All three of the photographs shown here were taken on the first of February, this year. Should perhaps record that we'd had a mild couple of days or so, and on February the first the garden thermometer showed a temperature of 55 degrees Farenheit (hope I've got the right one- always get them muddled). Near the back gate of our garden, I noticed the above photographed fungi. We then had a good poke around the garden and found the usual things in flower at this time of year:- snowdrops, two different colours of hellebore, and, to our astonishment, a few very hardy aubretia (below) in flower. On the box hedge above the aubretia Ann found a LADYBIRD (see bottom photo). I've always admired courage and optimism, but it was a bit misplaced, I think, on February the first.
Attended Long Melford on Wednesday - had a reasonably good day (seemed a very long one, though). So today we rather slobbed out (relaxed in a thoroughly irresponsible way, Lori). In the afternoon though, roused ourselves enough to walk into town. Went to the bank, did a little gentle shopping, then decided to try the newly opened tea shop which our good friend Sue had recommended. Shan't tell you the name of the place, partly because it would be advertising, but mainly because it has been given a thoroughly SOPPY name. However, although it was small, crowded and rather noisy, I have to report that the coffee and food were EXCELLENT. I think we'll use it again - certainly we will in summer - they'll have tables and chairs out on the pavement then, we're told.
Good Night All.
5 comments:
"Slobbed out." Got it! Today we are having some serious snow over here...the east coast is really getting hit. Can't believe the way it looks at your house for February.
I've often wondered about the origins of the word ladybird until I heard it in Danish quite recently, mariahona, Mary-bird. In Swedish it's nyckelpiga, key-maid. It's odd because you'd think the bug would pre-date the church?
Hello Ruth. The origins of that word -Lady bird - Mary bird, are so close that I suppose we must have picked it up from the Danes. Although, come to think of it, when they came a viking over here, there were still very pagan. Not sure.
Ladybird beetles were so named centuries ago. In mediaeval times human culture was much more closely involved with agriculture in terms of soial organisation, manual labour and dietary dependance.
The church taught that these beetles were a blessing from the Virgin Mary (also called The Lady). Hence the colorful beetles were called Ladybirds or in some languages Mary-birds.
Nearly all cultures consider Ladybirds to bring good luck since they are so very helpful to farmers. It's not surprising that they are seen as a gift for mankind from a benevolent Divinity since mankind believes he is so important to The Divinity.
Ladybird, Ladybird,
Flyaway home,
Your house is on fire,
Your children will burn.
A ladybird is like a kind of beetle with wings.
A ladybird can see in different directions, all at once.
A ladybird uses both of it's antennae to feel, smell & taste.
A ladybird has hexagon shaped eyes with a lens in each facet.
A ladybird's mouth is tiny and their jaws are used to catch aphids.
Ladybirds mate in spring & the summer, after she lays her eggs.
It takes her two days to lay them all & she can lay up to 125 eggs.
Before winter the old ladybirds die, the young ladybirds hibernate until spring.
How the Ladybird got its name!
During the Middle Ages, swarms of pests were destroying crops, so farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, for help. Soon after, ladybirds came and ate the pests and saved the crops.
The farmers called them "Beetles of Our Lady" and they eventually became known as "ladybirds".
Good Luck!
In many countries, ladybirds are considered to be good luck.
Like the four-leaf clover & horseshoe, the ladybird is thought to bring good luck.
To farmers especially, ladybirds are definitely good luck!
Beliefs!
The very sight of a ladybird is believed to be lucky; to kill one brings inevitable misfortune.
Place a ladybird on the hand while making a wish, the direction it flies away indicates where the luck will come from.
If a ladybird lands on a person, whatever ailment the person has will fly away with the ladybird.
If the spots on the wing-cover of the ladybird exceed seven, it's a sign of famine, if less than seven,
it means good harvest.
In Central Europe, people believed that if a girl caught a ladybird & it crawled across her hand, she would be married within a year.
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