Earthly Delights. . . . .

 

My little 'garden of 'earthly delights'

surprises every morning when I raise the

 blinds and the early light of day shines in.

The hyacinth bulb has babies popping out - fitting a family

 into the vase is now difficult!

I must keep an eye on it so it won't fall over.

Perfume is almost overwhelming.......and I love it.

Welcome to these sunny mornings.

Apple Blossom amaryllis still a delight.

Basil being snipped for supper dishes.

Slow going in the other pots but I can wait - what

 else is there to do!

Are you an indoor gardener in winter?

I hope you have lovely perfumed blooms brightening

 your long, cold days.

All that glitters. . . . . . .

 

Chandelier shadows

On sunny winter morning

Glitter on the walls

Waking up to another bright and beautiful winter morning. 

 I'm thankful.

Nights are getting colder. 

Possible snow is in the forecast for the coming weekend.

Crisp Sunday morning. . . . . . .

Yesterday I cleaned house, well just downstairs, as friends stopped by for tea which actually became just a glass of champagne and my almond cookies as they were heading to dinner with other friends. Later I was at the theatre for a stage production I'd rather not discuss - I so dislike these modern plays full of cursing, swearing and worse! My season ticket may not be renewed. Later, arriving home in really lovely weather, a low half moon clear in the sky, I prepared myself for what I hoped would be more than the predicted dusting of snow, one to two inches on awakening today was hoped for.

Yes we did have heavy snow falling for a couple of hours early today. No it didn't accumulate as hoped for. There was no wandering about in a backyard winter wonderland. Zero crisp, fresh snow changed the green and brown landscape to pristine white. Armed with my camera aimed at hungry birds and squirrels on the feeders, perched brightly on snowy branches, scuffling about on the  snow-covered ground, never happened. 
Instead, I stayed in the kitchen and crunched down on a rather delicious toasted English muffin, smothered in butter and Scottish (the best) marmalade. It was crisp, it was comfort food. . . . . and I needed comforting.

Note - today I'm using CREATE from my set of favorite coffee mugs. I hoped it would get my personal creative juices flowing. Other than take these few photos of eating something perhaps not the healthiest, but definitely tasty and at the top of my favorites list, and writing this little post, that hasn't happened yet either. But later I will bake a cake with healthy apples, make felafel and a good green salad, continue sorting through a big stack of old magazines to share with a friend, and be creative by coloring a new page in my 'adult coloring book' prior to hunkering down by the fire. Tonight is Downton Abbey. . . . . . . and you never know, there just may be snow falling there in tonight's episode, and definitely no bad language!

Winter morning. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . and the cottage entry is bathed in cold, bright sunlight.

Today I'm very busy 'taking down' and packing away the Christmas decorations indoors -

but I'm taking a quick break from all that so I can say "good morning" and

share the sunshine with you.

The cottage/garden/gazebo exterior was done on Sunday when it was much

 warmer and working outside was quite pleasant and invigorating.

When I raised the dining room window blinds this morning I think the first visitor,

 a Tufted titmouse, was waiting for me to melt the ice. With hot water in the 

tea kettle I did just that, and scattered a few nuts nearby for a breakfast

snack.  Being so much colder now, the birds, and of course squirrels, are out 

in force. We filled all the feeders yesterday so today they are happy.

I loved all your 'ironing' comments on the previous post. 

Thanks for sharing how you address one of those home chores which we all

 face at some time or another.