St Ives

Birdwatching

Although this heron seemed poised for action, it had little success finding fish. The Thames is still running high and March is roaring like a lion. Very cold here.

St Patrick's Day

Not a big deal here. Which isn't surprising when one considers its unlawful for either the monarch or prime minister to marry a Catholic. I did notice a few people stumbling out of oirish pub who seemed fairly fluid in Guiness. Nor much else to report. We're enjoying a quiet weekend at home. Freak snowstorm is predicted for next week.

Street Fire

Broad Street was transformed on Friday night, filled with candles and braziers. The street lights had been turned off, making it feel slightly medieval--provided one ignored the glow of cell phones and the odor from overheated scented candles.

In Bud

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower /
Drives my green age --Dylan Thomas

View inside Rad

This didn't come out quite as I'd hoped, but I'm posting it anyway.

Garden

This isn't my garden. It's a plot across the street that caught my eye. No one really looks after the student properties, but it's amazing to see what thrives despite the neglect.

Restoration

Restoration work is ongoing around the Bod. It was quiet today, but last month it sounded like the crew was playing leapfrog up above us.

Oxfordshire

Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill, in Woodstock, just outside Oxford.
The view from our lovely b&b. After dinner at a local pub, we watched the lunar eclipse from a nearby field.
On Sunday, we drove a short distance from North Leigh and walked down to site of 2 AD Roman villa.
A view of the villa foundations. On this site, extensive mosaic floors were uncovered. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take any pictures as the tiles are sheltered by a locked structure.

Crocuses

Unlike the prairie crocus, these come up early and are very bright. I spotted them outside the Faculty underneath some trees.