I'm celebrating : Easter Week, Spring Equinox...and the end of Winter!

In the South West of England Spring comes early. We may have cold days, rainy days and blustery days ahead but looking around me I can see that the unstoppable forward force of Spring is in motion.
The first butterflies and Ladybirds have ventured out and the birds are daily revving up towards their full-blown Spring morning chorus.

 

In the past country people would use Pussy Willows in place of palms on Palm Sunday, so I have decorated a wreath to go on my door. The full blown, fuzzy, pollen tufted blossoms are yet to arrive but it still looks pretty, with a mixture of different trees' catkins adding some extra colour.

Have a happy week everybody!

Happy Easter

My dear friends- Just to wish everybody a Happy Easter-
If you have faith, may it bring you comfort, if you believe in this life, may you have a happy one,
because in the end, the only thing we have proved to be absolutely vital is that we love one another,
So may your path lead you to wonderful places

Take a newly laid egg...

In the manner of all traditions, this one has grown until it has become a vital part of our Spring celebrations. We usually combine it with an Easter Tea Party but the weather and the general muddle of life delayed things a little.
To explain...
Every year we ask a strong, lusty man to throw a fresh egg over our three storey terraced house to ensure good luck and safe keeping for all who live beneath its roof.
The second part needs two women who stand face to face. They each take a step back and throw a newly laid egg to each other, then take a further step and throw again. Each step and successful egg-catch ensures a happy, lucky month.
We had gathered and eaten the all important sandwiches, cakes and cream tea which prepare us for the rituals that lay ahead.

I explained the rules-

The Egg was chosen and approved

It was a serious business

It was the first year that Teddy was deemed old enough to take part- what a test of man-hood!

It was a great throw

 an anxious moment

Not quite over the top this year but a noble first try!

Then Jonathan tried...

Mikol tried...

David really entered into the spirit ...

with a worthy throw

But to no avail....

It was finally Ian who took the honours this year-

with a magnificent effort

There was great rejoicing all round

 Emily and Freya were the chosen women this year.

They had skillfully managed to bring us 11 months of good luck when....

disaster struck!

Eggy hands are just the price you have to pay for a happy home!

It was an afternoon  full of laughter, teasing and good humour.
Thank you to all my friends and neighbours and especially to Sam, who took all the stylish photographs.