Saturday this and that . . .

 

The trees are still bare, the earth is still mud,
But now, for the first time, new life
Is in bud.
Today, high above, the heavens are fair,
The sunshine is bright, and there's warmth
In the air.
Though ruts are still puddles, the sky they reflect
Is blue as a harebell, while verges are decked
With Aconites golden and snowdrops that sway
In breezes that dance the dead Winter away.
Today is a promise, a stirring a vow,
That Spring will be coming - it won't be long now!
~Margaret Ingall 

Yesterday, during the calm before the storm, we went for a walk.  The tell tale signs of spring were all around us. Each bush seems to have eensy teensy buds on it and the grass is looking that little bit greener. The Camelia bush in front of our little home is already in bloom, beneath the trees, and underneath the oak . . . the tell tale green shoots of the daffodils are beginning to spring from the ground in great numbers.

I love spring in England. I call it the greening of England, as all the hedgerows, trees, bushes etc. seem to take on a greenish tinge . . . almost glowing with a light green halo. As I look across the fields which surround our housing estate it is un-mistakable. The season of yellow daffodils bobbing their heads in the sun will soon be upon us, and then the bluebells will not be far behind. Is there anything as pretty on earth as a bluebell wood in the springtime? I think not . . . 

 

Although the days may yet seem a bit dreary and cold, there are sure signs about us that nature is beginning her springtime riot of colour. The farms that surround our Estate have been putting in their early crops and yesterday the air was filled with the lovely smell of apple wood smoke from their burning the prunings of their fruit trees.  Applewood smoke . . .  the smell of home. 

The hedgerows have all been trimmed and are ready to burst forth in blossom and colour. It is hard to believe that we are already in the middle of February and March looms.  Before I know it my children will be here. The year is already starting to speed by. Time seems to go quicker and quicker as each year passes . . . or is it just my imagination . . . 

  

"Come, gentle Spring! Ethereal Mildness! Come."
~James Thomson

 Green shoots are poking through the ground, and very soon now we shall see the bright yellow lesser celandines in woods and hedgerows. The cry of the cuckoo will soon be heard echoing through the warmer air of sunny spring days . . . to those of you who are still mired beneath blankets of snow, don't despair, it is really only just around the corner now . . . 

 

My sister is having a sale in her shop Lost Lovelies Found.  Everything is fifty percent off and she will ship everywhere. She has a lot of really nice things.  Really old pyrex, really cute kitcsh (sp) and collectables.  If I wasn't getting rid of things I would be sorely tempted by more than a few items!!  

 

We watched the last episode of the last series of Anne with an e last night.  We have been eaking it out and making it last.  I am so disappointed that the series has been cancelled. I really would have loved to have seen more.  But it was a truly lovely episode, tender and filled with lots of emotion, and as good a place as any to end it all.

We are expecting Storm David to hit today with more flooding, winds and travel chaos.  They say only Northern Ireland will not be affected. We do not get the snow, but we do get the winds and the rain.  Here where we live in Chester on the Blacon housing estate we are fairly high up so we don't get the floods, but they do get flooded in the lower laying areas, and they get snow on the higher ground.  People are still cleaning up from last weekend's storm.  I feel for them being hit so soon after that.  

I have the itinery for my Children's flights etc. now. They arrive in Manchester on the morning of April 1st and depart early in the morning on April 21st.  We will have three glorious weeks together and I can't wait!  We shall cook and craft and sight see and just enjoy each other's company to the hilt!  I best get cracking on sorting out upstairs and finishing off the craft room!  

My first three recipes are up on Home Chef World.  Do pop over and take a peak. My first dessert one is still to go up. I have finished a fifth one this week and am working on the sixth.  I hope the site does well so my little job can continue. Fingers crossed! 

And with that I best leave you with a thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Isn't it nice to think that

tomorrow is a new day

with no mistakes in it yet? 

~Anne Shirley•。★★ 。* 

 

In the English Kitchen today, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake for the smaller family. It is moist and delicious with a toffee icing on top.  I cuts into six perfectly sized pieces.

Hope you have a beautiful Saturday. I think we are going to go visit Billy and see how he is doing before the storm really hits.  Don't forget! 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   


And I do too!