Sunshine and Flowers

Our exceptionally warm temperatures for the season
and daily sunshine have brought us spring flowers
like these Crocus

Snowdrops

and Winter Jasmine

The full moon got me out walking to capture a lovely sunset.

It shone brightly in my neighbourhood

A day's outing by the lake in the town of Morges.
The mountains were misty, but the water reflected the beautiful blue of the sky.

Other people were out enjoying the lovely weather.

Another day I took a boat over the lake to the town of Evian for the day.

I was amazed and thrilled to see the first cherry blossom of the year.
It is very early, but luckily this is ornamental cherry.
The fruit bearing trees need to remain in hibernation a while longer.

Leaving the French town of Evian and surrounding mountains
to return to the Swiss side of the lake where I live.

I have been enjoying spring flowers in pots for a few weeks now.
Like these orange primroses and ivy leaves.

Spring crochet is getting ready to decorate my home with fresh colours
and a new tiny owl scissor fob was made over the weekend.

I found the lovely pattern here:


Why We Should Get Out More

During the winter months, we often find excuses not to go out.
It's too cold, it's raining, snowing or the sky is grey
and it often feels so much more comfortable to stay inside with a good book!

It's a well known fact, that getting out every day is good for the morale.
Our horizons are widened
We see new things
We blow away any negative thoughts.

This week has been very springlike with bright blue skies and warmer temperatures
so there was no excuse to stay inside!

I heard birdsong and rejoiced!

Also, walking is healthy for us in so many ways.
We breathe deeper
Our muscles get a work-out
A daily walk can combat those who suffer from depression,
It alleviates stress and is even said to improve memory and lower blood-pressure.

My first walk today was right after breakfast.
There had been a night frost, but I did spy some tiny primroses
poking little yellow buds out of the earth and moss.

Tiny wild Cyclamen were dotted here and there among last autumn's acorns
under a big oak tree.

So much to see now with the days getting longer and there's a feel of a change in the air.

Beautiful spring flowers are available and tulips are one of my favourites.
Golden yellow to brighten one of the duller days.

Or these gorgeous deep pink ones splattered with white flecks on the outside petals.
They make me think of raspberries and cream!


I was fascinated to see how the colour changed as the days went by.

Graceful right up until the end.

Do you love to make soups at this time of the year?
I do.
Here's a delicious one for you to try:
400 grams each of carrots and sweet potatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
Toss briefly in 1 tbs olive oil and add
1 litre of water
Salt and pepper to taste

When tender, mix with an electric hand blender,
add some grated fresh ginger root.
2dl of coconut milk and 2 teaspoons of honey.
Heat gently, but do not boil.

Serve with a slice of wholemeal bread and a piece of cheese.
Just think how good this soup tastes after coming home from a walk in the fresh air!

My crochet project this week: tiny envelopes for Valentine's Day
and roses.
Pink for tenderness

or perhaps something with more impact and passion in red.

Are you with me on getting out more?
Even twenty minutes a day is good, but thirty is even better!
Shall we work up to an hour a day?
It's a wonderful objective, don't you think?

***
Crocheted rose pattern from Attic24


Longer Days

The days are getting longer by several minutes each day
and that is what allowed me to witness this beautiful sunset when I crossed a bridge
to the other side of town at 5.30 pm.
This is the silhouette of the St. François church steeple in Lausanne.
I shall be looking out for more sunsets!

A mini snowstorm in my street
Winter is still lurking
while the spring flowers sleep.

But the tulips are here 
bringing wonderful colour into our homes!

They didn't want to open and so I put them out into the rain
which seemed to suit them very much.

It was worth the wait.

The garland of hearts is finished and looks fresh and cheerful
above the couch in my living room.

Here it hangs underneath the lithography of one of Magritte's paintings.
The painting is called "La page blanche" (the empty page)
which it isn't!
I like Magritte's surreal quality and his humour!

This reminder and quotation from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne:

"Promise me,
You'll always remember:
You are braver than you believe
 stronger than you seem
and
smarter than you think."

Words spoken by Christopher Robin to his favourite bear.

***
For the beautiful pattern of the heart granny square