Easter Happenings

  

 

 

 

 

Some stuff from our holiday at home so far. Minus the bit where I tell you that I am recovering from St Ives flu (it's a real thing), because you all already know how stoic I am when it comes to a viral infection.....

Sunshine

I know! After the most appalling weather over the bank holiday weekend, and the promise of more to come, the far west of Cornwall did it's thing of proving the weather forecaster wrong. It's been flipping glorious. We have been making the most of it; in the garden, on the hill, along the beaches, up the lanes. There has been lined dried washing, and the seeds are going crazy in the greenhouse. I've never known Cosmos to germinate so quickly.

Nature Nerd

She's back. Because so it would seem are the pollinators. We have some rather gorgeous garden bumbles careering around the garden. They are enjoying the anemones, dandelions and bluebells very much. A hover fly has taken up residence by one of my flower trugs. He makes it his business to harass anyone going too near. Ladybirds have been spotted too. The frog spawn turned tadpole for about five minutes, then disappeared. It's the newts, I'm afraid. We pond dipped, and found five of them looking very pleased (and very full). I have seen my first flutters; Peacocks and small tortoiseshells along a walk around Bussow Lake. I became rather over-excited about it all.

Planning

A butterfly garden. Following CT's advice in her penultimate post, I have decided that this year I will try and create a space in the garden for butterflies to be able to feed, lay their eggs and hopefully hatch into caterpillars. I have so enjoyed encouraging the pollinators into my garden over these past few years, but gave scant thought to providing a suitable habitat for their whole life cycle. I have ear-marked a space at the bottom of the garden. It's near the bug house that Olly and I made a couple of years ago. I shall be naming it after CT, who has been a total inspiration for me, and whose blog I will miss terribly. I have ordered some seeds; cuckoo flower (for the orange tips), red campion, michlemass daisies and others. There are already nettles there, and some wild flowers too. I hope to write a more detailed post about it when it is more of a thing, but I am very excited about all.

Worrying

A little. About Honey. I've booked her in to see the vet tomorrow. It would appear that she is struggling a little with her breathing. Especially on our longer walks. She's a Cavalier, and they can have heart problems. Plus, she's ten this year, and I think I need to have a chat with the vet about our walks. I'm used to going for miles, and she's always, always trotted along happily by my side (actually to the left and just a little behind me). Lately, she seems more tired after her constitutional and I'm concerned. She is my constant, my little canine friend, my beautiful big eyed girl. I don't know what I'd do without her. She's the only member of the family not to have called me fat.

Inspecting

It's that time of year where every day yields little changes in and around the garden. As the ground slowly warms up, and especially now that the clocks have gone forward, there is new growth everywhere. The trees are starting to bud. My plum tree is about to burst into blossom at any moment. New shoots are rising up and out of the ground, from all the perennials that I always forget are there. The bulbs are growing apace. There are tulips flowering, and the plants that I bought for the pond at the beginning of the year are putting on growth. The clematis Montana has thousands of flower buds all along its' length and breadth, and the echium are a whisper away from shooting their flower spire up high into the sky. I have been enjoying my first cup of tea while wandering around and noticing these daily changes. It's good for the soul. Gardens are happy places indeed.

Making

Okay not quite making yet. But about to. Olly and I have to design and build a time machine. Not a real one, I hasten to add. His project at school for the next half term is time travel. It has been suggested - on a slip of paper thrust into my hand at the end of term - that this may be a nice project to do during the school holiday. Olly has very grand ideas about it all. I have been collecting enough suitable junk modelling materials to do it justice. I have PVA glue. I have paint, glitter, stickers, foil. I have the omnipresent image of the Dr's Tardis in my mind. I actually think that it's a rather marvellous project for a load of six years old to do. I guess it will be about going back or forward in time, history and a bit of science perhaps. All good fun anyway. I know that there is a trip to Truro museum in the offing, and I shall do my very best to be invited along. I am CRB checked, never fear. I'm quite well behaved and I rarely wander off.

Writing

Sam said to me the other day 'Why don't you write more than just your blog?' I explained that I'm really rather busy, and haven't got all that much free time. 'So? Start with short stories, or just a jumble of words and ideas. Just write for five minutes a day,' he replied. 'You should be writing more. You always wanted to be a writer, Mum.' At the time I smiled wryly to myself, thinking, as if!  As if I have the time, energy or inclination to write more than the words here. For what purpose would I do it anyway? And why? As it turns out, Sam is right. You don't have to write a grand opus, or become an over night JK Rowling in order to write. You can just do it for the pleasure thereof. He writes all the time; fan fiction, alternate histories, plays, short stories and a long running series that he admits he posts online but won't tell me where. I really admire Sam for this. He's not seeking fame or fortune through his writing. He is writing for the pleasure it gives him, and it a necessary creative outlet for him too. So I've taken my son's advice. I've bypassed the notebook, and gone straight to the word document. I'm really enjoying myself. Anyway I was never going to crochet that blanket. Who was I kidding about that kind of creative outlet?



Anyhoo lovely people near and far. It's 9pm, my pjs are calling, as is the kettle. I'm off to bed with my book. And quite possibly a mini twix bar.

Have a good one.

Leanne xx