Embracing Late Winter: Signs of Spring and Seasonal Reflections

The shift between seasons never happens overnight. Even as winter clings on with its chilly grip and stark, bare branches, there are hints—small, quiet whispers—that change is on the way. Late winter is a time for pausing, for noticing, for embracing the subtle stirrings of the world around us as it gently leans towards spring.


The First Signs of Spring

Winter still lingers, but nature is already beginning to stir. On my daily walks, I’ve started spotting the first brave snowdrops pushing their way through the frost-hardened earth. Their delicate white heads nod gently in the breeze—a sure sign that winter’s hold is beginning to wane. The hellebores, too, are starting to bloom in their dusky purples and soft creams, adding muted beauty to an otherwise stark landscape.


Birdsong, once quiet through the darker months, is slowly building. Blackbirds and robins seem to sing with more confidence, their melodies cutting through the crisp morning air. I’ve noticed them darting between hedgerows, gathering twigs and bits of moss—early preparations for the nesting season ahead.

There’s something different in the air, too—sharper, fresher, carrying the first hints of earthiness as the ground slowly begins to thaw. The trees, still bare, are showing signs of life, their buds swelling, waiting for the moment to unfurl into new green leaves.

A Time for Reflection and Preparation

This in-between time of late winter is one I treasure. It’s a chance to savour the last cosy evenings by the fire, warm drink in hand, with a favourite book or a knitting project keeping my hands busy. But it’s also a time of gentle preparation—both indoors and out.


There is much I want to do in the garden at this time, like clearing away winter’s debris and making space for the new season’s growth. I'm itching to start sowing seeds but I know that it is just a matter of weeks before we pack up our house for our move to the country. 

Indoors, there’s an urge to refresh the space, to throw open the windows when the weather allows, to declutter and welcome in the increasing light. Fortunatly this urge fits in well with packing boxes and purging excess!

My Nature Journal: Documenting the Season

In years gone by, one of my favourite ways to mark these seasonal shifts is through my nature journal. Taking time to record what I see, hear, and feel connects me more deeply to the world outside my door. 

However, I have to admit that the end of our homeschooling days caused a huge disruptive shift in my life. I know that in life, seasons change, things come to an end, new avenues are explored and new rythms established. But it is far to easy to lose the essence of who you are in the search for a new 'normal'. 

As I scrolled through my Instagram account, archiving all my yarn posts as I wrap up that chapter of my life, it struck me how much of what I loved, much of which I wrote about and shared on this blog over the years, had fallen by the wayside... like broken twigs and plant debris after a storm. 

Somehow I slipped out of the habit of noticing the 'little things' and recording them in the pages of my nature journal which was always a source of peace and joy over the years. I determined then and there to unwrap my new watercolour palette purchased 2 years ago (I know, shocking!) and to go back to weekly journal entries.

I was a little nervous actually, would I still be able to draw and paint? Would it feel awkward? 

Well, it felt a little clumsey but overall I was quite happy with the results and I have to say that I have loved getting back into a daily habit of getting outside and paying close attention to what is happening around me.

Below, I’m sharing a recent journal entry, capturing snippets of January. 



In making the decision to be more intentional in my daily living and in this case, my journaling, I was tempted to start a brand new journal. My last entry was in 2022 and I quite like new fresh starts when it comes to notebooks and journals but, it struck me that seeing the stark 3 year gap in my journal is a good reminder to hold on to those things that matter and not let the sands of time run through the hourglass unheeded.



If you keep a nature journal, this is the perfect time to start a fresh page—recording the small but significant shifts that signal the changing season. Have you spotted the first blossoms? Noticed an increase in birdsong? Felt the change in the air?

Welcoming the Light Ahead

As February begins to slip away and March approaches, the promise of spring feels more tangible. There’s excitement in the longer days, in the warmth that will soon return, in the slow but sure awakening of the natural world.

How are you experiencing this seasonal shift? I’d love to hear about the signs of spring you’ve noticed—do share in the comments or in your own nature journal!

Whispers of Spring

I was washing up the dishes this morning and noticed a little robin sitting on the roof of my garage. He was just surveying his surrounds quietly. Then off he flew. I dried my hands and stepped out the back door, there he was again, perched high up on a twig. His view now reaching further than just the immediate neighbouring gardens



Oh, to be a bird and be able to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of the world below. It reminded me of The Swing, a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. 



