Our Spring Garden

Spring has come so late this year, but finally my cheerfullness are in full bloom and perfuming the front garden. It is a real pleasure to potter outside in the sunshine.

Vapour Trails Return

After all the disruption to planes caused by the volcanic ash from Iceland I came outside today and found a sky criss crossed with vapour trails.

Walking Near Blithfield on St George's Day

We went for a really good hike round a large chunk of the reservoir at Blithfield. It was lovely and warm and we sat in a field to eat our sandwiches. The only nasty bit was a cloud of little flies which hung around us as we walked across the bridge and back to the car park - and an ice cream!

An Easter Sunday Hybrid!

To celebrate Easter I brought in a hawthorn branch to hang paper eggs on and realised that with a bit of patience I could fix some beautiful phlox flowers (from a mixed supermarket bouquet) onto the thorns. I know they won't last but I think they look amazing - especially with the sun shining through them. It has been a beautiful day but with a cold wind still. However I sat on our bench in the garden, where it is very sheltered and enjoyed my morning coffee in the sunshine - bliss and hopefully shades of things to come.

Incidently by the end of today it was amazing how much this branch had unfurled its green leaves. Outside tonight the sky is clear and jewelled with stars so I think we may have a very cold night.

The Woodpecker

As I walked today I could again hear a woodpecker - before it had been quite far away but this time it was very near and so I was able to work out which tree it was in. I stood and listened and looked and to my delight was able to make the bird out high up on a branch. I took a photo and although it is a small image in a large tree it's definitely visible!! It was a good walk as far as birds were concerned. I saw a motionless heron sitting on the far side of the field just occasionally stretching out its neck, whilst high above a pair of buzzards soared lazily on the thermals - beautiful and silent (in contrast to the succession of small planes making their way noisily overhead). A jogger ran by me plugged into his music and I thought how much he was missing as spring sung out all around us.

Back on the Track

It has been an odd couple of weeks. I had a wisdom tooth out and ended up with stitches and on antibiotics. Although I have been out walking I haven't felt very good and haven't been able to put the results on the blog, so today I am catching up!!

I took this photo at Staunton Harold. We went there to walk and wander round the shops. I saw some fabulous textile work - gorgeous birds by Louse Gardiner (all loose threads and vibrant colour) and fantastic intricate machine embroidery by Michelle Holmes.