Working it out

1. A slightly stroppy day (I just got out on the wrong side of bed I guess!) which I hope wasn't too obvious, but I was pleased to leave work on a positive conversation.

2. Making progress on the current BSJ, and I think I've worked out how to have a neater edge around the neck while still adjusting the shape.

3. A half day tomorrow... making up for extra hours worked last week.

Clearing out and making something new

1. It was light and (just) warm enough when I got home to do a little more gardening. Only half an hour or so, but it all helps.

2. A relaxed evening meal before a week (month?) of busyness.

3. Trying out a new knitting technique. It felt very clumsy at first, but I'm beginning to get the hang of it now. I'm not making anything fancy, so it doesn't matter that the tension's quite random.

Awesome, and fun

1. Today's contribution: John 1... Jesus was there from the beginning, the world was made through Him, He came to us, He offers us new life!

2. Sunday lunch with my in-laws, then practising using her netbook.

3. Microwave popcorn :-)

Today I'm grateful for...

• a slow start to the day, with no alarm clocks and no appointments
• good coffee
• with cereal, orange juice and an apple - very healthy!
• hot water for a refreshing shower
• time to relax with books of recipes and knitting patterns
• sunshine and a breeze to dry washing outside
• browsing by myself around the shops in Cockermouth, and bumping into friends and family
• a sunny walk around the village when I got back
• living in a beautiful part of the country / world
• lots and lots of daffodils
• I love their cheery yellowness, in crowded clusters along the roadsides and in our garden
• they shout hope and sunshine after a long winter

• baking goodies for church tomorrow
• I've made Mary Berry's chocolate brownies (one of my favourite recipes) and Digger biscuits (my first go with these thin crisp coconut biccies)
• the first evening meal in our summer house... 

• it was just warm enough to stay outside for a relaxed meal of bread, hummus, carrots and peppers, with a glass of red wine
• what a treat!
• and then a pretty sunset to end the outside-ness:

• a heated blanket (it's not summer yet!)

Long day, tasty finish

1. An early start and late finish at work today... but it seems to have gone well.

2. British Summer Time means it was still daylight when I left at 7:30(pm).

3. Cheese and chutney on toast to finish.

A cold start and warm finish

1. A very frosty start to the day meant the daffodils in the garden looked sad and droopy; by the time I got home the sunshine had perked them up again.

2. Housegroup was at ours tonight. We'd not had time to plan and chose to use the children's version of the study guide. It was good to share the readings and prayers with everyone, even as young as 4.

3. We didn't need to drive home at the end of the day.

Sunshine at last!

1.  The sun was shining when we got home from work, so we took the chance to start dealing with some of the dead plants and brambles in the back garden.  There's a long way to go, but we can see some results from an hour's cutting and clearing.

2.  Looking back at some of the photos I've taken over the last few days, as well as some older photos.  I like the memories they bring...  Today's photo fun was trying to capture the beautiful narcissus bulbs I was given on Mothering Sunday at church; there are also some pretty pink cyclamen flowers in the background which we were given when we became godparents to our friends' daughter.

3.  Enjoying a meal from the leftover chicken tagine we made for Easter Sunday.  Perfect when we came in from the cold outside.