blossomed heart

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. – Mahatma Gandhi

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. – Unknown

The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live will be. – Shakti Gawain, Author

The spring sun is out again as I blog this post, how my heart sings! The typical British weather where you get a few days of glorious 20c sunshine; and then comes a week of rain, wind, hailstones and the temperature drops to 10c! Forget that, there are days when you enjoy a few hours of warm sunshine, then in the next couple of hours the wind picks up, you see black clouds and down hails the shower! Which is why our winter coats are still hanging on the coat hooks, along with our rain macs and spring jackets. As with our shoes, we keep switching from boots to pumps to sandals! Oh well, that’s life in England, after 17 years I’m kind of used to it. In fact, I welcome it. For I wouldn’t appreciate the lovely weather as much otherwise! Anyway, my blossomed heart wants to share a few more pictures today, just several quick snaps here and there as I go about my daily life in my corner of the world. Simple things that made me joyful, little instances which made me merry. One of my friends back in my homeland loves all my photos, she told me to keep them coming, the more the better she said. I couldn’t help but smile when I read her request. I must admit I used to feel a bit down when I thought of my homeland during the first few years in England. The longing is much less now; as much as I do miss my family, relatives and close friends, I know my life is here, I feel at peace. Being surrounded by all the beauty around me helps of course, as well as the love from my dearest hubby and children. I’m ever so grateful for life’s many blessings. My younger sister asked when she visited whether I was happy and content with my life, the answer was simply yes, undoubtedly, Alhamdulillah! ❤

the blackbird (my garden visitor now living permanently) has laid baby blue eggs!

one of the many cherry blossoms at the park in bright spring sunshine

cherry blossoms up close, I love the sight of them!

my lil one enjoying the spring sunshine

nothing beats ice-cream on a sunny day, especially from this jolly man!

yummy strawberry tarts baked by my girls

few fresh novels to read

blossoms in my heart!

my mother

Mother’s Day wish from my dear old friend who inspired this post

my beloved mother with my dearest sisters on Mother’s Day in Malaysia

I woke up to a lazy Sunday morning seeing my beloved family on my Whatsapp message, it made me very happy indeed. My sisters had taken our dearest mother to a high tea buffet at a hotel back in my homeland, in conjunction with Mother’s Day (celebrated in March in England). How I wish I could have been there with them of course. Our mother deserves the best, we can never repay her for all that she’s done for us. That is why my sisters go all out to make her feel wonderful whenever there’s an opportunity to do so, such as on this special day. My mother is in her 7th decade now, she may have slowed down a bit due to her age but in my mind and heart she’s still the strong mother I’ve always known. I still see her in her teacher mode, her profession during her working life. She taught us from the day we were born, we continue to learn from her today. She’s always been there for us, her love knows no boundaries. Now my 4 children gets a dose of her affection too, my only regret is that we are 6,500 miles away. As the eldest, I feel that I’m the most distant from her, both emotionally and geographically. I was the one she was the most strict with, we grew further apart when I went away to boarding school at the tender age of 13. But deep down inside I know she loves me very much, as I do her. I may not be able to say “I love you mom” as easily as my younger sisters, I may not be able to hug her and say “thank you mom for everything that you’ve done for me”, but I love her heaps nonetheless. I feel that I can relate to her more now than ever before, since I became a mother myself 14 years ago. I understand her feelings and emotions better, I now view things from her eyes. I’m grateful to have her in my life, from the day I was born to date. I pray she continues to have good health, faith and well-being, I pray for her happiness and contentment always. Happy Mother’s Day mama, I love you so very much… ❤

my beloved mother (centre) cutting the Mother’s Day cake with the other moms at the hotel

my beloved mother with her first and only grandson, my all time favourite picture

This gentle melody reminds me of my mom; the beautiful woman who has raised my sisters and I the best way she knew how, the light of my father’s life, lovely, never never change, coz we love you…Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

spring outing

We’ve just had a truly smashing weekend, the temperature rose to 21c would you believe! It was the bank holiday weekend here in England, that’s when we get Monday off too, a lovely break indeed, just what we needed. After months of gloomy winter, we were able to go out and about again, such wonderful bliss! This time around we ventured on a steam train that went uphill through a beautiful forest. It was a short trail, but enough to keep us happy. The first stop led us through a short walk into the woods, the next station took us to an adventure tree house and the last one was to a picnic area with a little playground. We thoroughly enjoyed our four hours outdoors today, unforgettable. So much so that I felt the need to blog almost instantly! I am going to allow some of the pictures I took tell you the rest of our story, hope you’ll like them!

the steam train awaits us

come on, let’s queue up

all aboard!

off we go…oh look, here comes another train!

boy wonder on the nature trail

the girls leading the way!

on to the next station

are we there yet?

at the adventure tree house

bridge on the tree house

adventure tree house from the outside

farewell train, till the next time!

tranquil may

The world’s favorite season is the spring. 
All things seem possible in May. -  Edwin Way Teale

Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun. - Kahlil Gibran

Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom. -  Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

A cold January, a warm May.   -  Welsh Proverb

my pear blooms

another blossom in my garden

a lone tulip against my 90 year old neighbour’s front wall

more tulips in the locality

cherry blossoms across the street

planted my spring blooms last weekend!

I’ve nothing much to say. Just enjoying this wonderful spring now that it’s here. There is beauty everywhere I turn, I thank God for the peace and tranquility it brings me. My daily stress melts away when I lose myself in nature. Click here for more spring blooms last year. And enjoy another calming instrumental with a spring theme, my heart floats away with it! The joy of living, in touch with the present, of loving and being loved, of being surrounded by loveliness, every blessing counts. ❤

promising spring

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.  ~ Proverb

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.  ~ Hal Borland

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~ Anne Bradstreet

The sun has come out… and the air is vivid with spring light. ~ Byron Caldwell Smith

my plum tree in blossoms

After what seemed like an endless winter, I dare say spring has finally dawned upon me in my little corner of the world. I wake up to the birds chirping happily all day long, a clear blue sky and the sun shining brightly. On a not so good spring day, I still hear the birds’ melodies but I see cloudy skies instead and feel the chill from the winds. A season of cold and flu, but it’s welcoming nonetheless after several months of winter gloom! To feel the light heat from the sun on my skin is such a blessing. For someone who’s always taken the blazing sun for granted, having born and bred in all year round sunny Malaysia, the past 17 years in England have certainly changed something in me. I feel more connected to nature, I appreciate the changing seasons and the different moods it brings me. I am more aware of how nature’s cycle mirrors our own life’s ups and downs, like the turning wheels of a bicycle. Spring to me is a season of hope and recovery, where one finds the strength and energy to rise again after feeling melancholy in winter. Spring is also a season of joy, one cannot help feeling happy seeing new blooms sprouting everywhere. Plants that I thought were dead suddenly spring to life. There is hope after despair, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Such is our life; there are moments when we feel very low indeed, for whatever reason. It doesn’t even take much for some. But light is always there; with patience, perseverance, hard work and prayers, that glimmer of hope will become a reality. We will be at the top of the bicycle wheel again. Never lose hope. Without misery we have no reason to hope, without hope we cannot move forward and achieve greater things in life. Without winter, we would not anticipate spring, and without spring, we cannot enjoy those glorious summer days to come. Sweet promising spring, my hopes and dreams are with you, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), you are here at last!!!