If January is a month for hopefulness, then what is needed during February is patience. For there is a promise whispered on the breeze and gently stirring beneath the soil, hinting that change is coming, but not just yet. Because it can feel that February is the most wintry month of all, cold winds, frosty mornings, and almost constant sleety rain have made warm and sunny days feel impossibly distant. But in the truth February is a turning point between seasons, and again I am reminded that it is a privilege to live in a place where the procession of seasons creates a constantly transforming landscape. There is always something new to delight in, and a comforting sense of order and rhythm in the year.
Here at the shabby and monotonous end of winter there is still beauty, even in an unassuming muddy puddle, which is transformed into a perfect pebble-edged mirror by low winter sun, and so reflects a delicate tracery of overhead branches. And the outline of trees with the sun behind them highlights their beautifully intricate structure. Last autumns seed heads still cling to many trees and bushes: hornbeam samaras* hang like paper lanterns from bare branches; swirls of old mans beard, the apt and evocative name given to clumps of fluffy wild clematis seeds, decorate the hedgerows which are still jeweled here and there with hawthorn berries and rose hips. Around the margins of the lake the bulrush heads are exploding in slow motion with the gossamer fluff that carries their seeds away on the slightest breeze. And yet there are also leaf buds gradually unfurling and early blossoms opening, and the snowdrops are a wonderful sight, carpeting patches of ancient, undisturbed woodland and trembling in the cold winter breeze.
*(Samara is a new word to me- it’s the name given to winged tree seeds, ie. those that are windblown such as Maple, Ash, Elm and Hornbeam)
Sometime last week I suddenly became aware that I could hear birdsong again out in the woods. Looking up into the treetops I could see the distinctive shape of a flock of long tailed tits (their tail is as long as their body) and with them larger great tits, as they often travel in mixed flocks. It’s rather beautiful to think that small birds sing their territorial boundary lines, their pleasing song stakes a claim on a small patch of the wood early in the year so that come the warmer weather and breeding season they have secured a good spot in which to raise a family.
Back in the warmth and comfort of home I have been putting the finishing touches to a new pattern – the coats and cardigans for the small 7 inch animals. I have a few corrections still to make but I should be back with a finished pattern next week.
Lastly there has been sad news from the garden. Katsue, the little fox with the broken back leg who has been visiting often since May 2024, has badly injured her other back leg. This happened sometime at the end of December as she missed her visits for 10 days and when she finally showed up she had a large open wound on her right hip and was walking only on 3 legs, mostly her front two and just using her already broken leg for balance. Now the good news is that she is managing and the wound has now healed, but the injury, perhaps a break or dislocation, seems to have left her right back leg unusable and able to bear weight.
She seems to have moved in to our shed – she is able to crawl through a gap under the door and in there she is warm, dry and safe and only a few steps away from a regular meal. She now comes a couple of times a day for food and I’ve been feeding her lots because I’m not sure she can hunt anymore. She’s eating daily meals of cocktail sausages, leftover meat, sunflower seeds, bread, honey and other leftovers. Foxes are great scavengers and they will eat most things that a human can. Anyway, she is managing and choosing to stay close by (though never within reach) and we will continue providing food and a safe place to rest until she chooses to return to her den.
Well, that’s my February, I hope that yours has been good and that you are finding small joys in your days, see you again soon, J x
little cotton rabbits 
Ooh thank you so much! So looking forward to coats and jacket patterns for 7″ characters – my gingerbread man Granville will be very happy 😊
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Your emails are a joy to read and are a reminder of the beauty of nature and what is important in life.
I am also now looking forward to your new pattern 😀 I love the 7″ rabbit, bear and mouse patterns.
I do hope life is treating you and Toby kindly.
Louise
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Ah, Julie, once again you have brought joy and a reminder of hope to those of us who look out our windows and see vast drifts of ice and snow. Thank you for reminding us to be patient, enjoy this season of rest and look to the promise ahead!
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So very beautiful, every word & photo. You made it sound & feel so ethereal. My Mother died 16 years ago & her favourite flower was the snowdrop, she used to say it was such a brave little flower, pushing it’s way through the cold hard earth that was it’s home.
