Yesterday, I left my office for what might be several months. At least I still have a job and my employer has loaned me a laptop so I can keep teaching at home. However, I am trying to keep the concerns of the world at bay as much as possible, especially as today I am on annual leave and it’s my birthday.
I recently came across a book called An indifference of birds by Richard Smyth. The essence of its message, I believe, is that we need birds a lot more than they need us. And watching them in my garden certainly suggests this to be the case. Without their ever knowing it, they will be keeping me going over the next few weeks and months.
Anyway, should the opportunity arise, I may just buy this book but in the meantime the garden continues to delight in other ways too.
If you get a sense of déjà vu looking at these first two photos, it could well be that you have really seen them before. I seem to remember that I posted similar last year. The difference is in the timing, as the rhubarb was not sprouting at the same time as the wood anemones and glory of the snow.
Of a novel nature are the following sights. First up are the almost flowering tulips. In front of them is a pot of dwarf snowdrops. I was going to plant them round a tree I need to move in the front garden but this job will have to wait till the autumn now.
I’m pleased that the Snake’s head fritillary has made a reappearance this year. The stem seems shorter than last year, which could of course be my imagination, but it looks like it is spreading, so I could end up with a nice clump of them in the bog garden.
As you can see, the red-veined sorrel and lavender are perking up after their winter rest, so as well as flowers we will have otter leaves to spruce up our dinner plates. So, it’s not all doom and gloom!
Growing out of chaos 
I hope your birthday is as good as can be and you will have many better ones, Helen.
Thank you, Derrick. Just had a nice long conversation with my mum; and my daughter will be with me after school. We have a large water melon to eat (just about the only thing we could get at Sainsbury last night 😉).
Happy birthday Helen! Have a great day! xoxo
Thank you, Carol Anne 😊
Happy Birthday Helen! I think a lot of people will be working from home for the foreseeable future. I have just been reading about a wedding and a graduation that have had to be cancelled (in the US) and my grandson has just lost his part-time job in a restaurant. Interesting times! I too am consoling myself that I will have plenty to do in the garden and more time to do it! Take care of yourself and keep enjoying the simple pleasures of flowers and birds.
Thank you 😊 I’m sorry about your son losing his job. One of my colleagues told me her daughter had also lost her restaurant job. I had been wondering about graduations – had again seen on Twitter a discussion where a man was gutted at contemplating having to cancel his wedding in May.
Anyway, definitely interesting times.
Happy birthday!
Thank you, Sheree 😊
These are challenging times for us all. I wish you luck with the difficult transition to home-teaching. I’m glad the birds still sing for you and what a lovely quote. Wishing you a happy belated birthday and my goodness Spring is upon us.
My goodness, isn’t spring upon us. I’m glad at least that we have reasonable daylight now, so won’t be confined indoors from 4pm till 8am as in December because of the dark.
Continuing the thinking positive theme, I endeavour to get back to reading blogs more frequently. I’d also like to do some decorating – well, there is always some decorating to do, anyway, but I normally find it difficult to stay in and get in with it 😉.
I hope you will still be able to get the care you need for your ankle, Alys.
The longer, brighter days are nice, and spring temps are sure to follow. Tomorrow is the end of week eight post surgery. I hope soon I can reliable spend time in the garden without so much pain. I love decorating. I wish I could do it with you. It would be fun.
It would be fun to have you decorating with me!
You must have had quite extensive surgery on your foot to be in pain 8 weeks after the operation.
It is apparently going to be 16 degrees C here today – and we haven’t had any rain so over a week. So, some things are good 😊
I’m glad to hear that nicer weather is afoot. I’m sure you are sick to death of all that rain.
My foot surgery was extensive. I had hoped for something less invasive when I sought a second opinion, but no such luck. She had to repair and graft two shredded tendons, clean up some scar tissue and then move the muscle wall in my foot back in place. Additionally they did a procedure on my ankle that involved drilling into two bones, then attaching a permanent suture that will act as an ankle stabilizer. I was not allowed to bear any weight for six weeks, nor did I want to! Now I’m gradually walking on both feet once again.
Glad to hear you are on the mend, Alys. It sounds quite a gruelling operation.
A belated Happy Birthday, Helen; I hope you and your daughter are both well. Your garden is looking very spring-like!
My elder daughter is working from home and has cancelled her visit with us at Easter. My younger daughter is no longer going into Uni and is distance learning. I have been advised to stay at home because of my health problems so my husband will have to do all the shopping for us and for my mother now, poor man!
Quite a load for your husband! I hope you will be okay – I had been thinking of you.
Anyway, we are well here, thank you. And one way or another this last birthday will be one to remember.