The forecast said it was going to rain and the temperatures were due to drop to -10 degrees C (yes, that’s minus 10 Centigrade or 14 Fahrenheit) over the next few days, so it was no great surprise to see snow on the ground this morning.  The flowers on the balcony and in the hanging baskets have done well to last this long, especially given that we were away last week, but I think the time has come to take them down.

Not surprisingly also, the birds have soon returned to the, now fully replenished, feeder.  In the past 24 hours we’ve seen quite a few Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Marsh Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Bullfinches and at least one Nutcracker, Nuthatch, Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and a gorgeous little Wren which hopped inches away from my feet as I took the photograph of Evolène below from our balcony.  (Sorry, but I was so surprised and thrilled to see it, I forgot to take a picture !)