To tågede morgener ~ Two Foggy Mornings

I går var tågen tyk som ærtesuppe. Alting var væk. Det var som om et Ingenting fra Fantasien (Den uendelige historie) var ved at opsluge verden.

Yesterday was foggy. If you ever read The Never-Ending Story you might see a Nothing swallowing the world.

-- 🌁 --

I dag var det også tåget, men en helt anden tåge. Utroligt hvad et par graders forske kan gøre.

Today was foggy as well, bur what a difference a few degrees lower temperature can do.

-- 🐦 --

I dag lykkedes det mig også at fange et par flokke af trækkende fugle. Hvis du ser rigtig godt efter, kan du få øje på to flokke her på billedet.

If you look closely - and maybe embiggen the photo - you can see two flocks of migratory birds in this photo.

-- 🐦 --

Flokken længst til venstre. Det er gæs. Spørg mig ikke hvilken slags. De sidder på markerne i store flokke og æder kornet til landmændenes irritation.

The leftmost flock. A wedge of geese. Don't ask me what kind of geese. They land in the fields in huge flocks and graze the sprouting grain to the farmers' chagrin.

-- 🐦 --

Og fra højre. En flok svaner. De seneste år er svaner gået fra at overvintre som par til at overvintre i samlede flokke. VI har haft sådan en flok her i nærheden, og nu flyver de tilbage til deres redesteder i mindre flokke, der deler sig op i mindre og mindre enheder for at ende som par igen. Et foretrukkent delested er lige over vores hus.

Swans! For some years now swans have wintered in flocks, where earlier they did so in pairs only. And we have such a flock near by. Now spring is on its way and they leave in small units splitting up in the air into smaller and smaller flocks ending up in their pairs flying to their old nesting places. Such a point for parting of ways is almost on top of our house.

Poetry Monday :: The Best Thing About Spring

If you want to read some good poetry,  Diane and Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings  write wonderful, funny, thought-provoking, ingenious and honestly well written verse. Go and read.

  Karen of Baking in a Tornado has joined us in this crazy pursuit, and promises us at least a poem a month - may  we hope for more!
  SpikesBestMate often publishes a nice verse in the comments, and helps out at topic supplying.

  Jenny at Procrastinating Donkey who has been a faithful participant, is taking a break due to her husband's recent passing from this world. Let's continue to send warm thoughts, good energy, and lots of prayers her way.

I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others, would you please leave a comment. Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

Spring is so chaotic that a free form verse is needed to capture it.

To tell of the best things of spring
I need a zillion ears, fingers, eyes
Its popping up everywhere.
There flowers, here birds, there a tree.
The air smells so wonderful fresh.
After the early morning rain.
The swallows arrive once again.
The gooseberry flowers that smell
Are visited by bumble bees.
And catkins adorn all the trees.
The ground elder covers the earth.
The brooklets are laughing with glee.
The Quince unfolding their leaves
And flowers in glowing bright red.
The weeds are so busy.
The bushes so bushy
The Spring is amazingly new.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Topics coming up:
Lost Sock Memorial Day. (May 10)
The anniversary of the patent of the rubber band. (May 17)
Favourite breakfast (May 24)
Memorial Day (May 31)
Best Friends Day (from June 8) (June 7)
Monkey Around Day (June 14)
Fathers (June 21)
Bubbles (June 28)

Ⓐ - Ⓩ Danish Letters - Å - Åh anemoner

    Hver dag i april kommer der et A-Z indlæg klokken 12. Temaet er ekkoer, de løse ender, halve projekter, nye begyndelser, gyldne løfter og lokkende udsigter. Men jeg ville ikke være Uglemor, hvis ikke der sneg sig nye projekter og ideer ind i denne omgang A-Z også.
     Og så bruger jeg lige som for to år siden Æ, Ø og Å i stedet for de halvumulige W, X Y og Z

Ⓐ - Ⓩ

Every day in April a new A-Z post goes live at noon. The theme is Echoes, finishing touches, half done projects and endings. But I would not be MotherOwl if these posts would not contain more than a fair share of new beginnings and plans.
Just as two years ago I'm using the letters Æ, Ø and Å from the Danish alphabet.
  Today is Å the last letter of the Danish alphabet.

