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Sunday 21 December 2014

Hope

Today marks the beginning of winter with the shortest day of the year.  We know that we will probably have many weeks of cold dismal weather to come and yet there is also cause for celebration since from now onwards the days will gradually get longer and lighter which is always hopeful.   On the subject of hope I took the above photo yesterday just a short distance from my home!  If the daffodils are in bloom can spring be far away?  Well yes it can but I am kidding myself that it is just around the corner!

 I had walked up through the wood to the local post office with the last couple of cards - they probably won't arrive in time for Christmas now but maybe they will serve as New Year cards!  The sun was peeping through the trees as I walked and the birds were singing as if they thought Spring had arrived as it was quite mild too.

 Having posted my cards I walked back along the A30 instead of through the wood the way I'd come to where I had seen a few daffodils in bloom when we passed in the car a day or so earlier and I wanted to get a photo and here they are nodding their heads happily.

Leaving the main road I walked back into the other end of the wood and made my way home.  The view between the trees was beautiful with the sun shining on the distant countryside.  I'd been feeling a bit blue and stressed for some reason but my walk and the sight of the daffodils soon had me in a more cheerful frame of mind I am glad to say. 

In spite of the daffodils it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here and yesterday I put up an outdoor tree, alongside the front door, I'd made from an idea I'd seen in a recent Landscape magazine.  Not sure I like the trunk though as it looks like a ladder - maybe I should remove it since the one in the magazine didn't have a trunk being just a simple triangle.  I am also not sure if it might look a bit naff instead of my usual wreath on the door but I thought it would be a change and the wreath makes the hall a bit dark as it hangs over the glass in the front door.  Oh well it's only for a couple of weeks anyway and then it can come down if not before as the ivy may well shrivel and die before then.

In case I don't get chance to post again before the 25th I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas however you are spending it.

19 comments:

  1. What a great idea for an outdoor tree....I love it! Merry Christmas x

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  2. I love your outdoor tree it looks lovely! I can't believe you have daffoldils in flower it must be so mild.

    A very Happy Christmas to you and yours :)

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  3. Very happy Christmas to you and your family.

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  4. It's amazing to see those daffodils out. None here, not even shoots.
    A Very Merry Christmas to you too.

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  5. Love the daffs! It is much colder up here - I must move down south soon!!

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  6. I love your little outdoor tree. And how amazing to see daffodils at this time of year. Have a wonderful Christmas:-)

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  7. I love your outdoor tree, it's brilliant. And how amazing to see daffodils before Christmas, it doesn't seem right. I hope you're feeling chirpier and less stressed now, and that you have a wonderful Christmas. CJ xx

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  8. I love your outdoor tree Jane!
    Lovely post too, it's great to see the daffs, as you well know I'm a big fan of the solstice and spring just being around the corner. :)
    Have a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2015!
    V x

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  9. Seeing those daffodils in full bloom seems a bit surreal Jane but they are gorgeous to look at at any time. I am in awe of that tree. What a great , sustainable, idea. I must make a note of that for a future year. Thank you for the card, it was lovely. Now the solstice is over it's all uphill to midsummer. Looking forward to another year of your thoughtful posts in 2015. Wishing you both a wonderful New Year.

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  10. I Love your Christmas tree, especially the star on top! Hope you have a lovely Christmas, and I'll look forward to more arty outings in the new year. C x

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  11. Daffodils! Here in Finland it started to snow this morning and we are so happy to have WHITE CHRISTMAS.
    Merry Christmas!

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  12. You see, no-one thinks your tree is naff, it looks very good.

    How lovely to see Daffodils in bloom so early but I hope that there are more to come in the spring.

    Have a lovely Christmas yourself, see you next year.

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  13. Your tree is unique and charming. What a great idea. Daffodils already? That's something! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  14. I'm not really a jealous person, but I did feel a pang about daffodils in December........In northeast Ohio they are months away! (Except as house plants.)

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  15. We have daffs here in Somerset too. Love the little tree.
    Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful new year. M x

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  16. Happy Christmas Jane. Your outdoor tree is lovely. x

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  17. Have a merry and safe Christmas Jane. The daffodils are such a sweet little Christmas gift. I like your tree. Thank you for sharing your daily life with us.

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  18. I do hope you had a good Christmas and a great New Year :D

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  19. I drove past the daffodils today and thought of you! Is there anywhere else where they appear so early? Happy New Year. Lizzie x

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