The Simple Pleasures

Yes, simple pleasures were running through my mind as I wrote this post looking out on my garden which had been basically left to look after itself over the half term break.  In particular the beautiful daisies that I have been nurturing between the inevitable lawn mowing.  Such dainty, simple flowers that instill so much joy to me.  I know most people regard them as a weed, and they are spreading slightly, but these cheery little flowers always makes me smile.

Now, back to my post properly, I can always tell if Mr and Miss Teenager have had a good half term break from school from the amount of fighting disagreements they have.  After all these years I think I have found the formula, don't tell them what they will be doing each day...just pile them in the car and do it.  They are then in the frame of mind of "where is she taking us", "well, actually, this looks interesting", "let's go and see".  Their half term break took them to Chelmsford in Essex to see their new cousin, Burghley House in Stamford for a fantastic country fair (post here), London (post here), and little pockets of local visits.  By the time Saturday came I had the last trip planned, to the seaside.  I was practically crawling by this stage as I had not had a break at all, in fact I was quite looking forward to going back to work to sit at my desk!  Being in my mid 40's my age is finally catching up with me!  The weather in 'Sunny Hunny' - Hunstanton, was not great, but pleasant enough for a walk on the beach, fish and chips and a play on the 2p machines.  But as I was hobbling walking along, my mind was only on reflecting on things around me, the simple pleasures.

The rocks on the beach.

The sea breaks.

The waves coming in to shore and that sound it makes as it hisses on the pebbles.

The ponies waiting to exercise their legs on the massaging sand.

The seagulls riding the breeze.

My two teenagers together...nicely!

After that, it was 'ME' time.  I HAD to rest...SERIOUSLY!  My simple pleasure was to just take stock of what was going on in the garden.  I had nearly failed to see the ringed dove building her nest in the cherry blossom.

I had nearly failed to see the new blackbird chick who had now seen our garden as a happy, safe haven.

I had almost failed to see the first rose.

There are many more to come.

I had nearly failed to see the new colours that were now appearing in my patch of a garden.  The aquilegia...

 ...French Lavender with it's beautiful purple butterfly wings dancing in the breeze...

...the grape vine unfolding it's flavoursome leaves, ready for me and Miss Teenager to eat later in the year as Dolmades...

 ...my herb bed is growing so quickly, ready for me to keep cutting and filling up jugs of herbs in my kitchen...

 ...the mustard flowers ready for a salad...

 ...the beautiful stems of pink penstemon...

 ...blue flowers amongst the ivy with a little eight legged visitor...

...strawberry flowers are popping up everywhere!

...sweet rocket...

...the colours are all beginning to come through the luscious green...how long we have waited!

 Spider's are having to renew their webs with the abundance of insects for their larders. 

My feet were sore, my legs ached from all the walking during the half term, my mind just wanted to drift off and think of...nothing.  But, in my garden the plants and wildlife were gradually developing into a simple pleasure that was patiently waiting for me to capture.  A simple pleasure that was quite happily bobbing along without too much interaction from me, just waiting for me to finally sit down and take it all in.

So thank you little daisies for bringing me back to enjoying the simple pleasures again.

I hope you have enjoyed my little trip this week, a bit closer to home this time.  I hope you are enjoying your own simple pleasures...and I have a simple pleasure for you...a lovely chocolate muffin...

Now before I disappear for this week and catch up on my blog reading, I have a little request from Miss Teenager.  She LOVES drawing characters and needs names for a couple of these...

She is looking for a name for the boy on the left and the girl on the right - these need to be very original (in her words "not Paul, Dave etc but something really individual" - remember she is 13 going on 18).   Now, I have a blog anniversary coming up on the 22 June!  Yes, I have been blogging for coming up to one year!  So, I'm going to do a couple of little giveaways to mark the occasion and the names of the boy and girl picked by Miss Teenager will be the winners!  You can either comment below, leave a tweet over at Twitter or use my new email form on the left of my blog.  We are really excited to hear the names that are put forward.

Have a wonderful week.

Take care.

This week I am sharing with:

Open House
Simple and Sweet Fridays
Cottage Style Party
Home Sweet Home
Weekend Flowers
Weekly Top Shot
Seasonal Sundays
Homeacre Hop
Sunny Simple Mondays