Spring

It’s finally here and the sun’s shining. Jay has Covid and so far Joe and I don’t, but there’s a strong chance we’ll see the Line of Doom appearing on our tests in the foreseeable future.

Weekend was exhausting as Jay does a lot around the house and with Joe, and his being banished to the spare bedroom meant I was effectively lone parenting. Trust me, my mum did it for many years (with two kids, not one) and I absolutely appreciate how hard it is. Just two days of it had me exhausted, what with endless chores and trying to keep Joe entertained without resorting to the Nintendo for the duration. Although it did happen here and there, and I’m OK with that.

We went up to Colden on Saturday so he could show me the woods they play in at after school club, and we took a picnic and cameras. It was dazzlingly bright but windy too. I don’t like taking photos in the bright sunshine (all that harsh contrast) but we’ve saved the pictures for a new Joe’s Nature Notes post, coming later this week.

We also made wild garlic pesto with our foragings.

On Thursday I did a walk alone around Heptonstall. It was a bit cloudier but there were lots of signs of spring about.

The woods still looked a bit colourless. I managed to veer off the usual path and finally realising my mistake, had to scale a very steep bank (with the help of various saplings to help pull me up) then climb a dry stone wall at the top. There were literally no places to get a foothold so it was a scramble.

I don’t think anyone saw me.

There was also one of those comedy moments where you’re sure you’re being followed.

Every time I stopped and looked behind me, the sheep stopped. Every time I set off again, so did they.

They were unusually friendly and liked being stroked. I was talking to them in the silly voice I reserve for animals, and after a bit they suddenly looked startled and ran off. I turned to see a man right behind me who’d just climbed the stile and although he was polite I knew he’d heard everything.

But the main thing was I managed to reach school in time to collect Joe, even after getting a bit lost.

At home, we’ve been planting flower seeds (sunflowers, black nasturtium, craspedia, strawflowers) and have pumpkin, squash and calendula at the ready for April. There are bumble bees out in the garden, and ladybirds. I’ve been drinking tea out there on the bench - and one evening last week, gin with my friend Louise. We just wrapped up warm and talked loads as we usually do and it’s good to know she lives just around the corner.

Of course, the 800 calories a day has slipped a bit. But not too much if I’m honest; I’m still eating well and sensibly. And I seem to have developed a bit of a habit for it now so no snacking or suppers and that’s fine.

I’m still writing, too - in fact, I’ve got this week off work and have plans for plenty of scribbling. Jay’s home but laying low and I’m hoping Joe doesn’t test positive and end up at home too (even though he really wants to)…

I finally bit the bullet and decided to transfer all 700+ photos from Joe’s camera onto the computer. The vast majority were extreme closeups of Lego, himself, the TV screen and so on. They were pretty surreal. But I found some good ones too: from Skye, and of Mackie. I still miss him a lot. Hopefully once we move into our own house we can get another cat or two.

So, the photos. There were a couple of yours truly with a camera as I usually am. These last two made me long for summer.

I’m not usually that big on summer but it feels like we’ve had a long winter and the thought of warm days and wildflowers, light nights and lazing in the grass… well. It’ll soon be here.

So a week (fingers crossed) of pottering, walking, writing and not multi-tasking - bookended each day by the school run, of course - lies ahead. It’s supposed to stay dry for the next ten days or so.

There haven’t been many comments on the past few posts - I don’t know if anyone’s reading or not and I don’t really look at ‘stats’. If you’re out there I hope you’re keeping on despite the news reports and uncertainty. We’re living in worrying times. Covid, conflict, cost of living. All beyond our control.

But the sun’s out and there are good things to be found in each day. Trying not to look too far ahead is useful. So before summer, spring. Bluebells and hawthorn blossoms and hedgerows.