Spring finally arrived up North, except instead of with a flourish, it has shown up rather reluctantly and dragging it's heels. Still, the daffodils are out, wild garlic is sprouting in the woods, the fields are full of lambs, and yes, there has also been sunshine! There is still a chill in the air, especially early in the mornings and I have yet to put away my Winter woollies, but I am hopeful it won't be long before I do.
School finished last week, although between us, Lily and I missed most of the final week of term thanks to the flu and it has taken until now to feel anything remotely human like again. Even so, I'm still left with a dreadful cough which is showing no signs of easing, thankfully, Lily bounced back much quicker and is already her usual energetic self once again.
As you can imagine I have been left feeling like a wiped out wreck, so even more than usual it has made me feel so grateful when I have been able to get out in the sunshine. 'Clear away the germs, fresh air is good for you' I always think, yet on occasion I have really struggled, my immune system clearly having already taken a battering from the Norovirus just a few weeks ago. The warmth from the sun is just the tonic and fortunately there is usually somewhere to sit, rest a while and enjoy the view, even swing your legs if the mood takes (and it usually does). I also couldn't help but be cheered when Lily excitedly found this heart shaped stone on the edge of the pathway.
The forecast today is for more sunshine so we are hoping to get out once again. I'm also looking forward to getting to work on the garden which has been much neglected over the Winter months and is crying out for some TLC. In all honesty, it looks a bit of a mess, but I'm hoping a fresh coat of paint on the shed and a few new plants will help to brighten things up a bit. With being poorly last week, I missed out on a perfect opportunity to give the grass it's first cut of the season so I am hoping it will stay dry today and it might be achievable. Until recently the weather has been too chilly to think about planting seeds but looking back on the blog I noticed it was this week last year that we did some sowing. With the lovely weather we're having just now I'll have to get a move on.
J. X
Flu really does take it out of you and I'm sorry that it's affected you so badly. Not nice at all. Those photos are a tonic though. Very cheering
ReplyDeleteJ x
It's the first time I've experienced the flu and it completely floored me. It definitely helps now that I'm able to get out in the fresh air. X
Deleteits horrible when you get the flu...
ReplyDelete...Im glad that Lily is back to normal and you are getting there too :)
Sunshine certainly does make the world of difference :)
Sunshine and fresh air are the perfect tonic now, although I wouldn't have been able to appreciate them last week. X
DeleteBeautiful photography as usual Jules. It seems to have been a long winter. Yesterday was glorious although the wind here on the Essex coast was bitter. But by lunch time it had turned and dropped. The grandchildren played outside mist of the afternoon and early evening.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tania. Winter has dragged on a little too long, but the proper Winter weather was far more welcome here than the endless rain we usually get. It's good to see the children playing outside now the lighter evenings are with us. X
DeleteWe had a beautiful day here yesterday, sunshine and blue skies, though I was at a funeral so I didn't get to take advantage of it. It's back to being dull again today. I'm sorry to hear you've been poorly again, perhaps the better weather will chase away the germs, though coughs always seem to linger, don't they? I love the heart shaped stone, I hope Lily took it home with her.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is definitely improving now, I hope you get some sunny days to enjoy during the week.
DeleteThe heart shaped stone is actually about the size of my foot and it's embedded in the path. We walked past it again yesterday and it was fun looking out for it. X
Same here with seeds- it's just been too cold to even think about it. Hope some sun will give you a boost and kick any remaining germs into touch. Love that photo of lily by the lake. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get some seeds in during this next week. I'm trying to get as much sunshine and fresh air as possible to finally rid myself of these pesky germs. Walking is good at the moment but running is out of the question for now at least. X
DeleteBeautiful photos. Hope you are feeling a little better these seasonal flu's really do drag you down. I too am hopeful of getting started on the garden as soon as there is a break in the weather.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I shouldn't really complain given what Gerrard has been going through (and it's so good to read he's improving), but yes, it has dragged me down, thankfully I'm coming out the other side now.
DeleteIt will be lovely to get the gardens sorted. X
Oh poor you. Two rotten illnesses in a short space of time, no wonder you're feeling wiped out. Some gentle walks in the fresh air sound just the tonic - I'm a great believer in getting outside after an illness as well. Have to say being poorly might just be worth it occasionally if I had the beautiful countryside you have on your doorstep as part of the convalescence process :)
ReplyDeleteSpring is taking it's sweet time this year that's for sure. I'll definitely appreciate it more when it arrives. We have a few jobs to do in the garden as well but it's just too cold for me at the moment. Planting will be limited this year as we won't be there as much so I need to think of something colourful that will take care of itself. I expect it will be nothing more adventurous than geraniums though.
