I am sorry you are so cold. I live in California, where winter has become my favorite season, it's the only time it rains for us. I will be jealous of your climate in the summer. (I actually am not thrilled it's spring already. Summers have gotten brutal, so this is one step in that direction.) That said, I wish I could send the photos I took on my walks this week. I did discover that the "volunteer" privet tree in our side yard has little white flowers that smell amazing. We seem to have a common privet tree in the front yard that seems to has dark berries on it, but isn't fragrant.
On Sunday mornings we have a show-and-tell in the ‘chat’ part of the app and you can leave your photos there. I’d love to see. That is so interesting, here we idolise the California weather, but I am sorry sumner has become so very harsh.
The blossom in your photo is beautiful. This week has brought the promise of spring with beautiful blue skies and warming sun. I've noticed people seem happier and brighter and in the typical British way, talking about the weather with a smile on their face! Out walking with my dogs or riding my horse has been a delight as I have felt the sun breaking through the misty mornings and shining on us. I started the 40 acts of kindness for Lent this week, which has added to the joy of Spring. Doing or saying something kind for someone else unexpectedly brings a lovely warm feeling to add to the sunshine. I highly recommend doing this and being grateful for every day.
The first of the wild garlic threaded through some flatbreads and flecked in carrot soup. Not enough, though, for full on pesto yet - the anticipation is real!
No sign of flowers up here in the Cairngorms yet, except for the garden snowdrops. But a hint of spring came with spotting a beautiful copper and rust and green frog, journeying to a pond to breed…
We walked to the wildlife pond in search of spawning frogs and found it covered in ice. Smashing it up and holding big sheets, we peered through it to see the world all wobbly. The frogspawn lay in thick gloopy globules underneath but the frogs had long since gone.
The “brown” garden waste bin was emptied for the first time this year and was full again within the hour of all the prunings that can’t go in my compost bins. I had my first cup of tea outside without my coat on and I’m in north Northumberland!
Making the most of the sun, I’ve been out in it every day walking in green spaces. The sound of woodpeckers on Hampstead Heath and, yesterday, at Forty Hall where there are green shoots in the bluebell woods. The bare trees are showing off great globes of mistletoe and I picked a little of the first wild garlic to add to a Venetian stew.
It has been warm this week in France, but not until the morning chill lifts. We have a meadow, an uneven strip of land that had its first cut this year. I resolved when we moved here not to buy a sit-on mower so this week has smelled of newly cut grass and felt like aching shoulders and thighs, in such a good way. Keep moving, I mutter, logging the activity on an app that tells me I walked 4 kilometres as I mowed and raked. I trimmed the plum tree and dreamed of the Chinese Plum Sauce I will make from our own harvest later in the year. Hard work now pays back in the Autumn.
Pottering in the yarden, preparing some (hopefully big enough) pots for the wildflower seeds we bought and having a general tidy. It's been noticeably milder, but the sunshine has been deceptive and - like you Lia - I am still blummin' cold! That does look like a lovely job. May your nectarine tree be very fruitful <3
What a glorious week of sunshine! It’s felt like a treat and a reward for putting up with so much wet and grey Tupperware box weather.
The bulbs in my pots and making themselves know with the beautiful bright green string shoots and fat bumble bees have been lid got themselves into the open flowers of my crocuses.
But… still cold enough for a fire in the evening. For me it’s been almost a perfect weather week. 😊
I am sorry you are so cold. I live in California, where winter has become my favorite season, it's the only time it rains for us. I will be jealous of your climate in the summer. (I actually am not thrilled it's spring already. Summers have gotten brutal, so this is one step in that direction.) That said, I wish I could send the photos I took on my walks this week. I did discover that the "volunteer" privet tree in our side yard has little white flowers that smell amazing. We seem to have a common privet tree in the front yard that seems to has dark berries on it, but isn't fragrant.
On Sunday mornings we have a show-and-tell in the ‘chat’ part of the app and you can leave your photos there. I’d love to see. That is so interesting, here we idolise the California weather, but I am sorry sumner has become so very harsh.
