wild west

Over the Easter break we spent a few days in the West of Ireland, more specifically in the Burren. We met up with family and stayed in the gorgeous Inchiquin House. It was such a treat. We explored the unique limestone karst landscape, walking by the Poulnabrone dolmen and on another day had a guided climb up some of the hills of Burren, seeing 10th century churches along the way. It really was a magical place and visiting at this time of year meant there were very few people about. I have to admit the wildness of the Burren and Co. Clare appeals to me hugely ~ maybe next time we should stay for longer.

easter

Easter - the clocks have changed, and although today we had sunshine and hailstones it feels very Spring-y! I made a Simnel cake for the first time (including marzipan!) and it's nearly all gone. And on the table a corkscrew hazel branch from the garden has been decorated with delicate glass egg-shaped decorations and paper chickens...and of course there are chocolate eggs too...

tea

One of my five-a-day. Honestly, is there nothing that can't be fixed by tea? And isn't that late afternoon light lovely. And it's warm outside. Happy Friday!

lakeside

The lake this morning looked divine, although it's still cold and windy and sometimes a squally rain shower will blow in making us wonder is Spring really here. But on a day like this I've high hopes for warmer weather to come...

great outdoors

 

Now that the Spring has finally, finally arrived it's time to get outdoors a bit more often. I'll be the first to admit the great outdoors is not my natural choice of habitat. I'm more of the great indoors persuasion. However when it comes to children there is nothing better than fresh air and a run around to sort out all kinds of things. And actually the same can be true for the grown-ups too! This morning the postman delivered '101 things for kids to do outside' by Dawn Isaac. From staging an open-air play or building a bird hide to constructing a water wall and flying homemade kites there are lots of ideas to make the most of Spring sunshine. I also bought 'Dirty Teaching: a beginner's guide to learning outdoors' by Juliet Robinson. Written to encourage teachers to bring school children outside I chose this one as we'd recently had a note home from the boys' school about children not being allowed to play on the grass which surrounds their playground...oh dear, don't get me started on that!