Thursday 22 February 2018

Catching Up


Sadly, the snow melted away, and now that I have finally caught up on the chores following last weeks half term break, I am giving myself some time to sit down and catch my breath. It has been such a good feeling to give the house a thorough clean, throw open the widows and let the fresh air in. For the first time this year I have had washing out on the line. Oh, the scent of freshly laundered, line dried washing! A simple pleasure but such a gratifying one and it's always a sign of the changing seasons for me, the promise of warmer days to come.

We had a good week off. The perfect balance of entertainment and relaxation and it was a welcome break from the school routine, but it passed ever so quickly. We enjoyed time at the soft play centre, some short walks and we went swimming. It is such a long time since we've been swimming together, I'd forgotten just how much Lily enjoys it, so I felt really bad. I must make more of an effort to take her from now on.

My Lily's favourite part of the week, however, was the time we spent at Inflatanation in Manchester - a massive indoor inflatable with slides and ball pools. I would thoroughly recommend to anyone as a combination of exercise and/or stress relief (that's if you discount trying to chase after and keep up with an over excited four year old on what is basically a big bouncy castle!). A huge amount of fun and I'm sure we'll be going back soon.

We are now back in our usual weekly routine and I'm happy, once more, to have a bit of structure to my day. Even more so now that I have started working again, albeit only part-time.
The days are becoming brighter, sunnier and more Spring- like, although the temperatures are still bitterly cold and Wintry. The surrounding fields are dotted with lambs and the bulbs in the garden are poking through. All around the lanes the daffodils are just waiting to flower. We are on the cusp of Spring but, if the recent forecasts are anything to go by, we are in for one final blast of Winter later this week.


Yesterday I had the sweetest afternoon, helping out  during a class visit to one of the local village farms to see the new born calves and lambs. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the children all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I'm not entirely sure the sheep were very impressed with twenty six small people parading into their barn but the lambs were delightful - those little fuzzy faces! The calves were VERY friendly, much to the children's amusement. I hope they all washed their hands well!

In other news, I have finally given in to the fact that my phone was on it's last legs and treated myself to a new one before the inevitable happened. The camera is of better quality and I don't have to turn it upside down because of a speck on the lens, so I'm hoping this will lend itself to some clearer photographs once I've got used to it.
Wrap up warm folks!
J. X

44 comments:

  1. I love line dried washing too and it seems to iron so much better as well. I love the sunshine smell it gives off.
    J x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just sooo good isn't it? Especially so of bed linen. X

      Delete
  2. It sounds like you had a great week off :) soft play places are great - the one in Manchester sounds fab :)

    How great that you were able to go on a class outing :)

    I love getting a new phone :) Have you given your old one to Lily?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soft play is great for children, not so much for the adults. It can be so noisy. Why is it that some children will literally stand and scream for no reason!? Inflatanation was much better.
      Lily isn't bothered about phones yet, she would much rather read a book and that is more than fine with me. X

      Delete
  3. I've seen the daffodils ready to bloom and yet heard there will be more winter weather on the way. It's been nice to see some sunshine this week and I too like line-dried washing but I still put the clothes on the airer overnight as I feel they are still damp in this weather.
    I'm glad you had fun on the half term break and I hope you are enjoying your part-time work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I do hope the daffodils will hold out during this cold spell.
      It is so good to be back at work again. It is quite surprising how that little bit of structure to my day gives me the push I need to get a bit more achieved. X

      Delete
  4. Wild daffs are out here, and hazel flowers. The soft play sounded fun and the baby animals all very sweet. You might get more snow next week 🤗 x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are a few daffodils out already here but it won't be much longer before they are all out in flower. I just hope they will withstand the cold weather. X

      Delete
  5. Oh, how cute are those lambs. I haven't seen any around here yet but it's only a matter of time now. I'm with you on line dried washing, you can't beat it, none for me yet this year but I'm itching to get the peg bag out again. Inflatanation sounds like so much fun, I think adults enjoy these things even more than children do. Glad that half term went well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are adorable aren't they? There are so many in the fields now too.
      I hope you can get some washing out soon. I don't have a tumble drier so I'm always desperate to get the washing hung outdoors. X

      Delete
  6. Beautiful photos as always and a lovely day with the children to enjoy. I have been trying to replace my phone since last July-first, the roof needed a repair and then the dishwasher died. I have bought a new battery as a temporary stay of execution because like you, I use it for photographs. Spring is nearly here-Wheeeeee�� Catriona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Catriona. There's always something which requires attention and money isn't there? The phone is important for me as I don't have a landline, I would hate to think Lily's school couldn't get hold of me if necessary. I'm now looking forward to the arrival of Spring. X

      Delete
  7. I cant wait for it to be lighter in the mornings. It is getting there, but it is still dark when I potter about. I love a good clean and then feel satisfied

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is getting a little bit lighter in the mornings which I am very happy about. Not so much when I'm woken mid-Summer at 3.30am by the dawn chorus! X

      Delete
  8. It sounds like a great week. The lambs are adorable.
    Here it's already too warm. Monday we had a record breaking temperature for February .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm now getting to the stage where I'm looking forward to a bit of Spring warmth. X

      Delete
  9. A winter break is always a good and often needed thing. Spending time with your child is the best time spent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always good to have a break now and again and I do enjoy spending time with Lily, she is good company and a lot of fun. X

      Delete
  10. Oh, those lambs are so cute! <3
    Your countryside looks always pretty, with snow and without. We still have lots of snow and low temperatures... spring isn't exactly around the corner. :)
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sara. We're still in the minus figures here, but the sun is shining so it's all good. X