Hope you're back to your normal self soon. Take care. xx
Suzanne, I'm not usually a complainer but it has been pretty rubbish. Germs can keep away now - I've had enough of them already this year. I wish I bounced back as easily as Lily.
DeleteSpring has been teasing us this year but I think it has arrived now with just the occasional cold day. And as much as I enjoyed doing the gardening last year, I think, like you I will keep things fairly low maintenance this year. If nothing else, being poorly has made me realise I can't keep on top of everything all the time, and I'd rather be out having adventures. X
Glad you're starting to feel better, I know what you mean about that cough though, I'm not going to tell you it might hang around for a while yet, if it's anything like mine that is.
ReplyDeleteIt has been so good to get out in the sun hasn't it. I had a little wander out yesterday, it was so enjoyable to wander on the prom without feeling that my face would freeze off. More of that please!
Oh no! Don't say that. Although it does seem to be improving now, it's just flipping annoying. Now some sea air would be even more of a tonic. I must get that sorted immediately. X
DeleteHi Jules I hope you feel much better soon, sunshine I find is such a tonic. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Marlene. I'm hoping for much more. X
DeleteThose skies look beautiful...I hope the sun on your back will aid your recovery...don't go overdoing it though! x
ReplyDeleteThe last few days have been beautiful and it's been good to get out. I promise to take things easy though. X
DeleteSo sorry to read that you have been ill and I hope the spring air will help make you feel better soon. I know about that cough that always hangs on too long. It is so annoying but does eventually go away. Take care and enjoy the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. The cough is still lingering but it is now becoming more annoying than painful. I'm hoping plenty of fresh air will help get rid of it for good. X
DeleteToday is the first day we have had some real sunshine and Spring really feels like it has arrived. Our garden is still a bit of quagmire after all the snow and rain we've managed to cut one of the lawns this week and may try attacking another over the weekend if the wet has subsided. Your photo's are lovely and I'm hoping to get out and about with the dogs this weekend with my camera. It feels like a long time since we've been able to do that.
ReplyDeleteMitzi
I'm glad to read Spring has finally arrived for you too. It's such a good feeling after the rain and snow. I managed to get the grass cut yesterday afternoon and it looks much tidier out there already. I'll get a few more jobs done during the week.
DeleteEnjoy your walks out with the dogs. X
Don't stay out in the cold too long. You need to get well rid of that cough - and the garden isn't going anywhere. I do know the feeling - I too get itchy fingers once I start outdoors but luckily my knees soon tell me when to stop and leave it to my gardener.
ReplyDeleteIt's not been too cold here Pat but I'm always wrapped up well,so no need to worry. It's the time of year when the poor neglected gardens are desperate for a bit of work. Thankfully it already looks much tidier since I cut the grass. Sadly, no gardener here, but I do use a lawn treatment company which makes such a difference. X
DeleteWe have relished the sunshine we've enjoyed last couple days. Also been out in the garden today trying to reclaim it from winter's grip. Feel better soon x
ReplyDeleteThe sunshine has been lovely hasn't it. Reclaiming the garden from Winter's grip describes it perfectly. Just cutting the grass has already made such a difference. X
DeleteThat dreadful flu certainly wipes you out doesn't it? I had it in February, the first time in my life I've ever had flu and I was really ill for a couple of weeks. I hope you're feeling better now and can enjoy being out in the sunshine. I love the photos, especially the last one, it's stunning :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been rotten Eunice. Like you, it has been my first real experience of flu and it completely floored me for a few days, with other symptoms still dragging on even now, two weeks later. I'm glad you're feeling much better now. X
DeleteHi Jules,
ReplyDeleteIt has been freezing here too but still too cold for me to even contemplate tidying the garden! I’ve really missed your blog - only found my way back via another one and I don’t know why you’d gone off my reading list. Blogger really gets on my t*ts sometimes! Your photography is breathtaking and the heart shaped stone so perfect. Don’t do too much at once after being poorly so much xx the grass will still be there another fine day x
Ha ha! Blogger can be a complete pain at times can't it? It's happened to me many a time. Either that, or it refuses to allow me to follow a blog I want to follow.
