A hint of spring!

Lizzie stopped me as we went to school this morning, to point out the blossom starting to appear on the branches of a nearby tree.  Sometimes when you take a step back and take the time to see what's around you, especially through a child's perspective, it's easier to find pleasure in the little things in life.

Despite the forecast for more snow this weekend, I'm starting to see the first hints of spring and I couldn't be happier about that.  Everything seems more hopeful when the days are brighter and longer, when the first tiny splashes of green start appearing everywhere and the grey and miserable months of winter can be put to bed for another year.

I love rediscovering the garden after it has been neglected through the cold months.  I'm so glad I had the foresight to plant spring bulbs last autumn; there's all sorts of shoots appearing from the pots and troughs I planted them in, and I look forward to remembering what I planted - I think I went for daffodils, tulips and crocuses - but I can't be sure.  Each morning when I look out my kitchen window I see the new life appearing in my garden and it reminds me of the promise of things to come.

It will be so nice to have the back door open again to let the children run in and out.  From now until next winter there will be little sets of wellies at my back door, ready to be grabbed at a moment's notice as they dash outside to play, digging up mud pies behind the shed, helping to plant things, raking the grass and in general just enjoying the fresh air and delighting in the things around them.

This year I am going to make even more of an effort to capture these little moments.  Another spring means they are another year older - and we won't have this time again, so I for one am planning to savour and save every precious moment.

Best Wishes

Debbie