Cattapilla Dreaming

I think spring may be on it’s way!

The air is still cold but the sun is warm, the sky is blue, the daffodils and primroses are coming out and there’s a soft haze over the sea.

 

I lay in bed this morning listening to a thrush singing loudly from the top of a tree and the fir trees are buzzing with nest building finches and bluetits.  I thought the frogs had returned to the undergrowth after filling the pond with frogspawn but this morning they were at it again.  The pond was heaving with croaking, mating frogs and the noise could be heard in the house!

 

 

People must be beginning to emerge from the long winter hibernation as shops are starting to order my marmalades again.  If you’re in the area  JAM  in Kenmare, a lovely place for lunch, stocks them along with a great deli in Castletownbere, TASTE, and THE STUFFED OLIVE, another foodies delight, in Bantry.

 

 

 

Cattapilla Designs Vintage Print Summer Bags are beginning to sell well again and there’s interest in the Country Living Spring Fair.  I get the feeling that we’re all heartily sick of the winter and that it’s time to celebrate it’s end.  I’m tempted to get outside and plant onion sets and potatoes as the days are now warm but the nights still bring clear cold skies so I shall have to be patient.  Wandering around the garden  looking for signs of growth - and they are there, just difficult to spot – I spied flowers on the twisted hazel.  From any distance hazel flowers are invisible, the catkins alone catching the eye, but on close inspection tiny, Schiaparelli pink flowers can be seen.  Magical.

 

 

 I have just discovered a terrific blog.  Many of you will already know of it but it’s passed me by until now.  www.yarnstorm.blogs.com  is the creation of Jane Brocket and it’s beautiful and inspirational.  Jane featured one of my Vintage Print Summer Bags on there earlier this week so of course she’s already a great favourite!

 

Dogwood, Willow and a Black & White Cat!