New beginnings
As the blossom appeared on the blackthorn we experienced a really cold weekend. It was a surprise then to discover that over 150 years ago William Corbbett wrote these words...
'It is a remarkable fact that there is every year of our lives, a spell of cold and angry weather just at the time this hardy little tree is in bloom. The country people call it the Black Thorn winter and thus it has been called, I dare say, by all the inhabitants of this island, from generation to generation, for a thousand years.’
Isn't it strange that some things never change! Did you experience a cold weekend too?
We just spent a weekend of drinking lots of hot drinks, reading and wrapping up with lots of extra layers when we took the dog out for walks. Our weekly visit to the bakers ending up with an impromptu brunch in a local hotel, while watching on the outside the shoppers and market stall holders who looked frozen. The food and drink were just what we needed to feel warm again.
I am off on leave this week,it will be a chance to experience how life will be when I am no longer working. It has been good today to do some de-cluttering, make some celery soup and investigate simple new routines. Does anyone have any tips? It was so much warmer and we were able to do some gardening and plant many seeds. The walk on East Beach, the first one since the rock fall was lovely, and the sea was so calm just like me!
Wishing you all a good week, until next time.
Sarah x
Sarah - your weekend sounds very blissful, I'm a tea drinker whatever the weather!
ReplyDeleteYour photo's are just lovely to look at and enjoy.
Enjoy your time off, I hope the weather remains good although the forecast for the Easter weekend does not sound promising ...
All the best Jan
Yes what a difference in a day. Your celery soup sounds delicious. It's simple pleasures like soup making that you will enjoy with your extra time. I enjoyed your information about black thorn. I always get it confused with hawthorn. Enjoy your week. B x
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a lovely weekend! I certainly felt the cold - I was outdoors from 9:30 - 4 for Forest School on Saturday and boy was I cold afterwards!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful signs of spring!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about blackthorn. We experienced that here when we got the last snow a few days ago. It had been so nice then snow and cooler weather. The snow has melted but still not warm yet here. We do gardening here in May. Thank you for the mesmerizing photos, I enjoyed them very much. Wishing you a marvelous week!
ReplyDeleteWe had a cold weekend, too, with a snow squall! Do you mean tips on retirement in general or tips for a new routine? I'd say the best part of not having to go to work is NO routine. You'll be free to change what you do every day depending on your whim at the moment! Eventually you may find a pattern that brings you joy (like a daily walk at the same time of day) or beginning your day with your journal (or start one if you've never kept one before) and a leisurely cup of coffee or tea. Puttering in the garden before it gets hot, pulling weeds and picking off bugs. In the afternoon you could read for awhile and then take a 20-minute nap! I like to shop on the same day every week. You could choose another day for laundry. Another for housecleaning, but now you can be flexible and do your chores any day that convenient. You'll wonder how you ever did everything before AND worked.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am bit to young to retire and I will be doing other things, I suppose it more tips of routines around the home. I have already found it is quite nice not to do the same things at the same time each day - it doesn't feel so much of a chore. I suppose it's trying to find the balance of getting the jobs done, having time to do the things you enjoy and also not wasting the time away. Sarah x
DeleteIt seems like a dream to think of finishing work for good. What a lovely way to spend your time xox
ReplyDeleteMy son just made celery soup that we had for dinner! After 20 days of rain we had three days of sunshine and then the first day of Spring started another series of rainy cold days :) Transitioning to "retirement" has been a challenge only in the sense that I have to curb my expectations for "having more time" to do all I want to do! There are still just 24 hours in each day. I am never bored and have a long to do list! Last week I posted about four days I just spent by the sea, but I always love to see your sea :) xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will enjoy your time off, it's only for a week so I suppose you still will have a shortage of free time. Your surrounding is so beautiful I could spend hours and hours walking over the cliffs and down to the sea watching the waves and the skies.
ReplyDeleteWish you a lot of pleasure this week!
Springtime and so beautiful pictures! What a lovely weekend...
ReplyDeleteHave a great week now and take care.
Titti
When you are no longer working, you can do the garden, go with the dog, write a cookbook? I wish you a wonderful eastertime and good weather.
ReplyDeleteSigrun
Enjoy your week and don't worry about new routines - they'll just happen as you unwind without work. It's always been the best thing I ever did (well, almost)! Certainly I really don't know how I ever fitted it in because there still aren't enough hours in the day! Ax
ReplyDeleteSarah....I sigh with joy to see spring budding everywhere! We too are seeing little green heads appear here and there. Funny, the older I get, the brighter spring becomes. ENJOY!
ReplyDeleteOur spring in Maine arrived with about 8 inches of snow. Sigh. We're hoping it didn't do too much damage to the emerging bulbs and buds.
