Looking Upwards

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing birds has come".
Song of Solomon 2:12

Fun In The Sun

Hands up, who loves summer! I certainly do. The UK seems to have been hit by a heatwave today and we're set for a scorching hot summer.

Perfect picnic weather! So today Hubby, Martha and I packed a lunch and popped over the road to our local park for an afternoon picnic.

It was really lovely...the lush green trees, the butterflies and bumble bees buzzing about and the splendid look on Martha's face as she realised that yes, she had a whole sandwich all to herself!

I hope everyone has had as lovely a Sunday as we did.

Happy Summer!!

Plan Bee

I'm not really an eco-warrior type. I'm too lazy if truth be told. But I am somewhat of an eco-worrier. I get rattled by reports and news stories about depleting fish populations and the devastating impact climate change is having on the beautiful polar bear.

But these kinds of reports can often feel very far from home and they rarely spur me to actually do something...again, pure laziness on my part.

But occasionally, I stumble across a story that brings it all home and forces me to take action, however small. Sarah Brown (the PM's wife) did a fantastic piece in The Guardian the other week about the humble British bee and the trouble it is facing as a result of the migration to England of foreign, aggressive species of bee. The much gentler native British bee is dying out, or at least it will if nothing is done to help it.

There have been a few campaigns mounted already ('Plan Bee' being one of them...I just love that name!) but it's possible for even the laziest eco-worrier to get involved too. Simply by planting a few types of herbs and plants that our little bee friend likes to spend sunny afternoons with.

So last week that is what I did, thanks to a trip down the road to our local garden shop.

Parsley, thyme, basil mint, oregano, african daisies...I got a whole range of things which are currently languishing in plastic pots and old metal tins on our kitchen windowsill and patio until I can get them re-potted.

I've already spotted a few friendly buzzing creatures hovvering around them, even though they're not in flower...here's hoping they keep on coming!

Help Save Bees

Plan Bee

Spring Saturday

I am full of the joys of Spring this week, as anyone who has been reading my blog or hearing me drone on can confirm (poor Hubby, he's heard about little else all week...).

But there is one thing I enjoy even more than a beautiful, sunny Spring day and that is a beautiful, sunny Spring Saturday! Yes, indeed. The weekend is here at last, we can kick off our shoes, forget our woes and head outdoors for some rest and relaxation.

And it's been a bit of an exciting Saturday for us here in our little corner of England for it is the first 'al fresco' lunch of the year and the first ever 'al fresco' lunch for Martha. I love to sit outside on a day like today, sipping tea and listening to the birds...with the occasional noisy car driving by (we are in a city after all!).

And when the weather turns really nice, I love nothing more than to throw a bright tablecloth over our patio table and plan a pleasant, summery lunch for us to enjoy in the sunshine.

Which is just what I did today, with these pretty daffodils keeping us company.......bliss........

Wishing everyone a happy, warm, sunny Saturday!

Martha's First Spring

Spring is my absolute favourite time of the year. The colours, the sunshine...I find it quite magical. And this Spring is particularly welcome, after such a long, hard winter.

It is also Martha's first Spring and I'm really keen to demonstrate to her just how beautiful this season is.

And so our little garden is already becoming packed with various kinds of flowers, shrubs and plants. But this year I have tried to bring a bit more of the season indoors as well.

A trip today to our local florist has provided our mantelpiece with the most beautiful dashes of Spring-time colour.

A perfect way to start the season.

And a perfect display to celebrate Martha's first Spring.

What A Flapper

I normally really dislike the 'day before travelling'. We're due to go to my folks for Easter and today is the final day before we make the long journey up to their farm.

Normally, I get into a flap the day before, worrying about whether we've packed enough clothes for the baby and trying to make enough food to last the journey so we won't have to buy horrid service station sandwiches. I usually find myself doing endless rounds of laundry in the week leading up to Travel Day...telling myself that it is probably is a good idea to wash every single pair of socks and underwear, just in case 'something comes up' and we need to take it all.

Of, and of course we will want to come home to fresh, clean bedding and towels, so that'll all have to go in the the wash as well.

Yes indeed, I am not happy to leave my home until floors are washed, toilets are bleached and scrubbed and everything is dusted and shined. I think I'm being organised. Hubby thinks I'm nuts.

But today, I've decided to take Hubby's advice and chill out. He has gently reminded* me on many an occasion that taking it upon myself to spring clean the whole house simply because we're going away for a weekend is hardly a very Christian thing to do, since it only leaves me tired and irritable. Point taken. So today I have only been doing the necessary...with great results!

I've been a kitchen dweller this morning, baking some goodies to take for family and cooking up a soup for lunch with all the ingredients from the fridge that need to be gone by the time we get back. And it makes for quite a pleasant scene. I love a hour or two spent in the kitchen on a sunny day like today, glancing at the flowering lavender just outside the kitchen window.

It reminded me of a really lovely Scriptural quote from Job 37:14:

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God".

Life is so much better in slower motion...God says so!

So here's to another beautiful Spring day! Courtesy of Our Friend...



Hubby doesn't really do 'gentle' so this admonishment tends to lean towards something like; "Calm down, you're getting yourself in a flap...it's only a cake after all". Usually accompanied by a much wanted hug...he is the best.

Spring Into Action

March has been a busy month it seems, looking at the number of times I've posted on 'The Vineyard'.

And it's set to get busier still as Hubby, Martha and I career our way up to the north of England to spend the Easter season with family. I can't wait.

It's hard for me to believe that Easter is nearly here...Lent is nearly over...Spring really has arrived (just about!).

I'm delighted though because for me, this is the best time of year. Easter brings with it so much celebration, hope, renewal and inspiration. Flowers bloom, the trees become green...nature itself seems to celebrate the beauty of the Resurrection. Everything seems re-born.

It's also the perfect season to start afresh, make plans and approach life with new vigour and motivation.

Since I will be spending another summer here in our little patch of land, I have big plans for our currently unfinished garden...I'm envisioning rows of potted plants, a little vegetable patch, a finished fence (glances tentatively at Hubby...;-) and a pretty wrought iron gate. Once the warmer weather is here to stay I intend to start!

Life can't get any better than this. God is really, very good indeed.

Yellow and Orange and Blue...I Can See A Rainbow

At last! After a very grey few weeks, the sun came out today. Already there are some daffodils to be seen and the scent of spring is not too far away.


All this sun has enticed many out of winter hibernation.


Including this fellow...my lovely orange-furred cat 'Ginger'.



He took advantage of the pleasant temperature and climbed the nearest tree in the hope of 'wooing' a lovely bird. No such luck for my four-legged friend though...as the object of his desire didn't quite reciprocate his affections!

Better luck next time Ginge!