As a child we lived in a house on a hill, you could see for miles as our suburb was new and the surrounding areas undeveloped. I could see the cars and lorry's beetling along the road in the distance and for some reason, it was comforting to know that the world was going about its business and I was safely at home.


We are expecting rain today so while the skies were clear I thought I would go for a walk along the canal. With our move set to happen over the next few weeks, I want to enjoy this familiar walk as much as possible. Although I must admit, I'm looking forward to discovering more walks with a lot less traffic to have to navigate before I reach a tranquil setting!


Even as I walked along the towpath, the clouds began to roll in and the wind pick up. I always love seeing the canal boats moored up alongside the towpath. In winter many of them have their woodstoves burning and soft plumes of woodsmoke drift gently into the icy air. I think they would make a lovely illustration.


Back home and it's time to feed the birds and top up their water. I've noticed a marked increase in bird activity of late. I love watching the robins dart in and out of the garden, and the blackbirds as they hop about in the flower beds, picking at fallen leaves to see what tasty morsels they can find to eat.

My attention turns to the garden which is beginning to show signs of life. A sense of joy wells up when I see winter flowering plants doing well like my snowdrops and hellebores and especially when I see spring bulbs pushing through the earth.


March is the month I look forward to most as there seems to be a tangible difference in the days. It may still be predominantly stormy and grey, but the days are longer and that makes such a difference.


Anyhoo lovelies, I hope that you are having a good week and finding lots of ordinary things to take joy in. Apparently we are expecting sunnier days later this week, so I am going to make the most of that! I'm feeling the urge to start planting again - I'll have to check my month-by-month gardening book and see what I can start to sow!

Until next time...

Weekending in The Lake District & A Few Thoughts for February

We had expected to be in our new home by now however, we are still waiting for our house sale to go through. It's been an age and quite frankly, we just want to get this done now. We are craving being back in the countryside and cannot wait to start a new chapter in our little cottage up on the Lancashire/Cumbrian border.

So what do you do? Well, you book a weekend on Lake Windermere to ease your woes.


We found a great New Year's deal at the McDonald Old England hotel on Bowness-on-Windermere. The hotel is on the waters edge so we enjoyed eating breakfast overlooking the water.

Old England Hotel from the Water

We were slightly concerned as the day we were set to travel up to Cumbria, the UK was expecting dangerous gale-force winds across the region. However, we left after work on Friday by which time the worst of the winds had passed.

On Saturday morning we woke up to the most gorgeous day we've had this winter! Clear skies, not a breath of wind...just stunning!

We decided to hire a little self-drive boat for an hour and pootle about the lake. 

Memories of the adventures of the Swallows and Amazons which I'd read to my children came flooding back. All my most loved heros have lived a life in this area. Beatrix Potter, Charlotte Mason...I felt completley at home and at peace.

I confess that I have had a moment or two during this whole house selling and buying business that has caused me a wobble or two. But being back in Cumbria I just knew that the move is the right thing at the right time for us.


After pootling about the lake we took a drive around Lake Windermere - it is so nice in winter. Very little congestion and few visitors. Apparantly it is almost unpleasant in summer with the amount of visitors that visit the Lake District.  But who can blame anyone for wanting to escape cities for this landscape!


The opposite side of the lake to where we were staying is not really devloped for tourists - perfect! If I had an unlimited budget, I'd definitely be buying a lakeside house. I probably wouldn't get a thing done - I'd be hypnotised by the view!

All too soon our weekend in paradise was over and we returned to our suburban home, a little more motivated to start packing those boxes!

North West Winter Wool Festival


February is set to fly by, we have the North West Winter Wool Festival in a little under 2 weeks - so there is a LOT going into that at the moment. 

Saturday tickets have reached capacity for the venue so we have had to stop selling tickets for that day. How incredable is that! Tickets are still on sale for Sunday however, if people want to book any Saturday workshops we will be issuing show tickets for them. So email us on northwestwinterwoolfestival@gmail.com if you are wanting to do that.

February Love...

Apart from the show and hopefully our house move, there is lots to love about February! I've got my little Valentines heart tree out. Of course, it's not going to be a slow Valentines weekend for us as we will be working at the show but it's nice to mark the season with a bit of home decor.


