The endless rain and rare sunny spells have matched our mood and feelings this week as it’s been one of our hardest ever. Last Wednesday I was diagnosed as having breast cancer and I will start treatment very soon, followed by surgery when the tumour has shrunk. Feels like a massive blow out of the blue - but as ever the outside world is a constant joy snd my amazing family and friends are surrounding me with love, emotional support, positive thoughts and practical help. This group is very important to me snd my mental health and well being , so I wanted to share this most personal news with you - my dear and wonderful tribe of nature lovers! I guess this will become even more important to me over the next few months.
I’ve been lifted by the sight of our cherry tree- now approaching its peak of flowering.
I want to assure you I will get the best care - I have a brilliant consultant looking after me, a specialist cancer nurse at my side, and a yet to meet but equally wonderful oncologist - all at a very good Spire hospital just 20 mins drive away. My lovely Robert is my rock and our 2 kids, partners and our granddaughter are here too. So I feel surrounded by all I need. Thank you for all of your inspiring and uplifting comments every week.
It’s biblical in Glasgow, it feels like day 102 of rain here. We came back absolutely sodden from a walk yesterday, my little dog was absolutely filthy and caked in mud, her little undercarriage seemed to collect most of the mud but she was very happy! I went through 3 jackets yesterday because I got so soaked. I also noticed my hiking boots have suddenly perished which I’m sad about - Welly boot weather it is! Bored of my winter wardrobe now, I want to be able to bear an ankle and lose the winter coat and hat.
The week in Wiltshire is getting to the bottom of to do lists, editing my book proposal and holding off throwing myself at the allotment. I’m tempted to just lob all the dried seeds I’ve collected over the years at my large unruly patch and see what comes out on top!!
One thing particular to this week is today…it’s my birthday! And so March! There are still a few mounds of snow yet the ice cream truck made its maiden voyage of the season right by my home last night. Mother Nature birthed me smack in the middle of this wonderful month of playful interdependence and quick change adjustments. I have taken notice of that my whole life. “Laugh, be flexible and keep growing forward!” She says. I have.
I shared in whooping as the Severn Bore rolled its way up the River Severn - Sabrina coiling her hair as watery sworls and rolling uptide bringing the salty waters into our presence on a before still river . Nature’s power is there for us to admire and feel a sense of the spiritual in Herstory. Spirits of the Severn were at play -salt , mud and flotsam and jetsam on the backflow 🌊🍃🌿
Wow, that high tide really is magical. And that Shakespeare quote is perfect. This week I’ve been dodging showers, trying to get gardening done, then giving up and just getting wet. The heavy Sheffield clay is a pain to get out from under my fingernails, but it was wonderful to get my hands in the soil.
I planted 7 different kinds of hyacinths last autumn and have just been smacked in the face by the heavy perfume as soon as I stepped outside! Carrying on from others, I have also just seen 4 huge dozy queen bumblebees stumbling about (which I hastily directed to the hyacinths) and the biggest queen wasp I have ever seen. Many ladybirds out the front again, which I don't often see until my birthday 2nd April. A mass awakening this week it seems. I have to say, I agree it's a bit too early for them all.
It's been mostly dry in York this week but the sky has been shut behind the concrete clouds that it may as well still be mid-winter for my seasonal affected mood. Nonetheless! Within the last 2-3 days the clematis has sprouted leaves, the sycamore tree has green buds and my neighbours' daffodils have started to open up. All we need now is some sun!
I'm finally getting into the garden (I might be a little late...!!) digging in new compost, planting my new mint plant to complement my winter-bedraggled sage and thyme, harvesting and eating the very last of my Brussels sprouts! That post-work hour or so of daylight is truly a gift!
Walking into town to attend my maths course, the council gardeners had been hard at work a few weeks ago, planting masses of hyacinth bulbs. They are all now in flower in the newly painted flower tubs (part of an ongoing street art project), and the smell was amazing.
I just wanted to say, I've been having a bit of an emotional week, and that the 'As You Like It' Shakespeare quotation made me cry - it was exactly what I needed. Thank you, Sue, for the intial share, and Lia for sharing widely!
Tidying up in the front garden, moving pots of tulips and grape hyacinths (already starting to flower) out from their resting place under the hedge to a sunny spot near the front door.
Here in North Carolina, it has been sunny and warm—perfect for bare feet and watching the sunset from outdoors. One iris is blooming weeks early. The bunnies are running around in the dark in their mating ritual. The hawks are stalking baby animals and making the crows—who seem the be the guardians of the galaxy—very angry and busy. So much life!
