Sunny weekend

 Friday morning we took the express bus into Portsmouth going to the south of the city, here is Gunwharf Quays, it's a mixture of outlet stores and food venues, we have been here often before. Being on the waters edge on a hot day is perfection, you can see through the natural harbour mouth to Isle of Wright and beyond.

Sitting in the warm sun under The Spinnaker Tower looking out over the water was bliss, not too busy, just how we like it, hubby got his new trainers and used his Blue Light card for discount, we were told many shops there take the card, nice surprise. We do love wondering around these bigger shops.

Saturday I had George for a couple of hours, Molly had a party to attend, Will was with Grandma and Grandpa, after a couple of hours mummy and Molly came here, Molly stayed for a sleep over, giving mummy and George time together, they went to the beach. We spend most of the day outside in the beautiful sunshine, our second day at 20⁰, I even wore sandals and shorts, first time this year.

Sunday was an early start as expected, Molly never sleeps in late, the day was cooler, still perfect sunny day, we got the laundry done and dried, we ate lunch in the garden, listening to the birdsong and watching Lilly run around. After I took Molly home we had a quiet afternoon, Molly is a chatterbox, so it was quiet, relaxing time, listening to our neighbours music, they had a BBQ, we decided not to walk to their house.

Hubby was out all day Saturday, I choose not to go anywhere, on a sunny days there is no place better than my own garden, both children love playing outside, it's all now on one level, perfect for scooters and football. I did water everywhere again, this time using the hose, I did read our water levels are OK here in the south, after such a wet winter, we don't have a water meter, we looked into it and generally we would not save much, if I factor in watering the garden as well, I think we are better off with general bills.

We had rhubarb and apple crumble with custard, I pulled my first harvest on Saturday, I used some Braeburn apples we already had, hubby put oats in the crumble, it was lovely and worth the wait for our first harvest. We both had an early night on Sunday, grandchildren wear us out.

I had a sort out of my gardening bits over the weekend, George's school has just had raised beds made, they were asking for anything to help start a garden club, I had seed trays with clear covers, some plastic hand tools and more seeds. Daughter was happy to take them, I have asked for a contact number, I have some raspberry and strawberry plants they can have. It's so pleasing when schools create gardens, I love it here when the children pick my ripe fruit to eat.

Going green

 I have two huge pots of tulips, I watch them everyday as I'm in the garden, I have popped a support ring in the back pot, soon these lovelies will open. The large snowdrops in my cider pot have bloomed so well, the tulips came up blind, so I have cut back their leaves, I also have a fleabane daisy in this pot.

Sadly most of my spring bulbs have finished flowering, it's always a shame, this year the beds have been full, the narcissus are now blooming here. I don't grow tulips in the ground as those which are not dug up by squirrels and rats tend to rot in our clay soil. 

My side bed is just leaves, there are bluebells growing through the leaves, I don't mind this bed at this time of year, these leaves are storing all the goodness back into the bulbs for next year, I don't dig up my spring bulbs. I always cut off the dead heads so they won't make seeds, which can weaken the bulb.

I added two small pots of snakes-head fritillary, just to give the feel the pond has been here longer, I drained some of the water and cleared out some of the slimy weed, it's been topped back up with rainwater and looking much better. 

Just late spring bits coming through in the flower beds, I can see loads of plants purchased last year returning, which is brilliant, I can't see me having too many bare spots this summer, I am finding it hard as I see so many lovely plants and I really do not have room for them, I have promised hubby after reducing the number of pots I have I would not purchase anymore. 

The veg beds are doing well, I soaked my peas and have sown them into their final spot, for now I have popped a cover over them. We pulled our first harvest of rhubarb, which we added apple and made a crumble, served with custard.

I have watered my pots again and the veg beds, it's very dry here, sunny windy days steal moisture. My cucumber plants are huge, my tomato plants are smaller but strong, I have not lost too many, it's a much better start to the growing season.

Gone to seed

It's a busy time in the greenhouse, here I have loads of seedlings, mainly flowers, plus a few cucumber and tomatoes. I have started the task of potting induvial seedlings, I will only sort as many as I need, the rest I will spread out in the seed tray and once they have grown some more I will offer them to neighbours. 

