Now Wearing Purple

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! Windows and doors have been flung open in the last few days,  to let in the unusually warm air.  I'm breaking out my summer clothing already!  Can't last Mr says, as there is a cold snap coming.... what a happy little soul! We've  moved the bench to the top of the garden again, as the lengthening days mean the sun remains there the longest.  It was still light at 6.00pm yesterday and we made the most of it sitting watching the birds on the feeder,  robins,  great, tufted, blue and long tailed tits, sparrows, when suddenly a sparrow hawk swooped straight across the garden and sadly that was the last of the bird activity, as they all had the sense to stay hidden.  Last year a sparrow hawk did this, again right in front of us, but it took a bird, which although is only nature at its rawest,  was still quite shocking. It's much the same when we walk the dogs, with skylarks swooping about in pairs, performing what I...

TULIPS,  SOURDOUGH,  MANDALAS...OH, AND SNOW! I cannot believe we are already almost halfway through February.....where did January go for goodness sake? I've been treating myself to tulips, for which I'm a bit of a sucker, with this delicious bunch reminding me of rhubarb and custard sweets f or some reason. My affection for tulips at this time of year stems from the fact that they don't elicit itchy watery eyes and snotty, sniffly noses, symptoms that daffodils do.  Having said that, I have some Tete a Tete in the kitchen that will be coming into flower soon, so better stock up on the tissues. This bunch also called to me.....well, you can't have too many can you? I thought how nice they would look with  some sort of matching doily underneath them and a mandala sprang to mind.  I chose to this pattern one for it's design and colour palette and it proved to be an easy little make. The photo does not show the true colours, quelle suprise, as...

The house felt a little nude, once Christmas had been removed, so I had a good tidy and clean, and up went the little twinkly lights and out come the candles. The weather here has been lovely for this time of year,  a bit of sunshine most days and the odd gorgeous sunset, this one taken from my bathroom window this week. I usually find January quite a hard month, like many people, so to remedy this we embrace the hygge.   I treated myself to this little book a while ago,  a lovely little read, just right for this time of year.  It's recommendations are really nothing new to this household. but it's nice that it now has a name. We're making time for long, bracing walks every afternoon, then coming home, lighting the fire and candles and snuggling down with very contented and tired dogs, for the evening. Sofa hogs! We 're eating lots of  comfort food,  last nights offering being free range sausages, puy lentils, peppers, ...