April's words and photos

Hello all,
this month's prompts have been supplied by this lovely lady  Here are my photos and stories, I hope you enjoy x

Happiness.....
is the scent of warm cat fur and damp earth, the emerging seedlings and the promise they bring

Makes me smile ...
Her face when I talk to her - I know she listens.

Relaxing with ....

a new book - I vanish into the pages and walk with the author, I hear his words, see his landscapes - hungry for more

Busy with ...
Weeding, lawn edging, hedge cutting, flower bed rejuvenation, weeding, compost turning, seed sowing, gutter clearing, plant pricking, weeding, corm planting, brick paving clearing, plant splitting and weeding... did I mention weeding?

Positive about ...
difficult this one. I am keeping myself and my family as safe as possible, we are following the restrictions, we cook and eat meals that keep our morale up, I garden and walk and bake. We craft, we talk, we laugh and we do discuss the situation, but we do not dwell on the news or the negativity. It is hard but we know that we need to try. We each have our ways to deal with this strangeness, this difference, this world challenge.  And each day is a day nearer an end and that is what I am being positive about.

My own choice ....
Evening sun on Pendle Hill from Wednesday evening - a blessed escape on the hills as part of our daily walk.

thank you for reading my wafflings, I am off now to read all the other links - #staysafe and keep in touch xxxxx

April's Five on Friday - Gratitude

Five on Friday - gratitude

What am I grateful for?

Every night after I have read a bit then turned the lights out, I quietly settle down and run through what I am grateful for. This small ritual has made a huge difference to me.

My family - immediate and extended, human and furry

My home - the roof over my head, the food in the kitchen, the fire in the hearth

My garden - a space to gather, to breathe and to feel refreshed -  now all the more special

The walks we do - all local and even more important now

My very precious other half

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The new normal

Today,

the sun is shining a warm and comforting heat,

today,

the greenhouse is full of promising small green shoots, quietly growing and bringing hope,

today,

Eldest and GF are repotting all their plants, quietly chatting and laughing, sowing seeds and making plans,

today,

Youngest is working on his car, quietly giving it the attention it needs,

today,

Himself is tinkering with our van, chatting with a neighbour at the required safe distance, drinking tea,

today,

the cats have dozed in the greenhouse and the dog sat on the bench, happy to be with us,

today,

friends have rung, emails have come, texts and messages have pinged in - all sharing love and concern for each other,

today,

today, despite the unsettling greater outside world, despite the restrictions, the horror, the news and the awful virus,  we have discussed that 'what was' is not what we want to return to. We know there are those that are not as blessed as we are, and we feel for them and hope that things will improve soon.

This lock down has shown the reality of the excess, the commercialism and concentration that sadly we seem to have become benumbed by, desensitised and stupefied.

We want a simpler, quieter and more holistic life - we have quickly become used to the quieter roads, the wonderful bird song, the clear blue skies uninterrupted by jet streams. 

Is that too much to ask?

Friday Gratitude

Now, more than ever, we need to notice those small things that make our days that little bit better.

Now, that our world's have shrunk to the size of our homes and if we are lucky our gardens too, it is the small sparks of joy in our lives that help us through.

So, despite our 'new normal', those small gems that fill our hearts with love, make us smile or make us feel a little happier should be acknowledged and celebrated.

On Friday 17th April there will be 'Gratitude on Friday' post and link up - please do join in,  notice those small things that help you get through the day, share them and inspire us and spread the love.

And as a pre 'Gratitude on Friday', I shall share with you someone who fills my day with love, laughter and company - Moss

#staystrongfriday  #corvid19  #staystrongfriday

March photos & #staystrongfriday

I almost didn't do this month's list - felt it almost too 'trite' in this world of the new normal.

But then, tonight at 8pm, I stood and clapped with my neighbours and family until my hands hurt, listened to shouts and whistles, watched flares and felt that although we are all individuals, we are all one.

So, in a spirit of defiance - a spirit of we will adapt, we will learn from our mistakes and we will blossom and find a better normal - one that is ..... less is more...... #staystrongfriday

All images are from the archives - enjoy xx

Birthday

March is Eldest's birthday, photo - March 2011

Jazzy

A kerchief - The age of Brass and Steam in self striping jazzy sock wool - June 2011

Flag

Yellow Flag Iris - Northumberland - July 2011

Three

A favourite lane in the Dales - photo June 2013

Cushion

Attic24's blooming flower cushion  - January 2012

My own choice

Taken today - Thursday.

On our one government sanctioned daily allowed walk

Stay safe xxxxxx

#staysafe #staystrongfriday #corvid19