Å for  Åh, anemoner  =  Oh, Anemone (Arctypical Danish spring flower)

Hvert eneste forår overraskes i hvert fald Uglemor over hvor mange anemoner, der kan være i skoven. For tre år siden oversatte jeg Sebastians Anemonesang. Og den har jeg lyst til at bringe igen.   Oprindeligt anemoneindlæg.

-- 🌳 --

Each and every spring MotherOwl is amazed by the sheer amount of anemone flowers in our woods. Three years ago I translated a Song of Anemone (Listen on YouTube: earworm) by a Danish composer, Sebastian. Now it's once again echoing inside my head, and I want to share it with you.

Her er vi tæt på en lille klat anemoner  --  A close up of a tiny amount of all the pretty flowers.

Anemonesangen
Dagen er så fuld af anemoner 
fuglefløjt og farvespil i lyse kroner 
Natten fuld af farlige dæmoner
Spøgefugle, troldemænd og heksekoner.
    Åh anemoner dækker hele jorden lige som sne
    Åh anemoner, snart får jeg vel sommeren at se.

Dagen er så travl for de forfløjne
alle de forpjuskede og næsten nøgne .
Natten er så fuld af gule øjne
der i mørket, der på himlen, alle vegne .
    Åh  anemoner lad mig sove i den hvide seng.
    Åh, anemoner under stjerner i en blomstereng.

(Mellemspil)

Åh anemoner dækker hele jorden ligesom sne.
Åh anemoner Snart får vi vel sommeren at se.

Tekst & musik: Sebastian, 1991

-- Ⓐ - Ⓩ --

Song about Anemone
Daytime woods are filled with pretty flowers
Flimsy branches, rays of sunshine colour laden.
 Nighttime woods are filled with demon powers,
Mocking spirits, hinkypunks and elven maiden.
Oh pretty flowers! Covering the meadow just like snow
Oh pretty flowers! Summer, hurry up, we miss you now.

Busy is the daytime for the wayward
ruffled feathers flying; drifting slowly downwards.
In the night the watching eyes are glaring
In the darkness, in the sky. Oh they are staring!
Oh pretty flowers; sleeping in the meadow white as snow
Oh pretty flowers! Let me slumber in your starlit glow.

(Instrumental)
Oh pretty flowers! Covering the meadow just like snow
Oh pretty flowers! Summer, hurry up, we miss you now.

Translation: MotherOwl 20018

Her er blomstersengen  --  And here the meadow white as snow.

Haveuglens imperium - GardenOwl's Empire

Haveuglen på sin rede - GardenOwl in its nest

I dag skinnede solen og Haveuglen sendte sin altmuligmand og reporter, også kendt som Uglemor, ud for at luge og tage billeder af alle de fine, nye skud i hans have.

- - -  📷  - - -

Today the sun was shining and GardenOwl sent out his trusted reporter and handyman - aka MotherOwl - out to weed and document all the life in his garden.

Jans gode mynte - Tasty mint from Jan's garden

Ramsløg, de blev ikke luget - Ramsons, not yet weeded!

Og hvad er mon det, krudt eller ukrudt? - What is this, weed or not?

Rabarber! Ikke til tærte i påsken, men snart (og de allestedsnærværende skvalderkål)
-
Rhubarbs! Not quite early enough for tarts for Easter, but soon! (and the ubiquitous ground elder)

Lungeurt med humledronning mellem pilene - Lungwort and a queen bumblebee between the arrows.

Overlevende spidskål - Surviving cabbage

Overlevende kruspersille - Surviving parsley

Og overlevende havesyre - and surviving sorrel

Solstik eller jostabær springer ud tidligere end stikkelsbærrene
-
Jostaberry folding out its leaves, even earlier than the gooseberries.

Violer - Violets

Forårsjævndøgn og frødag

Spring Equinox and World Frog Day

I dag er der god grund til at fejre. Det er forårsjævndøgn - det betyder at forår, varme og solskin vender tilbage 🌞 Og så er der international frødag 🐸 Begge dele er noget at være taknemmelig for i disse dage. Her i Uglebo fortsætter vi med at passe på hinanden, nyde solskinnet trods den lovede nattefrost, og så skal vi vist plante nogle frø.

