Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Easter Weekend

This weekend I've felt more rested than I have in ages. In fact, I can't remember how long it's been since I had a time without responsibilities or appointments, and I must admit, I've rather enjoyed it. We've spent a lot of time at home, 'Just chillin',' as Lily calls it, and it has been exactly what I needed. 


Thankfully, Storm Dave only resulted in a few empty flower pots getting blown around the garden - I don't know how I missed putting them away. And then the sun came out, albeit intermittently. It's still incredibly cold here. There's another light frost, this morning. 


Of course, we made Easter nests. Always a favourite in this house. And although Lily is far too grown up for an Easter Tree now, apparently, she is not yet too grown up for an egg hunt. Cue me hiding chocolate eggs around the house first thing Sunday morning, with Mog watching on, wondering what on earth I was doing. Instead of a tree, I have attached our little eggs onto a crocheted chain, which I've hung beneath the wall units in the kitchen. This way I still get to enjoy them.


That same morning we went for a visit to Sizergh Castle. It was a lovely bright start to the day and still nice and quiet as we took the trail across the fields and back again through the woods. Wild garlic is in abundance just now, and the bluebells are gradually beginning to flower. I really hope I get chance to visit the bluebell woods in the next few weeks, as they are such a spectacular sight. 


After our short walk, we went into the castle gardens. We didn't see any huge floral displays, but the glass house, kitchen garden and orchard were all full of promise, as is the way, at this time of year. 


There was a quiet, sheltered spot at the end of the hot wall, where we sat to enjoy our drinks and some chocolate eggs. And just look at those gorgeous tulips! Aren't they fabulous. They reminded us of flames.


To get back to the car we had to walk right beneath this tree, which was covered with the most beautiful blossom. Absolutely gorgeous.

After a brief chat with Charlie, the resident black cat, we made our way back home, to a mug of hot tea and some more chocolate. 

I really hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter.

Back soon. 

J. X



42 comments:

  1. That looks like a lovely place to visit. Blue sky and sunshine make such a difference to a day out.

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    1. We always enjoy our visits to Sizergh. The gardens are beautiful. X

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  2. It's sunny here, the breeze is rather cold, so OK whilst you are in the sunshine, my greenhouse is a perfect place to spend some time. We had our egg hunt here as well, happy children.

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    1. I expect the grandchildren loved the egg hunt :) It's turned very cold again here. and there is some snow on the high fells. X

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  3. Sounds like a lovely day, Jules, and those Easter nests look delicious! I'm glad you are feeling rested.

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  4. Sizergh Castle was always one place on the list to visit as we went up and down n to Scotland, but we never quite made it, so lovely to see some of it in your photos. It was a quiet Easter here, I missed having the grandchildren and the egg hunt, they had them at their respective homes instead. It is a glorious day here, I will no doubt go in the garden. We had a few things blown around in the storm. It had moved some quite heavy things about and whipped some plants out of their pots, then hidden the pots. I keep finding them under bushes just like an Easter egg hunt! Xx

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    1. Sizergh would be a lovely place to visit, if you are ever passing. The acers in the rock garden look amazing in autumn. X

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  5. That sounds like the perfect Easter weekend. Sometimes it's nice to just 'chill' with nowhere to be and no one calling on your time, any plans you make are your own. It's been a weekend of two halves with the storm hitting at first and then ending in beautiful sunshine. Isn't that blossom glorious, absolutely beautiful.

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    1. I've embraced the restfulness, this Easter. And it's been rather lovely. Xx

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  6. When the sun shines, everything looks and feels so much better. We're never too old for chocolate, surely?

