Friday, January 15, 2016

Five on Friday

It's Friday so I'm joining in with  Amy at Love Made my Home for this week's Five on Friday.  Click on the link at the bottom of this post to find others who are joining in too.

In a week of sad news of one kind and another it is good to focus on the simple things in life that lift the spirits and make you smile.  Sights and sounds that cheer.  Her are five things that have made me smile this week.

1.  Red Tulips in a red jug on a red cloth - so cheerful and bright, they make me smile each time I see them.

2.  Birds of one kind and another always love watching them and we will soon be getting ready to do the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch.  Above Muscovy ducks in the gardens at Buxton.  Below a starling on our bird feeder.  They have such a beautiful sheen on their feathers.


3.  Hyacinths - we forgot to plant up our bulbs this year so I bought a small pot from the local supermarket.  I can't wait for them to flower, I think they will be blue but we'll see.

4.  Food - it is good to get away from the left over seasonal food at last and use up some of the things lurking in the store cupboard.  There were a few dates left so Paul made some date bread, it was so tasty with cheese and salad.  The cheese was lovely and strong and called Snowdonia Little Black Bomber, given to us as part of a gift at Christmas.
5.  Notebooks - all new, still wrapped and just waiting to be used.  One I bought myself and two were Christmas gifts.  It is ages since I did any writing.  I used to go to a couple of writing groups and did a Creative writing course with the OU but I had let it drift over the last few years.  A friend who also writes wonderful short stories has encouraged me to pick up my pen once more and we have started writing around ten characters, each with their own story.  I am enjoying the process of writing again.

 Have a lovely weekend everyone.

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64 comments:

  1. Unknown15 January 2016 at 12:09

    Your date loaf with Black Bomber cheese has got my taste buds tingling. We have a local farm shop that sells Black Bomber and we love it. Your red tulips are beautiful, so cheery at this time of the year. xx

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 10:53

      The Black Bomber is delicious isn't it?:)

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  2. Simone15 January 2016 at 12:23

    That date bread looks delicious! I love your 'hare' notebooks and am glad that you have decided to start writing again. It is always good to have nice things to write with and write in! Happy weekend Rosie. x

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 10:54

      The bread was delicious and we have some frozen for later:)

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  3. rusty duck15 January 2016 at 12:46

    Just a couple of weeks till the birdwatch, I must get registered. Thanks for the reminder. Love the ducks!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 10:56

      I've only just registered, I got the e-mail ages ago but forgot to do it:)

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  4. NO1SB15 January 2016 at 13:08

    Those Tulips look beautiful I always feel they really brighten a room.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 10:57

      They do don't they? No matter what colour:)

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  5. Shortbread and Ginger15 January 2016 at 13:09

    Love the red tulips!
    Liz

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  6. Unknown15 January 2016 at 13:12

    The tulips are so pretty and yes after a sad week, simple things are nice. have a great weekendx

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 10:59

      Thanks Michelle, still can't leave a return comment on your blog because of the google thing, apologies for that:)

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  7. Mac n' Janet15 January 2016 at 13:20

    Love the tulips. Hope you post some of your writing, I'd love to read it.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:00

      I may post something if I feel it worthy enough, perhaps things I have written a while ago:)

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  8. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"15 January 2016 at 13:45

    Some very cheery pictures. Don't be fooled by the sunshine - it's very cold out there.
    (Writing about ten characters doesn't sound very ambitious, even Twitter allow you 140! Sorry but that's how I read it first time.)

