Hello weather.

We've had real hello weather this week and I decided that the time had come for a visit to Normanby Park.  You know about hello weather, don't you?  It happens in the spring.   In the winter people are huddled down in their coats.  In the summer lovely days can get taken for granted.  On a glorious day in the spring everyone I pass says the same thing.  "Hello. isn't it a lovely day!"  And I just have to agree!

Anyway, Normanby was lovely this week.  There were a lot of grandparents on child-care duty.  Happy children were showing off their skills on their bikes to grannies and grandpas who can be relied on to admire them.  Little dogs were being taken for exciting walks and they too were greeting each other.  Snowdrops and aconites were brightening the spring although I did think these pot marigolds were a tad optimistic flowering in February.

The gardeners are still gathering wonderful winter vegetables but the land is being readied for planting in a few weeks.

February is indeed fun and I think it's just the start of a fun year!  WHOOPPEE!!!

First time this year

It's more than a bit nippy here in Lincolnshire this week but the upside of that is that it is wonderful and clear and bright.  So yesterday I went off to Normanby Park.

The snowdrops were gorgeous but will soon be over.

The daffodils will be at their best in a week or two.

The rhubarb is being "forced" to create those succulent, sweet stems.

The deer were munching happily in the distance.

And all around humans were saying, "Isn't it a glorious day?"  "We've hardly had a winter."

And everyone, flora, fauna and human beings appreciates the joy of being alive on a wonderful day.

A Day Filled With Joy

Some days just bring joy - and today was one such!

I went to this lovely church at Great Limber today.  As I walked up the path the bells were ringing and there to the left of the path were the first violets I have seen this year.

The church was by no means full but we were a joyful congregation, singing the hymns with verve - and they laughed at my jokes in the sermon which always helps!  

Children had made delightful a Easter garden and put (toy) rabbits, frogs, hedgehogs and the like in it that they too might share in the joy of this day.

When I went into the tower there was a cloud of butterflies and then as I walked down the path to my car the birds were singing their hearts out.

Easter Sunday is full of joy!

A Happy find

A few months ago I dug up this piece of fabric from my stash.  It was part of a job lot of ten separate yards of fabric which I won on eBay a while back.  The whole ten yards came to £9 plus postage and anyone who does patchwork will tell you that is a bargain.


But the trouble is that it is only a bargain of you actually use it!  It had been sitting in my stash for probably two years.  And yet it is so pretty.

So I decided that some of it should become Easter cards.  I found some suitable blank cards again from my shameful stash and hey ho!  Voila!  I don't think you can see on the photograph but I have quilted round the flower with a metallic thread.


And I have decided to try English paper piecing some of the rest of the fabric to make some cushion covers.   I'll explain what English paper piecing is when I get started but for the moment let it suffice to say that it is the sort of patchwork I remember my mother doing when I was a little girl.  It is portable so I will be able to take it with me on days out.

But for the moment my joy is that two ladies in America have already received these cards and the rest (for UK recipients) are in the post tonight.

Cards for the Spring

I went to see Mandy aka Dunholme Crafter today http://dunholmecrafter.blogspot.co.uk/  Mandy is wonderful.  She let's us play with her lovely crafty toys and we come away with lovely crafty cards.  Here are today's creations.

The Garden in February

Leeks

On Sunday when my family came for lunch we had leeks from the garden.  I find that wonderful.  I've hardly been out there for two or three months and yet we had leeks from the garden.   I have had little inclination to stick my nose out of doors and still less to do anything to my garden and yet it still produces joy in abundance.

Winter lettuce

 The winter lettuce has survived and I must try it.  

Lambs' lettuce

The lambs’ lettuce is positively flourishing,

Swiss chard

Even the Swiss chard looks OK

Snowdrops

And even better the snowdrops look wonderful.

Spring can’t be too far away.