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful pictures, Sarah! It was interesting reading that quote from William Corbbett. Spring is making an appearance here as well. It always seems like such a hope-filled season.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, love the boat photo at the endx
ReplyDeleteYes cold and windy today. Does the blackthorn produce fruit? Hope to see the pics when warmer days prevail as the cold ones are so gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe blackthorn produces sloe berries that are usually steeped in gin to make sloe gin. Sarah x
DeleteLovely to see the signs of spring down your way Sarah. There's blackthorn out along the lanes here too. Yes, the weekend was very chilly! Regarding filling your time, I often have weeks when I don't have any paid work but I am never twiddling my thumbs. There are always jobs to do, especially with a garden, pets and children. The beauty of it is that you can decide what you do when. And stop for a cuppa when you feel like it :-) Sam x
ReplyDeleteYou have captured those spring moments beautifully Sarah - I can just imagine how lovely it must have been to sit in the warmth of the hotel and enjoy your brunch - these impromptu moments are often the best.
ReplyDeleteTime is elastic. I am sure you will have no trouble finding lots to do when you retire, and as someone else said, you will wonder how you ever fitted work into your schedule. The only important thing is to enjoy your choices.
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful surroundings ~what a perfect spring day! thanks for sharing and your lovely comment x
ReplyDeleteThe temperatures did indeed dip a tad here over the weekend. Tips for retirement (I wish), keep yourself busy doing the things you love.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures of the landscape and the sea in your last posts. A good start of your new life!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the signs of spring that you spotted! I am getting into some new routines with my (sort of adapted to what I want!) bullet journal that I have written about this week if you are interested. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy I will take a look later. Sarah x
DeleteI love the photo of the blossoms on the Hawthorn, Here in Australia we often have a blast of cold weather in August, just when we are getting tired of winter...keeps us guessing.... I don't put the warm rugs away! Good luck with the de-cluttering, it is worth it in the end!
ReplyDeleteI was looking for blackthorn at the weekend but didn't see any. I'm glad it's happened though.. Perhaps now we can look forward to Spring proper!
ReplyDeleteHello dear Sarah, I'm catching up with blogs I have missed lately, sad to say I have been ill again and only just returned from a nice few days away. Beautiful photos, lots of lovely new adventures await you with your new found freedom...enjoy every moment I am sure you will find plenty to do. Happy Easter! Sharon x
ReplyDeleteI always like to visit your blog and look at your stunning pictures of beaches around your area. We also had a cold week-end, last week-end, and I had to turn the heat back on – before that, when we went to look at the quilts, it was 25 degrees C. But I read that it will be back to that temperature by Saturday, and since it is my birthday and we are not going on a trip this year, I think we’ll take a road trip around town and look at all the pretty trees in bloom. I am starting to feel better because I did get pneumonia over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteSpring or no Spring, I bet that sea is bloomin' cold still!
ReplyDeleteI haven"t tested the temperature of the water yet although some swimmers have been already seen in the sea. Sarah x
DeleteSounds like a lovely time of year at your end, Sarah. And great photos to go with it.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Definitely a "Blackthorn Winter" here in South Devon, although there is very little blackthorn in blossom yet. We saw our first on a cold coastal walk on Thursday. Still there are plenty of other spring signs such as hedgerows bursting with ramson leaves.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting to read how blackthorn is seen in the past. We've had a staggered season of blackthorn flowering this year. In the mild winter, some was already out in January here (far too early for the bees) but now some is out and some still in buds. I do love to see the sprays of blackthorn in the hedges.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week off.
Hope you have had a lovely week off. I spotted my first blackthorn blossom earlier this week -and yes, we've had a very cold snap recently! Juliex
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the signs of Spring! We have had an extremely warm day today already. I hope it cools down a little. I enjoyed your photos as always.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah - I just love the black thorn winter - yes it is amazing how things change and yet remain the same. What is the yellow flower/shrub blooming in the foreground of the one photo? Lovely photos as always. Best, Kim
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely weekend Sarah and I do believe those impromptu moments are good for both heart and soul. Take care sweet Sarah and have a lovely easter.♥
ReplyDeleteCharlie
xx
Ps. As always, your photos are stunning.
Meine liebe Sarah,
ReplyDeletehier ist die Natur noch nicht so weit. Bei Euch an der See ist es doch immer noch ein paar Grad wärmer als im Binnenland. Hier blühen nur die Osterglocken, Hyazinthen und Krokusse. Ich warte sehnsüchtig auf den Austrieb meiner Birken. Ich liebe diese frische, helle Grün. Die Welt um dich herum duftet dann nach Frühling. Samstag sollen es hier 16 Grad werden, na da kann man schon einen Tee im Garten genießen. Bin gespannt auf "Through the garden gate in March".
Die gelben Blütenbüsche, ist das Ginster?
Ich denke dein Ruhestand wird eher ein Unruhestand. Du wirst sehen, dass du gar nicht so viel Zeit hast wie du gerne hättest. Langweilig wird es dir bestimmt nicht, da bin ich mir ziemlich sicher.
Ich wünsche dir ein entspanntes, friedliches Osterfest verbunden mit dem Wunsch nach Frieden für alle Menschen.
Alle Liebe wünscht dir Barbara