easter

Easter morning. Of course there has been (modest) chocolate consumption. There were even hot cross buns and crumpets for breakfast. Now the back door has been flung open, the boys are playing in the garden and Kevin is finishing some dry stone walling, the thrush that haunts the elder tree providing a running commentary throughout. The rain has finally tired itself out and we are left with overcast skies and warm, welcome Spring air. Inside on the table sits willow branches tied with garden string, their furry buds decorated with paper and felt chicks and rabbits. Later we'll eat roast lamb and perhaps do a bit of visiting to family. All in all a gentle Easter.

heroes

About ten days ago Mide sent a drawing (of a meerkat) to his hero. David Attenborough is known for his amazing nature programmes for the BBC Natural History Unit and I'm sure I'm not the only person with an animal obsessed six year old who loves watching them. So I wrote a letter to say how much we loved them and Mide supplied the drawing and we posted it off.  Mide has a couple of very definite ambitions - to go to the Natural History Museum in London to meet Dippy the Diplodocus, to be a paleontologist and to meet David Attenborough. It's so important to have heroes. Someone you believe in and someone you admire. Or simply someone who appeals to you. And yesterday David Attenborough replied to Mide, sending a letter and a photograph. I cannot tell you how much that meant to Mide. And how much it meant to us that he took the time to do that. 

busy planning

image from pinterest

Now that we have a little time thanks to school holidays, added to the fact that it's raining (again) I've been thinking of things to do that'll keep little hands (and big hands) busy. I'm planning on making a Spring tree to hang with decorations ~ there is some willow in bud up the lane that I think will look very pretty in branches on the dining room table. There's also:

delicious primrose decorated easter cake from Circle of Pine Trees

really cute easter decorations from Seeds and Stitches

oh my goodness, this gorgeous bird's nest from 5ftinf

this popcorn recipe from Green Kitchen Stories ~ I think the boys would love it!

eggs benedict from Manger

rain stops play II

And so the Easter holidays begin! The day started with rain loud enough to wake us from sleep and although the morning and the early part of the afternoon were rain free, it started again not long after lunch and so they came in from the garden and settled in front of the stove and played Monopoly. Thank goodness for board games....although I hope the weather will be kind enough over the holidays that we won't need them too much.

holidays

It's a slow but steady dance, waiting for Spring. Two steps forward, three steps back. Daylight is stretching, the mornings have been amazing ~ all blue skies and high clouds and the longer evenings are fantastic for the boys playing outdoors. But sometimes it all goes dark and there'll be a massive hail shower or rainfall and it'll feel like November again. We are on the cusp of Easter holidays. Mide is especially keen to be off school and this morning he did a little dance, singing that there were only two and a half days til holidays. We will have two lovely weeks of slow mornings (no lunchboxes!), catching up with family, Easter egg hunting and hopefully going to the seaside for some blustery walks. So yes, I'm with Mide on this one... only two and a half days til holidays...yippeee!!

quick dip

Walking at this time of year has its own pleasure. The air is slightly warmer, everything has a fresher feel and the dogs are prepared to brave the water. We go to the lake and take in a different view than normal, climbing down stone steps into the field from which we go to the waterside. There are gorse bushes and lichen covered rocks and the deep imprint of cattle hooves in the mud. We swim here in the summer time but I have to admit the dogs are welcome to it at the moment! 

come into the garden

 

Oh the happiness of a warm spring day! The boys are home from school and playing outside. I am also outdoors having a cup of tea and making the most of the warmth on my face. A little rabbit bunting is in order. I use an old wartime cookbook* and turn to the chapter on salads, a perfect fit for bunnies. I cut the old thin paper carefully and then thread it with jaunty string. All the while the crows are calling from the yet leafless trees. I do wonder about them. I can't tell if they're happy we're outdoors or not. They do a lot of chatting and I fancy they don't mind us invading their space for a while. Anyway I finish the bunting. It is an Easter gift for a dear friend. The boys trail inside ~ they smell of fresh air and have grassy muddy knees. Soon it will be time to eat and it will still be bright.

 * It is Constance Spry's Come into the Garden, Cook and to be honest I am so cross with myself for having used it for bunting making over the years. It's a lovely book and beautifully illustrated ~ oh, the guilt...