I am aware that it sounds a bit mad, but I absolutely LOVE ny barefoot walks on the sparkly frost. It's a woderful way to start the day.

I got the fire going nicely, set the table for breakfast and put the kettle on before I went out into the magic of the morning.

..and a moonrise over the mountain. So beautiful.

As some of you know something very odd is happening to this blog! The wrong photos are appearing, the font is changing and the layout is different. I have to report that I have not changed anything...

I am investigating.

My sister sent me this haiku -

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.

(Substitute Weebly for Windows!)

What is you ideal day out?

Mine was on Thursday. Perfect. The concert at the University of Glasgow (icy cold draughty mock Gothic building) was called How To Raise The Wind with a fiddle, a guitar, two violins, a  viola, a cellot and a double bass, a cintemporary take oon traditional Scottish with more than a hint of jazz - a short programme and I felt they were just really warming up when it ended. They were very good, especially the Finnish double bass  player Rickard Toften Holst.

Lunch at Kember and Jones in nearby Byers Road. Kale soup with meatballs. A quick bus ride into the city centre and we popped into a Cocktail Bar because I wanted to see the interior (the one with all the candles). We rather boringly had  coffee which wasn't on the menu but they kindly made us one anyway!

More wandering round gazing at elegant buildings - the floodlighting shows up the details beautifully. This one is in Renfiled St and I can honestly say I have never noticed it beofre.

Then on to the City Halls and Mozart and Elgar. Stunningly good, and you can hear the concert on BBC Sounds.

We also got to see inside the Bank of Scotland building I photographed recently...more tomorrow..

Have you got your great day out planned yet?

Music, food and conversation, architecture and friendly Glaswegians!

A few photgraphs while I sort out my thoughts..

My head is still so full of Egar's Symphony no 1 in A flat - a great surging, meandering abstract thing, I can hardly think.

Two concerts in one day. So excited. Plan to see the inside of this magnificent building too..Back soon!

I hesitated to publish yesterday's photo as it is so out of focus, but I realised it captured what I felt as I looked out of the window at the ferry so brightly lit, the lights of the houses on the far shore like a little row of hieroglyphs, the clouds lit by the light of the moon and the sweep of the grass verge as I sped by.

It was just an ordinary journey home but it looked and felt dramatic and exciting.

I may have to paint this, and perhaps it doesn't matter that my eyesight is out of focus if my mind and thoughts and feelings are still sharp! Thank you Karen for prompting these thoughts.

and hopeful. Every little gesture of love and hope counts I believe.

I picked these iris sibirica seedheads to put in a jar on the table, and in the warmth of the room they opened up and began scattering their seeds.

I wasn't planning to grow more but since I had this recently emptied little seed tin....

I thought whyever not? Future beauty.

There is something celebratory about it. I just love it. It's not expensive, it lasts for ages (though it has an unpleasant smell, which fortunately fades). It makes me feel happy.

Here is last year's..

I couldn't bring myself to simply throw it away.

Is there any thing makes you feel happy just by looking at it?

Your comments on yesterday's post made me very happy. Thank you so much!

..a new day.  A misty start. Got a little gentle gardening done.

The twenty buddleia plants for the butterfly walk have come.

I cannot resist buying fruit with the leaves still on. I was thrilled to have an orange tree in my garden once when I lived in Cyprus.

I love the packaging too and try to use these containers as dividers in drawers and cupboards. The wooden cheese boxes are lovely too - has anyone come up with a use for these?

..there comes a point when I have to do something to lift my mood.

 When I woke this morning  I remembered a gift of sweet pea seeds . I would plant them! Yes! So before I did anything else I made a cup of hot chocolate and went out to the shed and the greenhouse, full of good intentions. I couldn't find the seeds at first - they were not where I thought they were, then it took several frustrating minutes and an old knife to get the lid off the tin..

Cupani sweet peas - very highly scented. Thank you Lynne.

The compost was hard and lumpy and had to be sieved.

and my habds were so cold it was difficult to handle the seeds.

But the life affirming  job is done and now I'd better wash my face, light the fire and cook some breakfast.
 
What do you do to lift your spirits whem you feel low? All ideas most welcome!

..in the wardrobe sort.

So very trivial in the light of current wars, writing about my wardrobe and recipes for biscuits has beem feeling like there was the proverbial elephant in the room, which I didn't dare mention. The very ordinariness of our lives seems extra precious just now.

I still use the same notebook I began in 2013. It has a few pages left and I just love the cover. I have it in my bagg if I am going clothes shopping, but since I have accepted that at present I have too many clothes there is only one item  I am looking out for. I would like a slightly dressier pair of navy boots, with a little bit of a heel. I also check out Hobbs every now and then for a replecement of the pink linen scarf featured in a recent post.  This has been such a favourite and is so well worn that any day now I will put my finger through it!

You may of course prefer Pinterest or similar for your notes, but I do love this small notebook. and having my own persoanl style book is of no great import, but rather nice.

..and unable to sleep  with images of terror and fear and suffering in my mind. I've been up since three.

I rekindled the fire and lit some candles.

Each one a forlorn prayer for peace in the wold.

I tidied the kitchen, washed a few dishes then spent a bit of time out on the porch with my new Star Walk app (3 degrees C). I made a cup of tea and savoured the peace of my own little corner of the world, and like most of you I expect, counted my blessings.

..still moving things around. Since I put the new rug down I keep bringing out things that  chime with it - a bowl, a candlestick, a postcard from my big colllection, a few autumn leaves... by the time it all settles down it will be time to decorate for Christmas!

..waiting for lunch to come along

while enjoying the view.

I got this recipe from my Mum, who got it I think from the BeRo cookbook, which is why the measurements are imperial.

3 oz marg or butter
1 oz lard
4 oz sugar
1 beaten egg (I add a few drops of almond or vanilla essence)
pinch salt
6 oz self raising flour
oats or coconut

Cream the fats and sugar, then with damp hands roll into balls and dip in the oats or coconut.  Bake at 180C for 10 - 15 minutes till golden brown.
Makes about 24

They do look nicer with cherries on top but I didn't have any left..

..not a scarf?

I bought this large warm reversible scarf in H&M because I loved the design, but I knew even as I purchased it that it woud wear me, rather than me wear it, if you know what I mean..

but it looks great on the back of the sofa.

What are you doing this week? And what will you wear?

You will now have your basics, your key items identified and sorted (maybe added to) and ready to wear. So now comes the fun bit. Making conplete outfifts for whatever you are doing this week.

I went to the city yesterday, and am seeing a friend for coffee and hospital visiting. I have family coming for dinner on Friday.

Between the outffit here and this one, I think I have things covered! I have hung these two outfits at one end of the wardrobe, while I contemplate the rest..

Loojing out the accessories that I like with this top..

I think I will wear this brighter version when I visit my friend in hospital - I'd like to think it might cheer her on her way to recovery.

The top is from Sea Salt - useful, easu to wear and easy to look after casual clothes and a local shop offers residents a generous 20% discount on them.

Do you have a favourie lablel you might explore?

..at five thirty this morning were astonishingly beautiful above the forested skyline. I wrapped up and went out into the garden to take in the wonder of it all.

What tiny specks we are in the firmament! The deep silence and the utter mystery of it all enraptured me and I went back to bed and slept soundly.

A lot is made of 'the work/life balance', but I suspect more should be made of 'the real life/virtual life balance'.  I have said it often that for me there is nothing like the real thing.

What do you think, and have you looked at the stars lately?

Melting Moments. Home baked biscuits with a big mug of tea after raking up leaves.  So nice.

Busy outside

and cosy inside.