That's better! I've made a start on the garden.

It's been a pretty good day and I suddenly felt quite motivated about working in the garden.  First of all I had to inspect everything.  My tiny pond is full of frogspawn and there is a lot of activity going on in it!  The snowdrops still look good, as do the hellebores and a few primroses.  The fritillaries are well on their way up too.  In the front the crocus were fully open in the sunshine (after a frosty sta rt to the morning).   The first job was to saw down a dead ceanothus and to demolish the small fence behind it.  I've left the thicker base of the shrub for another occasion - or maybe one of my sons could finish it off for me.  Then I set to, rather reluctantly,  sawing down the tall stems of a golden hazel.  Like the dogwoods, which I have already dealt with, this should send up even more straight stems over the coming season, and the new stems always bear larger and more golden leaves.  The stems wont go to waste as I can use them for supporting climbers in the garden or on the plot.  I had intended to carry on in the garden, after lunch, but common sense prevailed as I thought I'd done enough pretty physical work out there, so I've spent the rest of the afternoon ironing (!)

The other day I made my first woven necklace, using strands of crotcheted wire and ribbons, and silver coated copper chain, with various shapes of agate, and all plaited together.  I'm quite pleased with the result - it reminds me of  the Spring.  I also made the little 'bug' which I considered adding to the necklace, but it doesn't show up too well, so maybe I use it on something else. 

A lucky mum

Last weekend was really good.  On Saturday afternoon I was collected from home by my eldest son, d-in-law and grandchildren and driven to my youngest son's home.  Good job I checked, at the last minute, about what I should be wearing, as I was in totally inappropriate clothes.  It turned out we were all going bowling!  Now, I have to admit that I have only been bowling once before, and it was a pretty miserable experience.  It was one of Mike's office outings, about twenty years ago.  When we arrived at the bowling alley we were all split up into teams.  I ended up with a team of very competitive young men and, as I was a complete novice and pretty useless (well, none of them actually gave me any help or advice), our team did not do well at all, and did they make it obvious to me.  This time, however, with the encouragement of my family, I actually surprised myself and did quite well, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  We all had a lot of fun, and finished off the day with a carvery meal.  On Sunday I caught the train to my youngest son's and together we walked along the river side to Cannon Hill Park and had lunch at the Mac, before heading back.  It was a bit raw, but we were well togged up. 

Yesterday I was out walking near Polesworth, and the sun shone for most of the day. We were even able to sit in the warm sun when we stopped for lunch, although the wind was quite cold across the open fields.  Today is sunny and bright, so I'm hoping to get out soon. 

In the greenhouse, there are signs of germinating broad beans.  I'm hoping to sow more seeds over the next few days, and to get over to the plot.  The snowdrops, in the garden, are still really good.  Best year ever.

Thought I'd add a few more photos from my holiday in Spain.

 

 

 

 

I'm off out into the sunshine.

I'm back!

I've just returned from a week's walking holiday in Spain. With a small group from the Wednesday, 'long walkers' we flew from Liverpool to Alicante, and were based in Calpe. I was a bit shocked when I arrived there, for the first time, as I've never spent a holiday in a high rise resort and thought it looked pretty awful.  My apartment was on the 22nd floor, with extensive views - mainly of other tower blocks, but some bits of the coast and salt water lagoon.  After a while I sort of got used to it all, as the resort was quite smart and well maintained, and it was quiet.  I certainly wouldn't want to be there in the high season with the thought of the amount of people who must occupy those tower blocks.  The old town was more my sort of place.  Calpe was a very good base for our walks and my apartment was excellent.   The weather was fine and mostly sunny, apart from one rainy morning, although the temperatures were unusually low for the time of the year, but I found it fine for walking.  Pity it was too cool to loll on my balcony-with -a -view on the odd occasion.

We enjoyed a number of walks in the mountain ranges behind the resort.  The wild flowers were a delight - fritilleries (above), jonquils, various orchids, asphodels, euphorbias etc, and the almond trees were in blossom. Evenings were spent enjoying delicious meals in various restaurants, and also in the home of our leaders Phil and Monica, along with our other leaders John and 'Q'.  The going was a bit rough underfoot as it is limestone country, but we 'oldies' all enjoyed the challenge and the views from the high points.  This was my first big adventure since becoming a widow.  Mike had lived in Spain when he was a young man (before meeting me) and I did accompany me during the week, in the form of a small teddy attached to my rucsac.  He would not, however, have approved of my climb to the summit of Calpe Rock ( Penon de Ifach) - all 332m of it, including traversing shiny, slippery limestone slabs with the help of fixed rope handrails - as he did have a fear of heights.  Here's a photo of my fellow walkers at the top.  On the way down, I tripped!  Fortunately for me, I landed face down in a soft bush, and  bumped my head on a rock and although a lump appeared, it soon went down, and all I have to show for it is a slight bruise on my forehead.  However, I think I must have given the others a fright as I was quite near the edge.

 

Just before I went away I caught up with a bit of 'plotting'  - tidying up, digging over, and swapping over my strawberry bed with my salad bed.  Since returning, the better weather (hope it stays so) has encouraged me to think about the forthcoming year on the allotment,  and I have spent some time in the greenhouse setting a few of my veg seeds.  I also managed to get in some gardening on Saturday, and enjoyed listening to the birds singing.  My snowdrops are at their best now.

 

In the new year I started yet another hobby.  I'm now making gemstone jewellery.  I've already sold a few items and have had some orders. I've even booked myself into a jewellery making session at the Mitchell Centre later in the month. 

My interest in geology sort of runs over into my love of the various

gemstones.  The earrings on the left are made from cultured freshwater pearls, tiny emeralds and quartz drops.  Above right are lapis lazuli earrings, and below various bracelets, including the one at the bottom which is made from moonstone chips and emeralds, on a silver chain. The family history has taken a back seat for a while, and will probably be resumed during the autumn and winter months.  I'm hoping we have a decent spring and summer.  If I can get on well with my garden and plot, I may even be able to sit out in the sun, making jewellery. 

 

It's a short blog this time, but at least I'm up and running again.