Outside there is another storm brewing. The wind is picking up and I can hear the pitter-patter of rain against the windows once again. It's been a miserable week, most of which has been spent holed up indoors and cabin fever has set in. It's dark and gloomy and I'm bracing myself for another weekend filled with worry - it's now clear there is a problem with the roof! All the while feeling guilty that there are many in a far worse situation than I.
Being stuck indoors I have, at least, been productive with my time. The kitchen has seen every cupboard and drawer cleaned and tidied (even under the sink!) and I have sorted another bag to take to the charity shop next week. I'm having a big push to get on top of things, so that I can get on with decorating the house and then see how I feel about staying here.
During a much welcome break in the weather, we were fortunate to get out for a walk in the woods. Not knowing what to expect, we discovered water was overflowing on to the paths and all around was strewn with twigs and branches. Lily was quite happy as, although I made sure she kept well clear of the fast running water of the stream, there were plenty of puddles for her to splash in and I might have even joined in once or twice. 😊
As we walked, the sky turned a beautiful shade of blue and the feeling of warm sun on my skin, although fleeting, served to remind me that spring is on the way.
Much as I love the sight of snowdrops and daffodils, the one thing I always delight in at this time of year is the arrival of wild garlic in the woods. The vibrant bright green shoots pushing their way up through the woodland floor is a definite sign of the changing seasons. It's a little too early to pick any just yet but I'm sure I won't be having to wait too much longer.
It felt so good to be out in the fresh air and I truly hope we have seen the worst of the weather this winter and make it through the next storm with minimal damage.
J. X
J. X
I think all this rain has made the wild garlic very happy! I am about to head off and sort out my baking tins - I can't quite work up the enthusiasm for cleaning out the cupboard under the sink (well done, you!) but I reckon I can tackle the sliding mountain of tins, thin them out a little.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs.
Ah, yes, the tin cupboard. That was another triumph here. I keep opening the doors to admire my work :D
DeleteA breath of fresh spring air, & even some growing things Spring is in the air. We have invasive garlic here in Ohio & ramps. I wonder these and what you have are the same. Good job tidying up, you feel better don't you.?
ReplyDeleteIt was brief but much appreciated. The weather has been dreadful here.
DeleteYes, I feel so much better for the tidying, although I suspect it will be messy again before long. X
I am so sorry to hear that you have a problem with your roof, that must be a big worry for you in this weather. I hope it is not to windy and wet this weekend despite the forecast and your house is ok.
ReplyDeleteI ready for the wild weather to be over now.
Thank you for your kind words. I've been trying to remain upbeat about it all but I feel sick with worry. Someone is supposed to be coming out to take a look at the roof, but I doubt it will be before next week. I really wish this weather would improve. X
DeleteThis has been a good year for the makers of rain boots. I am seeing the sun today, so like you, I will probably take a nice walk on one of our trails.
ReplyDeleteI could never be without my boots, they are worn regularly. Enjoy your walk. X
DeleteThank you, Laurie. It was lovely to share it with you. X
ReplyDeleteGood to get outdoors and sunshine too. The sun is out in Jersey today which makes a pleasant change. I can almost smell your wild garlic. Such an evocative smell of spring. Have a good weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteIt did feel good to get out, Barbara. We are used to 'damp' weather in this area but it's been a while since it has been this bad and I'm fed up of being stuck indoors. It looks like we have some sunshine today so I will try and make the most of it. X
DeleteIt's hard to adjust to this awful weather when only a few days ago I was wandering around Bombay in 36°C heat. Those Spring shoots are very exciting though, aren't they? Bad as it is right now it's a wonderfully optimistic sign.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos as always, Jules! xxx
It really must have been a shock to return to this, Vix. I'm enjoying reading about your trip and your photographs are a joy to look at. X
DeleteHow lovely that you managed to get out and take a walk in the woods in between the storms. I thought we'd got away with a mild winter this year but Mother Nature had other ideas, I do feel so sorry for those who have lost homes and businesses, some parts of the country have been hit so bad. I do hope there isn't much damage from your roof, it must be a big worry in this weather. Spring can't come quickly enough for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's been miserable hasn't it, and my heart breaks for those who have lost so much in the floods. I'm hoping we've seen the worst of it now. X
DeleteWhat a beautiful stroll you took us on it as a delight to see the wild garlic. The storm has hit this afternoon here too gale force wind and rain which is forecast to turn to snow during the night. I yearn for a little sun.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're managing to keep safe and warm. We have some intermittent sunshine here this morning, so fingers crossed we can get out for a short walk. X
DeleteAfter saying we'd not had that much rain it's done nothing but pour down here today. Roofs are a big worry. We had a leak a few years ago and apart from sticking a bowl underneath it, we felt pretty helpless, so I can imagine how you're feeling.
