Sunshine after the rain

My poor blog is looking rather neglected again, so I thought I'd post some pictures I took on a walk last week. I was feeling rather cooped up, so while the Podlings were at school I went for a walk behind the house to blow the cobwebs away. It had been pouring with rain on the walk to school, but by mid-morning the sun was shining with all its winter might and it seemed a shame to waste it by staying indoors. By the afternoon, it was raining again, so I'm glad I grabbed my walk when I did.

Catkins!

Warming up after the walk with a hot chocolate and a good book. I'm embarking on a reread of the Chronicles of Narnia, starting, of course, with 'The Magician's Nephew'. As C S Lewis himself said, "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally - often far more- worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond." I read and re-read children's literature again and again. I love it!

I love, love, love my Folio Society editions of The Chronicles of Narnia, a birthday gift from Mark a couple of years ago. The man knows me well!

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Grey Matters

23 weeks and 3 days pregnant 

Mark snapped a couple of pictures of me last Saturday before we went around to visit my father-in-law, who has just had his hip replaced. I was hoping for some nice maternity shots, but unfortunately all I can see is how grey my hair has become! The winter light really brings out those highlights!

I inherited a great many wonderful qualities from my mother's side of the family, unfortunately along with the good things I also inherited the premature grey gene! Everyone on my mum's side of the family starts to go grey very young. I found my first grey hair at the age of 19, which isn't as bad as my poor sister who found her first grey hair at about 14!

My hair is naturally very dark, so the grey is very obvious. I started to dye my hair as close to my natural colour as possible a few years ago, but being pregnant I haven't touched it for months. I don't like to mess around with chemicals when my baby's internal organs are forming! Even though dying your hair whilst pregnant is supposed to be completely safe, I don't like to take any chances for the first few months. However, now that I am 24 weeks pregnant, I am far enough along that I feel comfortable colouring my hair again.

If these photos hadn't been encouragement enough, the observations of my seven-year old daughter would have been. I was sitting down when Lily came and stood beside me. She looked at me a moment and then said in surprise, "Your hair is grey! I thought it was meant to be black.". Hopefully it will be a nice shade of dark brown again soon!

Sadly my little grey cells are all in my hair these days!

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A Winter Woodland Walk

A somewhat chilly walk in the woods at Greenway Bank Country Park late on a Saturday afternoon.

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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

20 week ultrasound of Podling Number 4

Mark and I saw in the New Year on a high note following my 20 week scan. Scheduled for New Year's Eve, it was certainly something to look forward to at the end of the year and the knowledge that the baby appears healthy was something wonderful to take into the new year. We got to have a really good look at the baby, who co-operated beautifully for all the measurements. I came out with a huge smile on my face and a lovely scan picture to keep. My newest little treasure!

I'm pretty big for 20 weeks!

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