Bright, breezy, blowy… and did I mention cold?

We’ve got a tide warning down at the Harbour today because the wind and the time of month mean that we can’t guarantee that the sea will stay where it should be and only an idiot goes there then. Since the wind is 35mph and gusting, I decided this was an excellent day (Tuesday) to see how many jobs I could tick off my to do list.

I long ago realised that I need to be outside. Not want. Not like, but actively need to be in what I now know is called ‘in nature.’ This article is interesting https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefits-our-mental-health#:~:text=Nature%20can%20generate%20many%20positive,particularly%20lower%20depression%20and%20anxiety. It talks about how research shows that people who are outside in nature are likely to be happier and feel their lives are worthwhile. It does all sorts of other things too, so it’s well worth a read.

Today I’ve moved the daffodils that are going over from the windowsills and replaced them with the winter flowering heathers, some black dragon grass and my new little ferns. I’ve set up a herb garden, at the moment with hardy herbs like chives, parsley and mint. When the frosts are gone I’ll add the basil plant that came with my supermarket order (so much cheaper than the plant nursery) and I’ll be able to smell them while I sit in the little bit outside the back door. When I want to use them in my cooking I'll open the door, step out and there I am. And don't fresh herbs make a meal nicer?

I’ve thought ‘yes, good’ about the winter flowering heathers so I’ll go and look for some spring flowering heathers from my favourite online nursery in a minute.

I’ve also swept up after a couple of pots got blown over and re-staked some plants and now here I am indoors, windblown, and content and full of plans. In other words, happy! I’m just as happy that my other jobs are indoors as I finish creating my bijoux boutique with all the jewellery and hair accessories that I’ve been given or have collected over the last forty years. They usually ended up in a drawer or a box while I waited for the right time to use them. I have now decided that that right time is today, bought myself a set of the sort of professional display stands that people use at craft fairs with my Christmas money, and oh, they’re pretty and I’m enjoying using them.

Reading also makes me happy, so here are this weeks special offers at 99p in the UK and 99c in the US.

It’s an Amy Hammond heavy week, starting with A Handmade Crime, Aging Disgracefully and Two Graves. Then there are two anthology collections, Why does she keep finding trouble? and The trouble with falling in love with a retired spy. These are the earlier books when my crafty accidental sleuth is she’s still trying to work out why things keep happening and why she’s enjoying herself when she’s not terrified!

There’s also an anthology from Christians Cross which is my cosy paranormal series and is called Murder, Devils and Maidens. At only 99p why not give it a try? You might find that you like a werecat and his pet vampire and an idyllic sentient village….

So that’s about it for today, except for a picture of the bit of the garden I’ve been playing in. Take care and have a great week.