Snippets

I am wondering where Feburary went. Why is it that, while January lasts for what feels like 3 months, February is over in a fortnight?

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Work continues on the house. Nothing that makes me want to take a photo especially - lots of tasks involving gas, electricity and plumbing, doors and windows, sanders and drills. Things that are expensive and do not yield instant, attractive results. 

A man came to talk to us about installing a woodburning stove in this empty fireplace.

I spotted some crocuses growing under a tree in our new front garden. I also spotted some snowdrops, which made me very happy indeed. 

We've painted the three upstairs bedrooms and it feels really good to know these rooms are done, ready to move in to. This blue wall is in what will be our bedroom. I moved the stepladder out of shot. The radio is much more attractive.

I can't wait to get into that room and make it look pretty, faff around with bedding and pictures and flowers. My new throw, a birthday present, needs to be draped over every bed and chair in the house to see where is goes best.

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The suburb where my parents live has a resident's association. They plant flowers along grass verges and create garden areas on tiny scraps of public land and in unloved corners. There are daffodils everywhere at the moment.

At the bottom of the hill, on the main road, is a large tree stump. Someone has carved these owls into the wood. Isn't it lovely? It reminds me of the picture book Owl Babies.

A tiny door is set into the bottom of the tree stump. We call it a fairy door. I've no idea who did this or why, as it isn't in anyone's garden but just by the side of the road, but it enchants me.

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I blocked my shawl. 

The process of pinning and stretching transformed it, as I hoped it would. (Full post will follow.)

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My head is all over the place at the moment as we divide our time between two houses and I am really, really tired. We hope to move in in a couple of weeks and I swing between thinking we've made huge progress and we've made none, depending on my mood. John starts his new job on Monday so it'll just be me up there, painting away. And my parents, who come up and help whenever they can. My Dad has painstakingly re-hung every single internal door in the house as none of them closed (not a single one!) and is currently doing some carpentry in the kitchen. My mum is excellent with a paint brush. My sister popped round on Friday and painted a wall bright Kelly green for me. No-one likes it but me. I'll show them. 

Thank you so much for your birthday wishes and the comments on my Grandma's recipe. I'm really glad you enjoyed it and loved how many of you remembered it from your own family histories. Again, I must apologise for not visiting your blogs more. Things are very hectic again but they will settle down soon. Life will return to normal, and just in time for spring.