February

I spent loads this month, spring and summer flowers, bulbs and tubers

cotton thread was expensive,

crochet hooks as well.

I purchased 4 item's of clothing, all reduced. 

I don't normally buy makeup, 

household was my orchid. 

It's been a good month for savings.

Saved £41.00 on my car insurance, same company with a loyalty discount, the policy is good with all the cover I require.
MOT on my car, £59.00, just a number light bulb required, we did have to buy 2 new tyre's, not bad for a car 4 years old.
We pay £90.00 per month, which is now being reduced, £106 per year savings on gas and electricity. As yet we have not moved the heating level, most days I only have the heating on 1st thing and then in the evening, our sitting room only has radiators, so we do not have a heat boost for the cold times. When Will is here, the heating stays on most of the day. So far our heating is less than last year when I was working full time, but I am often out in the day time.
I have started some seeds, I plan not to buy any flowering plants for my garden, I will grow everything from seed, so the extra cost have come earlier this year.
My steps are terrible, with my bad back early on in February and then having these bugs back for two weeks, I have not done enough walking, but I am not going to worry, I'm feeling better so I can get out and about again.
Hubby is not happy and bored, the events in Brecon has been cancelled, he had decided he would not travel, the promised snow looks really bad. He is not driving until Monday, he has no inside hobbies, I suggest things to him, but he is not interested. I could be a long few days here, I have loads to do, and always busy, if I find time I like to sit and read, I have some bunting to make.
This afternoon I think we will be going out, we have no snow here as yet, we require nothing, but it will be better than listening to him moan 'I'm bored'.
Will is being checked regularly, he is a bit young for them to operate unless they have too. Yesterday he came out in spots, Chicken pox, he's not a happy little boy.

Waiting

These won't last much longer, they have been beautiful

 Soon be ready to pot on, lovely to see seedlings.

I was not sure if I was going to like this book

Great story, ending a bit different. 

I am going to sign language class this morning, so I am waiting for my lift at 10.30, today is a day of waiting.
Mummy and daddy are taking Will to our local hospital to have his growth on his lip checked, it is getting bigger, it was hoped at birth, it would shrink and disappear.
We are also waiting to see how much snow there is, hubby has a tip to Brecon, for St Davids day on Thursday 1st of March, all his Welsh Guards are having a get together after the parade.  He has everything booked for a three day stay, but if we get the snow in our fore caste, it would be better if he stayed at home, to say he is feeling disappointed is an under statement.
I am also waiting to see if we have any snow, we have a few snowflakes yesterday lunchtime, as normal, nothing much, but I am expecting to see snow today or tomorrow.
We will require nothing, we will be OK, the only issue would be if we lost water supply, but that's very unlikely. We both got books from our local library yesterday and a loaf of bread and fresh milk, no panic buying, but the shelves of our local Co-op was almost empty, we should be good until the weekend. We have no vulnerable elderly living close, the rest of us look out for each other. 
So I sit and wait, what are you waiting for !

Wake up call.

Magnolia tree, buds far too early

 Fruit bushes

 Acer waking up

 Hellibour , lovely blooms

 My new bulb pot (Blue) and hubbies neglected bucket of daffs.

So much new growth, and with a really cold spell promised for next week, all I can do is watch and hope nothing is killed off. It is staying sunny every day here, but each morning we wake to a frost, loads of tiny diamonds everywhere, opening our blinds each day is a pure joy. The greenhouse is really warm every afternoon. The weather fore caste say we should have snow, will have to wait and see, we often miss snowfall in our winters, we live in a sheltered spot.
Hubby has filled all the bird feeders, ensuring there is plenty to eat, the sunflower hearts, meal worms and niger seeds always go first, followed by his home made fat and seed pellets. We only use wild bird seed mixed in home made fat pellets, we also put out food where the ground feeders can feast.
I have finished reading all three library books,

The Child, Fiona Barton 

The Girl Before, JP Delaney

Right Behind You, Lisa Gardner

All new authors to me, I enjoyed each book and would happily read another book from any of the authors.
I have also joined a local reading group, their book for March is The Art of not Breathing, Sarah Alexandra, I have to pay for the book each month, but they are discounted, if the books selected are not to my taste, I can leave at any time. I am trying to widen the topics of the books I read.
Will was great on his sleep over, slept for 12 hours from 7pm,  we had time to play in the morning, mummy came over for lunch together before taking Will home to daddy. Now Will is walking, every thing is eye height, so I am on my feet more, he his a good boy, but the he see's something and it's WOW, I am not moving things, all our grand sons have learnt not to touch. On the plus side our cat's are now left to sleep, we got him a Scuttlebug, he loves to scoot around, our wooden floors makes it fun to slide.

