Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Tuesday 9 February 2021

Snowdrops and Recent Reading

 


At the moment with the lockdown I don't think we are supposed to drive any distance to exercise so unfortunately visits to some of my snowdrop locations are out of bounds. 😒  Anyway last Sunday I visited a local churchyard where the snowdrop display is small but at least it gave me a chance to see more than the few plants there are in my garden!

















A couple of presents from Christmas I am very pleased with. A mouse mat from my son comprised of some of my church photos.  Two drink mats - the one from my son is a photo of Brook Beach, Isle of Wight, and the second robin one is from my daughter and is very apt considering how much time I spend on Twitter as Ragged Robin!!!





Recent Reading

The first is the next in the DCI Banks series.



The next Joanna Piercy - unputdownable as usual!



The next is the first in a new series by Ann Cleeves (Shetland and Vera books).  It didn't get brilliant reviews on Amazon but I personally enjoyed it and will read more as and when they come out. This series is set in North Devon and the new detective is Matthew Venn.





I've decided to take a short break from crime novels and read other fiction for a while.  I still enjoy crime books but as I am reading so many so quickly I found that, although I took in each book as I read it, a few books later they were all merging into one!!!!

Finally, a non fiction book on medieval sculpture at Exeter Cathedral which I loved.  I do so wish now when we had a holiday in Devon we had visited!




I hope everyone is staying safe and well.



11 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

Ooh, lots of tempting new authors to try! Just reading The Chalk Man, by C J Tudor, which is really good. I recommend it.

I hope you get a Devon holiday again in the not too distant future - something to plan for and look forward to anyway. We have to have something positive to look forward to.

My new garden here has Snowdrops in bloom on the bank, and Daffodils who look set to bloom early, and lots of tiny Promrose babies - it will be a treat when it's a bit warmer.

I have roses on order and some more to joint them soon, thanks to the kindness of friends.

CherryPie said...

Like you I am staying local at the moment. This means I don't have many new photos to share at the moment.

I love your Christmas presents, how thoughtful :-)

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Love all your snowdrop photos. I photographed quite a few the other day as well as other things and managed to delate the lot!!! So lovely to see yours.

Rustic Pumpkin said...

So glad you managed to find some snowdrops and get a change of scenery too. Such thoughtful gifts from your children too. Hope you are all staying well. We'll get through this!

Ragged Robin said...

Bovey Belle - Thank you so much. Will check out The Chalk Man :)

Apart from caravan if we can go again! I don't think this year we will have any other holiday but good to plan for next.

Your new garden sounds lovely and great news about the roses. It will be so exciting seeing your new area through the seasons.

Cherry Pie - Thank you. It is difficult to know what to blog about at the moment.

Margaret Birding for Pleasure - Thank you and so sorry you managed to delete your photos of snowdrops!! :(

Rustic Pumpkin - Thank you so much. Yes fine here thanks and hope you are too. As you say we will get through this. All things eventually come to an end.

Rosie said...

How lovely the snowdrops are, they always seem perfect in churchyards don't they? I love your mouse mat and the coasters what thoughtful presents. It's so hard not being able to go very far at the moment, the farthest I've been is two miles for my vaccination. I enjoyed The Long Call and will certainly read any more she writes with her new detective. I'm so glad you are still enjoying the Priscilla Masters too. I've read one or two non crime books recently although it is still my favourite genre at the moment. You are right about sometimes getting the plots and characters mixed up especially if they are set in the same places. Take care:)

Ragged Robin said...

Rosie - thanks so much. Yes snowdrops and churchyards seem to go together perfectly.

It is very hard not going out. I feel like a caged animal some days!!!

I hope your vaccination went ok? We had a phone call yesterday with a summons! Tomorrow at a local medical centre! Not looking forward to it as not keen on mixing near other people and have read too much about side effects! But needs must! 2nd dose booked for end of April.

It will be a short break from crime as I so enjoy them. I think problem arises because I am reading so many so quickly. Take care too.

Pam said...

I'm still waiting for my Snowdrops to flower, they always seem to be the last ones, there is more than ever in the garden this year though! The presents are fab, very apt :D

I can see in the comments you should have had your vaccination now? I hope all was ok :)

Ragged Robin said...

Pam - thanks so much. We have a few snowdrop plants further up the garden that are only just forming buds. :) Really pleased with those presents :)

Yes fine thanks. Efficiently done no queue thank goodness. In and out just over 5 minutes. I was fine. OH felt really rough next day - nauseous, dizzy, headache but only lasted a day.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Beautiful snowdrops! Our local cemeteries are great places for seeing snowdrops

Ragged Robin said...

Crafty Green Poet - Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment. Churchyards and cemeteries are good places to find them en masse. Unfortunately the places I usually visit are perhaps a bit distant to visit during the lockdown :(