I popped into a fairly local churchyard at Castle Bromwich last weekend to check on the snowdrops there and there was a good display of the flowers.
There were a few Primroses starting to flower and loads of purple crocuses.
There are lots of buds on Daffodils and I did find a few in flower.
I also spotted this lovely weather vane at a pub that used to be called the Coach and Horses. I am not sure if it has changed its name now but it is these days a Hickory Smokehouse.
There was also a lovely sundial on the wall.
Cherry Plum blossom is now starting to appear.
Reading
I think I mentioned in the last post that our favourite second hand bookshop is closing at the beginning of April. So we popped in there recently to make a few purchases. This book on Architecture was a good buy.
The volunteers are trying to raise funds for essential repairs to the shop. They need £30,000 but already have raised about £10,000. I do hope they succeed.
I've been reading the book below for ages! It is a lovely idea where the author delves into the stories behind the names on gravestones in churchyards. I did enjoy it but I don't know East Anglia where the book is set that well apart from a few short breaks in Norfolk. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been set in an area I know well.
Another brilliant book in the Jackman and Evans series.
This is another book I read over the course of the last year - each chapter covers a different month with details of folklore around certain dates such as Bonfire Night, Pancake Day, Christmas, etc etc. Highly recommended.
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
9 comments:
a nice show of snowdrops :)
I am currently reading some old science fiction :) well 20 year old :)
The Quacks of Life - Thanks so much :)
Oh, isn't it such a relief to see flowers starting to bloom into spring? This past winter seems to be longer than ever. The book on architecture looks as if I would be very interested in it. I might see if I can find a copy on Amazon. I hope your little book shop does well in fundraising, because I know how much you enjoy visiting it.
Just in case I'm still showing up as anonymous, it's me Debbie.
Rustic Pumpkin - Thanks so much and yes it is. By the way you are showing up here as Rustic Pumpkin :) Book cost £4 but it is as good as new. Hope you can find one on Amazon.
Lovely to see the snowdrops and the crocus. It seems to have been a good year for both, we've seen lots on our travels. You will miss the bookshop, I hope the volunteers can raise enough money to save it. Joy Ellis never disappoints, I always read them too quickly though. I like the sound of the churchyard book too:)
That's interesting.... I was just thinking at the beginning of your post, I wonder who Ann and William Shuttle worth were? Only to then read you are perusing a book looking into the lives of those behind their own gravestones. Second hand bookshops are deadly. J and I went for coffee last Saturday, passed a very good SHBS and returned home with 5 books. It is an illness I'm sure :-)
Rosie - Thanks so much. I will miss it dreadfully if it closes as will my son. Further afield is Astley Farm Bookshop which is huge and doesn't have the charm of the Coleshill shop. Doing well so far have about 10k already and need 30k. It has been featured on Central News and tomorrow I think possibly on Midlands Today which is good. Must admit certain books I read too quickly too as I can't put them down! I don't just read them for an hour before bed but in the day and early evening too when I usually read magazines or non fiction!
The Wessex Reiver - thanks so much Andrew. I so often wonder about the people behind the names on gravestones. Somewhere - sadly not quite sure where I have a little booklet that voluteers produced on the stories behind some of the gravestones at Castle Bromwich. Not sure whether Anne And William are in it but if I can find I will mention in a future post if there is a story behind them.
I have to be SO careful with book buying as OH thinks I already have far too many books. Apparently I promised when I was allowed a floor to ceiling bookcase on one wall not to buy books that wouldn't fit in the set up. Not sure why I said that as a book lover you just can't stop buying them! But I do try and limit myself and fiction now I only buy for the Kindle to save bookshelf space. As you say an illness!!!! :)
I do hope, RR, that Covid has well and truly left your household in peace again. It's a funny season here in the east with signs of spring (gorgeous Hebridean lambs, daffodils etc.) but cold, grey weather, breeze from the north and little rain showers. Thank you so much for your book recommendations: as one who grew up in Norfolk, I think I will enjoy 'In a Country Churchyard'. I have ordered my annual butterfly recording notebook, but have still to see my first 2023 butterfly.
Caroline Gill - Thanks so much and touch wood all are fine here. Agreed signs of Spring but weather hasn't been good really and next two weeks look as though it will rain a lot. I hope you enjoy the churchyard book. I discovered the other day Logaston Press has published a similar book on stories behind gravestones in churchyards in Herefordshire. I think out of print so will have to try and find a second hand copy.
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