Winterspring

We are bouncing back and forth between two seasons here at the moment. It snows, then it warms up and spring seems to be suddenly on it's way. Then, last weekend, another quite unexpected snowfall and bitterly cold winds, followed by a week of double digit temperatures and blossom everywhere you look. And just when the clocks are about to go forward and we're looking ahead to the longer days and more spring-like weather, they're talking about snow showers over Easter.

Snow on the beach though, that was something. I've never seen it before down here on the south coast, and while it certainly wasn't a lot of snow it was beautiful all the same. 

It was so cold down on the beach but also strangely invigorating, even if I couldn't feel my face. That's the thing about having a dog, especially an energetic eight month old whippet - they need a good walk, whether you want one or not.

My thoughts are turning to the garden more and more at the moment. It's such a mess out there, I really want to get outside and tackle it, but there's so much to do! I'm overwhelmed. There is a huge pile of wood that needs chopping and stacking. Everything looks sad and brown. I've decided that I want to move the monstrosity of a trampoline to the opposite corner of the garden where it would be hidden from view by some large cordyline plants. Then, in that newly empty corner - which gets lots of sun, a bonus in our north-east facing garden - perhaps some raised beds, or even just a border. Anything would be an improvement on that trampoline, frankly, except the trampoline does hide some rotten fence panels so, before we do anything fun involving plants, we need to get those replaced. So all I've done is phone the guy who did our fence before and arrange for him to come round. Baby steps. I also wrote a really long list and picked some sprigs of cherry blossom and that made me feel better.

Thank you for all your comments on the succulent hoop. I'm so glad you all liked it as much as I did! I've made a start on a wall of embroidery hoops in the kitchen and they're coming together. I need more though. 

My head is full of plans for the house right now. This happens to me every spring - remember all those bedrooms we decorated this time last year? All those annoying jobs and tasks - patches of grubby paint work, broken plug sockets, piles of clutter, leaks - that I can ignore throughout the winter suddenly need doing desperately the minute March comes around. We have an electrician coming in a few weeks to do a few small jobs; I have plans for a peg rail in the hall; I've phoned the garage door repair man and got a quote to get the electric garage door fixed; there are trunks and wooden boxes in the garage which will become planters for the garden I hope. 

As for crafting, I really should be knitting my Wool and the Gang jumper, but my heart isn't in it at the moment. All I want to do is work on this cross stitch which I am enjoying so much. Something about the colours feels spring-like and I'm hoping to complete it over the next few months. 

I can't believe it's Easter next weekend. It seems to have come around so fast this year, although I don't know why I'm surprised given the amount of mini eggs and creme eggs I've consumed over the last few weeks. I haven't done any decorating or baking yet but I have plans to use some of that cherry blossom to create a simple arrangement, perhaps with some egg decorations, as a sort of Easter tree. I don't think I'm going to make a Simnel cake this year though, as I did last year. I loved it but John and the children weren't as fussed, so this year I think I'll make a big chocolate cake and just decorate it with mini eggs. That will definitely please everyone. 

Snow Day

On Thursday afternoon the snow arrived. School closed at lunchtime as the first flakes started to fall and by the time we were home later in the afternoon everywhere was covered. Our school, like most locally and probably many others across the country, decided not to open the following day and a snow day was suddenly a reality. I was so happy. I still am! John's day off fell on Friday too and, since he has been working this weekend, it was the most wonderful and unexpected family day, made even more special by the weather. I had such a sense of anticipation and excitement on Thursday night as I wondered whether it would snow more, and ran through all the lovely things we could do tomorrow with this gift of a day.

I started sensibly with a lie in. 

Those bitterly cold, strong Eastern winds had blown the snow all over the place, so that there was none in some places that were sheltered by the house and drifts in others.

It was such a treat to substitute the usual weekday breakfast of porridge for a more relaxed meal of toasted sourdough and a pot of coffee while we talked about, well, the snow of course. 

We decided to take Ziggy out for a walk first. I love the way the snow transforms everything, so that a road you might walk down every day suddenly looks different.

