Friday Smiles 2026 # Week12

Well I hope your week has been as good as mine. Here at least, we have enjoyed some beautiful sunny days, making even a mundane trip to the shops a real pleasure.

Of course Sunday was special for many of us as it was Mothering Sunday. As is traditional in many churches, all the ladies who attended this Sunday were given a litle posy of flowers. This was mine, some daffodils and a sprig of forcythia from someone's garden. They have sat on my mantle all week and all have opened beautifully.

I was also given a bunch of hyacinths by one of my boys. I would never have thought of them as cut flowers, but by Monday they were all sitting up straight, and they still are. I know some folk find their scent a bit overpowering but I love it, and it is still filling the whole house.

Our son Michael invited us for dinner at his house, and as usual he cooked enough food to feed a small army. It was all delicious. His partner Lucy also had invited her mum along, and there were Lucy's two brothers, and one of their partners, plus Lucy's two boys, (Mike's son had gone to his mum's). Then with one of the visitor's lovely dog, a chocolate labrador, along with Mike and Lucy's own dog and two cats, we were quite a crowd.

This photo was taken after dinner had been enjoyed by all, and while we were waiting not very patiently for Mike to clear some of it away and serve desserts.

My contribution was a large strawberry and avocado cheese-cake. It is a combination that works well. The cheese part is a pretty shade of green, and the base is half biscuit crumb and half crushed nuts, held together with coconut oil. It is just a little bit different for a special occasion.

Our son Tom was arriving Sunday evening so Mike dropped us home with a plated roast dinner for him, which he also appreciated.

I spoke to my other boys on Sunday and last night we walked over to Jonathan's house so Tom could meet his newest niece, little Niamh. It was passed her bed time but she was happy to be held and bounced on Uncle Tom's knees, and she is such a smiley little soul, it is always good to have a cuddle. And when she wasn't sure about a new face, daddy soon got her smiling again.

Craftwise this week, the blue hot air balloon is now assembled and is a better shape than the red one. I am still at stage one with the green one, so maybe next week they will all be finished.

I also managed to finish off my scrambled square jacket. It took a while to crochet the sleeve ribbings and the edging all the way round, but I had plenty of wool to do it. I got some reasonable buttons from Amazon and I am pleased with the result.

The rest of my smiles are from the garden. The first sunny morning brought open my first tulips down by the front gate. I planted spring bulbs randomly around the garden, but I realise now that the tulips should have been planted in a group for maximum effect. But they look good and hopefully that will increase over time.

The garden is a learning curve as I slowly discover what is there. I knew one 'clump' was a heather. My dad loved heathers and I thought seeing as I have my Peace rose for mum, I should keep the heather for dad, and I am glad I did. It is suddenly in full flower and makes a lovely mound of purple.

There is a bush in the front garden that has stayed deep red with very small leaves all winter. It now has little buds forming all over it and google lens says it is a berberis.

This one made me smile. It is a bit straggley but has held its leaves all winter and they are veriegated green and cream with purple ones at the end of each stem. I now lnow this is a hebe and it has the wonderful name 'rhubarb and custard'. I think it will benefit from being cut right back and left to reform in a bushier shape.

Tom is now packing his bags ready for a train early this evening. He is staying at his older brother Jim's house in London tonight, and tomorrow he is off on a train to Amsterdam for a work conference. Then back home to Denmark next Thursday. He sure does get around.

Chris's operation is now scheduled for next Thursday so I may not get to post next week, or I may need something to keep me busy! But I won't be far away and I will post again as soon as I can.

 Thank you to all who visited me last week.