Chrisanne X
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I so enjoyed this post. I hope the fox continues with its recovery. I wish there was a rescue group who could capture her and take her to a vet to see if something could be done to help her.
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Thanks so much Jesn, I have honestly considered doing just that so many times over the last month, but I’ve not done so because she is coping well and not in visible distress and I worry that the stress of capture might cause her more injury (because she would do everything to fight and escape). If she was captured she would then be taken away from her home territory, caged and captive and handled by humans, who would want to tranquilise her in order to xray or examine her, and then maybe operate or decide it would be kinder to euthanise her if nothing could be done. I’m not sure I have the right to make the decision to put her through that. She is a wild animal, and nature is sometimes brutal. I’m glad that I am able to help her just by feeding her daily and I’m honoured that she has chosen to use our shed as a bolthole for now. If she gets worse or is in visible distress I do have a number for a charity that rescue urban foxes and I will contact them if I believe she is suffering. Just wanted to assure you that I have and still am, thinking very deeply about her wellbeing, J x
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Thank goodness you are looking after her, Julie. I hate seeing injured animals. I used to always phone the SSPCA out for injured birds in my garden but they no longer come. Even if they can’t be saved I hate the thought of them suffering and starving to death.
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Thank you so much for your inspiring posts. Particularly like the ‘Heart of the Tree’.
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You sure know how to paint a picture with your words! Beautiful read! So happy that you can watch over Katsue. 🩷
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Beautiful observations as always. Well done for providing a safe haven for the poor little vixen 😞
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Such evocative photos- you are a multi- talented wonder! Hopefully Katsue will make a full recovery with your help and care, she must trust you to be so close to the house in the daytime. Looking forward to the new patterns very much.
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As always Julie, your photography is wonderful as is your writings. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will make a financial donation to support the care of the fox. I understand your concerns. Many organizations that provide wild animal rehabilitation have the goal of releasing animals back into the environment they are known to inhabit. The are very deliberate with their handling of the animals to reduce reliance upon humans. She breaks my heart after following her life for so long. Her injuries could possibly be improved which would improve her life.
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Oh my! Do I spy a little toy owl?!
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Julie, you are a passionate, gifted, creative and kind person. I am so glad to have found you online. The fox is beautiful….thank God he has you!!
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Thankyou Julie ,I have enjoyed reading your post today. Having said I can enjoy a rainy day last month as a good reason to stay in and craft ( I am being honest)we have had rather a lot! However, crazy as it might sound to some, with the correct attire and a choice about whether/ when I venture out , I can also be perfectly happy in the rain and you are right, there are many signs now emerging of Spring to come. I appreciate your writing as it reminds me to get out there more and to take time and observe, notice and appreciate the details and wonders too.
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Your wr
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Lovely photos and beautiful knitting as always Julie !
I’m so very sorry to hear the sad news about your little fox … there’s a fabulous organisation called The Fox Project (I follow them on IG) who do wonderful work with sick and injured foxes … not sure though if they operate in your area. I hope she’s OK but thank you for taking good care of her.
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Dearest Julie,
Your writing is a treat, really it is. All the photos and the Snow Drops!!! And God Bless for taking care of Katsue. You are a good den mother in more ways than one!
Love from here
Thistle be a beautiful day!
While there is tea there is hope!
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Thank you, Julie, for sharing the story of your little fox. Hope she continues to recover. You are a good soul for looking out for her, and very thoughtful re calling for help if she should need it.
It is still dead of winter here (Canadian prairie city) and instead of snowdrops, we this week received about 10–12 inches of fresh snow, most of it in one large inconvenient dump; there is more to come. Today there is a continuing cold weather warning. It really makes you contemplate the wisdom of hibernation! Or maybe having family over for Christmas 2.0?
On the other hand, if it has to be cold, it can at least be pretty and the snow is very beautiful (and the farmers will appreciate the moisture when it melts in a month or two 🙂
And if we find we need cardio, shoveling can be done with vigour. Not that I shovel – osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine – but I can watch and applaud my husband as he does. Team work, you know.
All this to say, thank you for the pictures and the thoughts. Spring will come here, too, eventually, and in the meantime, we have brilliant sunshine today (with snow dogs because it is so cold), and I and mine are safe and comfortable at home. Trust you are too.
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