On the small greenhouse shelves I have more plants in individual pots of various sizes, most of these are flowers, some are small purchased plants I have grown on, again I have more than I need, I'm aware I can easily loose a few at any point.

 

One side of my raised veg beds is now a cold frame, these plants don't need to be under glass, most of these I have raised myself from cuttings, under the plastic domes are my cabbage plants, I have 7, 3 did not make it, these are all looking good after moving them. They are under my netting.

This is my newly created salad bed, it has a cover to keep Lilly off, I have various seeds in here, there is also a perspex cover which I pop on over night. It's working well, the mixed leaf salad has healthy growth, I can also see spring onions and radishes coming up.

Each day this week I have spent an hour outside, getting little bits done, most of the time inside the greenhouse, I should have plenty of strong flower plants. Our local pet shop has their flower strips back in, 4 or 5 plants for £1.49, this year I only purchased 2 packs, I have most of what I require.

My greenhouse is a busy spot, it's always full at this time of year, I do love to spend time inside, the joy of seeds growing into healthy plants always gives me great pleasure, I have opened the door every day, my window has an automatic opener, it's in the sunniest spot in the garden. I have very little to do elsewhere in the garden, just a bit of weeding and dead heading my daffodils, I'm waiting for my tulips to open, in hope I have the blooms I'm expecting.

Lilly is very happy we took her onesie off on Thursday, in hope she would leave her wound alone, after a long session of grooming where I watched her, she is not bother by her scar, it's the next step in her recovery. If all goes well we are thinking of letting her outside on Saturday, after 14 days locked inside. 

We both had dentist this week, no problems for either of us, we then popped to B&Q, hubby had a few things to get, I got another calendula, I love the orange flowers, we got a few different bags of compost, all Westland brand, I don't ever purchase Verve as I have had poor results before.

It's a big one

This post is my 2500 post, I started back in February 2009, I'm in my 16th year of blogging, I have never posted everyday, on average every 2 or 3 days, I can't call many post exciting for anyone reading, some have been very exciting for me. I publish each year into a book, which I do love to look back on, with or without the grandchildren. Thank you for being here, remember as much as I love to post, I get so much enjoyment from popping over to visit each of you. 

This is our weather for this week, for the first week in April not unusual, it is wonderful to wake up with blue skies every morning, we have just had a very dry March, so I am worried, we do need rain, my garden water buts are all low, I am using them for my pots, I will run out of stored rainwater soon.

We got Lilly a small sized onesie and she is much happier, the vet is very pleased with her, all we have to do now is keep her inside for a week longer, which she is still not happy about.

 Not an original plot, which did not put me off, you wake up every morning with no memories, how can this be different, as usual a great twist near the end. Book 34 read this year.

Another new author to me, it's a modern style of book, these for me can be hit or miss, whilst the story was good, I did not fully enjoy this book, I knew it was going to be tongue in cheek, in this case a bit too far fetched for me. Book 35 read this year.

Another great read, this author knows how to twist a plot and throw in unexpected people, I did not see the end at all. Book 36 read this year.

Daughter went to parents evening at George's school, his teacher was very pleased with his progress, daughter saw his handwriting, and last week at home he read his first book to me. All much more than we expected, his teacher said he is determined to learn the same as his classmates, super news.

The sown flower seeds in my greenhouse are now tiny seedlings, I have far more than I need, it's a shame my sister lives so far away, I will pot on loads, but not all, so far I will have snapdragons, asters, zinnias and french marigolds, which should fill any gaps in our small flower beds.

I have been sorting my raised veg beds, when checking I realized it's not great to have runner beans next to onions as I had planned, the onions steal all the nutrients the beans require, so a quick rejig, I have transplanted the cabbage plants next to the onions, they had only been in the ground for a week and will work well together, there is enough room for me to place peas at the other end of the bed. Once the broads beans are finished I can plant the runner beans, which is not perfect, but I will add to the soil before putting the runner beans in. 

March round up

 Just a tiny craft spend, but it is the gardening season, I had not planned for the £30.99 spent on netting which hubby got me, I did add it to this list. March is always expensive, so many lovely plants, it's shocking how quickly these smallish amounts together become huge.

Nothing on clothes, I'm hoping for a nice low spend year. Hubby got me a jumper for Mothers day.

