On the subject of Blogs... and a little ramble....

First of all, thank you to all the kind people who have begun to follow my ramblings this year.

I've been reflecting a lot this week, as I've (virtually) dashed around visiting many blogs, about what attracts us to stop and make the decision to follow someone. I've seen so many creative and generous people participating in the OHOW giveaway, it's impossible to talk to them all, but, every now and then, there's a little sparkle that tells me I have to follow them on their journey. It made me think about all the different blogs I follow and how diverse they are. Some are:

• inspirational, or
• provoking and stimulating, or
• practical and instructive, or
• quirky and fun, or
• magical and spiritual, or
• just plain off the wall!

and some are a mixture of a few, or all of these!

I make it a rule that I try to comment regularly on the blogs I follow, and I want to - as most of the owners have become good on-line friends! When I first began blogging, I actually used to worry about leaving comments. I'd often read a post and all the commenters would seem to know the blog owner really well, so I'd be anxious about saying anything! I remember how thrilled I was when I got my first comments, actually realising that some kind people were interested in what I had to say.

Nowadays I always comment when finding a new blog to follow, as I've discovered, whether you have one one follower or 500, getting feedback and establishing links and relationships are such an big part of what we do. It's especially important when people are starting out. I know lots of people are silent followers, maybe some of you reading this, so next time you add a new blog to your list, do think about saying a quick "Hello"!

I decided to have a bit of a "blogspring- clean" and sort out a new background, but I'm not quite happy with it. I like the layout , but I can't decide on the background, or if I want lots of things in my sidebar, or less? My last wallpaper was pretty, but probably too pretty! I keep looking for inspiration. Some people's blogs are full of stuff and I think they look wonderful, others are empty and elegant, and I like that too. I suppose I'll have to keep playing around until it falls into place......

Even though most of my spare time has been taken up reading blogs, I have managed to complete the next piece of my project, which is - a winter aconite being visited by a (very hopeful) hover fly!


I woke up today in one of those moods where you can "quarrel with your little finger", as my mum used to say! I've been indoors too much. After a week of grey gloom, it was a beautiful day today, although still very cold. Thankfully, Andy stopped me doing chores and sent me off with my camera. Ah, he knows me so well! I was desperate to go for a walk, and so climbed the hill to the Kingsweston Estate to look for signs of Spring. The house looks stunning on these cold bright days.

I rushed to this patch of colour - but it turned out to be some beautiful honey fungus, bad for the tree, good shot for me.

It was so peaceful, with hardly any others around, so much so, that I surprised someone in the woods, and managed to get a quick snap.


I found these lovely seed heads of Traveller's Joy in the sunshine, still clinging on from the autumn -

but below, at my feet, the leaves were still dusted with silver frost.

Finally, in the gardens of the house I found my first bloom of the year, enjoying the burst of warmth - a little garden primrose.


My spirits were lifted, and I returned home a happy, skippity, bunny. ( "Thank goodness", says Andy!)