During a blustery weekend when there was a lull in the wind and rain we went to the local garden centre. Even though water was running off the hills it was amazing to see the sheep and cows were out in the fields.
We were not the only vistors and although parts of the car park, the grounds and café were closed because the garden centre staff were preparing for the storm to come our way, there were plenty of areas under cover.
The displays in the home decoration department were looking attractive.
Here's a similar lovely ornamental candle holder.
Midweek we had flurries of heavy rain and sleety snow which didn't settle for long as the sun came out to melt the icy particles on the ground.
Thank goodness for the covered yard which gives us more insulation, shelter and space for ourselves, the overwintered plants and an extra place to start sowing seeds.
sweet pea seedlings
We could add the ones we got at the garden centre nursery to the collection in the tin.
Yesterday I took another walk around our neighbourhood. The snowdrops, crocuses and a few daffodils are out in the churchyard. The carpets of daffodils planted in the old churchyard are still in bud.
the former carriage drive, the church and vicarage in the background
It's uplifting for me to see the snowdrops as another year and February has come around.
I made a chocolate cake with my usual recipe using three eggs and a larger quantity of self raising flour and it rose well! There's a chocolate butter cream filling. I've decorated the top with some dried rose buds and petals. In the above photo you can see the first lot of tomato seedlings for this year.
