A rescue

You may have read of the near tragedy concerning the Viking Sky Cruise ship this week.

Sailing towards Norway, apparently the engines failed, and as the ship struggled in a terrible storm it became apparent that a rescue was necessary.

We watched parts of it on the news. A rescue boat could not reach the cruise ship due to the enormous waves, so five helicopters were brought in.....for over 1000 people!

I Cannot imagine anything more terrifying than hanging from a helicopter over a tossing sea and a lurching ship.

What we hadn't realised was that one of our close friends was actually on board. We knew that she was cruising but thought that she had returned the week before.

Suddenly it becomes close to home and something that was just 'newsworthy' is horribly real.

She and her companion were winched off but suffered some injuries. 

We are so thankful that nothing worse happened.

Apricot Foxx

I planted several pots of Tulips this year, some were bulbs from last year, and these new ones were bought from Sarah Raven.

Seeing them in their pot didn't prepare me for their look when I brought some indoors.

 As the flowers opened they seemed to get bigger and bigger.

The pinky ones are called Apricot Foxx, and so many people have asked if they are real!

They remind me of some of the early Dutch paintings.

The shading on the petals changes with the light.

Are they tissue? Are they silk?

No, they are really real, and unlike any others I have grown.

I can't stop looking at them!

Not a sponsored post, though I do regard Sarah Raven as one of the best growers around.

New fabric.

I'm playing with fabric squares.

It's a new design from Tilda, called Apple Butter.

I'm not sure what I will eventually be making, but I'm enjoying sorting out the colours. So pretty.

Garden snippets

I am not a clever photographer. I take my little Canon and snap whatever I wish. Hence slightly blurred, out of focus, listing to one side pictures. 

This morning I wanted to record the things that are coming alive at the beginning of March.

Below is the crown of my lovely Pulsatilla, (Pasque flower) bought in France and growing well here. It has a cluster of flower heads and looking carefully one can just see a deep red petal. It will be a huge cushion of flower eventually.

Next, a little clump of Primroses nestling up against some pretty Pulmonaria, sent to me some years ago by Lynne. There is something so fresh and innocent about the Primrose.

This may look odd, but these are my sturdy Potato bags. So much easier for me than digging a bed. I just put four prepared potatoes in each bag, top up with compost, and wait. As the potatoes grow so I top up again. Last year I had a very good harvest from my two bags.

The first buds on my Pear tree.

We have managed to succeed with pears only once.

Maybe this year?

 Aubrietia does seem to suit a low wall and it is happy next to the Arabis.

The little daffodils are just about to finish now, but have been a blaze of colour together with my favourite primroses...again!

 And one more, a pretty pink one.

I want to be like Little Grey Rabbit and pick posies of them, and maybe make primrose wine? but I think they are just as pretty left in the flower beds.

I love the beginnings of my Spring garden.

Village moments

We have mostly lived our lives in a village situation, just a few years in a town, but escaped that as soon as possible.

Village means Community and people caring about each other. 

Playing Place, our village, is small, but has the usual shop, post office and village hall.

Each month there is a simple lunch in the Hall, for anyone in the village.  Home made soup is served, with rolls, followed by desserts, cheese and tea or coffee. You pay what ever you can.

Last month my husband had only just come out of hospital, so we knew we couldn't go.

But, there was a knock on the door, and there stood one of the ladies with a huge jug of the most delicious mushroom soup. 

That was such a kind thing to do.

Tulips brought by a local friend who thought 'I needed flowers'.

I was in the waiting room at  our local dentist in the next village about two miles away.

I watched as a Fish van drew up in the parking area, and out stepped a gentleman in blue and white striped apron. I thought maybe he was coming for an appointment.

He came in, spoke to one of the receptionists and then went out to wait by the Fish van.

A few minutes later one of the dentists hurried out to the van, chatted to the Fish seller and chose his fish. He came in carrying what looked like a bag of very nice trout.

Would you see that in a town?