Enjoying today's forecast rain in our woods: bluebells, slithergidee tracks (badgers perhaps?), heron, egret, cuckoo, butterflies, may blossom, lots of other singing birds and straining above them after what has seemed a long year, the Nightingale singing its heart out.
Each morning we discover a new plant has grown and flower opened. It's such a great discovery waiting to see what was planted before our arrival. Today we have been treated to a full display of cherry blossom
and peonies. I'm afraid my focus is a little out owing to the breeze on both shots. The colours of this peony are just begging to be painted, photographed or dyed... 
First DIY project on house. Transform cold but strikingly clean navy blue and magnolia porch into something a little sunnier (I even cleaned my old rug - the wonders of a washing line). NO ORANGE CARPET ANYWHERE, can you believe it!! Except for That Man at That Shop and I refuse to spend my money there. So, it is full stop to that at the moment but, the hunt continues.
2nd DIY job - note, with tools! I have put up, for the first time ever, 2 blinds. My cheap and cheerful junior hacksaw from Wilko stood up to the challenge and the Smalls now have smart (and cheap) roller blinds instead of having to buy expensive (and boring) blackout lining.
The knitting had a little pick me up at the end of the holiday, try Sunday night last week, in a denial to my imminent back to work moment I cast on. These were originally cast on for Biggest Small since she's going through a purple faze, but after trying on number one, she said they were cosy but too small, Littlest Small was against the colour, Medium Small got next shout. She loved them, so no ripping back to extend foot, I'll just finish off sock no. 2.
And to the frogged hourglass sweater: the chevron lace cardi was finished and has had a trial day out at work, and I still have yarn remaining. Only thing I think needs improving is where I put the button, think needs to be lower (a little too close to my neck for my liking - say strangulation close) and perhaps needs to be a pair.
Who says inanimate objects don't have a higher purpose. See below, very serviceable kitchen carpet, still functioning and onto its second family. But hold on what is this, at last its higher calling has been discovered, it is not a mere underfoot servant, but in fact hidden within its being is the perfect curtain-cutting precision-pinning straight-line potential. Now that the kitchen carpet has been elevated to its highest state perhaps I can be rewarded with carpet- halo points. In orange?
Finally, a before and after shot.Corner of garden before:
Same corner after:
Much fun was had. The Smalls all pitched in and transformed this corner of the garden. They had wanted, "a gold shed", we compromised with 'Golden Autumn'. As the stain went on I had visions of a secret midnight repaint and a 'Oh look how different it is now it has dried' conversation. It did pretty well covering such a dark layer below and I admit, I think the Smalls may have known what they were talking about! Masonry paint. There's a discovery. How much fun is that. The texture is like that of the plaster-cast-before-it's-dried-bandage-binding-thingey. Lucky I only have this wall to be let loose on else I could get carried away.
Since I can no longer think of words I think it's time to stop for today. Best catch up on some of those podcasts I have missed so much.
The Smalls were soooo excited that they whizzed around squealing at each new find. I can't say I whizzed all day being awoken at 6am and then having to contrive to let the Easter bunny do his job around the garden before my absence was spotted (ok that gave me about 1 minute and a bit - at a push). 
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