Signs Of Spring

We woke to another beautiful day on the Isle of Lewis.  The sun was shining brightly, casting shadows on the walls around our little cottage.  Sadly this didn't last long and it very quickly became overcast and then the odd little shower here and there.  The wind has been quite calm for a few days but once again you can hear the whistle as it blows around the chimney stacks.  The ever changing weather on the Outer Hebrides as it cascades through the seasons.

Despite the wind and the rain we are surrounded by beauty at the moment, as Mother Nature starts her crusade to ensure that Spring approaches.  Daffodils can be seen in clumps here and there among the grass and encased in pots.  The beautiful trumpets strongly fighting the wind to stay upright.

The rhubarb has been determined pushing through the heavy soil and starting to unfurl its leaves.  The vibrancy of the colours a welcoming sight against the dark soil.

We did over winter the pots from the front of the cottage and we are starting to bring a few of them back out.  They are already starting with their regrowth as are the herbs.  They will be sorted out once the rain stops.

Indoor pots of bulbs are now starting on their journey, poking through the soil and showing their majestic green leaves.

As the long Winter months start to come to an end the early signs of Spring can be clearly seen all around.  The days are becoming lighter and longer...not long now, the change will bring forth our plans to enrich our lives with the building of the garden room.  A work in progress.

I am a little behind with visiting blogs this week but it is my intention to catch up as soon as I can.  As always I thank you for your visit to my blog and to your encouraging comments.   The wreath does hang on my front door but I do have a porch/outer vestibule so it is not in direct contact with the elements.  My thoughts are now starting to turn to Easter, so I am going to sort some of the Spring decor out and make a start.

See you soon.

The New Season

As always I thank you all for all your comments and messages, they are so uplifting.  We have had a busy week with hospital appointments and such, made all the harder as Gerard is still unable to drive.  I am still nursing this awful virus although it is not as bad as it was.  The weather has started to pick up and there is a definite Spring like feeling around the crofts.  Lambs are been born all around us.

We had a walk over to our neighbours croft this afternoon to admire the new additions.  Gerard visited with Norman whilst I had a stroll.

There is a mixture of twins and singles and all of them are doing well.  The sight of them with their Mothers makes you smile.  New life and a new Season, a wonderful combination.

There first faltering steps are a delight.  There little faces as they snuggle up to their Mums a joy.

It was a real joy and indeed a privilege to have witnessed their humble beginnings and to walk softly around them as they encounter life.

Spring finally has made an appearance.

See you soon.

Spring Is In The Air...In January!!!

I am having a busy week, Dad has been in bed for five days struggling with his breathing and out of sorts altogether.  Whilst here my dear husband is in the midst of a flare up of rheumatoid arthritis his joints are swollen and he is in a great deal of pain, compounded by the fact that he has a chest infection.  As you can imagine not a lot of crafting is getting done, I have managed a few hours of crochet in an evening so I am now on the border of the final blanket for our new Grandson.

I have stolen a few minutes here and there to work on the quilt, progress is slow but at least there is a little progress.

 

I have managed to get some what I call necessity sewing done, altering Dad's pyjamas.  He is not good on his feet these days so if the pyjamas bottoms are too long he does fall.

 

 

We really have had a mild winter so far with record high temperatures, although a lot of rain which has caused flooding in a lot of areas.  Apparently everything changes tonight and there will be a drastic drop in temperature, it is already feeling cooler and frosts and snow in some areas is predicted.  Consequently I thought it prudent to have a stroll around the garden and rescue what I could before the onset of the bad weather.  We were blessed with quite a crop of dwarf carrots, which are a wonderful sweet carrot and have now been gathered in.

 

 

If you take a walk around the garden it would trick you into thinking it was the early onset of Spring.  Already the new growth on the pinks and lavenders are beginning to show.

 

 

Bulbs are starting to emerge from their winters sleep, the mild weather is confusing Mother Nature.

 

 

Flowers are beginning to appear...

 

 

Did I mention the weeds and the length of the grass?   If it wasn't so wet I would get the lawn mower out and cut it back.  It will be interesting to see what effect the cold snap will have on the garden and the effects of the long standing water in some of the pots which I have no doubt will freeze.

 

Is the weather affecting your garden?

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Pattern (Afternoon Tea)

 What is better than a nice pot of tea.  With the onset of teabags and such busy lives we have nowadays, tea is made in the cup.  I much prefer a pot (with scones, jam and cream of course), pull up a chair and join me.  My vintage pattern of choice today is for a Tea Cosy and Tray Cloth, perfect for presenting the afternoon tea.  It is  Pearsall's Leaflet No 408, to be crocheted in Pearsall's "Phasian" Crochet Rayon.  Original price 3d.



 It is suggested you choose the lining to match your china or the colour scheme of your room.

In the same vain I am showcasing a Bachelor's Tea Cosy and Tea Pot Holder pattern worked in Strutt's Candlewick cotton.  The original price of leaflet no 2005 6d.



 Both of these patterns a snip at 30p each from a local charity shop.

Spring is in the air although not officially until the equinox on the 20th, so I have been busy making an Easter wreath.





 I love the little blue bells on the rabbits feet that jingle when you open the door and the colour of those pansies are divine.  A refreshing way to spend an hour or so.

Have a great day.