When not digging holes and moving plants around the garden Lyra, Mum and I have been out and about nature duding. It’s all go out there. Down by the river the whin is already in flower and, as it warms in the sun, there’s the first trace of the the familiar Hawaiian Tropic scent ofContinue reading “All the little critters.”
Tag Archives: wildlife
What’s not to A.D.O.R.E
Today we were promised rain on and off and, frankly, I accepted this sentence with no little relief. What with the early Pilates, a longish dog walk, an expandable “hour” in the garden and some spirited evening knitting yesterday, I awoke feeling not a little achey in all (mostly) moveable parts. I resolved on anContinue reading “What’s not to A.D.O.R.E”
Spring in our steps
There are finally signs of spring. The snowdrops in the wood are starting to fade and bright green spears of garlic are just emerging. Soon the air will be redolent of pasta and cassoulet and this will doubtless prove fatal to my desultory attempts to be rid of the winter lard. It is cool andContinue reading “Spring in our steps”
New Habits
The same, but different is the new Ruthven House motto. We finally unpacked enough boxes to enable Mum to move into her new house in the middle of the month. There remain a number of cardboard hold outs, squirrelled away in corners where Mum thinks I don’t know about them, and a vast realm ofContinue reading “New Habits”
The Christmas Remix
Yesterday was fairly full on! I think I sat down for the first time around 6.30 – and then got up again as there was weary sighing and tutting from the cranberry sauce team about the fire not being lit and the table not being set yet. As I looked around the just wiped downContinue reading “The Christmas Remix”
Apologies to my Druidical followers
Yesterday was, in the greater part, spent lugging boxes around and by the end of the day, after a brief segue into Christmas granola making, I was absolutely whacked. I was, as they say, neither use nor ornament. I spent the evening in bed with a cooking sherry, a bar of chocolate and an improvingContinue reading “Apologies to my Druidical followers”
Lucky for some
Never listen to triskadekaphobics; the thirteenth has been delightful. We had a pretty pink dawn which, in spite of gurning shepherds, simply heralded a bright and breezy day. We were up, bacon sarnied and out with the dog before Jack Robinson could be declaimed. Down in the woods, the worst of the mud had driedContinue reading “Lucky for some”
The bell tolls twelve
In a desperate attempt to fit everything in Keith and I dashed off first thing to choose Christmas trees. We got slightly lost en route and had to phone for directions from a lay-by on the Abbotsford back road. A quick u-ie had us back on track and after that all passed smoothly. The treesContinue reading “The bell tolls twelve”
Day five distractions
A need to forage for something to cook with on Saturday took us to Norham this morning. The butcher’s window was festooned with fairy lights and festive papier maché pigs were standing guard over jolly painted cakes. Inside there was much chat of spousal gifting talents (Wendy’s Iain is clearly head and shoulders above theContinue reading “Day five distractions”
Day four: a leap forward in Christmas stockings.
After a series of dire nights, I actually slept reasonably well yesterday and trotted down to the kitchen feeling quite bobbish, only to find Keith and Mum, having heard the hacking and coughing in the bathroom, making plans for my funeral eulogy. Frankly it sounded a bit disappointing – I’m not sure I’ll hang aroundContinue reading “Day four: a leap forward in Christmas stockings.”