A very tasty pasta, salmon and broccoli bake for supper tonight, thanks to my better half. Custom suggests white wine with fish dishes, but other than for a lunchtime aperitif on a sunny day, I much prefer red, so red it was… What’s your preference?
After a lack of interest over the last couple of years, I think I may have found my gardening mojo again… I’m certainly no expert, but it’s very satisfying to see stuff growing from seed in the greenhouse and garden. We have geraniums, sunflowers, dahlias, sweet peas, gazanias and nasturtiums all on the way, while vegetables include onions, courgettes, beans, carrots, and then salad leaves, cucumbers and tomatoes… Watch this space!
Our garage storeroom (aka my ‘man cave’) has become a dumping ground lately, so with the weather a bit on the chilly side for gardening, it’s been a day of tidying up… Lots more to do, but at least my screws, nails and bits and pieces are all under control!
I thought the hot chocolate I made for our overnight (small) visitor was pretty impressive, until she reminded me that she couldn’t have marshmallows as she is vegetarian and they contain pork gelatine. Doh! – back to square one…
… what happened to the people I gave directions to. Very true! Sign outside a café at Grindley Brook, nr Whitchurch. 
… in the garden. Some brighter weather this week has encouraged me out into the garden. So much to do at this time of year – the lawns now need mowing once a week, the terrace needs pressure washing, shrubs and plants need cutting back, and some scruffier specimens need attention. We planted these lavenders today to replace last year’s plants that didn’t look good at all. Still more work to do though!
There’s a street market in town every Wednesday, weather permitting. Most of the traders selling clothes use conventional clothes racks to display them, but this guy took a different approach, hanging clothes directly from the structure of his stall. Makes for an interesting display, especially in the wind .
44 High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, better known as ‘Queen’s Aid House’. Built in 1583 by one Thomas Cleese after a fire destroyed much of the town, it’s name reflects the help given by Queen Elizabeth 1 in raising funds to rebuild the town. Currently used as a cafe, it’s also been a shop and a private dwelling during its 400+ year history. 
Yep, you got it – May Blossom, or Flowering Hawthorn. Seen as a confirmation that spring has arrived, it’s everywhere around here at the moment. Beautiful!
This old stone bridge used to carry the A41 road over the River Meese near Newport, Shropshire, and dates back to the early 19th Century. It was bypassed in the 1950s by a pre-stressed concrete bridge and is now protected as a Grade II listed structure. 
One Day At A Time... 