We went down to our local woods, somewhere we often go, but I've never seen them covered in snow before.

I just love the way the snow lies on the boughs of the tree.

 I took my new camera with me and had a lot of fun playing around with it.

Of course there was a snowball fight.

When we got home I made homemade rolls and leek and potato soup for lunch. 

I cobbled together a made up recipe with some strong white bread flour and dark rye flour, and hoped for the best. I'm of the opinion that if you put enough butter on something and dip it in hot soup then it's probably going to taste nice. 

But what a treat to have that extra time to make bread and soup. I can't remember when I last bothered to do that. 

After lunch, and in danger of falling into a little snoozy slump, we went sledging. It was only Angus who wanted to go, to be honest, we were all quite happy staying cosy indoors, but it was worth it just to see the look of total joy on his face. He loved the snow, much more than Bella, and was outside playing in it at every opportunity. He was so sad that it all melted yesterday bless him, as was I. The other member of this household who very much enjoyed the snow was Ziggy - he was so skittish and playful in it, and had twice the energy he usually has (and he usually has a lot....).

Back home again we lit the stove, snuggled under blankets, watched the snow fall again outside, made hot chocolates that were towering with whipped cream and marshmallows, and I knitted a little. 

It was a pretty perfect day, and it's not often you can say that, is it? And I'm glad I took all these photos and that I have this blog to record days such as this one because this afternoon on the beach, with 9°c temperatures and no wind, with such warming sun that the kids took their coats off, it was hard to imagine that it ever even snowed. 

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I do realise that I am incredibly lucky to have been able to enjoy the snow, rather than have been stuck on a motorway for hours, or properly snowed in as some have in other parts of the UK. It's one thing to be able to enjoy it falling thickly outside from the safety of a warm home, quite another to be out in it, and we only had a little down here on the south coast compared to other regions where it caused real chaos. And hats off to all those essential workers, those people who work in hospitals or for emergency services who cannot enjoy the luxury of a snow day and have to get to work regardless, no matter how hazardous their journey. Thank you.

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Writing this post sparked off a little meander down memory lane for me, as I remembered our snow falls when we lived in Leeds, especially this one in March 2013 and this really big one in January 2013, and this one in February 2012, right at the start of my blogging journey when the children were so small, only two and a half and five years old. How time flies. 

Slow

Indulging after school on Friday with hot chocolate and waffles. 

Waking on Saturday morning to more snow. 

Marvelling at how deep the snow actually is (the photo on the left is of our kitchen door opening onto my frozen herb pots).

Braving the elements by walking up to the shops for supplies (bread, milk, CBeebies magazines, chocolate, wine). As we left the house, Bella said "Mummy, where are the steps? I can't see them." 

Drying our winter woolens on the radiator when we got home.

Changing the bedding...ooh, pink!

Moving my felt ball garland from the living room to the shelf in the bedroom and deciding I love it there. No, the novelty of a newly decorated room still has not worn off.

Eating penne with prawns and pancetta for a sofa supper on Saturday night, trays balanced on our knees in front of the tv.

Wearing two pairs of socks, every day, plus welly socks when I go out. Too much?

Attempting to make a pretty Easter coffee table arrangement while Angus interfered with my Easter coffee table arrangement.

Creating some Easter cards with Bella.

 Roasting a leg of lamb, then eating apple crumble for pudding.

The good thing about really heavy snow at the weekend, the sort of snow which forces everyone to cancel their plans and forget about driving anywhere, the sort of snow which has people chatting to strangers and neighbours alike, is that it forces you to slow down.* It gives you permission to relax and do, well, not nothing, but do less. All thoughts of spring are gone and it's all about hunkering down and being cosy. I uploaded all these photos in the order in which I took them. I wanted to give you a flavour of our weekend. It was a good weekend. A slow weekend. 

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* Not the good people who have to get to work though. They don't get to slow down.  It took John two and a half hours to make a thirty minute journey to work on Saturday morning.