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:01

      Ha Ha! Yes it would be a very short story wouldn't it - oh the English language and its different meanings for the same word:)

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  9. mamasmercantile15 January 2016 at 14:22

    The red tulips are a real delight. I love the sound of date bread, sounds delicious something I have not had before. Every success with the writing, hope you give us a peek.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:03

      I did wonder about the date bread perhaps being too sweet but it wasn't at all no more than putting pickle with the cheese:)

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  10. Crimson Kettle15 January 2016 at 14:34

    I love all the red and white spots, so cheerful! Good luck with the writing, I look forward to seeing your name in print. :-)

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:04

      Ah, well it is kind of as I wrote a couple of local history books for the last museum I worked at but fiction is a very different thing isn't it? I did win a story competition a few years ago:)

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  11. Unknown15 January 2016 at 16:01

    You've just reminded me I've got some dates hidden away in a drawer. I was planning on making date and walnut cake with them but hadn't any walnuts at the time lol.

    Your red tulips in the red jug on the red cloth look lovely, they'd make me smile every time I saw them too

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:06

      I always buy a small packet of dried dates to make date slices but there are always a few left over and they tend to get left in the packet for ages:)

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  12. Linda P15 January 2016 at 16:03

    Love the tulips and the red theme. I've just bought a bunch (white with pale pink markings. I can see yellow markings inside). Little things do make us smile. Great photos of the birds. My pot of white hyacinths are over now, but I'm sure there will be some left at a garden centre. You must enjoy delicious lunches with your husband's home made bread. All the best with the writing using your lovely new note books.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:08

      Thank you Linda, your tulips sound so pretty and yes I'm sure there will be hyacinths at your local garden centre there are still many around:)

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  13. Mrs Tiggywinkle15 January 2016 at 16:57

    Your Five have made me smile, too - the Black Bomber is a favourite in this house. And I am intrigued by the writing - are we going to be able to read the fruits of your labours at some point? x

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:10

      I'm not sure I would feel confident to share any writing, we'll see. Had never heard of Black Bomber until recently but we will definitely buy it again:)

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  14. Coastal Ripples15 January 2016 at 16:58

    Gorgeous tulips and jug! I did the same as you and bought my hyacinths this year. With all my spare time I really should have planted some...note to myself for next year. Keep warm this weekend. Barbara

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:11

      We had put some bulbs away last year and forgotten about them. I suppose we could put them in a pot but it seems too late now:)

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  15. eclectichomelife15 January 2016 at 18:17

    Lovely things indeed to make you smile on this sad week. I particularly love the red tulips with the red spotty cloth, cheered me up no end x

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:13

      It has been a sad week hasn't it? The red tulips were certainly very cheery:)

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  16. Amy at love made my home15 January 2016 at 19:11

    Five lots of lovely indeed! I adore the red tulips, red jug, red cloth combo, that is so pretty! The bread looks delicious too! Enjoy your writing, you have some lovely notebooks to work in and inspire you. Thank you for joining Five On Friday! Happy Weekend! xx

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:14

      Thanks Amy the red is cheering isn't it? I will get inspired to write very soon I hope. Thanks for organising Five on Friday:)

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  17. Christina15 January 2016 at 19:18

    Starlings are such beautiful creatures, I always think they are magic. Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:16

      They have such lovely irridescent feather don't they? They are beautiful birds, I liken them to a group of youths on a street corner or outside the local shop when they descend on the feeders and scare of the smaller birds:)

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  18. Gina15 January 2016 at 19:53

    Your tulips are very cheery! I've got a thing about a new notebook... Can't resist them!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:17

      There is something special about new, un written in notebooks isn't there?:)

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  19. Louise15 January 2016 at 20:07

    Lovely photos. I like the red tulips too. I've never done the Big Garden Bird Watch out of pure laziness I think! I often stand around and watch the birds in the garden, but I think the birdwatch has always put me off as what if I want to go out all day or do something else?! I've registered this year though and intend to do it!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:20

      Well I suppose it does tie you down a little but you can do it on either of two days so it isn't too bad. I usually see loads of birds for a few days before and then on the day and hour I chose they stay away, they must know!:)

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  20. Lisa from @intotheglade15 January 2016 at 21:52

    Oh such a great five, I love the tulips. I have also lived using up the Christmas leftovers and trying to come up with new ideas. It has been a sad week - shocking in many ways. Have a lively weekend Rosie xx

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:22

      Thanks Lisa, I'm quite glad most of the Christmas stuff has gone now, although there is an unopenend Quality Street tin in the cupboard!:)

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  21. elaine 15 January 2016 at 22:24

    I've always coveted your polka dot tablecloth and jug - looks lovely with the red tulips. have a great weekend.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:24

      Thank you Elaine, I'm very fond of my cloth and jug. Hope you have a lovely weekend too:)

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  22. Tracy15 January 2016 at 22:57

    Isn't a fresh notebook so lovely and has so much potential. Have a nice weekend.

