Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Monday, March 10, 2008

In Like A Lion



March has most certainly come in like a lion this year so hopefully it will eventually go out like a lamb and we shall finish the month with some nice, warm Spring weather. The wind has been very strong during the last week and has brought down several big trees in the woods where I walk Bilbo Baggins. Here he is standing by one that is partially blocking the path.


This tree was snapped clean in two, below is the top half which is lying on the ground.




Another tree blown over in the meadow beside the wood, this was all last weekend before 'the worst storm of the winter' and there are at least two other major trees down that I've seen. The southern counties have had it much worse than we have here in the North - our turn apparently comes tonight!


It isn't all doom and gloom though, there are many signs of Spring including these hazel catkins and...


....the pussy willow.


I've been busy with the knitting needles recently and have just finished this 'bump' jumper for Cesca who is expecting another baby in July. It's folded to show the ribbon fastening at the sides which expands as required.


This shows the back of the jumper. I'm rather pleased with the way it's turned out.


Miss Kaitlyn came to see how Grandad was feeling, she hasn't seen him for a month because after the radioiodine scan he had to avoid the children and young female members of the family because he was radioactive.

I really am hoping to post more regularly now if I can get near my computer. DH has taken to family history in a big way and is currently updating all the computer records. I prefer working with my paper records so I only update the computer now and again and am bad about naming sources etc. So I'm being taken in hand! It's great as it helps me a lot and also gives DH a meaningful way to pass the time while he's largely confined to barracks. Drinking 10 pints of water every day tends to limit his outside activities :):)

I'd like to say 'thank you' for all the lovely comments that have been left. I shall try to get round to everyone's blogs over the next few days.

25 comments:

Sharon J said...

Seems like the storms have hit your area worse than ours, although I have to admit that I haven't had a chance to have a proper look around. We did have some freak winds and rain that only lasted about 20 minutes this afternoon, though, then the sun came back out and there was hardly a breeze. Very odd.

The jumper's lovely.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry about the illness of your husband! I hope his health is starting to straighten out and a resolution has been found.

Linda Brown

smilnsigh said...

I'm so glad to see an entry here. Don't worry about going round to everyone's blogs. Just keep us updated on you and yours, and enjoy your computer time, however is best for you.

I'm glad he has this to occupy him, while he's "confined." Men don't like being confinedd! Eeeek! No! So good he's been taken with this project.

Mari-Nanci

Sheila said...

I hope that terrible storm has blown itself out by the time it reaches you. The 'bump' jumper is a great idea, I've never seen one before.
I'm glad your husband is feeling better, even if he is being subjected to the water torture.
I'm also glad you posted, I meant to write at the weekend, but as usual it flew by. Will do so soon.
hugs
xx

Aimz said...

yes, I hope your husband is doing alot better. Prayers for him going out from here. Lovely knitting btw, I'm still trying to de-code the knitting patterns...

Leanne said...

lovely to see yuo posting again Rowan, and glad life is settling down a little for you too

Leanne x

Lila Rostenberg said...

Perhaps they way March enters our world shows us that changes are not always serene! We have had crazy weather too on our way to fields of daffodils!
I love the jumper (we would say "sweater", funny!) you knitted, very clever!

rel said...

Rowan,
I'm elated to see you back, I've missed you terribly.
The lion has definitley been on the prowl here in northern NY this first part of march. Last weekend I spent at the hospital for fear that I'd not be able to drive there in an emergency due to the malicious snow storm that lasted 2 1/2 days. It's the biggest winter storm to assail us here in 10 years or so.
I canidentify with DH, since I'm a stickler for documentation on my computer geneology program. It's great for the two of you to be working together on that project.
rel

Breezy said...

Good to see you back Rowan

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Welcome back Rowan! Congratulations on the impending new grand-baby. The jumper is lovely and so is Kaitlyn!
Hope you husband goes on well and lets you on the computer occasionally!

Tea said...

What a mess the winds made of those trees. Hope you didn`t get worse afterwards! Such delicate work in that pretty jumper and Miss Kaitlyn is so cute Rowan!

tea
xo

Linda G. said...

I always enjoy a ramble with you and Mr. B.:)
I'm so hoping for out like a lamb here. Our winter weather was mild compared to that of much of the world, but it seems a reluctant spring.
I'm glad your DH is recovering from the detestable tests and your Grandchildren can resume their visits.:)

We had so much computer rivalry, we finally broke down and got a second computer. It was well worth it!

