Glimpses of Blue

In amongst the gloom, the relentless rain and the mud, news bulletins full of floods and Coronavirus and the climate emergency, I am trying to find glimpses of spring and good things to come. I don't think I've ever wanted winter to end and spring to come as much as I do this year. Everywhere is muddy. The garden is squelchy underfoot, the grass desperately needs cutting, and I'm desperate to get out there and start pottering and tidying up. But I am trying to remember to look up, in all senses. 

There was that dog walk at sunset last week. It had been the first dry day in what felt like weeks (probably was weeks, to be fair) and I went over to our usual dog-walking fields and had the place to myself. It was totally waterlogged, but wonderful to stride around on my own, throwing a ball for Ziggy. And so beautiful. I felt elated when I got home, a reminder of the power of some fresh air, exercise and vitamin D to improve your mood.

Storm after storm have brought down many trees, including one round the corner from our house. The council cleared it off the road and left it all, half chopped, in a pile where it will probably remain for some time. I don't know what kind of tree it was but some of the twiggy branches with their furry catkins came home with me, so be arranged in amongst the daffodils (not bored of them yet)...

and just in a vase on their own. I picked up another bigger piece which I think will make a wonderful Easter tree.

One upside to this turbulent, ever changing weather is the rainbows.

This one I saw yesterday seemed like the clearest rainbow I've ever seen.

The shadows are pretty too.

I recently had printed a photo I'd taken of a boat on a flat calm, misty day down at the beach. I ordered a mount (I like this place and have used them a few times in the past) and put it in a frame I bought for £3.75 from Wilkos. I'm really happy with how it came together.

I've just finished this book and cannot recommend it enough; good characters, good plot, a proper page turner. I couldn't put it down at the end, and I am glad to see the author has a nice long back list for me to turn to! 

I tried these white chocolate and berry coconut mountains from The Little Swedish Kitchenand they are good. A bit like macaroons but with sesame seeds and ground almonds as well as coconut. Perfect to go with the 4 pm cup of tea when I get in from work.

I'm crocheting myself a pair of wrist warmers from here (I stumbled across it - the pattern is in US terms but very easy) and I'm enjoying it a lot. Basically they fit which, after the jumper, is all I want from a crochet project.

Thank you so much for all your compliments and tips on my jumper in my last post. Such good advice, I will definitely size down in future projects as well as going down a hook size. 

Wishing you all a happy, stress free, sunny week.