Emerging

The snow and ice went quickly, in the end. I'm always cheered by these tiny survivors, emerging from the frosty layers.
I still have tulip bulbs to plant, and a few other garden jobs to catch up on. But not today, in the pouring rain and gusty winds. However, we've got off lightly compared to many other areas.
I spent the morning clearing up our back bedroom for Richard's friend V, who's due to stay with us for a few days from tonight. In the process I found a couple of boxes of photos and a few family papers, left over from when R and I cleared out my parents' house. These are really overdue for a sort-out, and with luck I'll get that done next weekend, while R is away in Larne for a few days. Every winter I've promised myself to go through all the various boxes we brought back from Devon, and now I really think I must avoid just shunting them out of sight for another year.