It's Spring NOW!!!!!!

Yes is sure is over here and not before time!!!!! All the Spring flowers are out now - daffies, crocus, grape hyacinths - although the snowdrops are over which is a pity but they are the first herald of Spring and only last a short time. My Mom always called them "white ladies" which is a very appropriate name for a delicate yet hardy flower. True to form the UK is having lots of showers - like the April showers have arrived early!!!! The various water companies better NOT try to say there are drought conditions later in the year!!! I know across the pond folks are little behind the UK Spring-wise but it IS here and you can feel the welcome change in the seasons - everything eager to grow and be done with Old Man Winter who has trailed back to the North Pole!!! The apple tree outside my landing window almost overnight has fat pink buds waiting to pop!!! Our tastes change too . . . there is a need for somewhat lighter food and only a century ago country folk in the UK would turn to herbs as a tonic after Winter, using purslane and tansy and dandelion leaves in cooking and salads. What goes around comes around and I hear in some fancypants restaurants in London these are now making a comeback at eyewatering prices!!!! Stitching is coming along a little better now that lighter evenings beckon and of course today in the UK the clocks go forward and we join you guys in the US for Summer or Daylight Savings time - there will be some unhappy folk around tomorrow morning at losing an hour in bed!!!! Today's menu is roast chicken (some fresh thyme, half a lemon and onion up its bottom) along with mashed potatoes, new season carrots and the last of the Brussels Sprouts along with flavorful gravy - some chilled flame grapes and a little Brie drizzled with honey will be dessert. My Big Sis and I are now in single week figure countdown for vacation and we've really earned this one!!!! This coming Easter weekend will give more opportunity for stitching although I do have one or two household projects to take care of but nothing that will get in the way of the serious stitcher!!!!! Happy stitching and I hope the sun shines a little everywhere today!!!!

And Spring Is Here . . . Well, Just!!!!!!!

Now I think Spring has finally woken up both sides of the pond although he's kind of elusive right now, just teasing us with little sightings here and there of patches of warm sunshine and in the UK, crocus and snowdrops and daffodils all ready to burst out. Even the buds on the trees are fattening up, ready to pop in another three weeks or so when the warmer weather really arrives!!! I know where Big Sis is it's grey and cold today, despite the mild weather and sunshine they had last week - with snow on the ground!!!! Now I love Spring . . . they said when I was a child that I'd change and love the Autumn cos you can wait for Spring many a weary day but Spring holds such promise and is SOOOO welcome after Winter's dark cold days. It is a renewal in every sense . . . folks are badly in need of warm sunshine and seeing some color around, not to mention a change in diet from heavy Winter comfort food to something lighter . . . something to cleanse the system and act like a tonic which is where fresh herbs added to salad greens are very effective - fresh marjoram and chervil if you're lucky enough to get hold of some, along with fresh chives and good old parsely!!!! Big Sis and I have been beavering away on our stitching projects and these are coming along nicely!!! She tells me that a lot of crafters are concerned that no younger folks are stitching now - that's a real shame cos WE NEED MORE STITCHERS!!!!!! Actually if folks disengaged from Facebook once in a while and looked about themselves they might discover a whole new world (did I say that out loud????!!!!) But then each to their own!!!!! Big Sis and I are now in single week figures for our vacation countdown and of course the US Daylight Savings Time has now kicked in - I can hear the groans people!!!!! Not to worry, it's the UK's turn in a couple of weeks time then we'll be grumbling over here!!!! I've never seen the sense in messing with the time change although doubtless lots of folks far cleverer than me will shake their heads but all it does is make folks crabby cos they're tired from losing an hour's sleep and that leads to more accidents and . . . I could go on but you get the point!!!! Right now it's back to stitching for me - have a good week everyone and happy stitching!!!!!!