Welcome February

Hello Lovelies, thank you so much for the welcome back 💓

Here's my third blog post of 2023! long may the inspiration continue. Compared to all the scrolling of Instagram it does feel like a return to gentler times. I have a huge nostalgia for my early blogging days, when the boys were all at primary school....and I wasn't so grey! 

At the beginning of the week my Amaryllis (a Christmas gift from my sister in law) really put on a spurt of growth. The lengthening days and milder temperatures must be working their magic. I was thrilled to see what looked like a second stem appearing too.

 I'm not sure why ( in a house with very few windowsills) I never thought to put plants in this landing window before. I love having my rescued orchids here and they seem very happy. This scene makes me smile. Even when the main lights are off, and the little battery sensor light illuminates the scene.

 On Wednesday we welcomed February (two words which are not spelled how you would presume!). The weather continued to be mild. As you can see on our weather monitor below, there's not much difference between the outside and inside temperatures here. That's because the sensor is in our conservatory. Gosh it's been a no go zone this winter! Every year it's pretty useless in very cold weather, but this year it's been worse as I turned down the underfloor heating due to the rising electricity costs. It faces north and at one point was so cold and damp mould was appearing everywhere. So depressing.  

It's still structurally sound and the rules around this sort of addition to houses has changed in the years since it was constructed.  We are now allowed to fit it with a well insulated solid roof ( previously it had to be glazed) ....so that's what we are organising for spring. In an ideal world I would prefer a completely new extension but funds are limited and this will hopefully be a good compromise.  It's also less wasteful and uses less resources,  so fits in with my simpler, sustainable goals. Well that's what I'm focusing on 😊.

I'm still enjoying noticing the beauty of bare branched trees like this magnificent oak.

But I'm also thankful for some green in the garden from these pots which have looked cheery all winter 👏

This is the first year I've removed the old leaves from my Hellebores and they do look better for it.

Even if you do still have to lift up the flowers to see their beauty fully.

In the little woodland there are Cyclamen and snowdrops appearing.

 

That wonky dolls house is a bug hotel 🥰

Tomorrow it's exactly a year since we welcomed this boy into our home. He's turned out to be a typical comfort seeking whippet and we indulge him....well he doesn't have much built in padding 

He's so funny, pulling all the sofa blankets and cushions into a big heap then flopping down in his homemade "nest". We then usually cover him up as well if it's chilly. I think he approves 💙

This week it's actually been mild enough for him to go out without a coat and today we noticed daffodil leaves beginning to appear.

While we were out walking (despite the grey) a load of washing pretty much dried on the line. Woohoo, I do love some clean bedding that smells of fresh air. A simple pleasure for sure.

 

Whilst I was out in the garden I noticed so many buds on my Daphne. 

And the first brave primulas beginning to flower.

I also noted the sad scene of my broken bird bath, a victim of those hard frosts. 

 

Never mind, I'll keep a look out for a second-hand one, or something else to be a feature here. Thinking about it, now my apple tree has grown I'm not sure anything is needed 🤔. We have a pond the birds use. I must remember my simplicity goal.

Ending on a happier note, today I noticed my Amaryllis has THREE stems. WOW! That's certainly a first for me 😍🌺  

I do hope your February has got off to a good start and you enjoyed my everyday seasonal moments. 

Jacquie x

The First Frost

 Having to take youngest to work for 8am is frustrating when you wake up to see a glistening frost and just want to get outside to enjoy the beauty of it. 

As soon as I got home I pulled on my walking boots and headed off. 

Frosts I have missed you.

The ice crystals and rising sun are all so magical. 

I just love being out in the cold when the air is still and the sky is this colour.

Looking up  I noticed a skein of geese...no hang on they are all white. Swans. Just wonderful.

  I ponder what type they will be. Probably our resident Mute swans. But I did hear them honk. 

I've checked up and Mute swans are so called because they don't call in flight. It seems they were most likely migrating Bewick's swans! Just on a short trip from Siberia!! 

Sorry about the rubbish photo. I don't even try and zoom with my phone camera as it's not good at that.

This sighting made me so happy, what a treat. 

The frost was rapidly disappearing by this time and the sheep looked content, grazing in the sunshine.

I loved how the sunlight made this beautiful yellow leaf really glow too.

By this time it was about 9am. Sometimes I pinch myself that I can get outdoors and enjoy all this any day of the week. Usually it just makes me smile. Today it actually made me sob. Gosh that was a surprise. 

I think it was just gratitude for the quiet days I'm blessed with at the moment. To be retired from  a job I was increasingly struggling with over the past few years is amazing. 

I know how fortunate I am to be in this position. Homemaking and caring for family is generally very rewarding.  I have a good balance of time for myself and commitments every day. I'm certainly never bored. Life is good. 

Who knows what's around the corner. Circumstances can change but I'm not going to worry about that at the moment . I'm just trying to remember to count my blessings and look for the joy in every day, one day at a time. 

Jacquie x

A May Day Outing

Hello Lovelies,

although it may not look like it on my blog, most of my day to day walking is done straight from home. I like that it's free exercise and there is no environmental impact from my regular walks. 

Sometimes though, I like a change.

 I usually work on Tuesdays but this week I had the day off. It was such a beautiful morning and I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I hopped in my little car and travelled the scenic route to my destination. 

The countryside is looking so lovely at the moment I couldn't resist stopping a few times.... when it was safe to do so :0)....and capturing the roadside views. Oh spring greens you are SO welcome.

And blossom trees.

and blue skies.

Thankfully the sun was still shining when I arrived at The Outwoods, a beautiful woodland with lots of paths and public access.

It's on a hill so there are lovely views to be glimpsed between the trees.

The air was still and the morning light was quiet magical that day.

Of course there was one seasonal beauty I had particularly wanted to see on this day, the first day of my most favourite month.

The sight of massed Bluebells in a sunlit woodland is a joy to lift your heart.

I don't think I could ever tire of this magical sight that we have waited for all through the winter.

There was still very little shade from the sparse new leaves here. I loved the sunlit paths and the sound of birdsong.

And interesting old trees.

This simple bench had a brief but touching memorial...to a lady who "loved the Bluebells"

I was so happy to have time to wander along paths I had not discovered before and be able to admire the display from many different angles.

I couldn't stop taking photo after photo...just hoping one or two would actually capture the beauty of the day.

The new ferns were gorgeous too.

The sunlight made the spring leaves glow.

Beech leaves are a favourite, so soft and luminous when they are new.

Here there were bigger trees giving more shade, and the rocky outcrops typical of Charnwood.

I wandered down the steep paths and here I stopped to chat to a gent who knew these woods much better than me. I loved hearing how he likes to come here at dawn some days. How it's a different world where you can see so many birds and deer. We chatted about other local spots he likes, how this special landscape is made of some of the oldest rocks in Europe.  And mostly how mother nature does beauty the best :0)

By this time I had been walking for about an hour so I stopped here for a drink and a snack.

What a perfect picnic spot.

After a break I headed back towards the car park as there was something else to see.

What do you think to this? It reminded me of wizards hats :0)

Or how about this Guardian Angel by the bus cafe.

Horses

And suspended spheres.  I loved all the willow sculptures which were temporarily on display.

And this serpent made from twigs and branches.

How great is this giant too.

It's a shame that are not a permanent fixture and the display will have gone now. At least the cafe stays all year. You can sit upstairs amongst the trees. How lovely.

On the journey home I stopped and admired the pretty villages I passed through

There was no rush and another opportunity to stop made me smile.

The cloud had started to gather as I neared home, but it could not spoil my happy mood.

What a perfect start to the new month.
Happy May Lovelies.
Jacquie x