can Spring be far behind?

The temperatures grew slowly and the sun even came out.

So we all ventured outside.

Mr Bingley sniffing for Spring

“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

‘Ode to the West Wind’.

Mr Darcy on birdie watch

Bingley on plant inspection, 

is the ground warm enough to dig it in...?

... dare we dream... might Spring really be here?

N O P E!

... we woke to this ... March snow...

Bingley

So, back inside.

hunkering down again.

Keep snug, dear blogging friends.

cat and rat

March has arrived at last. 

So, instead of hibernating inside, cat hugging .. we can spend more time in the garden!

Mr Darcy, and Mr Bingley (on the sofa)

the bliss of the damp and warm nose of Bingley ...

the Darcy stretch ... 

Darcy

Even though this photo is blurred, it is so lovely to see Darcy kick out ...

Darcy

... and here is Mr and Mrs Ratty, a friends pet rats. 

Her 3 cats take no notice of them at all, even when they are on the floor.

Not too sure Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley would think that way (and not about to put my theory to the test)

purr-fect valentines

“I want to wrap you in my paws

and hug with all my might,

then snuggle close beside you,

cuddling all through the night,

and in the morning whisper

tender purrs by dawn's first light.

I'd like to do that lots and lots --

let's start right now, all right?”

Today is special not just because we are your Valentines ..

It is also our ‘gotcha’ day!

Birthday toasts all round as we are 4 today!

Being Mr Bingley

Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure:

that of being the ultra cool Mr Bingley ...

... after all, as Oscar Wilde once said "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken".

 You can tell a lot about a fellow by the way he drinks and why not lap from quality cut glass (I like to share Mrs H’s glass though strangely I don’t think she feels the same).

My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. 

To take time out to breathe.

A cuddle makes the heart young again (and mine certainly is!)

Admittedly, I am prone to a spot of dreaming! Well, that chap Bob Dylan said 

"I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours"..” 

(I like that, but not when it comes to my brother)

It’s raining so hard outside so I have no choice but to focus my activities indoors. 

Roll on Spring, are you ever coming to this part of the world?

Winter came a bitin ...

And then the snow fell!

We watched it from the window...

Bingley and Darcy

.. we sniffed the chilled air but didn't venture out ...

(until we were plonked outside by Mrs H, and then we quite liked it!)

... look closely ...

and you can spot Mr Bingley heading your way ...

Mr Darcy testing snow depth ...

Mr Darcy

 ... with his first fresh paw prints ....

Mr Bingley

... on route to check out that Alabama pot ..

Haven Garden

  

... our neighbour's car.

Henley-on-Thames

... Mrs H walked out for bread and milk ....

... then we had a family outing in the park so we could all revert to childhood ..

"In the depth of Winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible Summer.. "

~ Albert Camus

Toes and Fur

I am contemplating my next move...

To hide, or not to hide....?

Mr Darcy 

He says ...

"I'm contemplating hiding, yes hiding

And no one knows where;

For all they can see is my 

Toes and my fur..

And I just heard someone

Say but, darling, he must be

Somewhere or other ......

 ... Then "Wait!" they cried 

"I think that I see Him.”

So I purred out aloud.

And here I am...”

Wishing all our lovely blogging visitors happiness in 2013

We look forward to sharing with you....

xxxx purrr xxxx

2013, welcome

The Haven household enjoyed a restful, happy little break over the festive season.

Thank you for dropping by.

Present opening was enjoyed by all

(and some even more than others)

 Dad and Mum

... inspecting their new ipad on Christmas Day! 

After all, it is never too late to embrace what technology can offer 

(..the many wonderful blogs, for example!)

Dad (and if he reads this he won't like me divulging this) is 90, but age is no matter. 

He and Mum are well up for using the latest technology!

This year, Old Mr Thames flooded his banks .....

.. so much rain...

the boundary between river and flooded river bank impossible to detect.

Hello Mr Swan, can you guide us ... where should we walk?

We visited The Savill Garden which is free during the month of December.

A spot of walking during an unusually dry spell. 

2 hours of bliss. 

Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley

“May Light always surround you;

Hope kindle and rebound you.

May your Hurts turn to Healing;

Your Heart embrace Feeling.

May Wounds become Wisdom;

Every Kindness a Prism.

May Laughter infect you;

Your Passion resurrect you.

May Goodness inspire

your Deepest Desires.

Through all that you Reach For,

May your arms Never Tire.” 

~ D. Simone