suppose it could be lots of friendly blackbirds! I love how brave or downright impitant the robin is!
.
Well then you know just how lucky I am then to have the Fells almost on my doorstep!
The Angel is worth the visit.
)
) Posted you something today (and roomie of course) so give it a week. xx
.
Hey Flighty, it was a good weekend indeed. I’m supposed to be job hunting while I type here! I’ll call it an unofficial tea-break. Time for a kit-kat?? ;o)
We loved our walk and we are going to do it again next Sunday morning, regardless of the weather, we both have wellies and wooly hats.
.
Nikki – Hope the cats behaved themselves!
The mid 80’s! Oh my, we can’t even come to close to that. Here I am getting excited becasue it was a few degrees above zero and the sun shined!
February 12, 2008 at 2:53 am
Very beautiful pictures. You are blessed with such a beautiful scene. And to have flowers popping up now would be such a treat.
I think I should also set the record straight on your question to Dawn about the snow being just about gone. When she said it went up 28 degress…she meant 28˚C. It was -30˚C on Saturday morning and today it got up to -1˚C so she was off by one degree. As for the snow almost gone…NO. We have quite a bit and there is more forecast this week. It hasn’t be above 0˚C for well over a month. Enjoy your spring like weather….ours will come in a month or two…maybe
February 12, 2008 at 5:55 am
Hi Daffy ~~Thank you for your visit and comments. Glad you enjoyed the post. How nice a crocus has appeared to give you hope of Spring not being too distant I hope it soon gets warmer soon and more flowers appear.
Take care, Love Merle. Enjoy the walks with your daughter,
February 12, 2008 at 6:44 am
Hello Merle, You are very welcome, I love my visits to your place. Friendly chat, nice stories and lots of funnies!
) I know I have mentioned before but try as my husband might to have flowers blossom in our garden, the nearby rabbits try hard to thwart our attempts! Having said that I haven’t seen any rabbits for a few weeks now. I wonder if they have found another garden? 
)
)
.
Hello Sirdar! It is nice to see I must admit but the worry is that we still have bad weather and freezing temps to come so all the early starters will be lost.
I hope the next two months or so don’t bring too much more snow, and then you can report on the sringlike changes too.
February 12, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Great blog Daffy and lovely pic’s too. I quite envy you your access to the Fells, how wonderful to be THAT close to nature. And I LOVE the Angel too and can’t believe she’s 10… blimey, how time flies huh? [Thanks for the links too, I'll browse those with a coffee later]
February 12, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Wow! That’s quite amazing!
February 12, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Hey there lovely lady! Do you that its amazing that I can manage to go for a walk on a Sunday morning? No! lol, you mean the Angel don’t you! She sure is a sight! Hope you are well!
.
Hi BP – Well I know you already admire our lovely structure. Rumour has it that the Londoners want one but they want it to be bigger than ours! *ahem*
February 12, 2008 at 2:35 pm
LOL, of course it’s the Angel that I am talking about you silly goose! Well, I think that YOU are also quite amazing too so I guess I should have been more specific!
February 12, 2008 at 2:51 pm
haha! Beleive me…. I’m good going down the hills but not so spritely going up them!
)
) xx
Funnily enough my daughter sayd my walk id very gooselike.
February 12, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Art is a strange thing – who was it that said “I don’t know art, but I know what I like?”
I also like the angel – there is something about it – a charm or something. I had a mini-walk out on my bit of countryside (well, canal) this weekend, although too much to do so had to cut it short and couldn’t wander as much as I’d've liked; maybe this weekend if the weather holds (I live in hope (but not it Derbyshire 8*D ))
I like that bird photo – just before Christmas I tried to get a photo of a robin (have I told this story before?) who would wait until the moment I pushed the button and fly just out of shot – I think he was mocking me
Here’s to many more beautiful spring days
hugs
x
February 12, 2008 at 4:16 pm
(oh – I know that the bird photo was linked in – I just am amazed anyone can capture pictures of these small birds
)
oh, and I loved your photos too – “not much of a photographer!” – as if – your lens captures the beauty that surrounds you as well as any professional could if not better than them! Thank you for sharing!
hugs
x
February 12, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I see that your daughter is picking up on your particular kind of humour – I love her suggestion to call to your “dog”! Please give her a hug from me. Hopefully the postman will be delivering something with her name on it.
