Tuesday 3 April 2012

Springy

Springy is a pretty good word to describe life in general at the moment. I can hardly believe we're a quarter of the way through the year already though. My new job I started in January has dominated things rather a lot and I've found it very hard to switch the old brain off but so far its all been extremely rewarding.

This week a colleague joined me which will make things much more manageable and its given me a bit of a boost. The job is great and I've never known time to pass so quickly. Being so busy has made me focus very hard on our weekends - basically I do nothing! Well nothing that's isn't fun anyway.
This weekend was a very relaxing one as I had day off on Friday and I spent a whole precious day at home with my even more precious boys. Star Wars Lego is featuring very highly on their "favourite things to do" list at the moment. I told them I'd watched the films years ago and hilariously they have somehow got things mixed up and for some reason think I am a bit of an expert of all things Jedi!

Nothing could be further from the truth but I haven't the heart to tell them so we spend many hours talking over the merits of the X or Y wing fighter, Droids versus Bounty Huntersetc?!?!? I kid you not.
So you can imagine, I needed a bit of a Sci-Fi escape route and I persuaded them to hang up a few Easter decorations. Not a bad job all in all if you don't focus too much on the bunch of eggs in the top left hand corner - bless 'em!
All is Springy about the house indeed. After 12 years together, Woody has realised the quickest way to make me smile (mint chocolates aside) is a bunch of spring flowers when I least expect them. This is my second bunch of tulips in as many weeks! Cynics would say I should be worried but honestly, a rather large penny has just dropped!
Outside too you can feel and see that Spring is beginning to burst out all over. We headed down to the Manifold Valley at the weekend with bikes and boys in need of fresh air. It was a cool, clear day with bright blue skies and buzzards soaring. Beautiful.
Underneath the trees wood anenomes blanket the hillsides like a starry carpet. I remember the woods close to where I grew up being full of these in early spring and it was such a treat to see so many of them en masse.
Sometimes I get the bus to work so that Woody can have the car. Most times an elderly gentleman and his lady neighbour get on and sit behind me. Sometimes I catch what they're chatting about, always delightful subjects such as all the old shops and stores in the town where my grandma used to shop, or what birds have been visiting their gardens.

On Monday the old chap said "And have you noticed the green in the hedges coming in. Wonderful isn't it."
And it is you know.
You can just see my little hedge at the end of our garden flushing green too. Springy indeed!
P.S. Thanks for all your lovely messages after my unintended abscence, they were all just lovely and very much appreciated. Especially to Aqeela,  you're spot on, I've definitely got a damson tree haven't I, which is 100 times more exciting than a cherry I reckon. I'm thrilled to bits. Thanks!

32 comments:

bellaboo said...

Love your Easter egg tree! :0)

Katy Noelle said...

It's always so cheery to visit! I've never seen wood anemones. They're so pretty!

and, my mouth opens and closes to say something about the Lego and Star Wars and, even more, the Lego/Star Wars mania....with three boys in my home....I just simply can deeply relate!

Happy Easter! =]

Katy xo

Rebecca said...

What a lovely Springy post! I spent most of my childhood weekends in the Manifold Valley on my bike with my brother and family, there's nothing like it! I love it there so much.

I am another girl who appreciates a bunch of spring flowers, frequently! xx

Marina said...

A really lovely post, funny enough we are planning on making an Easter tree tomorrow when we go visiting Nan & Grandpa, my little girl is looking forward to it and already has a little basket of very similar egg decorations! Have a lovely Easter xx

busybusybeejay said...

We spent a weekend at Waterhouses in Dec for the whole family for my OH's birthday so we were close to the Manifold Valley and loved the area.Like you I love spring flowers.Enjoy Easter.

**Anne** said...

So lovely to hear from you and all that is happening in your world. Your Easter decorations are lovely, very bright and cheery.
Anne xx

cupcakejojo said...

Such a lovely post, full of lots of Springy :)

x

VintageVicki said...

I spent time yesterday going round the garden pinching large twigs for this years Easter tree. Sadly the boys are no longer interested in helping decorate - however they will happily munch of the bowl of mini-eggs I left on the side!

Loving your patio area - so colourful.

driftwood said...

star wars lego is the topic of many a conversation here. in fact I have been rechristened jedimumma and hubby is sithpappa. I'm glad I got to be a goodie!

The Fairy Glade said...

Still to put up any decorations for Easter except a garland or two. Miss Fairy has been really poorly with a virus and is covered in spots. Can't seem to get motivated at the moment. Have some days off over Easter, so time to put up my feet and recharge the batteries. Have a lovely Easter yourself. dev x

Jay said...

