Last week a bud, This Week a Flower

Hello everyone.

January has come to an end, and a new month has just begun. For much of last month, the weather was dull and wet, but some things still made me smile. 

I showed you my Amaryllis last week. A vey small bulb that seemed to hold little in the way of beautiful blooms. I waited and waited and then suddenly, almost overnight two buds appeared. Now the buds have opened to reveal these amazing flowers.

The outside of each flower petal look as though it has been shaded and painted by hand with all those markings; it is so pretty. The reverse side of the petals is a peachy orange with streaks of pink. It has turned out to be quite a stunnung plant and worth the wait. It would be lovely if I could get it to flower again next year.

It was also a week for catching up with family and friends—time to enjoy time together over coffee, cake and meals. 

On Saturday, my niece and her family joined us for the evening, and after we had eaten, we played this game. While Monopoly (The Original version) is familiar to some of you, you may not be aware of this one. 

The game was not a British invention; it originated in the United States and is based on a 1904 patented game by Elizabeth Magie. A UK version was later licensed by Waddingtons. This is the London version, most recognised as the game we either love or hate!

There are now many versions of the game, some based on towns and cities and some based on other concepts. The version we played on Saturday involved hidden keys and money in a coded vault. Guess the correct code, and everything in the vault is yours!

That wasn't the only mystery we had while playing the game. Somehow, D kept moving around the board without landing on any of the properties. In the end, I don't think she landed on any property the entire game. It was truly bizarre and left us all a bit flabbergasted. We are still not sure how she managed this amazing feat!

It was a good game, and there was much laughter—a great evening spent with family.

As the days begin to lengthen and Spring grows ever closer, here's to the new month of February. I hope we all find things to make us smile and bring us joy. Have a lovely week, everyone.

 

B x

Colours

Hello everyone, and thank you for calling in to visit this small corner. It is good to know you dropped by, whether you comment or just read. D and I are glad you are here.

I hope that you are enjoying your weekend and that you find time to relax and enjoy the things that make you happy.

Today had been mostly dry, although the rain returned this evening. 

After a bout of cold germs that have been lurking around for a week or two, I have been looking for some brightness and colour to enjoy. This morning, I ventured into the garden and was glad to see the first signs of new growth with bright green shoots emerging from the ground. I spotted the bright white of the snowdrops first. I have just bought some bulbs in bloom so they can be planted to join the rest of the snowdrops. In a shady corner, I also found my lovely hellebore. I have had this plant for a few years, and it seems as tough as old boots, surviving the extremes of snow, rain, storms, and heatwaves. It has not quite opened its flowers, but they will be coming, and such a lovely colour to look forward to. 

Back in the house, I had another lovely surprise this weekend. The amaryllis I thought wouldn't achieve anything this year has two beautiful buds. I can't wait to see the flowers' colours very soon.

As the weather has been quite wet this week, I have been enjoying some indoor colour and have been working on my crochet blanket. It is so bright and colourful, and I am enjoying the steady progress. I have many more rows to, but everything is from my yarn stash and has cost me nothing to make—definitely something to smile about. 

The temperature blanket I made a few years ago is also in good use during these colder months, and it is very cosy.

Finally, this week, my doll's house found a new home in the units we recently painted. Our son came and gave hubby a hand with moving it, as it is very heavy. I shall give it a good Spring clean, then do some more work on the inside so I can continue its story. It has been a while since I posted about this miniature house.

Have a lovely week, everyone, and stay warm and safe.

B x