I have read 12 books this month.

Household spend was good, we already had all the outside paint left over from last time, expensive time at vets, Lilly is now sorted.

All's good in the kitchen no waste, watching what we eat, it's all normal for us. 

Weight, not shifting any pounds, I swing between I need to lose the pounds and at my age should I worry, I have lost a couple of pounds this week, I am going to try harder through April, in hope I can get back into more pairs of my trousers. 

Two mum's and three daughters

Today is Mothering Sunday, it's an important day here, not timed too well this year as we entered summertime and lost an hours sleep last night. Hubby got me a nice jumper, which I saw and loved. My mum is no longer with us, so I have my daughter and her daughter, plus her two boys here today.

Daughter and her three came for lunch, hubby cooked a roast. Will helped me put together an afternoon tea for them to take home for mummy, I struggle to purchase one as both George and Molly have to be dairy free. We went to our local park the children on their scooters, it was sunny, warm and full of families.

Daughter and Will on rope climbing frame.

 Another new author for me, it started slowly and very flat, I think it was supposed to build a tension, whilst the story did unfold and build, it was not the thriller promised on the cover. I did enjoy the ending as it was unexpected. Book 31 read this year.  

This is a brilliant read, one of her best books, gripping, interesting, with the most beautiful twist near the end, which I had no idea was coming. I could not put it down and feel really sad now it's finished. Book 32 read this year.

Another good book, I enjoyed it without knowing how it would end. I do love medical backgrounds, this was the same time frame told by different people. Book 33 read this year. 

We had a good start to Sunday, I woke up to hubby trying to sort his phone, it had not changed time, strange, Alexa who always displays a clock was an hour different, we checked loads before deciding Alexa was incorrect, everything else was right. a bit of fun on a sunny Sunday morning, she who must be obeyed was wrong, we had our electric shut off Saturday, as we had a new gas meter installed, we think it caused the upset. It's been a perfect day, we are now sat in the quiet, looking out on our sunny garden, another day making memories.

I have again picked up a sore throat and cough, which is no surprise as I always pick up these type of germs, so we have not been out and about anywhere, the irritating cough is driving me crazy. I'm not doing much outside, infact there is very little needs doing outside, I do walk around and check things most mornings, it a small walk which gives me huge pleasure. It's been really cloudy most days, and with Lilly stuck inside we have not sat outside much, the view from our sitting room is very enjoyable. 

We are in the final few days of March the weather has improved, but still swings back cold, no more night frost, I am looking forward to the garden season. Friday we had beautiful rain, much needed rain, enough to keep the garden and pots happy, but not enough to fill the water buts. I have not picked up my stitching, it has been consigned to the unfinished pile, every moment spent is outside, the dry days are a bonus and a worry, we still need more rain, it's been really dry here this month.

Lilly

Earlier this week Lilly went to the vets to be spayed, a necessary operation as we don't want her to have kittens, as cute as they would be, we would rather not. It might take a few days for her to forgive us, not sure she is happy in her onesie, it is better than the cone of shame.

Desperate to get outside to play, she sits here every morning and other times throughout the day, she can get very vocal, it's going to be a long 10 days.

Monday was a very long morning, we had been told she was first on the list, and not expect a call until 1pm ish, we collected her at 1.30pm, I drove to collect her, just to give her a smooth ride home. She hated the onesie and could wriggle out of it immediately, so a few adjustments were made, I managed to cut holes and slip her loosened collar into the neck band, which stopped her wriggling out, she also struggled with the front leg holes, for her they were in the wrong place, so I cut two new holes. Tuesday she was up and about, she has been sleeping most of the time, she is eating well and not trying to get at her wound, all is good.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Lilly loves to sit on the doorstep looking in, we had been propping open the cat flap everyday, closing it down overnight, it is operated by the chip inside her, as yet we don't want her to have complete freedom. She still is not happy to use it with the flap down.

This is going to be trouble, she climbs up to chase the small birds, she got stuck the first time, but since has worked a way down. She has also been on the garage roof a few times.

