A couple of Saturdays ago I started the weekend in a very black mood. A combination of another wet, cold weekend, without light in the valley, and probably some squabbling children. I took myself out of the house and found this little ‘Observers Book of Birds Eggs’ in an antiques shop. Those little range of books are so lovely; i remember them from when I was small. It gave me a little idea.
The nest is one I found in the courtyard last year; blown down from the ivy on the old mill chimney. It’s full of turquoise fibres and threads. I don’t know who it belonged to, but it was a bird with an eye for colour (The egg doesn’t belong with the nest. It was found separately. I just keep it in there).
So, with no particular end in mind, I started my little Birds Eggs project, to try and encourage in the Spring.
Cutting out the eggs from scraps of painted papers
and arranging them like eggs in specimen cases. Hattie asked why they were pointing the wrong way up (I said they always go that way up in books (but I don’t know why!))
Looking through the books I found that I had more interesting papers than there were colourful eggs, so we all sat round and made up birds names! I used colour charts and bird books for inspiration too. There are lots of real birds in there, but made up ones too.
An egg is all possibility. Who know what a Ringed Spiggot looks like? Or a Red Banthorp? Actually, a red Banthorp would be short and plump, with a black cap and a angry temper; he’s named after a particularly frightening teacher from primary school.
A Jellicoe is named after a teacher too. One with a penchant for pink shirts. Bemily is a little girl I know and Little Jayne is her Mum. They’ve moved away and I miss them.
I will get on with some proper work now. But that was fun…
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