-- 🌞 - 🐸 --

Today is a day to celebrate. It is Spring equinox, and this means that spring, summer and sunshine is returning. 🌞 And it is World Frog Day.🐸
 

 -- 🌞 - 🐸 --

Måske mere senere ... maybe to be continued.  🌞

... men vi blomstrer alligevel!

Defiantly flowering!

Det ser ud til at der skal komme en "... men vi blomstrer alligevel"-post på Uglemors blog hvert forår. I år er der en af vore med-landsbyboere, der er blevet træt af vand i kælderen og derfor er i gang med et større udgravningsprojekt. Jordbunkerne hober sig op, og i dag kom Uglemor og Ugleungerne til at kigge nærmere på dem.

-- ❁ --

On our way to the bus stop this morning we came past a house where the inhabitants finally had had enough of water filled cellars. They have started digging, and a big mound of earth has lain outside for weeks. Today we looked closer and saw ...

 Defiantly flowering!

Årets første frø og fremspiring

First Seeds of the Year.

Den 11. februar såede Uglemor radiser og salat ude i domen.
February 11. Radishes and salad sown in the dome.

14. februar blev der så forspiret indendørs. Uglemor såede auberginer og chili.
February 14. Sowing indoors. MoterOwl sowed eggplants and chilis.

Piraten såede artiskokker og citronchili.
The Pirate sowed artichokes and lemon chilies.

28. februar - fremspiring - germinating! February 28.

Piratens artiskokker gør opmærksom på sig selv.
Pirate's artichoke are big already.

Uglemors auberginer kan også . bakken er vendt om her. 
MotherOwl's eggplants sprouted as well. The tray is upside down here.

Og ude i domen pibler de første radiser frem. Det er ikke uventet 18 dages sorten, der er først.

And in the Dome the first radishes can be seen. Not unexpected the 18 jours - means 18 days - living up to its name. It is a 'speed radish'.

Forårsbebudere -- Spring is on its Way

     I går fandt jeg disse skønheder på Ugleboets terrasse. De lover, at selv om det stadig er vintermørkt, så klatrer solen lidt højere op på himmelen hver dag, og snart kommer foråret.

-- 🥀🌼 --

 Yesterday I met these beautiful flowers in the Owlery. They are a promise that even though it is still murky during the day, the Sun is climbing a bit higher each day, and soon Spring will come. 

11. januar 2020

     På den anden side er der en mindre hygglig side ved billedet her. Jeg har taget lignende billeder hvert år i flere år. Tilfældigvis har jeg de sidste 4 år taget billeder af vintergækkerne på næsten samme udviklingstrin. Når jeg ser på datoerne, bilder jeg mig ind at jeg kan se virkningerne af den globale opvarmning:
2020 11. januar
2019 16. januar
2018 20. januar
2017 21. januar, men de var da længere tilbage i udviklingen.

-- 🥀🌼 --

  On the other hand those snowdrops and eranthis reminds me of a less pleasing thing. When I look at the dates of similar photos from the last 4 ears, I imagine, that I'm looking at the results of global warming. The dates are:
2020 11. januar (this one)
2019 16. januar
2018 20. januar
2017 21. januar, but the Snowdrops were not as unfolded then.

Flere overlevende -- More survivors

Den ukendte  --  The unknown

    Til start stod den i en balje vand på terrassen, men jeg læste, at den ikke tålte frost og væde, så jeg satte den tæt op ad huset. Den overlevede vinteren i fineste stil, som her man ser.
     Nu ville jeg så se, om den kunne plantes ud. Og så var skiltet væk ... og det er jo ikke en lykkekløver, som jeg huskede.
     En bøn om hjælp på Havenyt afslørede den som Trifolium repens purpurascens alias Trifolium repens atropurpureum, som jeg kunne genkende, da jeg så det.Det er en sort af hvidkløver med røde aftegninger, så den er allerede plantet ud.

