Sunday 8 March 2015

Catching Up

Hello there! I've been out of the loop for a little while, and my visits to blogland have been almost non-existent over the last week and a half. This was due to two very busy weekends, a birthday and an achey, shivery bug which didn't keep me off work but made me head for bed early most evenings last week. It's so good to back here again!

We've had some amazingly warm spring sunshine over the last few days, and it's been a novelty to wander outside after work looking at the flowers which are coming out in all this warmth. The tiny purple crocuses glow when the late afternoon sun catches them.




And the periwinkle has opened its first little flower. Someone's been nibbling it - a bird perhaps?


The primroses are beginning to open too.


They really are happy little flowers that provide a tiny splash of colour if you look for them.


I bought this frilly ice-cream coloured one last week, and love its pink and peach ruffles.




The daffodils are almost out.


Perennials like aquilegias are starting to unfurl their pretty foliage after a winter of underground sleep.


On the contorted hazel there are some delightfully long, elegant catkins which swing gently when the breeze catches them.




Yesterday afternoon P and I had a short walk along our local cycleway. It was so warm and sunny that coats were not needed. I love that delicious moment after a long winter when you realise that you can leave your coat indoors - proof indeed that spring has sprung! The trees are still in bud and in the sunlight cast their strong linear shadows across the path as we walked, dazzling us at times.


I love the lines created by flights of winding steps as they disappear from sight, inviting you to rush up them and explore.


We also saw one of my favourite little creatures, a grey squirrel. One day I'd love to visit one of those parts of Britain that still has red squirrels and see one in the flesh, but their bigger, more successful counterparts are still very appealing. Sadly I will never make a wildlife photographer, but here are my less-than-impressive efforts to capture this little fellow as it scrabbled and twitched its way along a fence and around a tree.








I hope that wherever you are you have been enjoying some sunshine, and I'm going to spend the next day or two catching up on what you've all been up to.

It's good to be back x

15 comments:

  1. We are lucky to have squirrels visit the back of our garden each day, love your photo's. it's very pleasing to be able to ditch the winter coats.

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    1. Hi Marlene, it's good to meet you! Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm very jealous of you having squirrels in your garden :)
      Cathy x

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  2. I like the shadows across the path. :-)

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    1. Hi - thank you for visiting my blog, and for commenting :) I'm always struck by those shadows when we walk there :)
      Cathy x

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  3. Lovely signs of Spring. Your crocuses are stunning. Jan xx

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  4. Glad you're feeling better. It was glorious weather here too yesterday; very Spring like - not so much today though! I'd love to see a red squirrel too but I do enjoy the grey ones - you did well to catch him; they're so fast. x

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  5. Nice to read about you again !!! yeah spring is in the air ... that's great ! I love your pics of the squirrel .....

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  6. Hello Cathy I think you must have had the virus I had, and I am still suffering.
    I'm so pleased you are feeling better.
    The crocuses are just beautiful, especially the colour (ours are all flattened).
    I love to watch the actics of the squirrels as they are so cheeky.
    It's gale force winds here.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  7. I've been absent too, just busy. I'm loving the onset of spring, I am definitely not a winter person!
    Jillxo

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  8. You are definitely nearer spring than we are, we still have drifts of snow and the crocus are just beginning to peak out :) Lovely photos and hope you are feeling much better xx

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  9. If you want to see red squirrels, stay in a b&b we love on Deeside. There are red squirrels scampering all around the house. http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/skywatch-friday-evening-entertainment.html.
    What gorgeous shots of the crocuses. What camera do you use?

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    1. That sounds heaven! My camera's a simple Canon PowerShot A1400 - I tend to just point and press, although I do use the close-up and zoom functions. I'm sure that there are lots of functions that I don't use, and need to investigate :)
      Cathy x

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  10. Welcome back! What a beautiful primroses!
    Isabella

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  11. Love the primroses, Cathy! Spring is here as well.
    Amalia
    xo

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  12. Good to see you back in blogland!

    I adore squirrels! There are a lot of red ones around here, I hope they come out soon! I am impressed you managed to take photos of them... they are usually far to fast for me!!

    Take care
    Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)

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