Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Another February Already!



"One month is past, another is begun,
Since merry bells rang out the dying year,
And buds of rarest green begin to peer,
As if impatient for a warmer sun;
And though the distant hills are bleak and dun,
The virgin snowdrop, like a lambent fire,
Pierces the cold earth with its green-streaked spire
And in dark woods, the wandering little one
May find a primrose."

February 1st. 1842 ~ Hartley Coleridge 


Mockingbird


Eastern Grey Squirrel


Male House finch



Today I enjoyed the birds, baked pistachio muffins (shared with my neighbor
 who shared his excellent seafood stew with us), and did some
 much-needed paperwork. I feel as if I'm in hibernation . . . . . . it would
 be so easy just to be lazy.  February is never my favorite month. 
Thank goodness for Valentine's Day in the middle. It does lift the spirit
 somewhat with all those red hearts popping up, and makes me want
to write pretty cards . . . . . . and eat a little chocolate!


27 comments:

  1. Dearest Mary,
    Wow, that pistacho muffin looks delicious and you made a delicious swap with your neighbors.
    Lovely bird photos as well.
    Yep, chocolate is even more important during the winter months and I will never ever leave that out of my diet...
    Guess we can state that today we walked for the 1st time in shorts again. But not at home!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  2. February can be a tough month to get through. Valentine's Day is something to look forward to, and here in BC we have a long weekend for Family Day, so that's a good thing, too. Beautiful avian visitors.

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    1. I've draped my tiny heart shaped lights around the Diana bust on the table here in front of me - brightening up a very dreary Thursday with showers on the way.
      Family Day is a new one to me, I see it's on Feb. 21 -- strictly Canadian I'm thinking - have fun!

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  3. At the moment, we are experiencing relatively mild temperatures and mixed skies with fast-moving clouds, rays of sunshine sprinkled with the odd shower in between. The buds of rarest green have indeed begun to peer, as the poem says!
    We don't celebrate Valentine's Day here, but I eat chocolate regardless :-D

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    1. Sounds almost like spring your way dear - enjoy.
      St.Valentine's Day has become too commercial, of course, but must say it gives a little cheer to what are usually such dreary days in February.

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  4. Because my birthday is February 1st, I rather like this time of year ….. it also makes Spring even more wonderful when it arrives ! Such gorgeous photographs Mary ….. I now really want some seafood stew and a pistachio muffin. Keep warm Mary, Spring is on its way. Lots of love. XXXX

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    1. Wish I could share a muffin, they really are delicious!
      Hope that birthday was a wonderful celebration dear Jackie.

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  5. That muffin looks so good! I don't mind February since moving to Naples, Fl! It is a great month weather wise.

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    1. You made a very good move dear friend - so different from all the years here in a much colder winter area - Asheville seems to have had a lot of snow recently and the night time lows are just that, LOW!

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  6. I'm always happy when February is over, but at least we are beginning to see the start of bulbs coming up, snowdrops, primroses, crocus etc.

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    1. Love to see the bulbs pushing through - always a miracle after the long cold months!

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  7. I love all the photos on your blog! February is atleast a short month. I usually take February to knit, read, drink hot tea and relax after Christmas and the clean up of Christmas. I also plan things for Spring during February. Those pistachio muffins looked so good! The neighbors seafood stew sounded yummy too! Have a wonderful day Mary!

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    1. Glad you are relaxing these often cold and dreary days Sherri. Your home is looking so wonderful after all that hard work - you deserve a winter rest!

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  8. Mockingbirds and pistachio muffins! Love this post :)
    Have a great week and take care...
    Titti

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    1. Titti, not as much snow and cold here as you have on Oland, but enough for me! Know spring will be welcomed in a couple of months!

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  9. Dear Mary, I never get tired of seeing your beautiful birds and little squirrels.

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    1. I always think of you dear friend when posting pix of 'my wildlife' because I know you enjoy seeing them. I say to myself, "Gina will like this shot", and then think how much I love to see your geese and duck photos in return!
      Hope all is well - the weather is so cold your way, I see a low of 1F today!!!!! Snuggle up dear!

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  10. February is not my favorite month either! Winter just seems to drag on endlessly. It is another very cold and gray day here in IL. Reading blogs with a blanket over my legs and sipping a cup of herbal tea. I just cannot seem to get warm! I would love one of your muffins to go with my tea.

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  11. Mary, your squirrel makes me so happy. I miss my "squirrel"from the old house that would come each morning to visit. I think that there is nothing wrong with hibernating, I make it my mantra to nest/hibernate and rejuvenate in the winter, then when Spring comes I am ready to get out and work in the yard, etc.
    I hope that you find some delicious chocolate for Valentines day!
    Would love the recipe for your muffins!
    Take care,
    Elizabeth

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    1. https://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2020/04/bakery-style-pistachio-muffins.html

      Elizabeth, this is the post where I have the recipe for the Pistachio Muffins - very easy and quick to make, and quite delicious. ENJOY!

      Mary x

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  12. Dear Mary, February here is also a bit blah... I am outside as soon as a little sunshine comes out (not often), but even when it rains a bit I am walking.
    Never before I saw a mockingbird - I imagined it so differently from that tiny sweet little bird!

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  13. Your captures of the birds made my day. I had no idea what a mockingbird looked like--why I thought it looked like a crow...🤦🏼‍♀️? Thank you for clearing that up!

    February is a crappy month no matter how you look at it. I have a meager celebration of my birthday as it A). Usually it has terrible weather for travel or meeting up here or there to celebrate. B) It always seems to fall on Super Bowl Sunday, or at least it has going back 62 year! Voila, this year the opening ceremonies of the Olympics C) I wonder if I've suffered from PTSD after having all of my childhood birthdays confined to my home with six sisters so jealous of the presents I received. How I wanted a summer birthday!

    If anything. for Valentines Day, get some regular old construction paper in red and pink and some paper lace doilies and make some old fashioned hearts and hang them in your windows. I've done this even after my kids left home. It's fun to do and so cheerful to see inside and out. ❤️

    Love you and yours!

    Jane x

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  14. January and February always seem like hibernating time and not my favorite either. I am thrilled when March arrives and the world begins to come alive again. I love the end of the poem "the wandering little one May find a primrose." That is how I feel when I go walking at this time of year. Feeling like the "little one" searching for a flower and some color. Now I must go walking, I think there may be a plum blossom to find down the road.

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