My insatiable lust for all things floral posed the question of 'could I make violet gin?' to which the answer would be only if you found a few handfuls of sweet violet flowers and made a watery infusion and mixed it with gin' 
Now hoe do you tell sweet violets from the other types of violet? Not easily, even with a guide book to hand. Plus there's not enough in flower to be able to gather a few here and there without plundering a whole patch. 

 I did have violet gin and although I suspect it was made using parma violet sweets (delicious) it was divine and I would heartily recommend it to fellow floral flavour fans.

Have you made anything with violets?
Take care,
Sophie

We squeezed in a little time out for wandering last weekend and I was hyped for snapping spring sights. Poised with my camera I waited for new leaves, wild flowers and new blossom yet there was none to be found. Patiently, I did my usual thing of taking shots of all things which look interesting and waitied.



 Sparkles, old branches, last years dead skeletal frames. They're all nice but they're not new!

 Finally, finally I started to spy new shoots.

 The feint haze of green on hedges

 No, it doesn't look much now but this will erupt in months to come.
 Even fresh nettles hold appeal to the rose -tinted spectacle-wearing spring enthusiast.
 Lesser celandine are starting to flower. Their yellow petals are a lovely joyful shade, aren't they?
 A great mullein looking strong.
 Buds on trees are bulging.


 Lords and ladies foliage everywhere but most is plain green. Some are variegated and look very attractive.
 Prickly customers on the ground.

 Comfrey of some sort.


Have a wonderful weekend.
Take care,
Sophie

It's a lovely time of year when blossom appears in trees and along the hedgerows. I snipped a few fronds and popped them in a vase last week. They're so delicate and the softest, palest pink.
Have I managed to walk where there are cherries, plums or sloes in flower? Nope. Last week's wander encountered zero which although irritating, left me wondering why? And where are they?





Take care,
Sophie

Yoohoo, it''s only me. A two day unauthorised absence for which I needn't apologise but it's irritated me nevertheless. But I'm back now.
 Here's me feeling like slapping my forehead as I have completely neglected to wear this fabulous thick cotton shirt. I'd forgotten to wear it for months and months. It's so warm and brilliant for layering or instead of a jumper. Why hadn't I worn it more?
There was a small trouser crisis last week when I realised my only pair of smart jeans were in the was and I couldn't find another pair that fitted. I had to wear a skirt as a last resort. Talk about a wake up call! These green skinnies are borderline smart although I don't want to wear them out as I can't easily replace them. I'll have to buy some more trousers that fit. Shopping for jeans and trousers is the absolute worst, I hate it.
This year I think I'll try wearing scarves more. This brown joy was a gift from Char waaaay back when and I knotted it into a loop and throw it on with so many things. It works that way for a while then I leave it somewhere and forget about it for ages only to rediscover it at some point and start all over again.
The boots I've solemnly sworn to take to the cobbler to get re-soled for at least two years still have a cracked sole. Oh dear. May be next year?

Take care,
Sophie  

I'm a spring and summer soul. These are the times of year I feel alive. I have great plans for 2019 and it feels like a good start has been made already; a foothold into a new chapter. Last year had it's ups and downs but this year I've got a clear vision of how it's going to be or at least what my stance is.

Balance is that key word which gets bandied around everywhere with no fixed definition. What felt like a balance last year sinks way out of kilter into the next. As an adult it's often the case that it feels like nothing changes. Each week is the same with no milestone 'life changing' turning points to reach and adapt to. That's all the more reason to give life a bit more scrutiny to ask are things good enough?

I don't think I asked this before and had I done so, my answer would have been no.

Instead of taking life as it is and trying to unpick a few issues, tease out the parts which have become problematic maybe it's a better idea to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.

I'm going to be trying to apply a new philosophy from here on in and although it won't happen overnight, the longer you dig your feet in, the bigger the prints will be.

PS I assume you love Scrat the squirrel from Ice Age.
Take care,
Sophie

It's mid March more-or-less which leads me to believe I'm at liberty to look ahead and make plans for the coming season. Spring is getting underway and makes me feel super happy! Can you hear my enthusiasm? What a joyful time of year. Here's the list of plans and wishes for this year:

To do

Already underway

One deer, two deer, running deer.

Galloping off.




What do you have planned for spring?
Take care,
Sophie