I've enjoyed having bunches daffodils brightening up my home during Janaury. It's one of those little things that is part of the rhythm of my year. Gloomy January is cheered up with daffodils.

In the Garden

I was working in the garden yesterday - mainly helping my husband repair a fence that had blown over in last weeks storm, and found a little bunch of snowdrops! I love seeing the garden slowly waking up. I always find it so sad to see the state of it in the winter months. Snowdrops are just the reminder we need that no season lasts forever!


We have enjoyed some lovely frosty mornings this winter. I love the way spiders webs freeze up and look like delicate pieces of jewellery. I've been taking time to once again appreciate the small things in life - it makes such a difference to ones outlook wouldn't you agree?


I've snipped a few Forsythia branches from the garden and brought them indoors to force. 


I think I may do a journal entry documenting the process. It's been a long while since I picked up my journal and I must say that I miss it!

February Ponderings

Its funny how life seasons change, disrupting your rhythm and changing the course of your habits isn't it?

Just like the fierce storms we have had, they cause turmoil, rip things away, and leave behind some form of devistation that needs to be cleaned up and put back together, often leavning life looking very different.


Since taking the decision to close my yarn business, I have been through my Instagram doing a bit of housekeeping and archiving some photographs. I realised how single focused my life has become, whether it was on yarn or during my legal studies. 

Quite frankly, I don't like it! 

I believe that this is a great danger in life becoming mundane and lacking in joy and appreciation of the small, ordinary things when we set them aside in favour of achieving a goal to the exclusion of all else. 

Every so often, we are given the opportunity to confront our choices, review our life and decide if we like what we see or if it is time for a change.

For me, it's time for a change. I think our house move, the end of my studies and trying to make a business from my hobby is that juncture. Workwise, I'm in a good place. I have the yarn show which is going really well, I'd like to build on this and arrange another one for the autumn. I have also just been appointed as a county court advocate which allows me to decide how and when I work. 

It gives me the flexiblity I've been looking for to build a balanced life that includes time for the things that are important to me, like getting outdoors, painting, visiting friends, getting involved with my church and other groups. I am determined that 2025 is going to be a year of appreciating the small things and moments.

What are you hoping for in 2025? 

Anyhoo lovelies, I hope that you have a lovely week whatever your plans are. I look forward to catching up with you a bit later in the week.

Time To Say Goodbye To My Yarn Shop

 Hello Lovelies,


I hope that you all had a FANTASTIC Christmas break and are ready to tackle 2025!



As many of you know, I have dipped my toe into the world of event organising and we are 39 days away from hosting the North West Winter Wool Festival in the North West. I have really enjoyed the process of curating and pulling together such a big event. It makes me happy to be able to provide a platform for small business owners as well as an event that brings people joy and this plays some part in my announcement...


In December I put my yarn shop on a month-long break as my yarn was on consignment in a independant yarn shop. As I contemplated 2025, I realised that I have been dyeing and selling yarn since 2015. It's been a wonderful and rewarding journey. I've met amazing people and experienced the show circuit which pushed me out of my comfort zone. I never thought I would every take my yarn to a show, let alone some of the biggest shows in the UK! 

However, I realised that the time has come to pack away the dye pots and move onto my next adventure. Running a small craft business is hard work and full on. I am certainly not one to shy away from hard work but when your hobby turns into a business it tends to lose some of the joy. I don't want to lose my joy of creating and so while it's a little sad to be closing the door on this part of my life, it feels like the right decision.

It will take a little while to finish things up here so if you have your eye on something lovely from my Etsy Shop please treat yourself soon.



I have reduced all my prices as I need to clear as much stock as possible before our move. All my yarn is now £15 per skein. Semi-solid colours are just £10 per skein. 

I will be adding a lot of show stock items to the shop over the coming weeks such as knitting needles, crochet hooks, and sweet little felting kits, so keep you eye out for those. 

I suspect that it will take a little while to wrap everything up, I'm hoping to have all my stock sold off by the end of February. I will take what is left to the North West Winter Wool Festival in February so if you want to grab some of the last skeins of Under An English Sky Yarn please do so soon.



Under an English Sky blog and Instagram account will revert back to what it was always intended to be... a little spot to share little snippets around the home, seasons and countryside. 

Thank you so much for supporting my little yarn business over the years, I really appreciate it.