Washed out

 The weather is horrible, high winds, thunderstorms, hailstones, our garden has been battered, we have had a few coffee mornings in our sunroom with the doors shut, Lilly has often sat inside with us. It's very still and quiet inside, really enjoyable, the garden has not been damaged, just petals blown off roses and poppies. 

I pick strawberries every other day, the tiny bags protect the fruit, as does not growing them on the ground, there are enough uncovered for the bugs and small birds and mice. Another cucumber, again not full size, the plant seams very happy outside as does both my tomato plants. A few more sweet-peas, these are growing faster. We used the berries in an Eaton Mess, it was yummy. 

Last year I purchased 3 gaura plants, the white one planted in my side bed has not come back this year and one of the pink ones is looking iffy, I already have a cutting growing taken last year it's already in a pot, I'm not sure of these  colours, they just in water are growing strong roots, hopefully more plants. I adore these plants and their tiny flowers and hope to have more in other beds.

It's been a week at home, just too wet to go anywhere, Monday I did more pottery painting with daughter and her three, they all had an inset day off from school. Thursday we had our dental checks, we had planned to go into town, but just too wet.

Friday we planned a day out, we were both getting stir crazy from being inside so much, we did not stay out too long, neither of us get any delight in cruising arounds shops just having a look, it was a dry day. We decided not to hang around to have lunch out, later we sat in our summerhouse, lovely sunshine, out of the wind.

Our plans this weekend has changed, we were going home to Somerset, but my tummy issues have gotten really bad, I have a doctors appointment early next to week. My brother who we always stay with is also ill, which helped shape our decision, neither of us wanted to put on him or even get his bugs. My sister is getting married to her long term partner, she is not happy with me but it can't be helped, the journey is 3 hours each way and I'm just not up to it.

Some you win

 First pickings of strawberries, they were very sweet, there are loads more to come, the little net bags are working, I do leave berries on lower level open for the wildlife. 

First of my sweet-peas, all the same colour, I have everything crossed for another good year, the sweetwilliamsare home grown as well.

Just to balance things, my poor hostas, a dining area for snails I keep looking for them, I have given in this season, I will clear the top of the tub later in the year, clearing out as many as I can.

I have ripped out my broad-beans they were covered in blackfly, they are infected every year, for some reason this season they overwhelmed the plants, we did get one meal from them, none in freezer. I could get new plants but I fear the blackfly would come back.

It's not often I show the mishaps in the garden, I do tell you about them, I am OK with things going wrong, plants never returning, I never use chemicals, I'm hopeful as the years pass the eco system in the garden is balanced enough to save most things.

Water is always an issue, often we have long periods of dry weather, I do collect rain water but it's never enough, so I water often. Last year we missed the hose pipe ban, our local water supplier Portsmouth Water is good at amassing vast amounts of water. Yesterday the storms came, so gardens are now soaked and water butts are full again. 

Having a cat keeps other cats away, I do pick up after Lilly most days, locally foxes are a problem, hubby has blocked most entrance points, they can climb over fences luckily they don't here. We rarely see hedgehogs any more, occasionally mice, again luckily we not seen a rat in ages. Pigeons are a pain, I do net my veg beds.

Just being in the garden is so rewarding for both of us, these days there is less work to be done, so we practice the art of sitting and watching.

May round up

 Just one cheap ball of yarn for a pair of socks, nothing else for crafting, I'm doing very little inside, garden was another low spend month, we have not visited many garden centres this month, I don't record the bigger project spends which come out of our household budget.

2 Books read this month

The car has had a new clutch, it's 12 years old and mine, I purchased it new, I really don't see the need to renew it, it's a great size for the two of us, locally we only use it to go shopping, to daughters house or a garden centre, to go into town or Portsmouth we use our free bus pass. We trust the local mechanic, who works here, or in the case of the clutch took it to his garage at home. We have a good list of local trades people who we can call on, it's helpful as we age and hubby not able to do so much, plus their cost are way below any national companies.

The garage conversion cost was mainly the new doors, we did all the other work together saving loads, still cost involved as we made it look good, we did reuse loads of our own stuff.

I did get a few bits of clothing, I don't have a clothing budget, just trying to keep a low spend, the quilted jacket was a bargain not to be missed, I've already worn it a few times.

Again food waste was almost nothing, most of it went into my composters, which are working well with the added garden greenery. We do put a few bits into the council food waste bin, just stuff I don't compost, knowing our portion sizes help to stop waste, we only cook what we can eat.

We have dropped my portion size again, I have for most of the month avoided bread, biscuits ect, and potatoes, I am feeling much better for it, sadly the scales show no improvement.

New outlooks

 The new doors are on, the contractor was a local independent guy, who came recommended and did an outstanding job. The floor has been laid, we used gym floor tiles, deciding on grey rather than black, and purchased a bigger outside plastic rug for on top, which will arrive soon, both doors open outwards to keep the usable space inside.

The view looking out is much nicer, the old up and over garage door caused a huge shadow, I can still see flowers growing. For once I feel this is a proper patio.

Hubby popped up two shelves each side, allowing us to have a few bits out of the way. I got a few more silly signs, hubby knows how I like things to look finished. I've not had any input on his side, he got a small bathroom cabinet, I prefer my hamper, which has blankets in and the huge jar with a wooden tray as the table top. 

I hung my sunhat here as well, more convenient, handy should I want to wear it. I have suggested hubby hangs one of his in here on his side. My lovely trug is hanging here, it is beautiful, sadly I don't use it much, I have another I use, so often it has been in the way, here I can see it. The signs are hung straight, the angle of my photo makes them look off, most of these I have had for years.

The view from our seating area has improved so much, this left hand side of the garden is now truly part of the garden, removing the metal door makes the building look less like a workshop and more for leisure use. For now we are using my tubs for door stops, I did see some lovely wooden ones at £100 each, hubby has some nice wood, he will try and make them for me.

So now we have our sunroom, it faces to the sun most of the day, so on cooler sunny days this will be a perfect spot, on hot sunny days we can sit further back in the shade, on windy days we are completely sheltered. The first night it was finished we shared a bottle of Hawkstone cider and sat out until 8pm, it's been a perfect project for us both, it does feel good to have another space we can sit in, these days I prefer to be at home, and no matter what the weather is like we can be 'outside'.

I have promised hubby there is now NOTHING big left to do (fingers crossed) I truly have nothing I want to change, our garden is a perfect space for both of us. He has said he will paint the board just under the roof felt, the new doors make it look grubby.

The children's garden toys are all handy, hanging all the bats and balls up in the front corner works well, I have shown George we do not store the toys in the same place, hopefully he understands and will stay out of the back section, Molly already understands.