Sow happy

These are beautiful, spring is so close

 I spent 2 hours on Wednesday in the greenhouse,

I have cut back all my tender plants, ready for regrowth, they are under a plastic cover inside my greenhouse, I gave the whole greenhouse a good sort out. I have planted up 5 large seed trays, all with early seeds, I have no room for anymore seed trays.

This triple set is on my spare bed, it's a very sunny spot, it has all the different marigolds for the new stand I purchased, I can plant this early and bring it back inside if gets frosty around Easter time. 

I have not as yet planted the other plants I purchased, I need more potting compost, which I can get this weekend. 

 Another nasty

 My Amaryllis is in a pot in the greenhouse, to die back, 

I purchased this plant for in this glass pot. 

 All finished

 I'm pleased with how it looks

 It makes a nice lap blanket, 

and is perfect colours for use in our garden. 

Wednesday afternoon I spent 2 hours outside, mainly in the greenhouse, and just a bit of tidying around the garden, it felt good to be sowing seeds. I have loads more but they require sowing in later March, the fake grass makes the plot look good, I have loads of bulbs showing, all different types, so loads of colour to come. I found 2 small buckets with daffodils in, which hubby planted last September, they were tucked away in the greenhouse, I forgot he had planted them, but even with total neglect they are growing, I have placed them on our decking, so we can see them.
Yesterday daughter had a spa day, so Will spent the whole day with me, we both sniffed the whole time, we stayed inside and played, I read whilst Will had his naps, he is tired as his blocked nose does not allow him to sleep for long. Will loved the new blanket, it was on the floor most of the day.
We are having Will on a sleepover tonight, so mummy and daddy can go for a curry with friends, we prefer to have him overnight, than babysit at their house, plus they get a later morning.
Today I am going into town, I require nothing, we have only purchased bread, milk and veg this week, I am meeting an old work friend for lunch, I do want to look in TK Max, not for clothes, I love their kitchen and garden sections, they always have different items.
It's sunny and cold here, so I will wrap up warm.

A bit of everything

So much change, daughter put this photo together

Tea towels 

 All in a pack of ten £5.99 from local Sue Ryder shop.

This is growing

 Looks like spring

 Hubby thought I would like these, he was correct. 

This week  I am full of bugs again, I am blaming all the children from Will's party, most had bugs, oh well a side effect of being grand parents, but I do get plenty of rest time to read and crochet.

Last Sunday we went to our local village shops, I was pleased with the tea towels I got, 7 have gone into my stash, the two printed ones are in use and the horrible green thing is now a cleaning cloth. So Rachel  I intend to make things with my teal towel stash, you are my inspiration, watch this space. 

Thank you for your kind comments on my wigwam, I enjoy a challenge, it was fun to make, simple shapes to stitch together, plus Will loves it. Daughter says I can make the bunting for it, so more sewing later this week.  

We are having another few sunny and cold days, all our towels and bedding from the weekend are on the line, they won't completely dry, they smell much better once on the line, I am unable to use fabric softener, it irritates my skin, so a short go in the tumble dryer will dry and soften them. 

I'm going to spend an hour in the greenhouse, I have some seeds to sow, and will need to tidy sopace for the trays on the sunny side of the greenhouse. 

Nothing else planned, I want to watch the last episode of Trauma, hubby did not enjoy them so I can watch it this afternoon. 

Do you have plans this sunny day.  

Wigwam

One large bed sheet, some patchwork

Dawn made the pocket for this cushion

All set out

Add one grandson

I think Will loves his reading wigwam, he went straight to play in it, using a bed sheet for the body allows the light in. The patchwork base matched the cot quilt I made him (the wigwam is going in his bedroom). Daughter loved the airplane fabric, so I made a cushion with some, Will's bedroom is shades of grey.
I made the square of patchwork for the base 1st, I also cut a square from the bedsheet for the underside. I used the poles to get straight lines for the sides, I cut three the same, each two inches wider than the base, giving me seam allowance. To join the sides I used French seams, which I made much wider, so I could slide the poles in, keeping everything safe. I then stitched the sides to the base.
I layered the plain grey bottom, then the wigwam, finally the patchwork top, I pinned all together ensuring I have the corners neat and tidy, I stitched around the sides and the back, leaving the front opened to be able to turn it all the right way. I then topped stitched the layers from the inside to stop them moving, I finally stitched the front opening neatly. This method ensured the poles could not be removed from the bottom. The poles were inserted and the top seams covered with a band hand sewn. The biggest issue we had was holding the poles together, in almost every design they showed wooden poles with holes drilled through and the poles tied with rope, we used plastic covered metal post as used in gardens, they were thinner and much stronger, in the end a strong cable tie was used.
We decided we did not want the front sections to meet in the middle, they would be better smaller so Will could get in and out.

Another 1st birthday.

