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Tuesday 29 March 2011

Here's to Longer Days!

Here in England, the clocks sprung forward an hour on Saturday, so, at last, the longer days are with us, and it's now light until 7 p.m., which is wonderful.  

After my little blip with my health, I am now so thankful to have the strength to work in the garden once again, and the warmer temperatures certainly make you feel like being outside.  The lawns are looking lovely, all my tubs are now planted up with colourful pansies, and the new Arbour is  up and looking great!  (No! I didn't erect the Arbour - hubby did that!).

Because of the wedding reception being held in the garden in June, a new shed has gone up behind the garage. I wish I had taken a 'before' photo really, because it has looked like a junkyard for the past thirteen years (i.e. since we moved in!!), but now it's all nice and tidy. 

I tell you ladies, if you need things doing in the garden, just arrange to hold a Wedding Reception there.  It's a great excuse to get everything looking hunky-dory!!

Last Thursday, my daughter's partner arranged to look after the two little ones, so we were able to head off to Exeter (which is the County town of Devon, were we live).  It was so lovely to be able to spend some time on our own.  We browsed the shops, chatted, had a leisurely lunch with wine, and all the time the sun shone.


Exeter Cathedral

Part of the Roman old city wall

We had our lunch in an olde worlde riverside pub!

I don't know if anyone else is having trouble with their photographs at the moment.  There should have been photos of the magnolias in yesterday's post.  They were showing in the preview but then, when the post was published, the photos had disappeared.  Likewise the photos in this blog keep disappearing, so I just hope that they will be there when you read this!  ( I went back in and inserted the photos of the magnolias again).



30 comments:

SkippyMom said...

The photos show up for me here and I saw the magnolias yesterday, so I don't know. hmmmmm

What a lovely day for you two. :)

I hope the photos continue to work because after seeing pics of your home, we are so anxious to see the gardens before the wedding. Your home is breathtaking. And a lovely place for a wedding.

Lucky girl! YAY!

Bethe77 said...

I love the photos they ahve shown up Yea! mine are starting too as well. They must ahve gotten the problem fixed. Sounds like you have had a lovely outing with your daughter.
I am so looking forward to teh garden pictures.
Blessings

Gawgus things... said...

Photos are there! It's light here until 8.30pm now - fantastic! We do have the darker mornings for a couple of weeks again though :( How nice to be able to enjoy a day 'sans enfants' every now and again!

Christmas-etc... said...

Oh how fun! To hold a reception in your garden is the perfect way to get it in beautiful shape! Not only will you have the memories of the reception but such a perfect garden to enjoy too!
Exeter Cathedral is fabulous!! I just posted a church (named in St. Nicholas' honor of course!) to be found in Albania!
So glad your health is good one again!
Many blessings!
Ann

Southhamsdarling said...

SkippyMom - phew! seems that perhaps the photo thing has been sorted. Yes, we had a lovely day out together, and I do realize that I am very fortunate!

Bethe77 - I do appreciate you always coming round every time to comment!

Gawgus things - yes, last night it was light here until after 7.30, so good news indeed!

PencilGirl said...

Wow!! The pictures are sooooo beautiful... I particularly loved the picture of the Roman old city wall.. It's perfect for my current discover-a-new-adventure mood.. :D :D
Thank you for giving me something beautiful to look at... :) :)

Southhamsdarling said...

AnnNichols - thank you so much for the blessings, and it is good to hear from you! Yes, the Cathedral is wonderful. I do love old Churches I must admit.

PencilGirl - glad you liked the photos, and it's lovely to have your comment again! I've missed seeing you.

BB said...

These pictures are great. Someday! I bet you are getting so excited for the wedding your daughter coming home to visit. Spring is happening. All good things for you. You get what you give! Hugs sweet lady.

Southhamsdarling said...

Bouncin'Barb - thank you for your kind comments. If it's true that you get what you give, then you should be getting a lot more at the moment, as you are always so caring towards others. Take care.

Claudia Moser said...

Great photos! Both in this post and also the magnolias. You inspired me, and generated the picture of the day!

Unknown said...

I love the spring with new life everywhere and it's hard to be down with such beauty all around us promising even better days. Your pictures are great as usual and so glad you had some special time to have enjoy the scenery and atmosphere at a slower pace. Enjoy your tuesday. I will be meeting my sister for breakfast in a few minutes which is always a treat for both of us.
Odie

Shady Del Knight said...