---

This one lived in a bowl of water. I read on the plastic with name and so on, that it was not tolerant of frost or too much water.  I placed it right beside the door, watering it sparingly all through winter. And as can be seen it not only survived, it thrived.
Then I wanted to see if I could transplant it, or it had to be kept in a pot. The piece of plastic had flown away or been stolen by some animal. At least it was not there. And the name, I remembered, did not give this plant upon searching. I asked for help and got it at Havenyt (Gardening News - a forum etc. for organic gardening.) It is a Trifolium repens purpurascens alias Trifolium repens atropurpureum, the last name was the one on the pot - i recognized it. it's a clover and I'm sure very hardy. It has already been transplanted.

--- 📷 ---

De gamle kendinge --  The usual suspects

     Laurbærplanten overlevede sit sædvanlige vinterophold i vores badeværelse. Og som det kan ses på den lyserøde tandbørste overlevede skjoldlusene sammen med den.

---

The  Laurel survived its usual winter visit to our bathroom. My old nemesis - the wax scales - survived as well, as can be deduced from the presence of the pink toothbrush.

De overlevende -- Survivors

     Apropos Television, temaordet til Onsdagsord (Words for Wednesday) bringer Uglemors TV nu et afsnit i den fortsatte serie: De Overlevende, (De gode, de uventede og de uudholdelige). Og nej det har intet ud over navnet til fælles med med TV-serien af samme navn fra 1976.

--- 📺 ---

Apropos Television - Prompt for Words for Wednesday - OwlTV now presents Survivors, (The good, the unexpected and the insupportable). And it has nothing except the name in common with the British TV-serials from 1976, one of my childhood memories.

--- 📷 ---

Vi begynder med de gode --  We begin with the good ones

Løvstikken overlevede, og den har fået nogle påskeliljer til at holde sig med selskab.

---

The lovage survived, and has gotten some daffodils to keep them company

Min gode mynte overlevede igen. 

--

My tasty mint survived as usual

Den endnu bedre mynte overlevede heldigvis også

-- 

The even tastier mint survived as well.

 De nye hvide ribs overlevede begge to

---

Both of the white redcurrants survived. Yay. 

--- 📷 ---

Og så til de uventede -- and now; the unexpected

Fenniklerne overlevede begge to. Nu håber jeg på masser af frø, for det er dem, jeg bruger. 

---

 The Fennel survived - hoping for lots of seeds, as that's the part I use.

Den arktiske hindbær var væk i efteråret, men den har da tilsyneladende overlevet. 

---

Arctic strawberries. They went missing last autumn, but here they are again. 

 Dette her er ægte kamille - håber jeg. Jeg såede millioner af frø (de er bittesmå - tænk på kamiliethe) og der kom 2 usle planter. De skal måske ligge og lure

--

Chamomile for tea I hope. I sowed thousands of seeds last year (think of chamomile tea - that small) and had two measly plants. They might need a cold spell.

Midt i kamillerne (?) kommer der søreme en valmue. Velkommen igen. Der var ingen sidste år. 

--

And in between all the Chamomiles a poppy's growing. Yay, welcome back. We had no poppies last year.

Den brogede syre overlevede. Jeg troede den var enårig :)

--

The  sorrel survived. I thought it was annual.

 Og jeg håber ... måske er det endelig lykkedes at få lakridsen til at overleve. 

---

Hoping that I finally succeeded in having the licorice plants  survive. 

--- 📷 ---

 Og så den uudholdelige --  And now the insupportable. 

 Lægekulsukker! Uglemor vil meget gerne have kulsukker, men ikke lige dér! hun har gravet bedet igennem mindst 5 gange, plukket ethvert fremspirende blad i flere måneder, men den overlever bare!

---

Comfrey! MotherOwl is growing comfrey. But not right here! She bug the bed at least three times, picked every sprouting leaf for months, and still it grows!

Forårsdag 2 -- Spring Day 2

     Uglemor tog på indkøb på cykel, vejret var fint og der skulle købes et ny vandtårn til hønsene. Den gamle var blevet smadret af en uforsigtig Uglemor i frostvejr.
     Undervejs var der mange spændende ting at se.