ReplyDeleteWell done on making good use of your indoor time. I think we're all ready for a change of weather now, it really has been a very wet autumn and winter so far :( xx
The extreme weather somehow found it's way in (I can't see any obvious damage) and now that the wind has died down I feel I can relax a little. I'm sure I will feel more reassured once the roof has been assessed and I know what work needs to be carried out. At least my kitchen is very tidy :)
DeleteOh, you are thinking of possibly moving...?
ReplyDeleteYes, the roof will have to be fixed. Just one of the Joys of Home Ownership. -smile-
😊 🌱 🌷
Given the right opportunity I would love to move, but first there are a few things to be taken into consideration. X
DeleteOh, I do hope that the roof can be fixed without much trouble and I hope that there won't be any further damage from the latest rain storm. I'm glad you were able to go out for a walk during a break in the weather, though. Well done on getting the kitchen cabinets cleared! I've still a ways to go!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. I can't see any obvious damage to the roof, so I'll just have to wait and see. I'm really pleased about getting the kitchen tidy, although as it's so small it didn't take me too long. X
DeleteProbably not the best half term you’ve ever had? Although lovely to see a little blue sky.
ReplyDeleteWish there was something I could say to alleviate your worry over the roof. All that positive thinking nonsense online about “worry never changed anything” is all very well and good for some smug bugger to say when they are sitting in their perfect minimalist tiny house sipping a vegan macha latte, but the real world is laying awake at 1.00am with the wind and rain howling outside with goodness knows how many different scenarios playing through your mind. This is not the first time you’ve talked about how where you live is not really working for you; if you can move, is this the time to start some plans? Huggles from up here. 💚💚
Haha! You've got that right, Jayne. It's been a pretty miserable week here really and I hope you've managed to escape unscathed.
DeleteOh, wouldn't it be wonderful to not have to worry. I can't help myself, and yet I often wonder how much time I've spent worrying over things I cannot affect.
Moving house would be wonderful but it would need to be the right time and I have other consideratons. I can, however, begin to make plans and get myself into a position where it could be possible :)
I don't envy you roof problems. I hope they are relatively easily and quickly fixed. All the storms we are having are involving very high winds which always make me a tiny bit nervous. I suppose one should play the Glad Game. We are not flooded out.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how you've been getting on during this bad weather. I think many areas have been badly affected these last few weeks and it's been awful to see the images of those who have lost homes and businesses. X
DeleteI hope that sunshine returns soon so that you can be outdoors again, Jules. It's the heat that tends to keep us indoors here. Lovely that little signs of Spring are emerging ... a season to look forward to! MegXx
ReplyDeleteWe have intermittent sunshine this morning, Meg, it's still very windy, however. Spring can't arrive soon enough now. X
DeleteLousy weather for Lily to be on half-term holidays though I'm sure she enjoyed splashing through the puddles. I love the last photo, it makes me feel as though I'm right there looking at that view :)
ReplyDeleteIt has been a week for staying indoors, yet most mornings Lily has been quite happy to lounge around in her pyjamas. I suppose it has made a change from our usual hurried start to the day. X
DeleteIt has been truly miserable at times, hasn't it? Well done for getting all those cupboards sorted out. You put me to shame.
ReplyDeletexx
I had no real excuse, Joy, and my kitchen is so small that it didn't really take me all that long to tidy it :)
DeleteThe sound of the wind and the thrashing down of rain is driving me nuts now and I am ready for some soft and gentle Spring days with proper warm sunshine. Our main road is still flooded so a short trip into town is now longer and involves a detour via a very busy dual carriageway with two scary roundabouts to navigate....not that I drive but I get scared all the same.
ReplyDeleteOh dear.....roof problems sound expensive. I hope it isn't too serious.
I love the smell of wild garlic.