Enjoying the luxury of some tiny irises in pots in full bloom on our porch - striped, spotted, astonishingly fragrant.
The blossom in your photo is beautiful. This week has brought the promise of spring with beautiful blue skies and warming sun. I've noticed people seem happier and brighter and in the typical British way, talking about the weather with a smile on their face! Out walking with my dogs or riding my horse has been a delight as I have felt the sun breaking through the misty mornings and shining on us. I started the 40 acts of kindness for Lent this week, which has added to the joy of Spring. Doing or saying something kind for someone else unexpectedly brings a lovely warm feeling to add to the sunshine. I highly recommend doing this and being grateful for every day.
An inspiring and much needed encouragement to approach life with greater kindness. Thank you!
Ooh I've never heard of that, what a lovely idea!
I’m doing that too Sue
The first of the wild garlic threaded through some flatbreads and flecked in carrot soup. Not enough, though, for full on pesto yet - the anticipation is real!
Ooh, that sounds nice :0)
Spring here on the west coast of Wales, and everything is blue 💙.
We took the coast-train north on my birthday, just for the ride. And to run the dog on a different beach 🧡
Ooh - I'm off to Aberystwyth for the weekend today. How lucky you are to live in that part of the world!
Hope you are enjoying spring in Aber! It's always like this here (not!)😂
Aberystwyth is one of my favourite places on earth.
What a spot! Will give a wave!
Lovely yellow daffodils nodding in the sunshine whilst walking the dog.
No sign of flowers up here in the Cairngorms yet, except for the garden snowdrops. But a hint of spring came with spotting a beautiful copper and rust and green frog, journeying to a pond to breed…
This week has been all about frogs croaking and splashing about in the garden pond and primrose flowers opening fully in the sunshine.
Idyllic scene. How I miss 🐸
A week filled with treasure. Blue skies, crescent moons, garden pottering, line dried laundry, birdsong and cuppas in the sunshine.
Sounds sublime Wendy 💕
We walked to the wildlife pond in search of spawning frogs and found it covered in ice. Smashing it up and holding big sheets, we peered through it to see the world all wobbly. The frogspawn lay in thick gloopy globules underneath but the frogs had long since gone.
The “brown” garden waste bin was emptied for the first time this year and was full again within the hour of all the prunings that can’t go in my compost bins. I had my first cup of tea outside without my coat on and I’m in north Northumberland!
Making the most of the sun, I’ve been out in it every day walking in green spaces. The sound of woodpeckers on Hampstead Heath and, yesterday, at Forty Hall where there are green shoots in the bluebell woods. The bare trees are showing off great globes of mistletoe and I picked a little of the first wild garlic to add to a Venetian stew.
It has been warm this week in France, but not until the morning chill lifts. We have a meadow, an uneven strip of land that had its first cut this year. I resolved when we moved here not to buy a sit-on mower so this week has smelled of newly cut grass and felt like aching shoulders and thighs, in such a good way. Keep moving, I mutter, logging the activity on an app that tells me I walked 4 kilometres as I mowed and raked. I trimmed the plum tree and dreamed of the Chinese Plum Sauce I will make from our own harvest later in the year. Hard work now pays back in the Autumn.
The sunshine helps with everything doesn’t it?
Morale is soaring!
Pottering in the yarden, preparing some (hopefully big enough) pots for the wildflower seeds we bought and having a general tidy. It's been noticeably milder, but the sunshine has been deceptive and - like you Lia - I am still blummin' cold! That does look like a lovely job. May your nectarine tree be very fruitful <3
First cut of the grass on the green by my house, feels really significant!
Lungwort starting to open their pink purple flowers, colour is returning to my garden
and I put my hammock up to enjoy the warm sun and breeze, mmmm.
What a glorious week of sunshine! It’s felt like a treat and a reward for putting up with so much wet and grey Tupperware box weather.
The bulbs in my pots and making themselves know with the beautiful bright green string shoots and fat bumble bees have been lid got themselves into the open flowers of my crocuses.
But… still cold enough for a fire in the evening. For me it’s been almost a perfect weather week. 😊