Working Our Way to 11 & 3/4

It was just my smallest boy and me today messing about in the woods. His big brother is a bit under the weather so stayed at home with his dad while he worked.

So before the rain came Archie and I headed to a lovely woodland opposite my childhood home and it brought back some brilliant memories. I was so pleased to see it's now a designated nature reserve and is really well looked after with a friends society too. There are a couple of lovely trails, a wetland area, bat boxes, heathland and some fabulous broadleaf trees including black poplars. I hadn't realised it used to be a tree nursery in Victorian times and there are still some great specimens. 

He just loves to run about this boy of mine and seeing him climb and clamber over everything was a joy. When I was little this was The Enchanted Wood for me and I think maybe now it is for him too, which feels lovely.

Archie's working his way through the National Trust's 50 Things To Do Before You're 11 & 3/4 list and really enjoying it. Lots of the things on there we've maybe already done but looking forward to doing again this summer. A kid with a list is a summer of fun I reckon. 

Happy Easter

                        

                       

It's not Easter without fresh flowers in the house. I love to have a little posy by my bedside. In the summer there are endless bunches of heady sweet peas but spring needs something a bit more delicate. Narcissi, wallflowers and forget-me-nots are perfect.

And why not a few for the boy's cake too? A last couple of primroses, spirea "Bridal Wreath", violets and a few more forget-me-nots. A pretty, floral Easter x

All of a Hurry

There's not a lot of artistry to my pictures this week; snapshots of fun times we've had as we whizz about are all I've had time to capture.

Last Sunday Woody and his best friend ran and finished their first ever marathon - the London Marathon. It was an epic and emotional day and I'm still overcome with pride. They raised thousands for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust too, a cause very close to our hearts. 

So things have been a little busy and now here's Easter. I've had a couple of days at home catching up with my boys. They seem to be so busy too, what with school, new interests and their friends, so I've made sure too snatch some precious time back with them.

In the sunshine on Good Friday I helped Arch to plant his peas. He's rather a pea addict so we've gone for shoots and seedlings to maximise one of his favourite tastes.

  

Today's been much cloudier and very chilly. We were up at the cricket club at the top of the road just after breakfast watching him in his very first match. He loved it; now he thinks he's Flintoff.

Then later it was Barney time. He's been asking for ages to make a cake so I stood back today and he made a smashing lemon drizzle for tomorrow's Easter lunch with the family at mum and dad's. He did the lot with me hovering a little nervously, but he did brilliantly.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to taking some time to stop, eat some cake and enjoy the holiday. Hope you're enjoying yours. Happy Easter x

A Week of Flowers

In Grandma's garden, on my run and on the patio they're here. 

A host of golden daffodils - at last! X