Thursday 12 March 2015

Spring?

Greetings everyone! Is it just me or is there a distinct smell of Spring in the air? Last Saturday was absolutely glorious round these parts and it felt so lovely to be out in the garden, enjoying the sun. Even pegging out the washing was fun, accompanied, as it was, by the sound of church bells, buzzy bees and birdsong. Rather bizarrely, I failed to take any photos at the time, although I did manage a few earlier in the week. It wasn't quite as sunny then but it was a special occasion of sorts ........
the first cup of tea in the garden this year! 
 I admired the bit of blue sky behind the eucalyptus tree:
 and the daffodils, which are almost ready to open:
 Hamish had his first outing of the year. I would have put him out in his run but Foxy Loxy has been lurking - in broad daylight too. The chickens got in a bit of a flap but I was just struck by how beautiful he was. Eventually, I got my act together and chased him off but, unfortunately, there was no time to grab the camera. Hamish, therefore, had to be content with an accompanied run in his harness. Sadly, the colour doesn't show up too well in the photo - it is actually bright pink but he thinks he is manly enough to get away with it!
 Apart from a whiff of Spring, there have been a few other happies this week:
R's carrot cake - it really was a bit of a triumph!
Joining together L's quilt. I've bought the backing and wadding, so just need to actually quilt it now:
 Making lemon curd. It was such a fantastic colour that I couldn't resist taking a photo - like sunshine in a jar:
 I used it to make a lemon and passion fruit pavlova - Michael Sheen made one for the Comic Relief Bake Off (see recipe here) and it was delicious. Please excuse the basket of laundry in the background - I really must learn to style my photos!
 A visit to the library revealed a 'Tales of the Unfinishable' display. People had donated their unfinished WIPs along with a bit of background info:

 I particularly liked the plant pot cover:
 A couple of the new books I picked up whilst I was there:
 And one final happy for this week - I won a giveaway! I was so thrilled to win this from Planet Penny (thank you again, Penny!). The book takes you on a road trip around the United States, with a craft/cooking memento for every state. There's an 'Extreme Grilled Cheese' from Wisconsin (America's Dairyland, producing more cheese per capita than any other state!) for lunch with my name on it!

Actually, I've been up since 2:15 am as I had to take E to Luton Airport for a trip to Poland with the 'Lessons from Auschwitz' Project. I was, in fact, awake from about 12:15 as I was so worried that the alarm would fail to go off! Anyway, it's starting to catch up with me a bit, so I think it may be time for a little nap..............

Enjoy the rest of the week. Toodle Pip for now. x

22 comments:

  1. Wow, you have been busy! Hamish looks extremely cute in his 'manly' harness - what a sweet rabbit! I had my first cup of tea in the garden this week too - bliss! Your quilt is gorgeous, and must've been such painstaking work, and the pavlova looks delicious. I always put my lemon curd in the same jars as yours too! Hope you catch up on your sleep :)
    Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh that lemon curd pavlova sounds amazing, and your sunshine in a jar, such a gorgeous colour x

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think you are right, seen lots of primroses and daffodils emerging on the roadside banks today so Spring is definitely here. Shame about the overcast day though. Yum, the lemon curd pavlova sounds divine and the sunshine in a jar looks amazing. xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, the grilled cheese got me too! Sounds like you've had a really busy week, and it's lovely to feel spring in the air at last. Have a great weekend x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lemon curd and passionfruit pavlova, oh my, two of my favourite flavours. It looks absolutely delicious. Lovely to see your little bunny out and about. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. lovely garden, how peaceful to sit and look at that little stretch of water with a cuppa, such a treat to be able to get outside without freezing fingers! Lemon curd looks delicious! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hamish is so adorable - can I have him for my Easter basket? The color of your lemon curd is amazing. You must have used very special eggs. I'm sure it tasted yummy, too. Have a great week and enjoy your sunshine.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish I could join you in the garden for tea!! Look at those daffs coming through already! And your baking creations look amazing!! And that sweet bunny.....I would love one for the beans!! Wishing you an outstanding weekend full of more goodness! Nicole xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. So many culinary triumphs! The lemon curd is such an amazing colour. Its lovely to feel a bit of spring sunshine isn't it, i'm sure Hamish was thrilled with his little adventure in the great outdoors :) x

    ReplyDelete
  10. My goodness what a busy time, but so many happy lovely things! Spring is definitely springing at your home! xx p.s. don't worry about styling your pictures, just crop out the bits round the edges, that is what I do! xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely not just you! It's spring all over! Finally!
    Would love to sit in the garden with you, any carrot cake left?
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the idea of the Tales of the Unfinishable. Thank you for sharing. I could stage an exhibition made up entirely of my own WIPs!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hamish is gorgeous! Enjoy the sunshine.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Isn't it such a wonderful time of year! Looks like you have been enjoying it to the full! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Isn't it such a wonderful time of year! Looks like you have been enjoying it to the full! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your sunny spring photos make me very happy! I can't wait to stop wearing a coat and start eating al fresco! Your quilt is looking fantastic, in fact, the colours go very well with the next picture of the lemon curd :D x

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's lovely to see the sunshine in the garden and I too had a fun time hanging the laundry outside.
    I visited Auschwitz a few years ago, it's such an emotional place.
    Jan x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mmm, lemon curd and passionfruit pavlova - lush. The flavours of spring are sneaking in now, aren't they? It was glorious here today and very spring like. I've yet to drink my first cup of tea in the garden but I look forward to it! x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yes Spring is definitely in the air. It's a beautiful day today and I have lots of washing on the line! Your lemon curd looks gorgeous as does that pavlova...Michael Sheen was very entertaining on the bake off wasn't he?
    Marianne x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Isn't that first cup of tea outside in the spring the best ever? Thanks for the link to the lemon curd pavlova. I still have one jar of lemon curd in the freezer from the batch I made several weeks ago. If I lived nearby I could have donated many things to the WIP exhibit. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on your win! What an optimistic post, I loved it! Good to know that you have had a little sunshine and a cuppa outdoors near that stunning eucalyptus tree, what a beauty!
    I did enjoy seeing your lemon curd, I've never made it....and those knitted planters are gorgeous!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats on your win! What an optimistic post, I loved it! Good to know that you have had a little sunshine and a cuppa outdoors near that stunning eucalyptus tree, what a beauty!
    I did enjoy seeing your lemon curd, I've never made it....and those knitted planters are gorgeous!xxx

    ReplyDelete