I Know It's Spring When ...

The washing line is full of white shirts. In winter, I wear black. Lots of black. I have black tops, black cardies, little black jumpers, a black coat, a black dress, black pants, black skirts. And I won't even start on the black shoes. But when the weather warms up, the palette shifts to white. Lots of white. I currently own four white linen shirts and a couple of white cotton ones too. It's not just me. J's wardrobe also shifts, with more white shirts appearing, although there is still a lot of blue.

So it is officially spring when I can wash a full load of white shirts - as I did on Saturday for the first time in months.

This week, I rediscovered an old 'friend'. Claire Robertson has revived her gorgeous blog, Loobylu. Loobylu was the first blog I read. I think it was in 2003 that it was mentioned in a newspaper's IT pages. I decided to find out what this thing called blogging was and, thanks to Loobylu, I was hooked. Before I knew it, Claire and her family felt like old friends and I was lurking compulsively.

I was a little disappointed, then, when Claire decided early last year to have a break from blogging. Although I don't know how she managed to keep Loobylu and her blog of ideas for parents and kids, Kiddley, going with two small children (I'm finding it hard enough keeping one small blog going with one small child nipping at my elbows). But this week I discovered Claire is back and Looblylu is looking fresh and new. Welcome back, Claire.

Fleeting Art

On the last day of winter, it rained. And rained. And rained. And washed away the chalk art decorating our driveway. But before it disappeared, I photographed it with the mobile phone camera. Not great quality but it gives you an idea of what you might have seen 10 days ago.

A fairy by Alice.

My elephant - with additions by Mr M.

Family portrait ... by Alice also.

We have begun to fill the driveway with new chalk art. So far, we have had 10 days without rain. We'll have to see how much ground we can cover this time.