PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Sunday 10 February 2013

Webbed Feet Would be Useful





We are in the midst of a very wet winter.     I am grateful that at least we are not having to cope with snowstorms of epic proportions, gale force winds, or ice... and I am truly thankful that we have not had flooding problems near the house.





The soil around here is mostly clay and already sodden from the very wet summer and autumn rains.

Recently, walking by the fish ponds has become difficult.  

The ponds have reached out watery hands to one another, the River Eau has extended damp fingers and the whole area has become a soggy mess.   Each new rainfall just adds to it.

Hey ho!   


The geese and the swans are happy.   

Paddocks are soggy,
even dear Arnold has taken to spending time in his stable...
He doesn't choose to do that very often.



33 comments:

  1. Great pictures of Swans and Arnold though . . . some "webbed boots" might be in order!

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    1. Hello Lynne, Those swans turned up on the fish pond a few weeks ago - I hope they are planning to stay, they certainly add a touch of beauty to my soggy walks.

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  2. It sounds quite miserable,how is the veggy garden holding up?
    Jane x

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    1. Hello Jane, The vegetable garden is still providing us with kale, spinach and leeks - but it won't be too long before things get going again. Roll on Spring!

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  3. We're having the same thing, but I won't complain after the Monster storm that hit the Northeast:-D I wish we had some swans on our lake...it's actually called Swan Lake, but they haven't been here in years:-( XOXO

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    1. Hello Susan, I really hope they have decided to take up residence. They are so beautiful they brighten the gloomiest of days...briefly! x

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  4. I bet Arnold's dying to go outside for a bit of a canter, like we all are. Been chucking it down here all day.

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    1. Hello Molly, We took our grand-daughter to see Arnold yesterday - once again, there was a real bonding session going on between them. I think she brought a little 'sunshine' into his day!

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  5. Arnold is smart, as well as handsome. But I always knew.

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    1. Hello Joanne, Arnold is a bit of a demon when he sees squelchy mud - he rolls in it, however, he hates wet feet which is why he takes to the stable! Nothing stops him enjoying his treats.

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  6. Everything is so soggy isn't it? I ventured down the garden yesterday and rather wish I hadn't. I think a couple of the trees we planted last year have succumbed to the swamp-like conditions, which makes me very sad. I dread to think what sort of state the allotment is in :(

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    1. Hello Scarlet, I hope the trees surprise you in the Spring. The gloom of this wet winter is getting us all down a bit, although I am happy to say that the early flowers are bravely starting to show themselves. It will soon be time to start digging and getting the vegetables going!

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  7. It's hard to believe that the rain can just keep falling like this. We went out for lunch today and lots of the roads were flooding again. The water just pours off the sodden fields. I keep having fantasies of those lovely, not too warm British spring days.......! Jx

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    1. Hello Jan, The barley field which surrounds us often has water streaming off it, luckily it is down towards the railway bridge, not towards our house. I have my fingers crossed that we will have a bright and sunny spring this year, surely we are due for one...

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  8. Hope things dry up for you in the not too distant future. Constant wet can be very disheartening. Lovely photos!!!!

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    1. Hello Susan, Thanks, Susan. I know I sound like a moaning minnie, but it really has been unremittingly wet and gloomy. We are surrounded by a sea of mud... Bring on the sunshine!

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  9. Arnold looks so sweet. Our snow is melting today in the day-long rain. What a slushy mess!

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    1. Hello Sweet Posy Dreams, I hope your slush has cleared. Arnold belongs to our neighbour - somehow every dog walk seems to lead me to his paddock, where he frisks my pockets and looks for the treats he knows I will have with me. He really is a sweetie.

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  10. It sounds quite miserable, all that rain. We are getting a fair bit of snow in Ontario, but the snow is very pretty when the sun is out. The cold dry air is quite refreshing. My horse much prefers snow to rain, too.

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    1. Hello Jenny, I keep muttering to myself that Spring is just around the corner - and hoping that it is a good one this year. It helps to see the spring flowers beginning to show themselves.

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  11. Squelch squelch squelch here too. When will it ever stop; roll on Spring.

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    1. Hello Cro, Wouldn't it be wonderful to see a bit of sunshine!

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  12. What a variety of weather in Bloggie-land! Jane and Chris are buried in snow up in Canada, Linda Starr's husband is outside in his shorts painting their boat in Florida and you're having flooding problems in Lincolnshire! Glad to see the swans are enjoying it.

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    1. Hello Ms Sparrow, The swans and the geese are having a wonderful time. I would love to think the swans are the pair which met by the watermill, just down the road!

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  13. Love the photos. The lanes here are knee deep in rain and snow-melt. Spring is just round the corner though, surely!

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    1. Hello Marianne, Snow again today...but they are promising some dry weather for this coming week. I have my fingers crossed that this means we may see some sunshine too!

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  14. Beautiful photos, Elaine. You certainly have your share of snow and rain. It is raining here too, but it is much needed rain.

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    1. Hello Meggie, Just for a little variety, we are having a snow shower tonight, everywhere is white and beautiful, ice is forecast for tomorrow - but then we are promised drier, milder weather. Please cross your fingers!

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  15. When do the rains usually ease up? I suppose it's very lush and green there, though :)

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    1. Hello Little Home in the Country, Green and lush would be wonderful...the reality is wet, soggy and grey. A couple of days of sunshine (even a couple of hours of sunshine, we're not greedy) would soon change things and cheer us all up!

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  16. Wishing you "dry up" soon! What miserable weather.

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    1. Hello Mitch, A couple of hours of sunshine and blue skies would soon cheer us up and help to begin the drying process. I live in hope!

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  17. Happy swans and geese and ducks! Not so happy mammals (horses and people!) Hopefully the sogginess with abate soon.

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