What a pretty patio - summer is on it's way!

Rose H (UK) said...

Great to see you back!
What a lovely Springy post. The hedgerows are amazing now aren't they, and your garden is delightful too Steph.
:o)
Rose H

Arthur Ransome said...

Your garden looks lovely. There's something about washing on the line, isn't there?

Sue said...

Hey Steph,Smashing post as always,did you get much snow your way today? thought about you after watching the local news,what a difference to this time last week eh!!!Thanks for sharing
Warm Wishes
Sue xxxx

...Nina Nixon... said...

Hi Steph - so glad it's all going well. I love all the Springy things at the moment though it does make me feel like the year is shooting by.

Enjoy your Easter break

Nina xxxx

Unknown said...

Hooray for peaceful weekends and time off, for spring flowers and hedgerows in bud and gentle conversations overhead on the bus! Your post has brought a smile to my face! Happy Easter. x

Fleur Cotton said...

What a lovely Easter Tree.

Hope you and yours all enjoy a relaxing Easter.

Fleur x

Annie @ knitsofacto said...

Gorgeous Easter egg tree, love it :D

Aqeela said...

Oh i loved this post, and thankyou so much for mentioning me at the end, yes, damson trees are definitely in full blossom now, although I expect every petal will have fallen by the end of next week, they never seem to last very long.
I love the final picture on this post, what a beautiful patio area, you have such a lovely home and garden, so blessed!
Aqeela xx

purple-roses-country-cottage said...

Dear Steph, what a nice post - as always. The springy pictures you share with us are beautiful. Happy Easter to all of you. Take care Nicole xxx

Frances said...

Lovely post you've given us. A very Happy Easter to you and your family. xo

JP said...

we love the Manifold too - thanks for all your links to Totally Leek - my husband has seen his home town in a new light and has done some shopping there when visiting his dad!!!! - have a good Easter

melanie said...

Your Easter tree is lovely, and those views you have from your garden are breath taking!
Happy Easter :) xxx

Christals Creations said...

We have some eggs and hung them outside on the bush in the garden but then it hailed and snowed and they had to come in. I love your display. The problem in this house is not enough shelf space and we are unable to hang extra due to regs. I am going to see if I can sniffle things around a little and make an egg tree corner. Thank you for the inspiration. :o)

Country Rabbit said...

beauty in Spring colours...you capture is so well. I usually love winter months but i seem to have changed my mind this year Spring has helped me perk up my inner happiness- its been much needed and despite a few rain drops on my travels to the East coastline this week it seems to have stayed rather lovingly sunny!.
Your boys are lucky steph, you are a lovely mum- Making their childhood that extra special with nature and a lovely home- as they grow they will remember with such fond memories...Happy Easter!

Ive totally been naughty and had two whole eggs! the choco variety!...hehe ;0)

grace said...

found your lovely blog and will be back for more lovely things to gaze at! My boys are totally into star wars lego too x

Libby said...

Oh my. So glad to have your blog via Down to Earth. Love reading and seeing about life in Britain. I'd move there in a heartbeat. And that photo of your laundry in the garden - just magic. Can't wait to explore here some more.

Jeanette said...

Those of us living in the States just drool when we see those stone walls in England. Your blog absolutely brightens my day and makes me smile! Thanks for sharing with us in blogland!

Catherine said...

Hi,
Just wanted to say thanks, i look at your blog all the time, it brings me no end of joy, I so envy of where you live! its like a perfect vintage postcard :) Thanks so much for sharing all of it- the change of seasons is what i miss the most,way down here in the land of Oz

DEB said...

Beautiful blog, I found you via Rhonda's down to earth blog. I have added you to my blog list.

Urban Homestead South Africa said...

Hi there. I found your blog via Rhondas. I am a south African currently visiting my sister in Kent. We are living the first signs of your spring too although it has been very cold and wet. My son is also Stat Wars Lego crazy...I do so sympathize!

galant said...

Just had a look at your blog, not looked in for a few weeks, and what did I notice? A little round Pyrex white bowl with blue decoration. I wonder how many people who are not quite of a "certain age" know what this was for? It was produced as a container for Blue Band (soft) margarine (I think in either the late 1960s or early 1970s) when this margarine was in round tubs, a bit like creme fraiche and coleslaw is today. Nice to see one of these again. Blue Bank marg disappeared from the market some time ago, but it made the most delicious sponges!
Margaret P