Signs of spring

After weeks of mild weather we awoke to a bright and frosty morning

The bulbs are emerging. The aconites have been out for a couple of weeks now, their bright little heads a welcome sight in the past dreary days

Flame berries in the seed pods of the iris.  I love how they are decomposing, leaving a casing of chiffon

I have the day to myself. No plans. I have put a wash on. Waiting in for a parcel to be redelivered.  My cold is progressing, more irritating than anything.  Funnily, 35 years ago, on the eve of our wedding, I had a really bad cold, feeling rough, not that it marred the big day.  35 years - Coral or Jade depending on whether you are traditional or modern.  We won't bother with either on Sunday, just a nice lunch out, time to ourselves to reminisce.

Hubby just sent a text - puncture on the M11 southbound, not a good start to his day.

Judy, hope you are feeling better today - she has a cold virus too.

Also - I'm wondering about starting a knitting/craft group in my garden room.  My worries, that no one would come.  Should I do it?  How often should it run?

where did that come from?

woke this morning - head cold - no idea where its come from.  Not feeling too bad but could end up with a nose like this by the end of the day.

I had planned to do a bit more gardening today, managed 2.5 hours yesterday, but not sure I'm feeling up to it, and whilst its sunny out its also quite damp. Maybe just a bit of gentle knitting, cast on my cardigan me thinks, a bit more of my ten-stitch.....

Linking up with WIP Wednesday with Tami

Sit still, me, never

Woke this morning, whole day stretching ahead and no plans.  Take it easy after 2 days of our little man.  No, it was dry so decided to hit the borders.  The garden is looking a mess, due to not getting round to cutting back the plants in the autumn

These three pictures show a start at freeing the borders of leaves and a general cut down, actually still looks a bit messy, but the spring bulbs are coming through so there will be some colour soon.  I should have taken a before picture - that really was messy

Christmas tree doing duty as a bird feeder - still no needle drop, shame it has no roots

see all the stuff still to cut down, the lawn is more moss than anything else )-:

These two pictures show the garden after the willow was cut back, hoping the light and moisture will help the garden fight back a bit - I need to get in with the cultivator and lift the soil where the guys trampled over it

Tidy (-:

and this is where the fencing came down the other week - ugh

Three hours spent out there was long enough, my hip is now playing up but I feel happy that I have made a start.  Peter cleared leaves from the lawn along the beech hedges and relaid some paving in the veg garden. If the weather stays fine then I plan to get out for an hour or two each day after work.......

And this afternoon, feet up, resting.... not likely, spent the afternoon turning up two pairs of curtains for my youngest.  No rest for the wicked they say, so I must have been very naughty at some point in my life

then there were 2 and a bit of knitting

our day started at 6am to the cries of Granny, Granny Soup (his name for me - should be Sue but there you go) coming from the front bedroom, we ignored him for a bit then gave in, its what grandparents do!

The day panned out much like yesterday, reading, playing, we had the Duplo out - 30 years old and still going strong.  I am so pleased that I kept this, as they just don't make it like that any more. Rufus loves it.

After lunch we went out for a walk around the lakes, not that he saw any of it as he promptly fell asleep, oh to be snuggled up all cosy and warm and have someone push me around.  Second thoughts maybe not, sounds too much like a wheel chair for my liking.  But you get my meaning.

His mum and dad came late afternoon and whisked him away.  Left us feeling flat and quiet, although very tidy.  How can one little man make sooooo much mess.  I keep finding bits in the most unlikely places.........miss him already

On to my knitting - below is my next project - think there maybe a bit of swearing with the bobbly bits but we shall see.  May be best to work with the overhead lights on, rather than my preferred subdued lighting.

Here is the finished Little Anna top - cute isn't it.  Along with my ten stitch - are you sick of seeing that yet? and the first of a pair of socks, just using some oddments of double knit to practice on before I commit to some decent sock yarn. 

So as you see plenty to be getting on with. Now, should I cast on the cardigan, continue the ten stitch or do a few rounds of the socks?

Friday fun with Rufus

Reading

Taking Pops' chair

"Well what do you think Pops?"

and then there were tears - got so excited I ran into the dresser

and then the rain came

We have rotten weather today, very windy, very rainy.   It was so awful this morning that I left home early in order to take hubby to work.  Didn't seem fair to make him cycle in the pouring rain, especially as it was his first day back.

 

I love the way the sun reflects on the Birch tree against the black sky just before the rain.  Would you believe the sky is blue and the sun back out now. It could be worse, at least the weather is mild, 12 degrees C.  You can keep the white stuff and the freezing temps, though I guess we have that to come.

Today was first day back to work for me too.  It was hard getting up, not that we have slept in, but its been so good to go back to bed with a cuppa and a book. 

I finished the wrap cardigan last night, its partly sewn up, will of course take some photos once I'm done.

Happy New Year

We raised a glass or two last evening.  It was quiet as planned. We never bothered to see the New Year in, just too tired, must be getting old!! 

I hope you all had a good evening and that you have a wonderful 2012