February 12, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Nikki – Your stuff is definitely on the way, (so is Katies’ if you are reading Kate)
I don’t know know what has got into me lately! I’m getting rather organised.
.
Mas – Where the hell have you been I’ve been worried! *hands on hips*
Only joking, I know where you have been!
) Nice to have you back and that picture of the bird, I did take it. I have been talking lessons on how to become a bird whisperer. (Well, they have Baby, Dog and Ghost ones so why not…) Anyway, I said to the bird, ’scuse me Mr slash Mrs Pipit. would you mind sitting tight for a second whilst I snap your image on my supa dupa Nokia brick? Then I got a blue pen and outlined it, just to make it look prettier. ;o)
Robins are known for their mocking…..
February 12, 2008 at 5:19 pm
it must be good to be in spring… to see all those flowers and birds
The love season 
February 12, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Daff – what an absolutely breathtaking part of England! You are truly lucky. Thanks so much for the beautiful photos (you do yourself no justice – they are lovely). And that last statue is awe-inspiring. How amazing. Is it very large?? It looks like it could be. Hope the weather there is still pretty. It’s been snowing here off and all today. FUN.
February 12, 2008 at 9:47 pm
You! Organized?! And posting things, as in, at the post office? Will wonders never cease. I assume letters have had a chance to get properly “aged” in your keeping before they can be released to the recipient
February 13, 2008 at 6:51 am
Nikki, on most occasions I have to totally rewrite the original letter and send the old one to the Natural History Museum!
) Your card arrived yesterday for the little one. I loved the two cuties in there so did she! Many thanks. xx
)
)
)
.
Hi Christy – I just use the camera on my phone which is nowhere near as ‘up-to-the-minute’ as my childrens! The area is wonderful, I will share a little bit more with you when the lighter nights are here. You’ll love the view I have out the back of the house.
If you click on one of the links under the photo of the angel, it tells you how it was transported and it gives you an idea of the size. Don’t forget that e-mail!
.
bbZush – In my grumpy morning state I am not always so grateful for the morning bird song! ;o) It is nice to see the spring flowers springing! Still only one crocus or as Harry said croci (?) I think he may be right!
February 13, 2008 at 7:10 am
Daffy, thanks for link to your area….why to we think the rest of the world is prettier than what is in our back garden. i also took some photos in the garden of the blackbird and robin, but still struggling to get photos onto the post!
As if that’s not bad enough, we have just bought a DVD recorder for the TV and it has 96 pages of instructions!!!!! O, for a black and white TV and a Kodak Brownie camera!
February 13, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Thank you! With a snow and ice storm having just ended, I am so looking forward to the sun and warmth.
February 13, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Wow…that are great pictures!Your weather on the pics looks so good!Wonderful!A nice place where you live!
February 14, 2008 at 6:44 am
Hi Steffi, I do live in a very beautiful and sometimes a little under-rated area of England. I think its easy to take for granted what we have very near to us.
)
)
.
Hi Nick, well I hope the nice fresh, snow-free pictures warmed you a little. Its more of the same forecast for next week but with this higgledy(?) piggledy climate of ours we could still see snow!
.
Hi Harry – glad you liked it. You are right of course, as I mentioned to Steffi its a case of taking for granted what we have. I must admit I have never done that regarding my city and I firmly believe it is one of the prettiest cities. (I haven’t seen them all either!
