Signs of spring and whimsy

Yesterday we were talking about various things including chaffinches and exiled Flemish weavers in England and other things. At least I was and you were humoring me.

Just to prove something or other, my current reading, as of yesterday, recommended by Northern Reader whose blog is a model of book reviews, is this 

On audio, to knit and spin to.

And, more excitingly, this

an account of a group of Londoners who jointly rented a massive country mansion right after world war 2,  as a huge relief from wartime London. For better and, eventually, worse.

But here's the thing: they rented a manor house built in  Kent, in the Elizabethan era by, drumroll, exiled Flemish weavers!! 

And it came with a resident experienced countryman gardener. Who taught one of the children all kinds of skills. Including, more drumroll,  finding a chaffinch nest with eggs in it. More exclamation points!!!

It's very funny reading, from a writer I didn't know before but will look up now.

Today did not start out promising, feeling wobbly and not very capable, but I thought I'd at least get out and make a return at the  UPS store, of lightbulbs from Amazon, which turned out to be the wrong size.  

I'd done all the steps of getting the qr code you show them to scan in order to get a receipt. No wrapping, just take in the item as it arrived in the mfrs packaging, to the nearest UPS  store.  They collect them, pack and ship a bunch of returns together, very easy for the buyer.

But first I had to get there. Car wouldn't start. I have a jumper kit which I've used. But I couldn't pop the hood. 

The latch is near the floor, unmarked. I can't reach down far enough. If I managed it I'd need help getting back up. Last time I did it was a year ago  I'm a year older.

Gary's away for two weeks, two other knowledgeable neighbors are sick, the other possible helper was at work. Soooo I urgently texted handsome Son, who came a while later and got it started.

Then the sun came out and I made it to the UPS store, met a perfectly lovely baby who cheered me up with a happy smile once he'd succeeded in swiping his mother's wallet to chew on.

The return went fine, the car running like a bird now, and the day began to feel better 

I finally got to walk, found a little jardiniere abandoned in the trees, and rescued it once home

It's happy in its new home.

And later one of the neighbors came home and crawled under his own car, must be the season

He eventually was able to leave.

Signs of spring on the patio, squint and you'll see tiny thyme leaves appearing from their dead looking winter foliage

And the very beginning of buds on the spice bush, viburnum carlesii. 

beautiful lichen, nature's embroidery 

Round the corner a new neighbor has decorated their front path

So things are looking better today. The last vestiges of the virus, normal for me, blisters in the mouth and toothache, are starting to subside, yay. It's usually a sign a virus is going away. It enhances a person's mood when they're not hurty -mouthed.

All in all, yes, a better day. Happy evening everyone! I hope for a good, better, best day for you, too.