      Delete
  11. I am not a great fan of the soft play areas but as the Grandchildren love them I do go and try my best. Their enthusiasm does rub off so I usually end up enjoying myself. I thought Spring was almost here and then saw the weather forecast today another arctic blast heading our way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soft play can get a bit much, but I make an effort as we don't go very often, we're usually outdoors. Spring isn't far off, but in the meantime stay warm! X

      Delete
  12. Very few lambs here in N Yorkshire yet Jules, we really don't get started on lambing until the beginning of April because most folk keep Swaledales. I saw some on my travels yesterday - about half a dozen out in the field, they were very tiny and frail, possibly only a couple of days old - they are better outside however cold it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope they'll be OK in the cold weather, although they're hardier than we think. X

      Delete
  13. Sounds like Lily enjoyed her holidays! Glad you got to enjoy them with her. There are no baby lambs here, but I once took my daughter to a petting zoo where she got to pet and feed some goats. She had long hair at the time and one of the goats kept trying to eat her braids (plaits), which amused her no end! :D Glad you treated yourself to a new phone - looking forward to all the lovely pictures you'll be taking with it! Enjoy the rest of the week, Jules, and please give your little girl a hug from me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do love goats - they are funny characters. Lily is never short on hugs but I'll give her an extra one just for you. Thinking of you, you're almost at the top! Xx

      Delete
  14. Line dried washing here too! Hope it doesn't get too cold for the baby lambs...though it's rain that does the real damage. Your photos are always amazing even without a new camera. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thankfully the weather forecast looks to be dry for the coming week, although it's not uncommon to see them in the fields in their little Lammacs. X

      Delete
  15. Ooooh line dried washing. I can't wait to get at my washing line again. Currently I would have to negotiate a horrible soupy muddy lawn.....too disgusting for words so I will wait patiently for it to start drying out.

    Those lambs are just adorable. I've not seen many round here yet despite there being two large farms that are mainly sheep. I do so love to see them.

    Sounds like a lovely half term week.
    Hugs-x-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so good to be able to get the washing out again. Luckily my line runs alongside the garden path so there's no muddy lawn to trample. X

      Delete
  16. What a lovely time, even though we have had some snow it has not lasted, last few days have been sunny and dry.. it's wonderful. Love the photo of the cute lambs, have yet to see one this year.
    Amanda xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The snow has sadly all gone now. There is some forecast for this next week so we'll have to wait and see. X

      Delete
  17. Nothing beats the smell of line dried washing.
    Sweet little lambs you encountered on your visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It smells so fresh doesn't it? Much nicer than drying it in the house. X

      Delete
  18. Children do love to be amongst animals, don't they? It's good for them to learn how to treat animals too. A line's worth of fresh smelling washing....wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My child certainly does. She was trying to climb in the pen at one point! There's more washing on the line today. It's beautifully sunny but there's a sharp chill in the breeze. X

      Delete
  19. Bill and Violet did Bubble Rush last summer, basically running through tons of colourful bubbles for charity! That sort of thing is good fun.

    Yes, to having the windows open on a cold day! Makes the house freezing, but gets that fresh air circulating and makes you feel alive. I've had washing whenever possible too, it's always a happy sight to see. No point this week though, it'll come back in like cardboard.

    School trips, beautiful thing to do. I always volunteered to help out with Violet's class in primary school, and I am so glad that I did. Only after the first one, I made sure I always had wine in the fridge for when I was back home again! ;o) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's such a good feeling to get the fresh air in the house at this time of year. I've thrown open the windows again while we've been out walking this morning. The house will soon warm up when the central heating comes back on later. There's more washing on the line too! X

      Delete
  20. Goodness lambs already, spring must definitely be on her way. Ooh you came to my home town to have a bounce around, hope you enjoyed the visit. It's lovely that you're able to help out with school trips I used to really enjoy it. Nice for Lily to have her mummy there as well. Windows have been opened here although not for long, but fresh air blowing through the house has most definitely been welcome. We were at the coast this weekend and oh my goodness, it was fresh! Certainly made me feel alive though :) Hope you are enjoying your part-time work. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The farm visit was lovely. I'm not sure Lily was that bothered about having me there but the teacher was definitely grateful for the extra pair of hands. I hope you had a great time at the van. It must be great to have a weekend bolthole by the sea, although I expect the 'breeze' was bracing. X

      Delete
  21. Arh those lambs are gorgeous. I remember going on school trips with my boys and then again on our own. They had a lot of fun feeding them their milk bottles. The youngest boy wanted to take home one of the lambs, he was always into cuddly cute animals. Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who can resist cute little animals? None of them needed feeding though, as they all had their mums or adopted mums. I have a feeling Lily wouldn't have minded if one of the lambs had followed us home! X

      Delete
  22. The pictures on your previous post are just beautiful of your walk in the snow. Glad you had a good week off - I noticed on Frugal from Essex that your comment said you had been unwell with the virus so this is just to say I hope you are feeling better now.
    We have missed the deep snow it is going on at home and we are here in snow free South West of Scotland trying to get home tomorrow!
    I have not seen lambs up here yet but the sheep looked rather frozen in the fields - the bull in the field beside us has spent all day and all night out in these freezing high winds - I almost wanted to invite him into our garage for a bit of shelter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your good wishes. I'm feeling better now, just tired, wiped out and trying to get caught up yet again!
      I hope you manage to get home safely. X

      Delete