The endless rain and rare sunny spells have matched our mood and feelings this week as it’s been one of our hardest ever. Last Wednesday I was diagnosed as having breast cancer and I will start treatment very soon, followed by surgery when the tumour has shrunk. Feels like a massive blow out of the blue - but as ever the outside world is a constant joy snd my amazing family and friends are surrounding me with love, emotional support, positive thoughts and practical help. This group is very important to me snd my mental health and well being , so I wanted to share this most personal news with you - my dear and wonderful tribe of nature lovers! I guess this will become even more important to me over the next few months.
I’ve been lifted by the sight of our cherry tree- now approaching its peak of flowering.
I want to assure you I will get the best care - I have a brilliant consultant looking after me, a specialist cancer nurse at my side, and a yet to meet but equally wonderful oncologist - all at a very good Spire hospital just 20 mins drive away. My lovely Robert is my rock and our 2 kids, partners and our granddaughter are here too. So I feel surrounded by all I need. Thank you for all of your inspiring and uplifting comments every week.
It’s biblical in Glasgow, it feels like day 102 of rain here. We came back absolutely sodden from a walk yesterday, my little dog was absolutely filthy and caked in mud, her little undercarriage seemed to collect most of the mud but she was very happy! I went through 3 jackets yesterday because I got so soaked. I also noticed my hiking boots have suddenly perished which I’m sad about - Welly boot weather it is! Bored of my winter wardrobe now, I want to be able to bear an ankle and lose the winter coat and hat.
Those were crazy scenes in Bristol!
The week in Wiltshire is getting to the bottom of to do lists, editing my book proposal and holding off throwing myself at the allotment. I’m tempted to just lob all the dried seeds I’ve collected over the years at my large unruly patch and see what comes out on top!!
Happy Friday all xxx
One thing particular to this week is today…it’s my birthday! And so March! There are still a few mounds of snow yet the ice cream truck made its maiden voyage of the season right by my home last night. Mother Nature birthed me smack in the middle of this wonderful month of playful interdependence and quick change adjustments. I have taken notice of that my whole life. “Laugh, be flexible and keep growing forward!” She says. I have.
I shared in whooping as the Severn Bore rolled its way up the River Severn - Sabrina coiling her hair as watery sworls and rolling uptide bringing the salty waters into our presence on a before still river . Nature’s power is there for us to admire and feel a sense of the spiritual in Herstory. Spirits of the Severn were at play -salt , mud and flotsam and jetsam on the backflow 🌊🍃🌿
This week has brought the first reports of Cornish choughs beginning their nest building for the breeding season.
Wow, that high tide really is magical. And that Shakespeare quote is perfect. This week I’ve been dodging showers, trying to get gardening done, then giving up and just getting wet. The heavy Sheffield clay is a pain to get out from under my fingernails, but it was wonderful to get my hands in the soil.
Just another poem for the season to share with you all!
Spring is Becoming
Spring is becoming
And the sap is on the move.
Thoughts acquire a new muscle of green;
Forget me nots are blooming-
The infinite made urgent.
Let us give thanks to the Winter as it passes,
Let us kneel before the primroses
And think of death. Without it
Where all this Life?
Gideon Heugh
I planted 7 different kinds of hyacinths last autumn and have just been smacked in the face by the heavy perfume as soon as I stepped outside! Carrying on from others, I have also just seen 4 huge dozy queen bumblebees stumbling about (which I hastily directed to the hyacinths) and the biggest queen wasp I have ever seen. Many ladybirds out the front again, which I don't often see until my birthday 2nd April. A mass awakening this week it seems. I have to say, I agree it's a bit too early for them all.
It's been mostly dry in York this week but the sky has been shut behind the concrete clouds that it may as well still be mid-winter for my seasonal affected mood. Nonetheless! Within the last 2-3 days the clematis has sprouted leaves, the sycamore tree has green buds and my neighbours' daffodils have started to open up. All we need now is some sun!
I'm finally getting into the garden (I might be a little late...!!) digging in new compost, planting my new mint plant to complement my winter-bedraggled sage and thyme, harvesting and eating the very last of my Brussels sprouts! That post-work hour or so of daylight is truly a gift!
Walking into town to attend my maths course, the council gardeners had been hard at work a few weeks ago, planting masses of hyacinth bulbs. They are all now in flower in the newly painted flower tubs (part of an ongoing street art project), and the smell was amazing.
Planting a new hawthorn tree: the tree of hearts!
I just wanted to say, I've been having a bit of an emotional week, and that the 'As You Like It' Shakespeare quotation made me cry - it was exactly what I needed. Thank you, Sue, for the intial share, and Lia for sharing widely!
Tidying up in the front garden, moving pots of tulips and grape hyacinths (already starting to flower) out from their resting place under the hedge to a sunny spot near the front door.
Here in North Carolina, it has been sunny and warm—perfect for bare feet and watching the sunset from outdoors. One iris is blooming weeks early. The bunnies are running around in the dark in their mating ritual. The hawks are stalking baby animals and making the crows—who seem the be the guardians of the galaxy—very angry and busy. So much life!