Hello all

Can you see the little yacht boat on the lake, through the wild cherry tree? This is Lake Neuchatel on a warm spring day. Pretty isn't it? I love those muted-faded blues when the sun washes out the colours. We've had some beautiful spring days and with all the rain the fields are filled with lush dandelions. I don't think I've ever seen so many dandelions. The yellow fields look beautiful.

We went on a car-buying hunt the other day. First we tried the nissan x-trail, I do love that advert! Well everything was well made and it drived like a dream: until I started feeling nauseous! There's this constant vibrating which I ended up calling the 'tuning-fork' effect. You see a tuning-fork at its base remains still, only the outer reaches vibrate the note. And this four-by-four  - being top heavy- seemed to have this effect on me -churning my stomach mercilessly. I felt really sick after 10 mins, which was a real surprise to myself and my husband. Disappointing, too. On a long journey, I think it would've been impossible for me.

Very excited though, because I saw this lovely little renault soft-top instead! Which my husband calls a hair-dressers' car (sure you boys will know what that means!) Meant nothing to me! Just thought it was really cute. And I can't wait to see the dog riding with the top down - with his ears flying in the wind! Dare I drive in Switzerland though?? Not just after I've painted, hopefully. Nothing empties your head out, quite like a painting.

I'll try and take a picture of me and the dog in our new car, if it doesn't drive off with someone else. I would take a picture of my husband and me, but I don't think his legs can get in, not without a bit of a squeeze anyway. I told my husband at least I could take you to the doctor, if necessarily. From the look on his face, I think  he would've rather gone in a taxi! I guess he doesn't want to look like a hairdresser!

Anyway, finish with a pretty picture.

When the weather gets as lovely as this I have to grow something from seed. It's always an urge! Are you the same? Well, we had so much unexpected rain this winter than many of my seeded plants like Crape Myrtle, were killed. They need far more drainage than I gave them. And I think this winter was far too cold for them. Gorgeous shrub though. Heavenly.

My rose seeds I grew the year before last are brilliant now though. They are all about one foot tall (from seeds I bought!) It will be a real surprise what kind of rose they grow into. I always prefer a seed to all that grafting (seems a bit cruel to me, chopping off legs and glueing in someone elses body!) I know it takes forever from seed though. But somehow, you feel so connected to the little plants if you've grown them from seeds. Like little babies!   I wonder if my new rose seedling will flower? I have about 15 of them in the garden now. They love the Swiss weather: cold in the winter and hot in the summer. They will if I don't massacre them with our new lawnmower! Don't talk to me about our new lawn-mower!! Biggest waste of money that was! Yes, you have to push it! We have about 900m2 of lawn. I mowed three days ago. My body has been in agony since!  Terrible. And it's already growing again. I think hubby may have to go back to his old chore! Sorry dear!

Must just tell you before I go about our car-buying experience here in Switzerland. Every time we walked into a garage and said in limited french can we look at the car they said: "oui oui oui!" then handed us the car-keys!! Seriously! They knew nothing about us. They didn't even take our name or look at our driving license. Three out of three times they said they had some work to do and here are the keys. So we buggered off with each car (including the new x-trail for 30 mins) I mean, you wouldn't be able to do that in England, would you? My husband said: "Hmmm, I think I'll just try a Porsche and drive it across to France!" Don't worry, he didn't go ahead, but I'm sure he could've done! Bizarre!!

Laurel Moore's art at www.boundlessgallery.com and www.moorethanart.com