)
)
I wonder if you are being a little over-cautious or too thorough with the instruction manual? I don’t think its all relevant, I’m sure they could have condensed the instructions so they help people rather than bamboozle them! As for the Kodak Brownie, is that a cake? *Smiles* I’m only joking… but Black and White telly! Nooooo! With all the lovely nature programmes we get you need colour to fully appreciate what you see. (The frogs and things on ‘Life in Cold Blood’ are the most amazing colours)
February 14, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hi Daffy (the Angel of the North). We arrived home yesterday to a glorious day here in the South, the garden has really changed and I have some yellow crocus in flower just like yours. Today is another sunny day, we may get out in a while for ‘walkies’, just like yours (great photos on your page, looks like you all had a great time out and about), to see if it will lessen the effects of our severe jet lag! Catch up properly soon. Louise x
February 14, 2008 at 11:42 am
Louise! I have just took your links down from the sidebar (so very very sorry) thinking you had given up!
) *runs off to get them back up)I knew you were having a break but I didn’t realise it was going to be such a long one! ;o)
So glad you are back, there will be more than me who has missed you lots!
I wonder if you brought the good weather back with you!!!
February 14, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Happy Valentine’s Day, DAFF!!
February 14, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Christy – Hey! All your hard work has paid off today and there will be hugs and kisses all over the place!
)
My hubby has just sent me an e-mail with a rather sorry looking red heart in it but it’s the thought that counts.
I posted you a super card for starters yesterday. It is an elephant…. disguised as a zebra. ;o)
Happy Valentines Day Christy! xx
February 15, 2008 at 3:40 am
Happy Valentines! I’m thinking of you and the family. Did you ever get my package? I hope you’re enjoying the spring like weather. It keeps getting colder and colder here….i wish i was with you!
xx *hugs and love*
February 15, 2008 at 6:38 am
I did, I think I answered one of your comments somewhere telling you. It was lovely and yours is already en-route! Yes! I posted it! Hope things are going ok for you and I’ve enclosed a note in the package. Happy belated Valentines to you…its all over here
) My husband came through with 2 bars of chocolate and 2 Scotch eggs! 
) xxxxx
February 15, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Ooh, the weather’s been soo nice recently! Who’d have thought we’d have been able to enjoy the sunshine like this in Feb?
I thought your crocus was a mushroom at first, lol. Spring as sprung so early this year that there are millions in our garden. The daffydowndillies are peeping up too!
Have a fab weekend! xxx
February 16, 2008 at 12:00 pm
the views look amazing, I’m a city girl so don’t often get to see the great outdoors, it’s nice to be able to have a peek at it via the wonders of the internets
Happy birthday to the Gateshead Flasher! :p
February 16, 2008 at 4:49 pm
She’s nice isn’t she? I have heard of her before, but haven’t seen a picture of her. Quite spectacular.
And how nice to be out walking in the spring sunshine. I agree, it’s great to have a dog along on a country walk. Our Golden Retriever went to doggy heaven last year, although she was pretty old and couldn’t walk very far anyway. But this week I am dog sitting a beagle/hound/mutt for some vacationing friends, so it’s nice to have a dog to walk again. Plus my YoungerSon and wife are comeing here with their 6 month old golden doodle puppy this afternoon, so we’ll go off for a romp.
February 18, 2008 at 7:22 pm
exshammy – I like the sound of a golden doodle! Did you get any pics?
)
We had a lovely collie/alsation, his name was Timmy and we had him 11 years but sadly when we lost him it was just too sad and we said we would never put our selves through that again. I would love a dog but I guess its not the right time.
I’m so glad you like the Angel, I think she is quite something!
.
PP – ;o) She is flashing! lol
You are welcome to come and share my country living when ever you want!
.
Pandy hi! Another nice weekend under our belts although its been freezing today. Hope you had a good one and a good week too! xx
February 19, 2008 at 5:09 am
i’d love to have spring in my country. unfortunately we got only summer and winter. that crocus is lovely!
February 19, 2008 at 10:02 am
Morinn I have more than one now but they are all yellow, I think we have five on the lawn at the moment, I am just hoping that the morning frost doesn’t get to them. I’ll share our Spring with you via the blog.
) (Thank you for calling by, I’ll return the visit later.)