Lilly has started leaving the back garden, we had hoped she would be contented with our space, she was the smallest of the litter of kittens and afraid of everything, now she is brave and interested in everything, we do have foxes in local gardens two neighbours feed them, and one vixen has had litters in the garden close by a few times. Normally cats and foxes try not to fight, they could hurt each other, so they have learnt to howl and hiss rather then fighting.

We have no plans to go anywhere, preferring to be at home this week, we won't see the grandchildren until Sunday, so quiet reading time, Lilly for now is a lap cat, the vet bill was £174, which included an extra cost for the onesie, we will give her medication for 5 mornings, today we will send a photo of the wound to the vets, I don't think we will need to take her back, she is healing well.

Growing to eat

 This veg bed has a row of parsnips still in ground from last year, two rows of carrots, under the plastic covers are ten cabbage plants, broad beans are flowering at other end. My new netting cover is working, it's very easy to open for access.

This veg bed is not so full only onions, the bigger space will have runner beans. In the two pots are raspberry roots, in hope of new plants. I need to get two flexible pipes for the frame of this net cover, for now it works like this.

I have popped my seed potatoes in these two bags, they are placed in the same spot to grow as last year. The cover on top is an old greenhouse shelf, there to stop the cheeky squirrel. In the lower photo both containers have carrots in, the one on the right are heritage, I also had a few extra heritage carrots which I popped in the raised bed.

The handle broke on this tub, it is huge, in here I have cauliflower plants, I don't want them too big as only husband eats them, I have netted the top to keep cabbage whites out.

This is my raised bed, the mesh is to stop Lilly and pigeons, it also has a plastic cover, as well as the heritage carrots, I can see mixed salad leaves and some radishes. The marigold is thriving and the fushia in the front is budding.

This is the path in front of my greenhouse, I use it to get to my raised bed through the winter months it's clear, now the growing season is here, I use all the space I have, the huge pot in the foreground has tulips in, once they have finished I will plant a cucumber in the pot. At the very end is the small bed made for sweet-peas, which have settled in well. You can see my rhubarb is growing well, it's an early variety and in its second growing year, so we can pull some soon. The tower is full of strawberry plants.

It's been a fun few days, meeting Molly and daughter was good on Friday, we visited three shops before stopping for a drink, cake and a chat, we got two new scooters for the little ones to use in our garden, Molly understood we were taking them to our house and did not moan. Saturday we had Molly and Will, whilst daughter took George to his extra class, these are done through our local Downs Syndrome charity, George is doing well he is happier going since he started school, once home, the younger ones played on their scooters. We had hotdogs for lunch followed by cake, all ate outside, perfect family time.

Sunday I was really lazy, stayed in bed for ages, Lilly snuggled with me, later I spent time in our garden, mainly in veg section and greenhouse, I am starting now to get ahead, it's a risk because if the weather turns cold and frosty I could lose loads. My flower seeds are starting to show, they are undercover inside the greenhouse, the plants I potted up are all doing well. I planted another tub of sweet-peas outside,  hopefully I will have loads of flowers. Hubby sorted his side of the garage, I did mine last week, we both love tidy spaces, he has also been moving tubs for me and transplanted a big climbing rose from his front garden to behind the garage of the back garden.

We did not get any notable amounts of rain, which is a disappointment, two of my water butts are only half full, we do live in a drier part of the country, I will need to water again soon, it's a job I do enjoy. Everything at this time is about the garden, every hour worked now is rewarded throughout the coming summer.

More plants

 I saw this sign it made me laugh,

 hubby has attached it to our gates by the side door.

This is a huge kitchen veg holder, I've had it years, purchased to grow french marigolds in, which did not look as good as I wanted. So for years I have used it to store pebbles in, it was very scruffy with paint peeling, hubby had done a brilliant job of sorting it, it sits outside my greenhouse. 

I loved picking these tiny yellow wild flowers as a child, so when I saw them for sell, I just wanted some, I have planted them at the back near my pond. I got a penstemon last spring and was very pleased with it, hubby loved the colour of this one, so we picked it up. My garden is becoming more of cottage vibes, moving away from single colour in beds, all bee friendly.

I always get my cabbage and cauliflower as small plants, I also got a pack of heritage carrots, on an offer, 3 packs for £10. They are all separated and planted. There were 10 each of cabbage and cauliflowers, and loads of carrots, I'm not growing broccoli this year.