DeleteI'm still taking things fairly easy but managed to get out again yesterday and then cut the grass before the rain came, so it looks so much better outside already. X
I do hope you start to feel better and more energised real soon. It's always more difficult when there's children to look after. Lovely photos Jules, the heart shaped stone is a lovely momento of spring, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy. Yes, unfortunately it's impossible to just lie down on the sofa for very long with small children around (especially ones with a doctor's kit!) The heart stone is actually quite large and we spotted it while on our walk again yesterday. X
DeleteI hope you're feeling better by now. It seems to have been a long drawn out winter this year and Spring certainly is dragging it's heels. I've been told next week is promising to be hot and sunny, about time I say.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting better by the day, thanks Eileen (she says, coughing all over the laptop!) Hot and sunny? Now you're talking. That's my favourite kind of weather. X
DeleteLovely photo's! I'm sorry to hear that you have been ill and hope you are getting back to normal it seems to linger for ages doesn't it. I went out looking for signs of Spring the other day the sun might have been shinning but the wind was so cold it seems to have been an awful long Winter. Have a great weekend. :) x
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. Yes, it's certainly lingering, I will be glad to get rid of these miserable symptoms. There's some warmth in the sun but I'm ready for a more noticeable rise in the temperature now. X
DeleteBeautiful photos again. I love the one of Lily on the bench. Even though it's still quite chilly, It is so nice to see some sunshine at last after what has seemed a long winter. Hope you will feel lots better very soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Eloise. It's a good leg swinging bench. Even I struggle to get up on it. I'm improving a little each day, but I'm very impatient and want to feel better right now. X
DeleteSorry to hear that you've been ill again, Jules. Hope you are feeling better and the cough clears. Don't try to overdo things as soon as you start feeling better - take it easy and rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually a 'sickly' person Bless, so I get very frustrated when I can't just get on as normal. I'm resting as much as I can but that's easier said than done when I'm running around after Lily. I'm definitely improving though, albeit a bit too slowly for my liking :-). X
DeleteIt's amazing what you can find hidden in nature. The daffodils are just gorgous. I really love the smell of wild garlic when out on a woodland stroll. Hope you are feeling a lot better soon. I agree that the fresh air does you good xx
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's uplifting to finally see Spring in all it's glory. The fresh air is definitely helping and I'm feeling much better today. X
DeleteHope you are feeling better soon - the milder weather will help and a bit of sunshine. I love the picture of (is it Lily) on the bench.
ReplyDeletewe have just been up to Scotland and I felt quite upset at the state of the garden up there - so many evergreens have lost most of their leaves and the rest are a nice crisp brown. I am hoping they will recover. As with you only daffodils out so far. We ran out of time to do very much in the garden - not sure what it will look like in a months time - a few leaves on the trees would help they are still winter bare and brown at present.
Gardens can often look very sad at this time of year. I hope yours recovers quickly. I've been to the garden centre this afternoon and some violas are now brightening the pots outside. X
DeleteSorry to read you both came down with the flu just at holiday time, good to read you are on the mend and can take advantage of the beautiful places you have shared in your pictures. It's quite warm here oday, but rainjng again.
ReplyDeleteYour sympathies are gratefully received Julie but thankfully I'm starting to feel a lot better. The sunshine and fresh air are definitely helping with this. We've been fortunate to have had a really beautiful day here, jackets have been cast aside and I've done a little work in the garden. X
DeleteSorry to read that you've had the flu. It can take it out of you - so hope you will be feeling 100% real soon and the nasty cough clears.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your photographs, I always love to see the cheerful daffodils.
My good wishes for the month of April.
Have a good week ahead, and enjoy the school Easter holidays.
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan. The cough seems to have finally gone now but I'm left with uncomfortable sinusitis. Never mind Spring, it's some hot Summer sunshine I could do with just now. My very best wishes to you and yours. X
Deletehope the fresh air helps clear up the cough. You've really been hit hard with illness this year, let's hope from now on you can enjoy good health!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. Spring has definitely begun to show itself. xx
Thank you for your kind wishes Sadie. It's been a rotten couple of months, especially as I'm not usually a 'sickly' person. I think I've turned a corner, I just need to concentrate on building myself up again and hope that's the end of it now. I haven't bounced back as quickly as Lily.
DeleteIt's lovely that Spring has finally arrived. X
Gorgeous photos, Jules! I too love especially the fourth one.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring and stay healthy! xx
Thank you Sara. I quite like the fourth one too. X
DeleteYour pictures are delightful. I'm just scrolling through!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandi. I hope you enjoy looking through them. X
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