1 Washing up my special ‘keep-the-bottom-of-the -pie-crisp’ flan tin. I dropped it into the soapy water and was delighted by the bubble pattern that ensued.
Bubbles
2 There is a hedge on our way up from town which is covered in primroses and they are a tonic to see on my way up the hill.
On the top of the hedge
3 What beautiful veining on this crocus.
Purple crocus
It’s been such a beautiful day today and we went out early for a long and peaceful walk around the edge of Trelissick Gardens. Join us on our walk. Click on any image for more detail.
1 Walking up from town in a fierce but warm wind, I noticed some little Periwinkles flowering.
White Periwinkle 6.1.14
2 As we arrived home our neighbour called in with belated Birthday presents, one a beautiful miniature bouquet of flowers from her garden today. I have put them into a tiny painted glass jug that my Dad once dug up in the garden where we lived briefly in Birmingham. I was only 5 years old and fell in love with it so it became mine. It suits this delightful bunch of Daisies, Primroses, a Violet, a tiny Campanula and some leaves just perfectly.
Birthday bouquet from Sue next door
3 I have made a Healthy Banana Loaf this afternoon to wean us off the rich Christmassy food as we try to lose seasonal accumulated pounds! Recipe to follow soon.
Healthy Banana Loaf
To all my friends and family who are experiencing extremes of weather – stay safe, stay warm, stay happy.
1 Spring has sprung all of a sudden! In the days that I was away, the bluebells down the lanes are casting their beautiful blue haze and flowers in neighbours’ gardens are glowing. I wish I could send you the scent of the wallflowers.
Bluebells down the lane
Bluebells and primroses
Tulips and Forget-me-nots
Wallflowers
2 Ferns in the hedgerows are unfurling. I just love the furriness and the curliness of young ferns.
Unfurling fern
3 Everyone is enjoying the Spring sunshine, especially this old fellow in his cloth cap on the bench outside the garden centre.
Enjoying the sunshine – Sculpture by Richard Austin
1 The curved herb wall is full of tiny bulbs which are bursting with Spring colour. The crocus which has died and fallen from its stem has the most vibrant and wonderful colours.
Purple and orange
Curved herb wall with Spring bulbs
Crocuses
Beautiful red stems on the Cornus Controversa
Tete a Tete daffodils
2 We took this little Spring bouquet to very old friends in Truro today, one of whom is very poorly. They looked after my Dad when he first moved to Cornwall in 1953, took me in for a holiday when I was 14. My family had moved North for a brief time and I was so desperately unhappy to have been taken away from Cornwall and they had me, a tricky teenager, to stay for two weeks! They have been such lovely loyal friends for such a long time.
Small garden bouquet for a friend, Pittosporum and Tete a Tete
3 Truro was lovely as always
Clock Tower on Truro City Hall
Planter on the way into Truro
Clock Tower on the former West Briton Offices, Truro
Flowers in a half-barrel on top of a pole
1 Spring can’t be too far away. The days are longer and the Spring flowers showing their colours.
Spring flowers from above
Spring flowers in the wall
2 The water from cooking some purple sprouting broccoli was so beautiful. Even the scratches on this 46 year old Pyrex bowl make a pretty design!
Purple cooking water
3 A few days ago we cleared out the overgrown herbs and today the lovely Mr S has replanted and it’s looking good! There are three kinds of Thyme to add to the others already in the wall, further around the curve – Lemon Thyme, a prostrate variety called Pink Ripple and a variegated one called Foxley – and a Sage that will have white flowers. I take a special delight in the Saffron Crocuses which have already flowered this year but the Nursery assures me there will be some Saffron to harvest next year! I’ll be able to make Saffron Buns with our own saffron!
The herb wall cleared out
Newly planted herb wall
Saffron Crocuses
1 A whole bunch of crocuses have suddenly opened despite the stormy weather.
Crocuses heralding Spring
2 This blackbird visits the feeder many times a day and often looks at me like this.
Blackbird at the feeder
3 Happy New Year to my Chinese readers! We always have a Chinese meal to celebrate, often with friends but tonight just the two of us so instead of a banquet, it was a simple Vegetable and Cashew stir-fry. The lovely Mr S inherited these beautiful and very delicate rice bowls from an Aunt and we love to use them. Over the years we have become quite proficient with chopsticks.
A rainbow of vegetables for the stir-fry
Beautiful rice bowl, spoon and chopsticks
Vegetable Stir-fry with Cashew nuts
The table laid for Chinese New Year 2010
For those who asked, yesterday’s concert was brilliant! The audience were kind, we had fun and we raised £600 for The Poly.
1. Listening to Paolo Nutini on the journey up to London and these words stayed in my mind: “If you love the life you live, you’ll get a lot more done.”
Paolo Nutini
2. On Saltash Station there’s an old rowing boat full of Spring flowers, quite delightful.
3 Lucy has landed! Home from the trek up to Everset Base Camp.
I can’t work out how to put up photos from my iPad so they’ll all have to wait until we get home.
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