Here's to April

Well, hard to believe, but here we are at the start of April. I love April - mainly because it's my birthday 🥳 month, but, also, because the days are getting longer and the garden is full of Spring flowers.  Well, here in heavenly Devon anyway!

The word April comes from the Latin verb Aperire, which means 'to open', and it is the first sign of the Zodiac. 

I wish you all a very happy April, which this year will include Easter. May it be a time of new beginnings and renewal for all of you. 

All images from my garden, with the exception of the last one, which is courtesy of Pinterest.com

First Day of Spring

Hallo one and all, on this, the first day of Spring,  I always love saying that.... the first day of Spring!  It always fills me with hope, and, like the rest of you just getting through Winter, I'm sure you're thankful for the longer days ahead. 

On my personal Facebook page, along with my Instagram page, I am having a break from social media for the period of Lent, but I felt I had to celebrate the onset of Spring here on my Blog!

Am I missing checking Facebook and Instagram each day. Well, I suppose I am, as there is quite a little Community out there, and the majority of people are very supportive and encouraging. 

However, part of me thinks, are people REALLY interested in what I've been up to or, in the case of Instagram, when I've been out for a delicious meal, and sharing a picture to prove it?!  We live in strange times these days, when everything, it seems, has to be 'out there'.  

 But then, the same could be said of me writing this Blog - are people REALLY interested in whatever I may have to say?  Anyway, as you can see from these photos, the weather here in heavenly Devon has decided to be kind to us on this first day of Spring, albeit in between the showers, but I'll take that.

It's so lovely having daffodils fresh from the garden. They really do bring a splash of sunshine into the home. 

The other big news of the week, of course, is the spread of the Corona Virus, which is quite worrying. My eldest granddaughter, who is studying for her Masters at Madrid University, has already had a trip to Shanghai cancelled, and my eleven year old grandson is due to travel to Normandy in France, with the College, leaving this Friday. I think it will be a case of 'watch this space' on that one. 

Well, I hope you're all keeping well in your little corner of the world. Take care, and I'm sure I will be popping in again fairly soon. 

Spring Has Officially Arrived ....

Hallo to you all once again.  So yesterday was the first day of Spring, and I’m certainly looking forward to it. We haven’t had a particularly hard Winter here in Devon, but I think we just all want the longer days once again.  As I write this, I’m well aware that some of my Followers will be heading into Autumn, so forgive me! 

I do think that Spring has to be one of my favourite months.  Simply because it follows the dark days of Winter, I suppose. But it’s more than that - Spring brings hope, as we see new life appearing all around us.  From the bulbs poking out of the earth, the garden gradually coming back to life, and the lambs gambolling in the fields. How can our souls and spirits not be lifted?  

You would have to be a bit of a curmudgeon if your heart wasn’t lifted by the sight of daffodils everywhere. They bring their own sunshine, don’t they? 

 The Poet, William Wordsworth, summed it up perfectly in his poem, “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud”, also known as the daffodil poem ......

We are now in the Star Sign of Aries, and I am an Aries person - Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac.  We are supposed to be the trailblazers, although, to be honest, I’m not sure that I’ve done much trail blazing in my life.  Although, I think we always tend to think of things being done in a very outward way, with all guns blazing if you like.  But, thinking about it, things can also be done in quiet ways.  Aries are supposed to be passionate and independent, and I certainly see that in myself.  Although with regard to the independent bit, I always thought that had something to do with me being an only child.  They are also supposed to be loyal and impulsive.  I like to think that I am a loyal friend, and I am certainly impulsive!

I’m sure there are people reading this, who do not believe in such ‘nonsense’!  But I believe that there must be something that determines us from the month that we  are born.  After all, the earth is ruled by the moon and the pull of the sea, as they both wax and wane.  My mind has always been open to everything alternative, really.  It would be a foolish person to dismiss these things.

Anyway, I will leave you for now.  Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read my scribblings!  (All images today, apart from the daffodils, are courtesy of Pinterest).  Oh, and here’s a pic of my little pup, walking through the Spring flowers in my garden....

Summer Memories Of A Garden In Full Bloom

The month of January is almost over, and I am very relieved about that.  Soon we will enter the month of February, the month of love and romance ~well, a girl can dream, can’t she?!

The days are gradually starting to lengthen, and I am so looking forward to when I can start on my coastal walks once more.  At the moment, the footpaths would be far too muddy.  In fact, with all the rain and storms here in the South West of England, much of our coastline is eroding away, which is quite worrying, especially for those with houses close to the sea.  What happens then, is that the cliffs have to be shored up, sections of coastal paths closed and routed away from the sea.  The shoreline really does take quite a battering during these Winter months.  

For newer Followers of my Blog, I thought I would share some photos of my garden as it looks in the Summer.  Looking out of the window at the moment, it’s hard to imagine it being full of blooms.  But I know that time will come round once again, and even by the end of February, quite a transformation will have taken place, as new life starts appearing. The changing of the Seasons really are a wonder to behold, and I always say a silent prayer at the start of each new Season, that I am still here to appreciate it.  

Just looking at these photos has lifted my spirits, as I sit here enjoying a nice cup of green tea with lemon.  A garden can be hard work, but, my goodness, it’s worth if when everything falls into place. 

If you want to enlarge any photo, you can just double click on it.  I hope you’re all having an enjoyable weekend.  I know that there are a couple of my bloggy friends who are coping with certain things in their lives at the moment, and prayers are with them that all will be well.  Look after yourselves everyone.

Photographs are my own, apart from the two quotes, and these are courtesy of Pinterest.com

There’s a new Feature Post up ~ all about sweating the small stuff.  Just click on the link at the top of the Sidebar on the right hand side. 

Garden Colours....

Here in heavenly Devon, Spring is springing up all over the place, and the gardens are suddenly bursting with colour. In my own garden, the very first tulips are appearing - one of my favourite flowers. Yes, it's lovely to receive a bouquet of flowers from time to time, but, if I'm honest, a bunch of tulips will do it for me every time!  Yes, I'm a cheap kind of gal! 

 

 

It's strange, but at this wonderful time of the year, with new life appearing all around me, I sometimes find  that I can feel a little, I don't quite know how to describe it, but a bit under par, I suppose. 

I have a birthday in just a few weeks, and I've noticed that I can feel like this each year,  round about this time.  I spoke to a couple of friends, and it was interesting to hear that they also feel the same way just before their birthdays.  Hopefully I will feel brighter again once the month tips over into my Star sign of Aries, which will occur on the 21st March. 

I know that in certain parts of the world, the clocks have already gone forward an hour, with the promise of lighter evenings. Over here in the U.K. the clocks won't alter until the  26th March, which will also be Mothering Sunday (Mothers Day). 

 

 

 

Photos taken today at Saltram House, a wonderful National Trust property nearby. 

I'll say cheerio again for now, but will see you again soon.  I'll leave you with this little quote, courtesy of Pinterest.com