Springing into May

It's been a long time coming but it looks as though spring is finally here in Northumberland. The blossom is just starting to come out, in fact our ornamental cherry tree is only now starting to show it's beautiful double pink flowers. This time last year, all was finished. I'm not complaining though as visitors to the area from further south get two bites of the cherry (no pun intended) as their spring blossom is over and done with.
I am captivated by the lambs. We are surrounded by them in the fields and their antics cause much merriment. Why do they grow up to be such staid animals though?
I haven't had a lot of time to walk the hills with Glen but I have had a few lovely days, sun shining but with the remnants of winter clouds in the Cheviots. Glen, a Welsh Border Collie is now two and a half years old and I think his wires are just beginning to connect properly. He has a lovely temperament and is a wonderful house dog but boy, has he been hard work to train outside! I have been told that part of the problem is that he is from real working stock - the shepherds were quite keen to aquire him as a youngster and he has a brain. He therefore needs occupying and you need to be one step ahead of him all the time. I don't think I have ever had to work as hard with any of my other dogs but when he is on form, boy is he worth watching! He is very athletic and to see him jumping for his ring is to watch poetry in motion. As you can see though, he can play the idiot when he wants to. I did think about taking him to agility classes but there isn't a one near here and time is against us.

As I have mentioned, the seasons seem to be later this year - or possibly more in line. The birds are only now flying around like mad things having built their nests , feeding young. I have yet to see my first fledgling. I know that some of our gusts took a trip across to the Farne Isles last week and were quite surprised by how quiet it was. Migrating birds were still arriving and the Artic Terns hadn't yet built their nests, so they didn't need the head gear protection that is so useful on the Farnes! We have got Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Pheasant at the moment in the garden, he has been here for a few years but this is a young wife that he has taken up with. She had a nest at the bottom of the rockery steps last week, with 14 beautiful eggs but after a couple of days, she just got up and left them Never went back. I don't know why, I know she wasn't in the slightest bothered by people (she nearly feeds out of your hand) and Smudge cat is not interested in her - too many rabbits. She didn't seem distressed, so perhaps she is a little immature and not yet ready for motherhood. Humphrey, bless him, now has to defend her all over again from incomers, he is looking rather ragged. I don't know if she will try another brood, at the moment there is no sign of it. Keep her for companionship Humphrey, never mind the father bit!!


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