primroses and crocuses

I love the work of Debbie George - her paintings are quiet and peaceful and always beautiful. Her spring flowers are just perfect - there are plenty of crocuses in our garden and the primroses are making an appearance in the banks along the lanes but I've yet to see any cowslips. This reminds me so much of posies picked by tiny hands, one or two flower heads to be put into the smallest of vases or perhaps an egg cup, a small token of love.

You can buy Debbie George's work here

gentle gentleness

It is the weekend. Lots of people seem to fill weekends doing so much-rushing to do jobs when they should be slowing down. You need to rest as much as you need to be busy. Fill your days by all means, but fill them with making nice things to eat, spending your time with friends and family, pottering in the garden, taking a walk, investing a little time in things that are good for the soul.



I love the work of Elaine Pamphilon. Gentle gentleness captured in paint and good for the soul.

les temps perdu

We've just spent some time looking over short, snippety videos of the boys, filmed mainly on ancient cameras. Fleeting moments in time and space. Moments forever caught in the past. Their baby faced innocence, their arms held out for lifting up, their wide eyes and blonde hair. It breaks my heart to think of all that time gone, and yet where would we be if the time had not been spent growing and learning and changing?

It seems like an age now since we planted some Sweet William seeds. It's hard to imagine the flowers and their beauty and scent when you're putting tiny, not terribly inspiring looking seeds into their trays of compost. In fact I'd forgotten all about them and it was Kevin who planted them in the border. They are glorious-they smell heavenly, like old fashioned cottage garden plants should. They remind me of times past-the time spent with the boys planting them, so easily forgotten in the hustle and bustle of life. But look what time did to those seeds-it grew flowers. And look what time is doing to my boys-it's growing men.

just because

Just because it's February and things are still a bit grey and blustery it doesn't mean we can't have something a little floral, a little Spring like, a little colourful to remind ourselves that the gloom will pass, eventually. Actually in the garden some bulbs are already peeking through the soil and the snowdrops are out so it's not all a lost cause and today there is sunshine enough to hang some winter woollens outside to dry.

The lovely paintings are by Scottish painter William George Gillies, and I for one wouldn't mind that white cottage by the sea with flowers filling every vase, pot and jug to ease those winter blues.