I'm not having any trouble loading my blog pics, Thisisme, and yours all seem to be here for this post. I certainly hope you won't have problems for long because I can't wait to view your garden when it's in full bloom. I love dining next to rivers, lakes, the ocean or any natural body of water. Now that the weather's warm you will have many photo opps around your home and around your county. I look forward to seeing it all! Have a wonderful Tuesday, dear friend!

Southhamsdarling said...

Claudia - I'm glad you were inspired by the magnolias! They are so pretty, aren't they? Hope you're home safe and sound.

Odie - You're right. How can we be down-hearted with so much beauty springing up all around us. Like you, I adore this time of year. Hope you had a good breakfast with your sister. That is such a good thing to do.

Shady - Like you, I just love having water around me, especially the sea. There's something about it that just lifts my spirits. I will keep taking the photos for just as long as you want to see them! Hope you are well dear friend.

Unknown said...

How great to be outside in the warmer weather, planting flowers and cleaning up. It is my favorite way to spend a day. I'm excited for your family that you have an upcoming wedding. The pictures are also amazing. I'm enthralled with the places you take your readers.

Rebecca said...

beautiful photos and the time change thing always gets me it takes me a week or two to get use to it. sounds like you had a lovely day. hugs

Becky said...

I'm so glad that you had such a wonderful time with your daughter AND that you are feeling so much better! I love your photos! :)

Christmas-etc... said...

Thanks so much! I do so enjoy your site too!
Have a nice day!
Ann

colenic said...

Secretly- I am planning my hubby's party so that I can kick start things around my house :)
Sounds like a heavenly day....and the pictures showed up today...I am giong back to look at the magnolias though- my favorite and I missed the picture!!

Tony Van Helsing said...

The weathers gorgeous up here in Yorkshire at the moment too.

Southhamsdarling said...

kneesandpaws - yes, it certainly lifts ones spirits to be working outside in the garden.

Becca - hugs to you too mu friend! I get used to the light evenings right away!

Becky - I love being able to spend time with my daughters now that they no longer live at home. Just waiting for the Parisian one to come home for a week now!

Ann Nichols - thank you!

Colenic - a very cunning plan about hubby's party!! We women have got to be very clever sometimes! LOL!

Tony Van Helsing - how lovely of you to pop into my blog! Thank you. Isn't that a very famous surname?!

LindyLouMac said...

Photos seem ok at the moment,might have something to do with what ever system you use. Our clocks went forward here as well, at last the longer light evenings are on their way.

Southhamsdarling said...

LindyLouMaC - Isn't it just wonderful to have the lighter evenings. I love it!!

Empty Nester said...

I'm pretty sure that hosting a wedding reception in our backyard still would not motivate Hubs. Now, if it was in someone elses yard...LOL

Becca's Dirt said...

Blogger just isn't our friend sometime. The magnolias are so pretty and I love the color. Can't wait to see what's going on behind the scenes for the wedding.

Olive said...

Hi Tim, I clean up a lot when we have guests staying the weekend so a wedding would require a huge effort I am sure. the cathedral is beautiful. ♥O

Southhamsdarling said...

EmptyNester - I think you jest about hubs!!!

Becca's Dirt - I love the colour of the magnolias, especially the deep pink ones.

Olive Cooper - I think we women must be all the same about tidying up and cleaning when people are due to come and stay!

Anna said...

Love the pictures! I had the same problem yesterday. :/ I'm glad things seem to be back to normal now.

Desiree said...

Sorry I missed this post...but you know very well why! Getting up to all sorts behind my back so that suddenly instead of only one comment to reply to, I had dozens...and I'm slow, so it takes time for me to get around to everyone. I don't have Carol's Ferrari powered energy levels. She seems to breeze in and out all over the place leaving me choking on her dust!

Thanks for the tip about having a wedding reception at home...it sounds like a great plan to me...provided it's someone else's house! I do not envy you having to get spruced up for showtime! Too much hard work and stress from my point of view :)

Oh, I know just what you mean about the treat of having Mother/daughter time alone! I LOVED those opportunities with my own Mum when she still lived in SA and now, cherish them all with my daughter!

Your photos are delightful!! So much beauty, such history surrounds you!

Now, stay healthy...don't be tempted to overdo things, else you'll undo all the good you've done! Pace yourself!

Hugs,

Des xoxo

Suzanne said...

I love the pictures you post of your country-it is so beautiful. It takes my breath away, even the old Roman wall. You see, you DO have much to share, even if you like to skip Wednesdays.

Southhamsdarling said...

Susan - hopefully you'll enjoy the photos in my latest post!