Japan and home again

Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon in Japan, then got home in time for tea. 

Peace and quiet.

This is the lovely Japanese Meditation Gardens which are just down the road from where I live.  It seems rather odd to find this little gem tucked away in a Nottinghamshire village.  

There wasn't a soul around, so I just sat and listened to the bird song.  

A rare treat to just sit and think and do nothing, before heading home to the usual noise and demands of everyday life. 

Ahhhhhh, so relaxed. 

P.S  Thanks for all the messages left on the last post, in fact on all the posts.  I don't always have time to reply, but I read them all and I am very touched that people take time to comment. 

Sad news from the Duck Maternity Ward

We found our poor wild duck dead today.

Pretty Mrs Duck sitting by the bluebells

We thought she might be poorly as she normally comes over and feeds when we go outside, but she had not left her nest for a couple of days.  We put water and food next to her, but she didn't seem interested.

This morning we saw her up and about under the apple trees so thought she might be better.  Then sadly at lunchtime we looked out of the window and saw she was dead.

We were unsure what to do with the nest (partly as it is illegal to move eggs).  We had a look at the eggs and I don't think any were viable (we shone a torch through them and there was no sign of life) I think they might have got cold early on when she first got poorly.

Part of me wanted to try and save the eggs, but it is not for me to do.  This is part of nature.

The children were ever so sad and were struggling with the concept of death.



A sad day in our little garden.

April budget has all gone to pot

It is only the 14th April and already my budget for food for the month has nearly run out.  Ooops.  I have £19 to last me until May.

We have had a very sociable couple of weeks which seems to have eaten all my money.

We had my sister and her family to stay - all of whom eat different things and prefer branded stuff (they came to the wrong house here then!).  We then had an Easter party for 20 people, a dinner party for friends last night, husbands family coming for lunch today and we are out again for dinner tonight.

So my poor food pot is looking very empty.

I am not really complaining as it has been lovely to catch up with so many people.

I shall just have to make the most of what is in the cupboards and freezer. Plus work our way through the stash of Easter eggs that we have been given - I didn't think I would say this, but I think I have gone off chocolate!

Tuesday Morning Quote

'The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it'.

Henry David Thoreau

Happy Easter

How I have spent my Easter Sunday.......

The Happiness Revolution!

I am joining in with the lovely Astra's Happiness Revolution.  Have a look at her blog here.

Just think of 10 things that are making you happy this month, write them down and grab the banner above for your post! Lets forget about the negatives for a minute, turn off the news and give some attention to all the good things in our lives!

The 10 things making me happy these days are:

1. Having lovely friends over today for an Easter Egg hunt.
2. Watching the season change and Spring arriving with a flourish of blossom and new green leaves. 
3. Watching the birds in the garden, especially the blue tits busily building a nest. 
4. Mrs Duck nesting in the garden and her now sitting on her clutch of 16 eggs - I hope they all hatch! 
5. Listening to the children laugh. 
6. My lovely house - it makes me very happy to live here. 
7. My family and my in-laws - I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family. 
8. Meeting a freinds new baby today and having lots of baby cuddles. 
9. Veggies growing at the allotment - I spied the asparagus growing - my favourite vegetable.
10. My husband.  My best friend and the person who makes me laugh most in the world. 

Happy Easter to everyone.  

Duck News

My blog seems to have been taken over by the wild ducks living in my garden.

Whilst hanging out the washing yesterday morning I heard Mrs Duck scratching around under the shrubs by the shed.

Looking closer, this is what I spied.........

I counted 12 beautiful pale blue duck eggs this morning.  

So happy! 

I am going to have to construct a fence of some kind to protect her and her eggs as we are holding an Easter Egg hunt in the garden on Friday and we have twelve under 5's coming for the day.  Mmmmm could be trouble!