Day 89 - March 30th (Mothering Sunday)

Today is Mothering Sunday here in the UK and I have been thoroughly spoiled.

I received a beautiful bunch of tulips for Christopher.

Chocolates from Steven.

And, A plant basket from Lara.

I was also given the day off from cooking and with the help of Wayne, Steven and Lara cooked a roast dinner at lunch time. It was delicious and all the more so for having been cooked for me.

Thanks everyone and Happy Mothering Sunday to my Mum and all the other Mums who read my blog.

Day 88 - March 29th

 We had a very pleasant walk this morning over the fields with Millie. The sun shone and it was quite warm.

In the field at the start of our walk (or at the end - depending on which way round the circular walk we go!) there are sheep with their lambs. The mums were rather nervous when I went to the gate to take some photos of them so I just took a few quick snaps and then left them be.

You can't miss the signs of spring which are now everywhere.

We saw quite a few Cowslips .....

..... some gorgeous Pussy Willow .....

..... Coltsfoot (I think!) ......

..... and beautiful delicate blossom. 

Day 87 - March 28th

While taking Millie for her walk this morning I spotted some beautiful white blossom in the hedgerow. Its amazing how suddenly it can come into flower. One day it's in tight bud - the next day its in bloom. I don't know what type of plant it is. I'll have to watch it and see what develops

Day 86 - March 27th

Today didn't go as planned. Whilst jumping about this morning before school, Lara managed to bash the side of her foot on the dining table which resulted in a rather large swelling. As it happened just before she was due to catch the school bus I decided to keep her at home for an hour or so to see if the swelling went down. An hour later her foot had swollen more. I managed to get a doctors appointment to get it checked out. The doctor didn't think she had done any serious damage but recommended Lara rest her foot for the rest of the day. Thankfully by this evening the swelling had gone down slightly but I think it will still be painful for quite a while yet.

Day 85 - March 26th

My Dad planted some wallflowers in the garden. Unfortunately not many have flourished and there are only a few which have lived to produce flowers.

Day 84 - March 25th

Tonight was Lara's Guide Company's last meeting before Easter. All the girls were given a gift of a mug, some Haribo sweets and a chicken decoration. 

Day 83 - March 24th

I found time for a spot of crafting today and made a card for the Scrapology blog. Sorry only a sneak peek as usual until the card is published on that blog next month.

Day 82 - March 23rd

 Tux made the most of todays sunshine and spent most of the day outside. 

Day 81 - March 22nd

After last weeks disappointing bowling trip, today's visit was much more successful. We booked a lane before we left home and so weren't turned away this time.

We played two games. Wayne won the first game and surprisingly I won the second.

Day 80 - March 21st

This weekend is Sports Relief Weekend. In return for a £1 donation to the charity Steven went to school in non-uniform, but at Lara's school the children were invited to go to school dressed as their favourite sportsman/woman. Lara decided to go dressed at Jenny Jones the British snowboarder who became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event after winning bronze in slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. She wore her snowsuit (it's had no use so far this year!) and a medal.

Day 79 - March 20th

This evening we watched Lara perform at a music concert. She was asked by her drum teacher if she (and her lesson partner) would accompany a woodwind band made up of students from various schools in the area. It was the first time Lara had performed at such an event and so was understandably nervous but she needn't have worried because she did a great job and we were very proud of how she performed and we sat in awe as she kept the rhythm. Unfortunately no photography was allowed at the concert so today's photo is of Lara practising.

Day 78 - March 19th

I spied this tiny Grape Hyacinth in the garden today. I didn't know there were any. Grape Hyacinths always make me think of fairies.

Day 77 - March 18th

I found time for a spot of craft today. I used some very nice paper flowers on a scrapbook page.

Day 76 - March 17th

Every day more and more flowers are coming into bloom in the garden. The Hyacinths look lovely ....

.... and the Aubretia is as strikign as it is in the summer.

Day 75 - March 16th

Today was very hot and so Lara spent time outside practising her stilt walking.

Day 74 - March 15th

Lara has never been on a train, apart from a steam train at a tourist attraction. Today we decided to put this right by driving to Arlesey station and then taking a 11 minute train ride to Stevenage to go Ten Pin Bowling. Unfortunately things didn't go to plan and the day was rather disappointing. The train ride was fine and Lara enjoyed the new experience but when we got to Hollywood Bowl at about 1.30pm we were informed that they had no free lanes until 10pm! We walked next door to the cinema only to find that they weren't showing any films we hadn't already seen or wanted to see. So, we walked back to the station, caught the next train back to Arlesey and were back home just over two hours after we had originally set out. 

Day 73 - March 14th

I decided to try a new recipe today. I found it on the Internet via Pinterest. Raspberry Crumb Bars. They are rather like a cross between a flapjack and a crumble. Very yummy.

Here's the recipe. I think it may be an American recipe as the measurements are all in cups but all the ingredients are easily recognisable and they it's very easy to make.

Raspberry Crumb Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Makes: 9 - 12 bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup rolled oats (old fashioned)
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup raspberry jam, seedless if preferred

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with aluminium foil. Grease foil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in oats and brown sugar, and use clean fingertips as needed to break up brown sugar clumps. Add butter, and using fingertips, work butter into mixture until evenly moistened.
3. Add 2 cups of the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Spread raspberry jam into an even layer over oat layer, coming within 1/4-inch of all edges. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining oat mixture, then slightly press into jam layer.
4. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Day 72 - March 13th

Another really foggy start to the day. The fog was thicker than yesterday and it was really cold out. 

Day 71 - March 12th

Today started incredibly foggy and it took quite a while for the sun to burn through. As I walked Millie I noticed lots of spiders webs on the bushes covered in water droplets. Not as pretty to photograph as when they are covered in frost but still fascinating to see all the drops of water hanging from the web like beads.

Day 70 - March 11th

Spring is certainly in the air - finally! There are colourful flowers popping up all over the garden.

Day 69 - March 10th

When I make cards or scrapbook pages I generate a lot of paper scraps. Some of the scraps I use in other projects but I still end up with lots of scrap paper. I decided to make up some small scrap paper packs to sell to other crafters. I'm not sure whether to put them on Ebay or Etsy. Etsy would probably eb the better option, but Ebay would be easier. I'll have to give it some thought.

Day 68 - March 9th

Parts of the country today enjoyed the warmest weather of the year with temperatures in some places reaching 20C for the first time since October. Tux seized the opportunity to do some sun worshipping and choose a nice sunny spot in the garden next to a bush which he moved underneath when he got too hot.