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:25

      It certainly does, all those lines to fill. You too have a great weekend:)

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  23. Kezzie15 January 2016 at 23:40

    Your 5are BRILLIANT!!! WELL done in the writing, that is great!!! Your polka for tulip combination is most pleasing!!!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:25

      Thanks Kezzie - glad you like the polka dots:)

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  24. Lilly's Mom16 January 2016 at 03:41

    I love your red pitcher and matching tablecloth; how lovely! The bread looks so yummy, too. I found some hyacinths in a pot that I had forgotten about from last spring and they were starting to bloom. I brought them in the house and the fragrance is heavenly. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs, Pat

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:27

      Hyacinths smell so sweet and strong don't they? Hope you too have a lovely weekend:)

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  25. Jo@awholeplotoflove16 January 2016 at 08:05

    Lovely happy things. I love the colour of your tulips absolutely gorgeous xx

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:28

      We do need some colour and cheer at the moment don't we?:)

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  26. Sara - Villa Emilia16 January 2016 at 08:11

    What a lovely post, Rosie! Your tulips make the reader happy as well.
    Have a great weekend!

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  27. The History Anorak16 January 2016 at 13:56

    I love the red spotty jug on the red spotty cloth. So cheerful for this time of year!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:29

      Thanks, they are cheerful and we need some cheer this month so far:)

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  28. A Colorful World16 January 2016 at 23:19

    The red tulips in the red jug on the red tablecloth...gorgeous! The birds in the yard are great. And I'm like you, I love to fill up journals!

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:30

      Thanks Marie - I wonder which notebook to chose to fill first?:)

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  29. Candytuft Corner16 January 2016 at 23:52

    Hi Rosie, I love your five on Fridays. We recently discovered Black Bomber Cheddar in our local supermarket and just love it.

    I am interested to hear about your writing. I've never done a creative writing course, but it is something that I would like to try, if ever I can find the time! I've just invested in a couple of books on writing in the hope of some inspiration.

    Enjoy your weekend,
    Marie x

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    1. Rosie17 January 2016 at 11:32

      Thanks, Marie. I started by joining a writing group at the local library and also joined an on-line forum for writing, both of these helped and joining in with others and bouncing off their ideas does help the creative process. Have a lovely weekend:)

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  30. Purrfect Haven17 January 2016 at 13:41

    thanks for reminding me about the Big Garden Bird Watch!
    I adore your notebooks - I have a bit a fetish for them and collect (then gift all sorts). Love the Hyacinths, mine are mostly over. Love Helen, Darcy, Bing and Fred xxxx

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    1. Rosie18 January 2016 at 09:27

      Hope the Hyacinths flower soon. I always enjoy participating in the Big Garden Bird Watch:)

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  31. Unknown17 January 2016 at 20:34

    I love anything with dates. I've never added them to bread before and I can see that it would be wonderful with cheese. And I love your polka-dot décor. Red and white are my absolute favourite!

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    1. Rosie18 January 2016 at 09:29

      The red is so cheerful! There were just a few dates left and they made a slightly sweet, fruity bread but it was lovely with strong cheese and crisp celery:)

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  32. handmade by amalia21 January 2016 at 16:48

    A lovely post, Rosie, and so many favorite things, flowers and birds and a delicious looking bread.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Rosie21 January 2016 at 19:15

      Thank you Amalia, so glad you enjoyed the post:)

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