Spring walks

We are all trying to stay healthy during the physical isolation, so we have been having walks on the walk paths. On 24th of March we saw the first coltsfoot flowers. Yes they are there, tiny yellow dots. It was very early for them to come out, but this year the Winter never really even came to our part of the country, for the first time in my life. The name coltsfoot always makes me smile, as in Finnish the same word means the greenish snot hanging from a little child's nose, desperately needing someone to help blow their nose and wipe it clean. Also common at this time of the year, when I come to think of it.

The village has several ponds like this, former clay pits where they took clay for the many local brick factories. There was still ice on the left on this one.

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This is another pond, there were some ducks here but they were quicker than I.

On the 3rd of April came the snow, more in one day than we ever had this year. It didn't last very long

but helped us to remember what Winter ought to look like. Fresh and white.

Then came the sun again.

The local whooper swan couple has returned some weeks ago. They are the white dots that look like empty plastic canisters on the water.

On another walk they were closer. They choose their partner for life, and often come to the same place to nest and raise their cygnets.

My quarantine knitting has continued, here are the newest four pairs of socks:

As you can see, we have taken out the garden chairs and have been having our afternoon tea on the veranda.

Take care. stay safe.