Jenny said...

It was a nice surprise to see a new post from you- I was so glad to read that things are starting to improve with your husband. We had some bad wind storms a couple of weeks ago, and we're still picking up sticks and branches- I hope your storm wasn't too bad. Your Kaitlyn is a doll- I'll bet seeing her made your husband feel as good as any medicine! I do hope you'll be able to post more often...if you can get on the computer that is! :o)

kathyann said...

Rowan,so glad that your husband is improving!Congratulations another grandchild,something nice to look forward to!Love the swaeater,I don't have enough patience for much knitting at the moment,but its lovely to see what others are doing!Take care,Love from Kathyann and the girls

Mary said...

Thanks so much for stopping by and cheering up my morning!
So pleased to know your dh is doing OK and hope he is no longer 'glowing'! Give him my best wishes.
Your little granddaughter is so sweet.

I missed your great posts around the countryside Rowan and I'm happy you will continue to be blogging. Hope the weather improves there and Spring arrives soon - after all, there's nothing like an English Spring. Right now I picture primroses in the hedgerows, sigh!
.....and if I don't get out there and walk more, forget the baby, I'll be needing a 'bump jumper' too, lol!!!!

PAT said...

Hello Rowan,

Thanks so much for stopping by the back porch. It's good to hear your husband is feeling better.

The photos of the wind damage are amazing. We haven't had much wind here yet, this year. I've seen a few signs of spring's arrival and the temperatures are improving, too!

Little Miss K is so cute. I'll bet she was very very happy to see her Grandad and he was happy to see her!

The bump jumper is a neat idea!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Pat

Kim said...

Oooh, Rowan, that jumper is exquisite. I would wear it with or without a bump! It's gorgeous and unlike Alice I love beige :)

Isn't Kaitlin a little doll, bless her :)

Kim x

Rosie said...

Family history can take over a bit, can't it? So absorbing though and good for passing the 'confined to barracks' time:) Your knitting looks so pretty and neat and the colour is lovely - I've been trying to knit an easter rabbit - by the time I'd finished it looked a bit strange - I made his mouth lop sided and he looks a little disgruntled so I've nicknamed him 'the hot, cross, bunny'.

Julie said...

Hi, Rowan,

Sorry you had those storms but I am happy to see the pussy willows.

Your granddaughter is such a sweetie. I'm glad that she can come and visit you now.

Regarding the computer, you'll just have to demand equal time! My husband never uses the computer, but when my daughter was in high school and we had our foreign exchange student here as well, I could never use the computer. And at that time the computer was connected to our phone line so I could never call home either!

Raindrops said...

Nice to see you posting again Tricia

Janet said...

Oh my goodness! Those storms must have been bad. I hope all is well with you as you mentioned another one was due in a couple of days.

And what good news that there's a new baby on the way, too! As for the computer, I know very well how it is to share it with hubby. But isn't it nice that your husband is helping with the family history.

kate smudges said...

You are a wonderful knitter, Rowan. Cesca's jumper turned out beautifully. She will enjoy wearing this I am sure.

I'm glad to hear that little Kaitlyn is able to visit her grandpapa again!

Bilbo Baggins looks as if he isn't at all pleased with all the downed trees. What a storm that must have been!

Anonymous said...

Great pictures. Such a shame about the trees. That willow is so beautiful !! I love the little sweater it's so cte !! You have a lovely granddaughter, she looks very sweet. I'm so glad hubby is doing better. Searching for your family history is a great way to pass the time. I like it very much myself.
Have a great day !!!

Annie Jeffries said...

Hi Rowan, I was exploring earlier posts in your blog and ran across the wind and trees battle (trees lost) in March. I thought you would like to see what happened last week in front of the building where I work. Also, I DO hope that things are improving with your husband. Every thought is a prayer, Annie

http://inmidreamz.blogspot.com/2008/05/wind-in-magnolia-tree.html

ancient one said...

Came over to check you out... found out things I didn't know... Hope you husband is doing ok...I enjoyed all the walking and the insides of the churches, etc.. I don't think I can be historied out...LOL And that was a fine old pigsty.. Do you walk across those pastures alone? I can't even get in the goat pen at my house... I'm scared of all the animals...LOL... Love your blog!!