Good morning....

We get up pretty early around here. Even at weekends, usually by 7.30 and much earlier on work days. So it was just past dawn & very chilly and grey when I let Alice out yesterday morning. After completeing her - ahem - ablutions, I noticed that her attention had been caught by something on our next door neighbours roof. I couldn't quite see what it was, but called her in and we went back upstairs with tea. I went into the bathroom and looked out of the window - something I do every morning as I love the view, which seems to subtly change every day....and this is what I saw!

Such a beautiful, dapper young mallard! He was quacking away and when I looked to the left, I could just see another drake and a female duck on the next roof along. He stayed for quite a while before flying off to join them. We often have a pair in the churchyard at this time of year - someone leaves a plastic bowl of water out for them - and it's a wonderful sight.

The garden is looking gorgeous right now - all the rain and cold has done wonders for the plants, although the bees aren't too happy, I would guess. Luckily we left them plenty of honey to get them through the difficult spells.

Instead of vegetables this year, I have planted a bee-friendly selection of flowers in the raised bed...to encourage our new guests...

the irises & day lilies are burgeoning, along with the catmint and sage. When we have some warm sunshine (or should that be if??) I have a feeling that it will be an explosion of colour and fragrance. I can hardly wait!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend - a long one for us here. Happy Mother's Day to everyone who will celebrate that tomorrow...let yourselves be spoilt! (UPDATE!! One of my lovely Stateside friends has just reminded me that Mother's Day is, in fact, next week (thanks Nancy!) so please ignore the words above...or don't, and demand to be spoilt two weeks in a row!!)

I'll leave you with a few 'words' from our sponsor...

xoxo