Sun bathing

Late afternoon and a sunny interval

lengthened and brightened into brilliant

spring illumination. 

It felt like being awakened from

a rather dreary dream.

Even this squirrel took a little moment

to sun bathe.

When all else fails

post a sweet squirrel photo,

and wait for things to take a turn for the better.

Looking out

on the Feast of Stephen.

It's not all beer and skittles

Making a guest room habitable for a friend this weekend,

sorting out long dormant art supplies,

welcoming home son from an 18th birthday party

all in one piece,

washing the floors,

Hoovering the carpets,

packing a large fragile parcel to send overseas

then remembering there's a postal strike,

trying to give things away

on Freecycle to people who don't show up,

shopping for supper,

driving other son to GP,

collecting a prescription,

driving same son to A&E,

ironing the shirts,

wondering if a husband's interview over the phone to Australia

went well,

welcoming son home from A&E

all in one piece,

cooking the supper,

slipping out to get back my sense of perspective

somewhere in the middle of all that,

and wondering where the expression:

'It's not all beer and skittles' comes from.

A Brambly Hedge moment

On a day that started early with sun backlighting the long grass under the apple tree,

(laughingly referred to as the orchard)

and the urban wildlife newly emerging from dreys

and nests

wearing its summer face,

what better way to celebrate than to indulge in a little gathering

and preserving.

So in fine Brambly Hedge style, with a friendly wave to Susan's family

I made rose petal jam using Elspeth's recipe in her Wonderful Weekend book

and elderflower cordial from

Sophie Grigson's Country Kitchen.

And then we took them on a trip to a proper Orchard in Grantchester.

But that is a story for another day.

New bird feeder - addendum

Better still is the new breakfast buffet facility.