Saturday 11 January 2014

Reasons to be cheerful - part one!

Good morning everyone, well, we have made it through to the first weekend after the return to routine!  It has been a very hectic week, and I must admit to going to bed at 10 o'clock last night as I was exhausted!

Mind you, I was up at 3 in the morning the night before hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights...I did see some very pale streaks in the sky on the northern horizon that definitely wasn't cloud or con-trails from a plane, but whether these actually were the aurora borealis I cant truthfully say...but I would like to think that they were.  I have always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights since I was a little girl, hopefully one day I will be able to travel to one of the Nordic countries to see them  in their full glory.

Anyway, this morning I got up bright and early, glad to see that the rain has cleared away for the time being. 

Those of us of a "certain age" (and my age goes up tomorrow as it is my birthday!) will remember the Ian Drury song "Reasons to be cheerful" so may well smile at the title of this post.  Today's post is just that - things that are making me feel cheerful today!

First up, pots of spring bulbs - I usually buy these on my return to work after the holidays to cheer me up. 

Hyacinths, these are the pink variety:


and my favourites of all, the blue:


I love the wispy, mossy covering on the soil.

Some sweet little daffodils to complete the collection:


these cost £3 all together for the three pots, bargain!

Loving these little USB lights arranged around one of my Moroccan lamps:


Certainly a cheerful, cosy sight on these cold days of winter.

What is making you feel cheerful this weekend?

Helenxx











9 comments:

  1. First of all Happy Birthday to you my dear friend. Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Things that are making me happy today was a great nights sleep, I have been so, so tired this week and slept 9 hours last night, a record for me I think.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  2. Happy Birthday for tomorrow Helen, those bulbs have a way of making you smile don't they even before the flowers bloom xx

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  3. Happy Birthday - hope you have a great day! Spring bulbs and fairy lights always make me feel cheerful. Also, cake, tea and some new books have made me feel happy today. x

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  4. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to you! What a upbeat post, thank you! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  5. Happy Birthday! I share your dream of seeing the Northern Lights, funnily enough my other half and I were just discussing that we would both love to travel somewhere Nordic to see them. You are also on the same wavelength with the bulbs - I bought a hyacinth last week, can't wait for it to flower as the scent is just amazing - and it reminds us that spring is just around the corner. xxx

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  6. Happy Birthday for tomorrow! Have a good one!
    Sandie xxx

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  7. Hello Helen and Happy Birthday for today, I am new to your blog and I am following you via Bloglovin. My reasons to be cheerful today are a delicious Sunday lunch cooked by my other half, and my cosy front room with the fire on and my basket of crochet WIP. I am currently making a bigger size of sleeping bag for my baby grandson. My daughter is using the smaller one now and has requested a larger one for when he grows out of it as she finds it very useful during these cold months.
    I love spring bulbs and what a bargain you got with all three pots, a small outlay for lots of happiness. I really must take a look in our next street market for some pots of happiness for my kitchen windowsill.
    I took a look at your cross stitch hearts and they are lovely, I was given some cross stitch threads and fabric as a gift for Christmas and I can't wait for some time to try it out.
    Linda
    linda-dawn-designs.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. Happy Birthday I hope you've has a lovely, like you I long to see the Northern lights, even went to Norway but no luck, but one day I hope to see them. Spring bulb in January always cheer me up too
    Clare x

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  9. Happy Birthday, Helen!!! I love seeing your bulbs growing :) The wheat grass I planted in my blue flower pots cheers me as I view its lively green blades during our often dreary gray days. xx

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