It started off as a beautiful day - crisp, but beautiful. The sun was shining at 07:15am and I could already feel the warmth of it on my face. It felt vaguely familiar! It's been so long since we saw some decent sunshine in the UK that I'd almost forgotten what it looked like, let alone what it was like to feel its warmth on your back.

Later on, I took a tour around our little garden and nodded back at the Snowdrops that had been gracing the foot of our Cherry tree all the way through January. Such happy looking little plants - so joyful to be waving around in the winter breeze, just loving all the winter sunshine, and even tolerating the winter rain with steely determination.

And then, to my absolute delight I spotted a couple of yellow Crocus hiding in the grass. (Usually yellow ones are eaten by the blackbirds, but they seem to have overlooked these two.) With the sun shining on them, they looked glorious! Real show-stealers these little buds.

You have to love Mother Nature's sense of humour, teasing us all gently with the promise of what is to come. The Rhubard is already in leaf, and the Daffs are half-asleep under their green cloaks, just waiting for the right time to poke a toe out from underneath their winter gowns to see if it's warm enough to venture forth.

Spring feels so close now. We have more daylight, and for a time the temperature rose, and then fell again, but still, Nature bides her time until conditions are perfect to burst out in Her full glory.

Photographs by Terri - Tribes and Vibes