Restorative beauty

 Hello there,

I hope you are well.
The sun shone beautifully today. I've had a rare weekend without any particular plans and that was good for me.  Despite this, I haven't wanted to blog. I found out on Friday, that a dear family friend who I count as a close-aunt, only has weeks to live. She's the lady who helped me make my dalek costume and has featured in my life since my birth, a church friend who is involved in theatre, music, dancing, all sorts. I went to see her on Friday and she didn't actually tell me the bit about how she only has a certain amount of time, she told me that she had tumours all over her body. My mum told me when I spoke to her later. It was such a shock and I can scarcely believe it. She's only just found out as her GP has just been telling her she's anaemic or it's the aftermath of a virus she had 2 years ago,  when she's been feeling really unwell, I've never been in that situation before where someone close to you has been told that they only have weeks. It is a great shock. She has always been there.  Part of me refuses to accept and I will continue to pray that the situation can be changed. I had a friend whose child had a serious heart-condition which bamboozled the experts by vanishing inexplicably, so I know there might always be hope.  She was remarkably chipper and cheerful as I visited her which is testimony to her strength.

Anyway, as I arose very late today, I felt like I really wanted be outside. I know that spending time outside with trees,grass, flowers and leaves tends to ground me and makes me feel like I am alright with the world again.

I popped into the garden where my new neighbour (who I met yesterday) was just coming in from some gardening next door. We had a chat and then I decided to mow the lawn whilst I had the chance, knowing that I would not be able to do it for a few weekends.

Before I did it, I went to look at and see what was beautiful.

 This beautiful shrub has suddenly burst alive with miniature white blossoms all over.

 When I moved, my bike with lavender was looking all dead and miserable but it has suddenly erupted with new foliage.

 Even the holly was sparkling and new.

 More daffodils had come to trumpet the herald that Spring is coming or has come.

 I never fail to be delighted by them.

 Even their proud leaves make me smile.

 This lot were making an escape bid.

 Hello there.

 Looking back towards the house, I was quite warm in the sun.

Eventually, I left my explorations and began the hard work. I've never mowed such a large lawn before.

It's one of those jobs that snowballs.

I needed to mow on a higher blade setting because the grass was quite long.  Half way down the garden, I noticed the inordinate amount of dead leaves that were scattered over most of the edges of the lawn.

I then raked the lawn and collected up leaves in the wheelie for about half an hour. There are still loads! 

Then I noticed the fern-tree and various shrubs were lolling all over the grass.  So I then pruned and hacked at those for a while.

Eventually I returned to the lawn and then went round the whole again on a lower-blade setting and finished it. I emptied the grass-box about 6 times.

 The wheelie was full as well as both compost bins.

 And the garden looked beautiful.

I felt calmer, more restored and happier. It made me more productive and I continued inside, emptying all the boxes of books bar 2 onto the book shelves, hoovering, cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, doing 4 loads of washing. dusting, folding washing. 

I am so grateful for this sunny day. It doesn't make sadness go away but all things look less bleak with a sunny perspective.

Sending you best wishes and blessings.

xxx