Icicles – hung there by fairies?
This morning my walk alongside the Thames was witness, as it has been for the last few days, to small waves, created by the wind, lapping the river bank.
This is pretty, but tiny icicles hanging from lower branches of plants on the bank today were nothing short of stunning. I am so missing my decent camera – this photo does nothing to show you how lovely these were. The sun was catching the tiny waves and reflecting off the little icicles, which glittered in the sunlight. Had a little winged fairy popped out to a tinkly tune and told me (s)he had been hanging them there, I’d have believed it! It was like a little magical mini World had appeared on these low hanging branches. And best of all, it was only there for those who live on and use the riverbanks – it felt like it was there just for us, only shown to people who care enough to look. (I’ve been reading too many children’s books, you can tell.)
Back in the real World, last night saw a stronger than average wind which must have sprayed up onto the branches. The last couple of days have seen a cold snap coincide with the wind, so I’m guessing that’s why they appeared, but it really was very beautiful.
Of course the harsh reality for the Wildlife is that it was super-chilly and the water was frozen, and the water that wasn’t frozen was rising in waves that looked tiny to us, but I imagine if you’re a tiny wren or robin look enormous. The Woodland near where we are is still inches thick with water from the flooding earlier this year (doubt we’ll see the bluebells this year) and it has now frozen into a woodland icerink. The animals were beginning to come back. I imagine they’ll vanish off again.
Last nights wind may have been tough for the wildlife, but our newest, smallest crew member also found it disturbing. We normally only hear any metal noise when someone’s embarking, which Bingo always alerts us to (usually shortly before coming to find us and hide). Where we’d left our back end floppy (on the ropes) yesterday, we were knocking the pontoon when the largest gusts of wind came. It was a uniquely boaty problem, but the dog was worrying over the noise – he was convinced someone was coming. I have absolutely no idea why this should worry him – he’s loved all of the people who come to see us. (For those who love dogs and don’t have a problem with it (I do!) he’ll even do tongues given half a chance!)
Which leads me nicely to a nice way to end this post. Becca, a Twitter contact, also has a little rescue dog: https://twitter.com/HedgewitchBecca/status/310407495699005440/photo/1
Compare with our little rescue dog and Bingo! Twins: http://ow.ly/i/1EEVh.
So maybe they’re not little Heinz’s (57 varieties) but a very special breed indeed!
