A week of mixed blessings

The week began with a springlike feel to it.  Pottering around the garden a bit, beginning to clear up the greenhouse after the hens' winter occupation.  As I emerged with a box of plant pots to be cleaned, my eye caught this wonderful juicy bud on the hydrangea bush.  My favourite flower - last year's dried blooms are still gracing my kitchen, and this year's are now on the way. Perfect nature.

The postman brought this package from a wonderful Mama. Thank you for sharing spring with us Denise, and for your beautiful blog - A Smile a Day.  We love to visit you for a daily smile. James loves the postman too - he brings lots of nice things to the house.

 A tasty Sunday breakfast of warm granola muffins got us off to a good start.

James agreed.

Then - in the middle of the week, it snowed!  Well, you'd never guess, but our snowman this time was an Ancient Roman senator!  It always surprises and delights me when the form of our snow figure reveals itself.  There was no mistaking it - he could even have been an emperor - possibly Nero, going by the shape.

Well, Nero isn't really the kind of chap you want hanging around your garden, so I was glad he had declined and fallen the next day.  Too much rain, you see.

So, the rest of the week has been pretty wet and we have been indoors a lot.  Much crafting has gone on - knitting of donkeys and hens, and a very blue eyed daffodil child appeared, ready for spring.

Tissue paper stars have begin to appear on conservatory windows.  We are hoping they will  keep the birds from hitting the glass windows once the babies start to fledge.  More colourful  than the sinister hawk shadow stickers we used last year., and hopefully they will be effective.

 

And, sadness at the end of the week, when my mother was admitted to hospital.  The cruel disease of dementia has been stealing her away from us bit by bit for several  years, but now she needs a lot more care and support. She wll stay in the assessment unit for possibly 6 - 8 weeks, and hopefully will be discharged into a local nursing home. We visited today and although  confused, she seemed fine, and enjoyed her time with James.  So, now we have to find a new rhythm which incorporates visiting with Gran - I'm sure we will pick it up if we listen hard enough.