spring rain

 We finally received some rain - it has been quite a while since it really rained here and everything was way too dry. The early crops were already beginning to fail - seems there is a problem every year in spring now. Either too cold, hailstorms, too dry... it is always something.
But now we did get some rain - not enough - but we can still hope for more. Everything in my garden got washed and now it seems so incredibly green. And the spring flowers...

Alpine clematis

Columbine

Ferns look so fascinating when they unfurl

Seems like Murr finds them fascinating too. This is the little guy that has 'occupated' our house since early February. Apparently, he thinks this is his home. I haven't been able to trace any owners, so I guess now it is.

out in the garden

We are having amazing weather and instead of rummaging through boxes at the flea market, I am rummaging through the plant debris in my garden - sort of spring cleaning, I guess.
The weather is very warm for April. Not likely to stay that way, but warmth and sunshine are very welcome after the long winter. The kitties are loving it. The birds are loving it. I am loving it. Even the plants are loving it. Take a look....

Clematis shoots.

Bleeding heart shoots, surrounded by columbines.

Primroses.

Hellebores. I love hellebores...

Wild violets. These pop up in the garden wherever they want. They're wild things, don't you know.

Wishing you a wonderful spring Sunday, wherever in the world you are!

Sunday flea market

I know there are some of you out there that have been asking yourselves when was I finally going to hit the flea market again. Well, you are in luck today - because the big flea market 'came to town'. Although the weather  was overcast, it didn't rain while we were there. It wasn't as nice and warm as the last few days - but we are still talking temps above freezing, so that is okay with me. I was glad to get back into the warmth by the time we were done, though.

I did see something rather unusual - but I didn't bring it home...

I think this is a water buffalo skull  - the carving is amazing.

 These are the treasures I found and brought home...

Apparently it was the day of thimbles - I was seeing them everywhere. A cute little padlock without a key. And a piece of Baltic amber.

Some very long crystal chandelier prisms.

Protective cases for pocket watches in varying sizes and conditions - I pounced on these!

Cuff link findings in a rose gold finish - I have never seen them being sold as findings, so I couldn't resist these.

Can we pass by this kind of bling??  These were samples from a manufacturer of costume jewelry, as can be seen by the tags. Most likely from the 50s...

A rare find - an antique mourning brooch of French jet - which is black glass. It had to come along. This will have to be turned into something special...

No - I didn't find this at the flea market. I dressed up my doorstep in spring yesterday. Filled the basket with posies and moss and there is a hyacinth in there somewhere that is not quite ready to bloom - but will as soon as the sun comes out again.

I wish you all a wonderful spring Sunday with lots of sun, where ever you are!

inviting spring and work in progress

Hoping this arrangement by my front door will coax spring out into the open. It has been a glorious sunny day...

 while I was working on these. Silk rods and copper.

Mute Monday

Snowdrops and kitties

A beautiful spring day - I went out to look at my snowdrops.

My kitties were out enjoying the sun and came along to see what I was doing.

Kiki

The helleborus will be blooming soon.

Socks

Captain - doing some serious claw sharpening

Kiki and Casanova

My poor foxglove got badly flattened by all
that snow - but it will come around

Evidence of spring

I have been hearing different songs early in the mornings of this week. The birds have changed their tunes. They are singing spring songs.
So, as today is a wonderfully sunny day, I went out to the garden to look for other signs of spring.

What a glorious blue sky!!!

My snowdrops! To think they have been growing underneath all that snow!

The Helleborus are coming too!

Some foxglove - successfully braving the snow.

Swelling buds on the cherry tree.

No, these are store bought signs of spring - some tulips to greet me at the door.

More store bought springiness. I need a bit of colour to brighten the days without sunshine.

I'm hoping it won't be too long now. And tomorrow, the big flea market will take place. Since the weather is promising to be mild tomorrow, I will definitely be going.

Photo blog today

unraveling ferns

Helleborus - I love how the flowers turn green and stay until the seeds are ripe

White violets - there are hundreds of them!

Lunaria - this was too much for my camera. Actually, the flowers are lilac coloured and the wall is a soft ochre ton; the combination of the two was more than my camera could take care of. Somehow I like this vibrant colour, wish I could find a flower that really looked like this!

Setting sun in the background, flowering pear tree in the front

Meet Casanova - a stray that stayed. He is the father of Captain, Kiki and Socks, who you will be meeting soon.

More signs of spring

fragrant violet

They're here, the violets are blooming! Tiny little blossoms in the grass, vibrant with colour.

Helleborus

These are now in full bloom. I just love those little freckles.

Anemone

I don't even know what these delicate little flowers are called in English. They grow wild in the woods and where they do, they cover the ground like a carpet of lace.

Kiki

This is Kiki, one of Captain's two sisters. She likes to follow me around the garden, talking to me with her tiny little voice and will lay down on her back directly in front of my feet, because she wants a tummy rub. She loves spring too, because the cat nip starts growing again.

And yet another piece for the Jewellery Challenge

Stacked Spinner Necklace/Pendant

This is another project from Deryn Mentock's Jewellery Challenge. This pendant is made of bronze, etched copper, brass and silber. The pieces make a lovely jingling sound as they move. I etched the copper myself.

I can hardly believe it - last week we had snow and now it seems, it is already spring. Look what I found in my garden today:

Snowdrops

Helleborus

The first flowers of the season. I was looking for my violets, but not a sign of them yet. I did see a butterfly, though! And I can see the buds on almost all the plants or the first shoots coming up out of the ground. The columbines are just starting to put out their beautiful delicate leaves. Since the weather report is promising us very mild temperatures (17°-19°C), sunshine and maybe a bit of rain on Sunday, I expect to be hearing tiny explosions in the garden as all the buds burst!! ;) Welcome Spring, I am so glad you have finally arrived!!