Who loves Peter Rabbit

 William chooses today to show off his walking skills

 Cousins come to party, our Somerset boys

 Happy family

We are totally shattered, yesterday was all about a birthday party, loads of lovely children, a huge soft play area, and cake.  The party only lasted 2 hours which was enough time to play and make new friends, and eat, all the food except the cake was home made. It was lovely to see all the tiny children sat at long tables eating together, and at that point it was so quiet.
After the party we were back at Will's house, great time seeing the cousins play together, then back to ours for Pizza, mummy and daddy drove two tired boys, Logan and Finn back to Somerset last night, the lucky boys slept all the way home.
My sister Leanna is now back at her home in Somerset, we spent the afternoon with Will again, he loved his WigWam, and went straight inside, both cushions we popped in front of the two poles at the back, he also took his blue crochet blanket and another hand made blanket and snuggled down.
I have loads of catching up on reading post, then a lazy evening together, but please no more cake.

Going Grey,

Three new titles

 This is really random, no design in my head

 When I have had enough of the grey, I add the pink mixture

 We were out early so we brought cakes for our coffee at home.

Fake Friends by Jane Fallon, was a brilliant book, I could not put it down, I just wanted to know what happens next all through the book, I will looks for more titles from this author. I am fully back into reading again, thank goodness I don't have to go to work, gives me plenty of time.
Yesterday I had lunch with an old work friend, Linda and I sat next to each other giggling most of the day, work can be great fun with the right people. We caught up with our Christmas news, our Children and their children, it's nice to have time to chat.
The reading wigwam has just one small job to complete, which I will do later, after I have given it to Will, I will do a post on it, once started it was quite easy to make, I kept it simple as my daughter does not like anything too fussy, I also made two cushions for inside, I can't wait to see Will in it.
Hubby made sausage rolls and my cheese straws are in the fridge made and will be baked tonight. So everything is ready for his party tomorrow and his birthday on Sunday.
This afternoon we are going to see Black Panther, in our local cinema, which is the cheapest of all the local places, we are using the over 60's discount, we will not take or buy sweets, so even having to pay for parking it's still a cheap afternoon.
Later my sister and her partner Alan arrives for the weekend, so our small house is going to be busy.

Multi tasking

We swapped cards this morning, no gifts

tonight we have a nice meal planned, and an evening in together. 

 I'm reading again

Then She Was Gone, was a very good story,  most of the time you can work out what is coming, the ending was believable. 

Just starting Faking Friends

 I'm playing, I have no designs, just two different yarns, I want it for an everyday use, so I am liking the dark colours. 

 My day

We popped to Lidl and restocked our freezer, ensuring all the larger packs of meat have been separated into portions for two, which generally make our meal with a leftover portion. We also popped to a local shop, Cook, they have ready prepared meals using whole foods, we got 6 of their perfect individual pies, 3 each for hubby and I in flavours we love, these pies are uncooked and frozen, we can cook them from frozen, a nice treat in our freezer, we also got a beef wellington for tonight. We then popped to our local butchers for sausage meat for sausage rolls for Will's birthday tea, we got a few different flavour sausages for our freezer.
Hubby will make the sausage rolls, I am making cheese straws and Quiche, all for Saturday's party, we are having a baking morning on Friday. 
Today I aim to finish Will's gifts, I have a couple of cushion inner's to make, I purchase pillows and cut them down for cushion pads, I can make the cushion any size and ensure the pad is full and soft. I would like to make some bunting using off cuts of the quilt material, but I'm not sure daughter would use them. So I am home alone with my sewing machine, it's cold and dull outside, so no plans to be outside.

Double finish.

My ripple blanket is finished, Saturday was a wet day, 

I sat mid afternoon and hooked until I finished all the colours later the evening.

My granny square is done, I managed one more round with the yarn left over, 

I still have some yarn left but not enough of each, I did think of a cushion cover, but the cot does not stay up, so it's pointless to make a cover to be packed away.

 Neat edges

Sunday, we went to lunch with mummy, daddy and Will, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for lunch and a lovely afternoon together. We enjoy each other company, and Will loves having so many people to play with. We had a lazy evening, so I was able to finish the granny square.
This morning it is another bright and sunny cold day, no snow here along the south coast, hubby is on a break from driving this week, we have Will here for his normal Monday visit, they are playing in the sitting room, hubby loves Will's cars so they play together. Later we will walk to our local shops for bread.
We are still eating from our freezer, we have defrosted the kitchen fridge freezer, and everything now fits in there, the garage FF has also been done. Tomorrow we intend to restock, ensuring all the new purchases are in the garage freezer, and we use up all in the kitchen freezer. We have not done a big shop since early December, we will also require rice and a few store cupboard items, so a visit to Lidl is required.
I intend to do the final stitching on Will's wigwam on Wednesday, I have plans for every day this week, it's a busy week, so I do not intend to start anything new, but as always that could change.