Meet Mabel!

At the start of the school Easter holidays we looked after the Boy while his parents went off to buy him a puppy. Why have we been so long without a dog in the house! Well, they came home with the most ridiculous little bundle and it was love at first sight. A boy and his dog - inseparable!

Meet Mabel!

We are all besotted.

On the garden front everything is growing like mad and I'm having to cut back to keep the gravel paths from disappearing. The exterior of the house is awash with icicles of flower.

It is so pleasing to catch the scent of the various flowers.

But it is a bit of a jungle!

There isn't much time for sitting down.

Now that the neighbouring trees are in full leafwe are cast into a mix of deep and dappled shade.

After a very wet winter I'm already back to wishing for some rain!

Compton Acres

This afternoon the family came by and swooped us up for a visit to Comton Acres garden. It is the perfect time of year to visit, with the acid-loving spring flowers in bloom. There are formal gardens

but the areas that we most wanted to explore were the Japanese garden and the woodland, the latter on a very steep site, run through with small streams and pools.

The Japanese garden is a real treat. I was surprised how quiet the gardens were for a bank holiday weekend. The Boy loved walking across all the stepping stones and small bridges over the water.

We intended having afternoon tea in the café but had spent so long in the gardens that we were too late, it had closed!

Clear blue sky!

What a treat a bit of clear blue sky and sunshine is for us folk in Blighty, blossom fluffs up, new colours appear and the tulips go giddy!

I had a busy weekend on the allotment, clearing ground and planting seed. Before that we went to walk on the beach. Sand had blown on to the walkway and you can see from the footprints that plenty of people - and their dogs - had the same thought as us to be out in the sunshine walking by the sea.

There was a bit of tidying up and sorting out action going on in some of the beach huts ready for the season ahead.

Great excitement and plenty of beach walks to come as Wee One will be collecting a new puppy next weekend. I've told her to choose a name that none of us will feel embarrassed to shout! (I think she is going to be Mabel.)

Mothering Sunday

I was thoroughly spoilt on Mothering Sunday; flowers, cards, chocolates and a delicious meal. Younger daughter, Wee One, came round in the morning and set to work in the kitchen. The whole household is usually with her, so it is especially nice when I have her all to myself. She went back home and collected them later when it was time to eat. She is a good and adventurous cook and made a meal from a book of Persian recipes.

It tasted delicious. (And there was enough left over for the following day!)

Iris and freezia flowers, colours that I love.

And a card that made me laugh.