Hugs-x-
It's been miserable, hasn't it. The roar of the wind has had me on edge all week, so I don't blame you for being nervous in the car. This weather has me longing for the gentle warm air of a spring day, but I don't think winter is finished with us just yet. X
DeleteI hope the weather improves for you soon and you can get out more. We had a problem with a section of our roof recently too, just in time for a few days of rain! Luckily it wasn't in a bad spot and hubby and a mate were able to fix it when he was home from work. xx Susan
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. We managed another short walk during a break in the weather this afternoon. I'm hoping the problem with the roof isn't anything too serious. Thankfully, it has been OK since the extreme winds calmed down but I'll still be getting it looked at. X
DeleteIt's been a rather nasty half term for the children this year.
ReplyDeleteNot a nice night last night, I hope you had no more damage.
Beautiful blue sky you enjoyed on your wander in the woodland.
The week has been a bit of a wash out and I've felt guilty that we've not managed to get out more than we have. But it is what it is and there'll be plenty of opportunity to get out more when the weather improves for us :)
DeleteA beautiful place!! It looks so calm and peaceful! Hope the storms have calmed down. It's so good for the soul to see these new plants pushing their way out of the earth. We are covered in snow and will be for another month here in Northern US. Someone told me that even in April they can get a snow storm around here. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt felt good to get outdoors, as it feels as though we've been stuck inside for weeks now. We had some snow here this morning but it has since washed away. I think the wintry weather with be with us for a while yet. X
DeleteOh, that looks so pretty. I took Lula for a hike in the woods today, too. It did us a world of good.
ReplyDeleteI miss having a dog to walk. Lula sounds like a wonderful companion. X
DeleteI love to see wild garlic growing under the trees too, a good herald of Spring. Also like a good splash in puddles - as long as I have wellies on, it's a good way of getting mud off them:)
ReplyDeleteThe wild garlic making an appearance is a sure sign spring is on the way, although I'm sure winter hasn't finished with us yet. X
DeleteIt's been pretty miserable weather wise here too, but I feel so sorry for all those poor people affected by the terrible flooding :( Not being able to get out for much more than Ranger's 'business' walks has had us suffering cabin fever too. We were also without phone or internet for 11 days, but Openreach came and reconnected us, as several of our neighbours, yesterday. Take care. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteIt must have been frustrating being without phone or internet. It's surprising just how much we all rely on it these days.
DeleteThe flooding has caused widespread misery for many. It can take months and sometimes years to recover from it's devastating effects. I hope there is some let up in this weather very soon. X
I do hope your roof problem hasn’t worsened, Jules. I need to sort my larder cupboard, which may well be done at the weekend, as the rain is making a return apparently. I’ve done one shelf so far, but it’s lovely to see the neat shelves, once it’s done. Your walk in the woods looks so peaceful :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. It only seems to be a problem when we experience very strong winds along with heavy rain. It's been fine this week.
DeleteThe weather has been a great opportunity to clean and tidy. I'm really pleased with what I've achieved and I hope yours is coming along nicely. X
Oh Jules...I do hope your roof isn't too bad...we had to replace most of ours...but now at least we know it is alright at the front...the rear we hope to alter anyway. The wild garlic is putting in an appearance in our neck of the woods also...oh for the smell and sunny days to boot! Hope you're back feeling fit and ready for whatever life throws at you. x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jackie. The roof has been OK this week. It was the very extreme weather that was the problem but it will be getting a thorough check when things settle down.
DeleteI think we're all getting ready for some warm spring days now. X
Feels like spring is around and you will surround yourself with nature’s beauty. Love the lively green garlic shoots coming all the way through the woods look so perfect. Thank you, Jules, for capturing the beauty of nature so amazingly, falling in love with the pictures. Enjoy some sunshine !!! Blessings and hugs ��
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Andrea. It's wonderful to see the woodland gradually coming back to life once more. X
DeleteLovely collection of photos. I'm late to comment on this but I'm actually really enjoying that our orders to Stay at Home have coincided with the best weather we've had in months! I'm really enjoyed my permitted daily walk from home with warmth and sunshine!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Louise. I'm so grateful we can still get out in this glorious weather, even if it means we are walking closer to home for the time being. This is one of my favourite walks, Lily usually leads the way and it's so relaxing. X
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