We've had early snowfall over the past few days, ankle deep around here and it looks like Narnia. Last night I was standing in the dark kitchen looking out of the window at the starry sky above the sparkling snowy landscape, when a large bird flew across the garden and landed on the telegraph pole next to my shed. It was a tawny owl - lovely to see such a visitor :) I could see it by the light from my outdoor lamp which was on.

I am delighted to announce that some of my images are  now available as charts for cross stitch from Heaven and Earth Designs ( www.heavenandearthdesigns.com ) . I am excited about this because I have loved cross stitch and needlepoint since childhood, it is such a pleasure working with skeins of coloured threads...and so tempting to buy just a few more lovely colours :D

I was washing dishes at the kitchen sink this evening and looked up to see Mr.Badger rootling about under the wild cherry tree, he was eating fallen cherries :) I had not seen him for some weeks since his regular visits this spring. His coat looked very thick and healthy now in the summer weather.

I put out a few old grapes for the birds yesterday - the birds left the grapes but the badger ate them. The picture below is not a real badger (hehe) but one I knitted for fun.  The real badger really does like grapes though!

Spring seems to be slowly arriving up here in the Highlands. Crocuses and daffodils are now flowering which is a lovely sight. I saw  the first bumble bee yesterday! The winter was the snowiest and longest I have known in many years - the garden was knee-deep in snow for an entire month, patches of snow even remaining at the beginning of this month (March). I don't know whether it is because of the long winter, but a badger has been coming to the garden in the daylight nearly every day this month. This is very unusual behaviour, as badgers are normally nocturnal. Maybe he is particularly hungry after this winter! I first saw him eating some seed I'd put out for the birds - so I have since been putting out peanuts (which badgers have a particuar liking for) along with extra bird-seed. I should add however, that I shall stop putting out loose peanuts once any baby birds have hatched, as baby birds can choke on whole nuts.