3,000 Readers: thank you for visiting and reading my blog! Here's your thank-you gift.

Hi there!
Well, congratulations! You've done it again! My little reader-counter-gadget says that this blog has been visited (and read) by over 3,000 readers.

Thank you!
I've seen visitors appear from China this time. Welcome! And Russia still features with quite a large group of people, which gives me a slight buzz. The reason for this is that I have been raised during the Cold War, and it makes me happy to see that there are people in Russia who are on the same peaceful/mindful wavelength I am.

Right. I believe in bestowing gifts. So this time I've found you something cute by Paper Butterflies Wall Art (the website I have found this on).

Isn't it lovely?!

And I'll leave you with some music, obviously. I have thought long and hard about what I would single out for you, and have found this:

a lovely lullaby by Susan McKeown

It goes well with the wall art, even if you don't have little children. You can always search for the child within you ;-)

Goodbye, and see you again soon. (PS Happy selfie with my daughter-in-law)

And....they're off! Or: the run-up to Easter.

Good afternoon, my fellow Spring enjoyers! (Is that an English word - enjoyers? If not, it is now!)
My day started with sunshine, so I hung my washing outside on the line, but I've just taken it in again as it started spitting a bit...

In the meantime, we are in the running-up to Easter. It doesn't make a blind bit of difference whether you are of any faith or not...our shops are bursting to the seams with chocolate eggs and bunnies and the Easter hare and all sorts of sweet stuff that will make your fillings spontaneously jump out of your molars with seasonal joy.

I do not bow to any religion, am of the humanist persuasion (with a little bit of Pagan and Zen thrown in for light relief), but I cannot pass a shop decked out with cute little bunnies without sighing in pleasure. Easter is such a fun, joyful festivity, isn't it? The weather takes a turn for the better (at least, it's supposed to), the flowers are back in the garden, the little lambs are frolicking in the meadows, and the birds are nesting.

My tulips are doing well in the greenhouse, where my husband has planted them to get them in bloom earlier for the birthday party of both our kids (in our Northern facing garden everything is at least 2 weeks later than in other gardens, that's why). When the time comes we'll replant them in containers.

And my heather is looking gorgeous, the photo doesn't do it justice unfortunately.

All those tiny yellow blobs are my mini-narcissii; not exactly 'hosts-of', but they do lift my heart.

I'll leave you with something I found on the internet (where else?), which looks like fun. I'll try it, and let you know if it works.

Beware the Christmas spirit!!

It's here! The countdown to those days of exhausted family spirit. I write 'exhausted', for as a teacher I WILL BE absolutely, totally, utterly washed-out by the time I have got the groceries in by December 24th.

My home-made wreath.

Preparation is everything.

Every year I start out by enthusiastically going into the garden with my secateurs. We have plenty of evergreen trees, and in our climate there usually is no severe frost until January, so they are at their best.

I use a straw base for the wreath, and pins. Easy-peasy.
Besides, I don't like tidy wreaths. So there are always bits sticking out. (A bit like myself; always bits sticking out)

I used to bang a nail into our front door, but ever since we have forked out a huge amount of money for a new one I'm not allowed to do that any longer, so I hang it from the flag holder.

One year I was sad to find that someone had stolen my wreath. My inherent positive side urged me to consider that someone liked this untidy wreath so much that they wanted it for themselves.


The proof
Here you are. The Rays of Light Creative Process in progress.

Handy, those pins!

Having a stylist in the family helps ;-)

My Mum is immensely creative, and even though I haven't inherited her ability to draw, paint or sculpt (and thank Heavens I haven't inherited her inability to carry a tune either!) I have got her sense of style. And so has my daughter. Which takes us to the local garden centre every year in the weeks before Christmas, to immerse ourselves in whatever is trendy that year.
This year, the trend is wood, nature and frosty.
Hence, we have bought some stuff (we always go there saying we will NOT buy anything), as usual. And had great fun decorating. This is only the beginning. We will 'do more'. Much more!
Which brings me to exhaustion. By the time it is december 24th, I will be dead on my feet. So:

Plan!
Plan. Do not leave it until the last moment. Yes, the food plan is already in my head. So is the guest list.  And a merry time will be had by all (and if you doubt this, I will not invite you, so there)!

Table piece.

Candelabra.