 -- 🌤 --

MotherOwl went shopping by bike. The weather was nice and she had to buy a new chicken waterer. MotherOwl broke the old one on a frosty winter's day.  
She saw some interesting things on her way.

Blomstrende mirabeller. Kun dette ene træ blomstrede endnu i det kilometerlange levende hegn. 

 -- 🌸 --

 Cherry plum tree flowering. Only this one tree was flowering in a very long hedgerow. 

Flotte støttepinde til hindbærbuske i lange rækker. 

 -- 🐌 --

 Pretty supports for raspberry plants.

Tjørnebuskene står på spring. 

  -- 🌸 --

 The hawthorn bushes will be flowering very soon.

Hjemme igen blomstrede vores troldhassel meget smukt. 

. -- 🌰 --

 Back home the corkscrew hazel was flowering with long green catkins.

Fuglebolde i net er normalt ikke nogen god idé. Nettene flyver rundt og vikler sig ind i alt muligt. Men hvis man nu binder en snor i, så flyver plastnettet ingen steder, de er nemmere at hænge op, og snoren kan genbruges.

 -- 🐦 --

 Bird feed with plastic netting is not very good, The netting gets blown away, spreading plastic and getting caught up in birds' nests, choking the small birds. But if you tie a string to the netting it does not fly away, it is easier to hang, and the string can be reused all winter.

Haveuglens rede inden lugning. 

 -- 🦉 --

 GardenOwl's nest before weeding.

Krydderurtebedet fik også en omgang.  

-- 🍀 --

The herbal bed had a much needed weeding as well.

Hønsene og deres nye vandtårn. De fik mange spande ukrudt i dagens løb.
Men de er altid sultne. 

-- 🥚 --

The hens and their new waterer. They had many bucketfuls of weeds today.
But they are always hungry.

Og endelig. Haveuglen er på plads i sin rede.  Parat til at herse med os alle sammen hele sommeren.
Til højre for Haveuglen har Uglemor plantet tudseliljer.

-- 🐸 --

And finally GardenOwl is king of the garden once more.
To the right of GardenOwl MotherOwl planted some toad lilies.

Forår igen - Spring once again

     Hvert år overvælder foråret mig med sin farvepragt og grokraft. Det føles som om jeg slår de samme billeder op igen og igen, men de her er altså taget i går efter et par timers intensivt havearbejde.
     I dag kommer Haveuglen ud igen, efter at jeg har luget og pyntet reden, naturligvis.

-- 🦉 --

Every year spring feels bigger than life. So many colours! so many things sprouting, growing and budding. I feel like I am posting the same photos every year, bu these are a brand new batch, snapped yesterday after several hours of intensive gardening.
Today GardenOwl will be carried out to the nest again. After I have weeded the nest and made it pretty.

Chilierne blev sået den 14. marts. Mange af dem er allerede spiret. Dem uden navn ved er citronchilier.
--

The chillies were sown March 14th. Many of them had sprouted yesterday. The nameless ones to the right are lemon chillies.

De her blomstrer allerede til glæde for de vilde bier - Rød Tvetand
--

Flowers for the wild bees: Red dead-nettle

og lungeurt
-- 
and lungwort

For en gangs skyld har vi martsvioler i marts.
--

Sweet violets are called March violets in Danish.
They seldom bloom in March (normally April) but this year it happened.

Rabarberene gror
--
 The rhubarbs are growing

Ramsløgene gør også deres bedste.
--

The ramsons are doing their very best.

Mine stjålne scillafrø er endelig blevet til blomster. 

My stolen scilla seeds have finally turned into flowers.

Uglemor er begyndt forfra igen på at strikke sin trøje - nej, farven er ikke karry-fesen. Det han noget med lys og plantefarvet garn at gøre. Den er solgul i virkeligheden. 

Neverkont på rundpinde. Kom så, Uglemor!

-- --

MotherOwl once again began over knitting the jumper in plant dyed yarn. No it is not a dirty curry yellow. Light and camera not liking plant dyes are to blame. It is bright sunshine yellow. Entrelac in the round. Come on, MotherOwl!

Hønsene lægger æg. Jeg nyder de smukke farver. 

-- 

The chicken are laying. Pretty colours here as well.