1 Having done the RSPB Big Birdwatch at the weekend in the gales and had very few to record, today the goldfinches turned up in crowds. At one point there were ten!
Goldfinches, not the best photo but taken from indoors from about 15 metres away
2 The snowdrops are just delightful and withstanding the gales as they do.
Snowdrops with raindrops
3 The house is full of the smell of the new season’s marmalade bubbling away – so lovely and, very special as every year it brings my Dad into the kitchen as it was he who always made the marmalade when we were kids. He used to make a special little pot for me without any peel! This batch is Seville Orange with Red Grapefruit and the colour is very beautiful.
greenbenchramblings
February 3, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Goldfinches look almost tropical.
flowerpot
January 30, 2013 at 9:35 am
Ah, that takes me back – Pip always made marmalade at ths time of year xx
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 10:51 am
Would you like me to bring you a jar?xx
djdfr
January 30, 2013 at 9:21 am
I have often made marmalade for my husband. i put half the peel in muslin and then that is removed after cooking, set to dry and then either used for cakes, etc., or dipped in chocolate.
My snowdrops seem to be a bit late this year.
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I like the idea of saving some peel to dry and cover in chocolate! 🙂
valeriedavies
January 30, 2013 at 6:59 am
Lovely pics Sally – interesting, I’ve been following Natureophile and Finn’s counting over at Cambridge…No gold finches there…
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 12:30 pm
That is interesting.Our observations showed far fewer birds this year. The weather was shocking, wind and rain but I don’t really know if that bother birds much. We certainly saw more yesterday which was wet but much calmer. 🙂
Kathleen Richardson
January 30, 2013 at 2:57 am
Loving the snowdrops with raindrops, Sally.
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Pretty aren’t they? 🙂
on thehomefrontandbeyond
January 30, 2013 at 2:57 am
love your marmalade memory
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Yes, it’s very dear. 🙂
babyjill7...Marilyn Griffin
January 29, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Pretty as usual…I love the goldfinches…and I think I smell “marmalade!”
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:11 pm
That’s a lovely thought! 🙂
juditon
January 29, 2013 at 8:39 pm
I specially like the snowdrops and their white with water drops.
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Thank you! 🙂
Shelagh
January 29, 2013 at 8:28 pm
My mother was the marmalade maker in our house. I used to hate peel too, but now I love thick cut, altho I don’t make my own – I let Frank Cooper do it for me!
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Frank Cooper is who we turn to should we ever run out though that happens rarely! 🙂
Peri's Spice Ladle
January 29, 2013 at 7:58 pm
These snowdrops look precious:) And the birds so colorful, apparently this time of year is really difficult for birds since food is scarce…our bird-feeder shows it:)
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:03 pm
We are filling the feeders pretty often at the moment too. 🙂
mixedupmeme
January 29, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Every time I visit your blog I feel I am in some sort of a fairy land.
Waiting for the day when you say, “That’s all folks. I have no more beautiful things.” lol
ladysighs
January 30, 2013 at 1:02 am
That will never happen. I will give her some of my beautiful things to share. 🙂
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:14 pm
You are so kind! 🙂
mybeautfulthings
January 30, 2013 at 3:02 pm
It’s quite remarkable how they keep on turning up! 🙂