Monday 6 April 2015

That's Entertainment


















Waking up with an open window, and the sunlight streaming in. All is quiet inside, as I drink a cup of tea in bed. I listen to the birdsong outside; robin, wren, dove, goldfinch, rook, gull and blackbird. My own morning symphony.

Olly finally wakes up, and jumps into bed for cuddles. "Tickle my feet!" he demands. I oblige, and we end up tickling each other until one of us yells "mercy!"

I open up the house, unload the dishwasher, load the washing machine, make more tea, grab a book and settle down in the conservatory. It has already been warmed by the sun.

I watch our visiting blackbird pull a huge worm out of the garden. He meticulously breaks in into smaller pieces, and flies off to the hedge at the bottom of the garden. Not long after a female blackbird appears, and does the same. I wonder whether we have a nesting pair. That would be wonderful.

The sky is bright blue. There isn't a cloud. I watch a plane travel across the azure expanse. I watch the birds fly to and fro. I notice that the blossom on the pear tree is out.

I worry a little about Sam, who is travelling to Liverpool from Bristol this morning, to meet up with friends. He is as green as the grass, and I imagine all sorts of disasters. I wonder how I will cope when he moves up there in September. Badly, I suppose.

Olly and me go outside. I hang washing on the line, and then start weeding in my pyjamas. Olly calls me over to see a butterfly. He tells me that it is a Peacock. She's a bit battered on one of her wings, but is busy flitting about the Anemones. It is our first one of the year, and we duly log it on the app on my phone.

A little while later, a Small Tortoiseshell is spotted. Followed by a small blue. There are bumblebees and pollinators a-plenty. I am in heaven.

I notice the shoots of new growth all around me. The garden is still mostly shades of green, but I can see that it will be a riot quite soon. I'm hoping for an unruly bed head of a garden this summer. All higgledy piggledy and fabulous.

I open up the greenhouse. Marc has fixed the shattered glass, and my seedlings are romping away. The sweet peas are probably ready to plant out. A job for next week.

Marc goes and gets Betty, and we pack her up for a day of adventuring. Olly wears Crocs. I wear flip flops. Alfie takes off his hoody.

We drive to The Lizard, and stop at Cadgwith and Kynance Cove. We eat ice cream, and enjoy the sunshine. I enjoy photographing the wild flowers, and admire the thatched cottages.

I try to explain to Alfie the beauty of a wooden hut whose yellow paint is peeling, and has faded curtains in its' windows. He is unmoved.

Olly jumps the waves, and plays on the sand. He collects a bucketful of pebbles, and some flotsam from the beach. He strips down to his pants and runs about with gay abandon. Alfie takes off his socks and wriggles his toes in the sunshine.

Marc and I squabble about a lost bread knife, and a rusty can opener. Then we hold hands as we climb down to the beach.

We reluctantly return home. Alfie wants to stay on his rock in the sun. Olly would like another ice cream. Marc is not looking forward to a return to work. I think about all sorts.

The long weekend has been blissful. Full of stuff. Good stuff. And far too much chocolate. Deliciously Ella anyone?

Leanne xx









29 comments:

  1. Oh, look at all those blues! Have a good week x

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  2. Oh, how I love reading about the little things and thoughts in someone else's day. It makes me so happy. Really, I just love getting to know you better.

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  3. That was a wonderful read, there is something unique and beautiful about your space here, Leanne. I thoroughly enjoy everything I see and read on your blog. Also, I have a little Olly too (6) - we spell it Ollie - and I weed in my pajamas. Nothing better! Sandra

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    1. Thanks Sandra. That's just made my day! And hello to your Ollie xx

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  4. So many lovely things happening all around you!! And the colors in the landscape are gorgeous!!! Have a great week! Nicole

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  5. I think you're having way more fun than the delicious Ella (currently on a Caribbean island scoffing fresh pineapple). Lovely images and writing Leanne. Claire xo

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    1. Is she? I feel like sending her an easter egg ;)

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  6. Sounds idyllic. No butterflies here yet - still a bit chilly - though at least the sun has appeared.

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  7. You do live in the most beautiful of places. Go Olly for knowing the flutter- I'm so impressed and pleased, given the enormous lack of wildlife knowledge in so many small folk these days. Hope you don't mind me asking, because I know you know your flutters, but are you sure it was a small blue? It's early yet for them to be about and the Holly blue (who should be out now) can look v similar? If it def was a small blue Butterfly Conservation will be very eager for the record :o) xx

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    1. I defer to you as always CT. To be honest all we saw was a flutter of the most vivid blue cross the garden. It didn't settle or hang about. I presumed that it was common, but should have read the facts on the app! xx

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    2. Ah, the colour clinches it- small blues are very dark, almost grey brown, hollys are a brighter blue, and common's brighter still, but they don't usually emerge till may. I'd go with Holly. V envious- have been looking for them here for the past fortnight but not seen one yet! x

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    3. I think I meant to write common blue not small. Saw two in the garden this morning. Got a better id. Common Blue it is!! xx

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  8. You have captured the Cornish coast well. Thoughts of Poldark wonder in! And yes have `Deliousllyella` but have lost my way a bit right now! X

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  9. Hi Leanne. Just lovely, lovely, lovely. Your descriptions are so alive, I feel I am there with you. Christina xxx

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  10. Ahhh, so wonderful!!! Glad you had a good time! xx

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  11. What a blissful day. Kynance Cove is one of my favourite places in the whole world, how lovely to see it again. Well done on the butterfly photos, I can never get close enough. I did see lots of brimstones yesterday, as well as a smattering of peacocks and small tortoiseshells, and loads of bees. So glad your greenhouse is mended, it's so useful at this time of year. I need one! Hope Sam has a safe trip. It's scary when they have to go out into the world and survive on their own somehow, I've no idea how mine will ever manage. Enjoy the rest of the week sweetie. CJ xx

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  12. What a lovely weekend! Liverpool is a great city, Sam will love being a student there - although I'm right with you in not being so sure about being the Mum left behind - that'll be me next year xx

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    1. I'm just thinking of all his pristine white t-shirts going pink at the launderette!

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  13. That's a busy looking rookery! Got my first butterfly shots of the year yesterday too!

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  14. sounds like a perfect weekend x

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  15. What a beautiful post Leanne. Your weekend sounds perfect in every way. And your pictures are stunning. I'm always a little bit jealous of all the colours you have around you. I hope your week is going well!

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  16. Sounds a wonderful weekend, fabulous photos, everything is so much further on with you, the views of the sea are lovely :)

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  17. What a beautiful weekend, lovely words and photos. I thought I recognised Cadgwith :)

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  18. As always lots of loveliness Leanne. Unfortunately our children grow up far too fast for us mums. The first one leaving home is always going to be the hardest and as much as we try and prepare them we will always think there is more we need to tell them but then they have to be able to make mistakes the same as we did and all we can do is be there to pick up the pieces. Three out of four have now flown the nest now and I never thought I would say it but it's lovely when they visit but I enjoy the peace and quiet all the more when they have gone again. Still you've a long way to go till you get to that point so enjoy every moment whilst you can.

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    1. Oh I know I'll enjoy the peace and quiet ;))

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  19. Beautifully written, as always, Leanne. Your writing has a very special voice. xxx

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  20. Lovely to share your day with us, it's taking time to notice the small things that makes the day so special. Sarah x

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  21. What a wonderful post. The pictures, for a start, just bursting with light and colour, so beautiful. And your words! I was there with you. You write so well. And your weekend sounded wonderful. xx

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