Garden In Bloom

Since my last post we have had some very Spring-like weather, and the daffodils, narcissi and hyacinths have burst into bloom.

The Tete a tete narcissi that I planted a few weeks ago are looking great!

There are more of them in the flower beds - and some primroses, too.

Daffodils and hyacinths side by side - the hyacinths smell divine.

White hyacinths and aubretia just coming into flower

I had a lovely day in London last week with Kino. We went to Somerset house and wandered round looking at some of the exhibitions, then had lunch at the cafe. For the price I might have expected a three course meal but in fact we had ciabatta with posh fillings and hand made lemonade, which was very nice indeed.

After a murky start, the sun came out and we sat outside in the huge courtyard of Somerset House.

I rather liked these strange creatures

I walked back to the station over Waterloo Bridge, from which there was a fabulous view.

And here is the blanket again. I am now on round 9, the last diamond round. I think it's looking great. I am loving the colours.

Retreat to Yorkshire

I spent this last weekend at  Kettlewell, in Yorkshire, with a group of 11 friends who share my interests in knitting, crochet and sewing. We did do some of these things but also spent a lot of time chatting, eating excellent food (I have to have the recipe for lemon pickle and spicy garlic pickle) and even doing some walking.
We stayed in a huge house which can sleep up to 23 people and which had two cookers, two fridges and two dishwashers (we sure did need those dishwashers). The dining room was massive and we were all able to sit and eat around the enormous table.

On Saturday morning I persuaded several people to come walking with me and we walked along the river which runs through Kettlewell and across to Starbotton then back along the ridge on the other side.

A stream looking like a Green Man

Bridge over the river

The village of Kettlewell

On Sunday morning I went for a wander around the village of Kettlewell, which has a river running through it, and its tiny stone church and churchyard.

Early Spring

The spring garden is at the front of the house, and starts a display of bulbs in January, with snowdrops

 ahead of daffodils and narcissi, followed by a carpet of bluebells in April and May. At this time of year it is very exciting to see the daffodil buds coming through.

The roses are also getting started, and some brave hellebores are already in flower.

Indoors, I am working on a crochet blanket. This is a Tunisian crochet project, called Starburst Entrelac Afghan, and it is crocheted from the centre out in diamond shapes. I'm going for an autumn leaves palette which I'm rather pleased with.

At the weekend, following advice from Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM, I bought some bargain pots of Narcissus Tete a Tete and planted them up on a pot on the patio. I already have quite a few pots of bulbs here and I think they will make a good show in a few weeks!