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    1. I can easily be tempted by chocolate. X

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  7. Glad you had a restful Easter weekend. Sizergh Castle looks a lovely place to visit and it's always good to find one of the resident cats at NT properties:)

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    1. Thank you, Rosie. Charlie is one of the reasons we ended up with a black cat of our very own :)

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  8. That sounds absolutely wonderful. Our easter was filled with landrover conversions, cats, Storm Dave (albeit a fairly benign storm compared to further north) muddy dogs and eating a bit too much!
    Years ago Jayne (Bag End Gardener) and I were going to meet up at Sizergh but kept being put off by weather dreadful then time passed and as things do - we never got round to it!

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    1. Your Easter sounds much busier than mine. I think you'd love the gardens at Sizergh. Xx

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  9. Sounds a lovely Easter weekend ... I have always found Easter so much more relaxing than Christmas (although I enjoy both).
    Lovely photographs.
    Good wishes for the month of April.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. It was a very relaxing weekend. X

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  10. Such beautiful pictures. Beautiful Easter.

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  11. I'm so happy to hear you've had a chance to get good rest and recharge the batteries dear Jules! And it looks like you and Lily had a very lovely Easter. :) Those nest and eggs look so yummy. 😋 I was poring over each beautiful flower photo. Even the pics and dreaming on flowers to come lifts my soul! The castle looked like a stunning place and grounds. Blessings to sending warm thoughts filled with lots more flowers! 🌸☀️

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    1. Isn't the blossom just fabulous! It was the first tree that I've come across, which has been completely in flower. X

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  12. It sounds idylic, just living in the moment and enjoying your surroundings, you can't ask for better especially with the weather being so lovely.
    Your photo of Sizergh Castle is gorgeousand that extravagent, blousy blossom.
    What a difference a day makes! I've just let William out and the cold air took me by surprise! xxx

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    1. It's still incredibly cold here, especially with it being so windy.
      There is snow up on the high fells. X

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  13. Hi there, I just came over from Jo’s blog. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit and all your lovely photos. I leave smiling and will enjoy coming back. All the best, Denise

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Denise. You are very welcome. Xx

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  14. Such lovely photos of your visit, all the blossom and bluebells look beautiful. We had a quiet weekend as Johnny went down south with his girlfriend, to her parents. On Saturday we went to Nat's house to see him, his fianceé and their dog. We had a walk with them and her parents on Easter Sunday at a local beach x

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. A beach walk sounds great. Xx

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  15. I can feel the warmth in your photos.
    We stopped doing an Easter egg hunt when my youngest was 15 but he guilted us to continue until he moved out, ha.

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    1. This made me laugh, as it all sounds very familiar. I imagine our egg hunts will continue for a few more years. Xx

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  16. Sounds like a perfect Easter weekend. The blossom and the tulips looks lovely, we have some lovely trees around where we live but they are late this year. I am away at our caravan for the coming week and looking forward to some relaxing quiet time.

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    1. The tulips were gorgeous, and there were different varieties all along the wall. Have a lovely time at your caravan. Xx

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  17. Just chilling sounds absolutely perfect! Kids never get too old to search for chocolate eggs… I didn’t hide ours because it was raining and snowing and there was definitely some grumbling!

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    1. As long as they got their chocolate :)

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  18. Hello, my dear friend. I smiled because Flynn says, "Just chillin' " all the time!!! Your Easter sounds lovely, and your photos are beautiful. My kids are in their twenties and still like egg hunts. : )

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    1. It would seem we are never to old for an egg hunt. I'll make sure that I'm better prepared next year. Xx

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  19. It all sounds absolutely perfect – relaxing, beautiful scenery, making those sweet memories - just as it should be. I’m happy for you!

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  20. Those cakes looks delicious and I remember visiting Sizergh castle some years ago. The heather there was glorious.

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    1. The gardens at Sizergh always have something to offer. The tulips were beautiful, but I love seeing the rock garden acers in the autumn. Xx

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  21. I am so happy when the warmth of Spring when it arrives and I love all the Spring flowers appearing in the Cumbrian countryside right now. Definitely becoming bluebell season now. X

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    1. It has been a long time coming, as the winter months are long in these parts.
      The bluebells are looking gorgeous just now. X

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