Monday 4 May 2015

Hello May



It's been a funny old Bank Holiday weekend. Changeable weather (and Joe feeling distinctly under it), getting your days a bit mixed up because of Monday not being a proper Monday...

Joe started with some nasty stomach bug on Friday and has been a bit floppy and washed out ever since. We still had visitors and plenty of good food (well, he didn't - that legendary huge appetite took a bit of a bashing), but he's also been very clingy. As in wanting to just lie on you and watch endless episodes of Peppa Pig.

There have been sleepless nights and messed-up routines (and bedding) but things are starting to return to normal again.


It's a good job there was some decent drying weather in between rain showers. And if you follow me on Instagram you'll know my geranium cuttings are flowering away. I do love a red geranium.


We've managed the odd little amble. April's purples and yellows are giving way to pinks and blues. May's such a beautiful month; I can't wait to see all the cow parsley and hawthorn blossom in another few weeks.


The railway station has all kinds of floral prettiness along the verges: clematis, bluebells, euphorbia. And the lambs... Sigh. I tried photographing them from the platform but I don't own a zoom lens so you'll just have to believe me - they're adorable, especially those in their little orange plastic lamboraks.


Even though we've been taking very short walks due to Joe not having much energy but still refusing to sit in his buggy, I did get out alone. Bluebell-gazing and wild garlic gathering. The woods are looking so green and the sunshine disappearing behind clouds then re-emerging seconds later made for some interesting light.


There are so many signs of life: uncurling, unfurling, buds, new leaves...


I love the way they start out in shades of shell pink and coral.


There's a little path I take at this time of year. It's away from the usual route; you have to clamber over a half-fallen tree and climb a steep bank. Not many people go there. But it's bluebell heaven: silver birches and a stream and long, lush grass. The bluebells are a little late because it's a shady spot but that just means for the next few weeks I can go back and enjoy them before they flower fully and then die back.



When you rejoin the main track and head back into the sunlight you're greeted by more bells, this time fully opened and beautifully blue.


Nettles are growing in huge clumps. I've always wanted to cook with them - it's time to consult the recipe books and maybe take rubber gloves next time I head into the woods.


I'm looking forward to lots of things this month. The first of May was the anniversary of our first date. My birthday's in a few weeks and I'm going to get my hair cut in a salon instead of trimming it myself with the kitchen scissors. There are a few nights out planned, a meal (just Jay and me, venue to be decided) and on my birthday we're going away for a little holiday.

It'll be nice to have a break after a difficult couple of months.


Of course, the house purchase rumbles on. And I'm trying to catch up with things now that life's starting to settle down again. But there's a lot to be grateful for. Little Poppy came home from hospital last week and she's steadily gaining weight. She may be tiny but she can empty a bottle of milk very quickly. And she loves being cuddled.


On a completely unrelated note, you may have noticed I'm trying out using square images. I quite like them - no need for resizing either. I've found that cropping to a square works better with landscape-orientated images though, so that'll be a challenge. I always take photos portrait-style and have been trying to break that little habit for a while so this should give me a bit more of an incentive.



I hope you had a good weekend. And I hope this little person gets better soon, he's been beyond grouchy...

Joining in with the Photo Gallery (this week's theme: One Day in May).




27 comments:

  1. Life is not fun when they are not well. Hope he's better soon x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cooking with nettles sounds interesting, A friend of ours made nettle soup recently, but I've yet to try them out. Hope little Joe is better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I always imagine nettles to taste a bit like spinach but I think they must be full of iron too. I'm going to see what looks tempting by way of recipes...

      Delete
  3. The photos are gorgeous! I hope he feels better soon. X

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh poor little chap, that's no fun at all, I do hope he's all better soon. So good to hear that Poppy is home. Beautiful photos, you've captured the season very well. I hope it's a good week for you and yours. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same to you! Shame we can't visit Poppy at the moment but I don't want to pass on Joe's bugs to such a little baby... Fingers crossed he recovers quickly. He was sick all over me this morning. The joys of parenthood! x

      Delete
  5. I love the idea of a walk all alone in nature. It's been so long since I did that. I will need to make time for it soon. I hope Joe is feeling better soon. It's hard when they're sick. The first of May is the anniversary of the day my husband and I met, so I can relate to its significance in your life. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an easy one to remember too!
      Do go out walking alone (as long as you feel safe, of course). It's one of my absolute favourite things to do - so relaxing and refreshing.

      Delete
  6. Poor little man. I do hope he feels better soon and that you get back to your daily rhythm. You sound like you have much to look forward to with your birthday plans. I am delighted for you all that your little niece is doing so well. Baby cuddles are the best. Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bee - I'm relieved that whatever Joe has seems to be one of those childhood things and we haven't been ill ourselves (touch wood)...
      Baby cuddles are indeed lovely but she's so tiny and fragile-looking too! Hopefully all the milk-guzzling will result in her getting all nice and chubby :) x

      Delete
  7. I am reading and enjoying your blog for a while now, but didn't comment before. I like your photos and your writing style, very evocative and calming. I use nettles this time of year a lot - drying them for tea, making them into pink juice, soups or a kind of pie. Hope your little boy gets well very soon, hugs from Bosnia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Lovely to hear from you.
      I always enjoy 'meeting' new people, especially those from other beautiful countries. And I especially love hearing about your cooking and housekeeping! Pink juice sounds intriguing...
      Thank you for your good wishes and for commenting.
      Sarah x

      Delete
  8. It's nice to get out for a relaxing walk especially among so much beauty. I love blue bells - only a few have flowered here so far. If you're going to cook with nettles you need to pick them young and small. That's about all I know on the subject of cooking with nettles!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Sarah,
    Get well soon Joe! Me and Olly went and fed the horses this morning. He is getting braver at holding out the carrot in the palm of his hand. It's been very windy today. Perfect for drying the washing. I adore that laundry/geranium picture of yours. Who knew a line of whites could be so photogenic ;))
    Leanne xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. yum, nettles, nettle soup is my favourite x hope Joe is better soon x and good news about Poppy x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such beautiful photographs, hope your little man is recovering x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hope Joe is feeling much better. I share your pain with the endless peppa pig. I remember when (with BigR) I stumbled across one I hadn't seen. It was such a treat :) I love having my hair cut - the blow dry you get is soooo much better than I can do at home!! Love those geranium cuttings xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful photos. I hope your little dude is feeling better. Hugs #thegallery

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely photos, aren't the bluebells lovely this year :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hope Joe is better now. Nettle soup sounds just the thing to pack everyone full of vim.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hope Joe is feeling better. Poor little chap!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh dear, poor little Joe. I hope he's feeling better. Tummy bugs are awful for everyone involved! Love your pics... that 1st one is exquisite! x

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope Joe's over that bug and back to his normal, bouncy self. A haircut and a night out AND a holiday, all in one month...too good!

    And "lamborak"? Love it. xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. A beautiful story of the roller-coaster of life in your corner of the world in May. I really adore the photograph of the washing with the geraniums growing underneath. I felt like I was walking along a woodland path as I read your words and scrolled down to see each picture reveal itself on my screen. Beautiful images and I do hope your young man gets well soon and warmer weather makes it possible for you to get out more.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...