This weekend we have done very little. Mr M took last week off and for the first time in three years we have been able to relax properly. Nana (Mr M's Mum) is well. She is in remission after the myeloma that was diagnosed in 2012, is out of hospital after her problems with blood salts and energy levels, is eating more and when we visited her last weekend was on fine, cheery, chatty form. It was wonderful to see her a little more energetic again. It's made me relish and enjoy the last few days so much more. It's difficult to enjoy even the loveliest moments when there's a persistent nagging worry that someone close to you is unwell and not able to enjoy life as they should.
Emerging from my usual woollen-swaddled, quilt-wrapped wintry hibernation I ventured up to our village wood on Saturday. There are little islands of cherry blossom and blackthorn in the hedgerows. I spotted a muntjac deer ahead of me on the path. He seemed quite happy to saunter along and I'm sure he was aware of me. It was a lovely moment. I took a few twigs of blossom home and since I took this picture the girls have hung the usual assortment of painted wooden eggs on the blossom to make an Easter tree.
Another important, almost ritualised moment of Spring happened yesterday. I emerged into the garden. For six months I have been focussed on making a certain magazine and my garden was even more neglected than usual throughout the winter. It had that guilt-inducing Sleeping Beauty look and was swathed in crispy bits. old leaves and brambles that seem to have sprung up from nowhere. No knights galloped up to help hack at things with swords, but Mr M did climb in to the green bin to squash everything down as I'd filled it to the brim. Then he started jumping to compress the contents and the bin fell over. He needed 8 plasters.
I've written about my approach to gardening before - I let everything self seed and if it's a thistle or a skunk cabbage I yank it out. My shameful neglect really has paid off. Yesterday I discovered self-seeded violets, celandine and, most excitingly for me, six cow parsley plants. One of them is in the pot with shards of blue and white bowl in it. This picture was taken this morning - my first morning tea in the garden, wellies and cardi on over pyjamas and accompanied by a feisty song from a wren and daughters making a 'ladybird zoo'. Oh, and I found the first bluebell opening in our front garden.
I've written about my approach to gardening before - I let everything self seed and if it's a thistle or a skunk cabbage I yank it out. My shameful neglect really has paid off. Yesterday I discovered self-seeded violets, celandine and, most excitingly for me, six cow parsley plants. One of them is in the pot with shards of blue and white bowl in it. This picture was taken this morning - my first morning tea in the garden, wellies and cardi on over pyjamas and accompanied by a feisty song from a wren and daughters making a 'ladybird zoo'. Oh, and I found the first bluebell opening in our front garden.
Finally, I've been on a bit of a crochet odyssey in the past year. I'll be writing more about this but when I bought a crochet stitch encyclopedia a week or two ago I knew my relationship with hooking had become serious. This weekend I managed to conquer arcade stitch, a two row pansy trim (see above) and inspired by the nest on Julie's blog a few days ago I made up a quick and v easy crochet pattern for a little nest. I'm posting it a little late for Easter eggs - sorry! There's still lots of Spring left though. I'd love to hear if you make one of these.
As each of these moments happened I remembered to be aware of and remember how good they were and feel grateful rather than realising afterwards and regretting not relishing them more. Emerging from hibernation has never been lovelier.
For a quick crochet nest (uk terminology):
6 dc into a magic ring
Round 1: Ch2, 2 tr into each dc, sl st to join
Round 2: Ch2, *2 tr into 1st tr, 1 tr into next tr* rpt between ** around, join with sl st
Round 3: Ch1, 1 dc in each tr around. Join with sl st
Break yarn and weave in ends.
I hope you've had an ace few days.
As each of these moments happened I remembered to be aware of and remember how good they were and feel grateful rather than realising afterwards and regretting not relishing them more. Emerging from hibernation has never been lovelier.
For a quick crochet nest (uk terminology):
6 dc into a magic ring
Round 1: Ch2, 2 tr into each dc, sl st to join
Round 2: Ch2, *2 tr into 1st tr, 1 tr into next tr* rpt between ** around, join with sl st
Round 3: Ch1, 1 dc in each tr around. Join with sl st
Break yarn and weave in ends.
I hope you've had an ace few days.
I've got stuff self seeding all over the place, I leave it a bit, until I can work what it is then thin it out to keep it balanced......I usually loose the balance and it all ends up as a mish mash ;) love your little nest :) xxx
ReplyDeletewonderful news about Nana xxx
ReplyDeleteJ did the jumping in the wheelie bin trick too, but thankfully there was no tipping over or plasters needed. I however needed to spend ten minutes trying to hold myself under the cold tap after the roast dinner splashed me.
So glad your m-i-l is much better, that's really good news. Well done Mr M for climbing in that wheelie bin, that's very impressive. Love the nest, nicely done. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little crochet nest - my first anniversary of crochet-ing has just passed too. I usually put a child in our garden waste bin to jump up and down - sometimes it's very hard to get them back out again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightfully positive blogpost. Isn't it lovely that the plants are waking up?!
ReplyDeleteLove your crochet trim, the yarn is perfect for it. You're beginning to convince me to try crochet again.
xx
that is the most beautiful natural spring display I have seen this year, really lovely. I hope everything works out. That yarn looks so familiar I think I might have brought some once in Orkney and made a hat out of it. Lovely colours. X
ReplyDeleteWe have been adding some topsoil and Sophie was the first to volunteer to jump up and down on it to get the air out!
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs and crochet.
Love that Crochet hook!
Have a great week.
Good to know that emerging from hibernation is going so well, and especial that your M-I-L is doing well. Spring is a good time to be feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!
ReplyDeleteHibernation has a lot going for it, like woolies and tea and maybe a scone or two.
ReplyDeleteGardening is just housework on the outside.
That pansy trim is so pretty! And the little nest is enough to make me want to learn to crochet. The bees, birds and beasties will thank you for your approach to gardening! Glad everyone's well and hope your hubby is making a good recovery!
ReplyDeleteI love the nest and crochet going on here Emma, it's lovely :) so glad your enjoying the spring holidays with your family, the sunshine and gardening does make a real difference doesnt it :) safxxx
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty pansy trim - what's the yarn you are using?
ReplyDelete