I am hoping the weather does not turn cold again, as I have truly started my growing season, these plants came from the big garden centre we visited on Thursday, their plants all looked so healthy, most went into the ground on Thursday afternoon, I also watered all my pots, everywhere is so dry. Hubby moved a couple of pots for me which I had placed last summer, they are now in their final paces, my agapanthus are at the end of  the raspberry bed filling a gap still in its pot, we will be able to see the blooms from our table area.

Life is very simple here, we see the grandchildren at weekends, often one is going to a party, so we have fun with the other two, meeting with daughter and Molly for cake, drink and a chat most Fridays, we always go to a Dunelm store local to daughter. In the same location is a huge B&M, B&Q, Homebargains and Pets at home. I am more than ever sitting for daughter, with party's, school disco's and parents evenings, I am happy to drive to her house and support her, she will never have to struggle with childcare whilst I am able to help. So much time is spent together at home, we both love to be outside, or we sit inside, hubby reading, me reading or crafting, a slower pace for us is much better.

Enjoying our space

My staging inside the greenhouse is full, I have small flowering plants on the top shelf and a few cucumber and tomato seedlings. On the middle shelf I have my snapdragons, they are still small, I have sown asters in my half tray, 3 different zinnias and french marigolds in the 2 bigger trays, the marigold seeds I saved from last summer. On the bottom level are my amaryllis bulbs, I'm leaving them I the greenhouse for the whole of summer. 

I opened my net cage and popped in a criss cross of string to support my broad beans, they are growing, some already have flowers. The net cage was easy to open and put back, it's working well. They are not high enough to pinch out the tops yet.

I have put my birds and other decorations along the shelf, this year there are more pots as I have stopped putting pots on my metal table. As yet the coloured lights are not working, I do like them, so I may have to get another set.

Our garden is looking good, sadly we have only a few flowers on our magnolia tree, it should be pink now, we knew there wouldn't be many flowers, hopefully we will get some later in the summer.

I have moved these two small pots, the tiny tulips are forming, behind is a blue flower, much like a tiny agapanthus, once they go over I will pop them to the back of the garden.

I can always find things to do outside, nothing big needs doing, a bit here and there keeps everything up to date, I am itching to get things growing, it's the same every year, I have learnt to wait, and watch the flower beds to see what is returning, I have photos from last summer to remind me what I planted.

I have planted my sweet-peas from the deep root pots in their new bed, I have popped a net for them to grow up. I also wrapped perspex around the planter, just whilst they settle in. There is space at the front where I will pop a couple fleabane daisies. 

We have had lunch outside a couple times this week, we often have our coffee breaks sat in the sunshine, on Wednesday our thick bath towels dried on the line, everything is pointing towards warmer days. Today we went to another garden centre about 30 minutes drive away, we pop here once or twice a year, it is huge, so lots to see, a few plants came home with me. Tomorrow we are meeting daughter and Molly for coffee and cake.

In my hands

 Another new author for me, picked from my Kindle, it's a slow book, what do you do when you partner disappears, the story is the following year, it's a story of very different feelings. I enjoyed the story, finding out bit by bit the events prior, and a surprising ending. Book 28 read this year.

This author writes the type of book I love, this one is different, the wife is married to a rich good looking man, that in it's self would normally put me off, but I kept reading. A great plot, you think you know them, not their secrets, once you find them out everything is different. book 29 read this year.

Another different plot, some people never forget or forgive, they change their lives to gain revenge, a good plot, for a while confusing, I do like how she ends most of her books, often people get away with things, even murder. Book 30 read this year.

I've not done more on my sewing, even with my daylight lamp I am struggling and making too many mistakes, I think it's time for me to stop using the very fine linens, I will never stop sewing, but my days of completing the tiny stitches are ending. It's sad, I knew it was coming, I have different project in mind, just waiting for supplies to arrive.

Tuesday we took a trip to a newly opened garden centre, our nearest Dobbies closed in January, it's now a British Garden Centre, they are using the whole space for plants and have a huge selection and loads of vegetable plug plants, I only purchased two yellow lupins, small plants I will grow on. We looked for recliners, but they only had seating sets. As much as we loved the new look, we won't regularly go there, we have good places closer to home.

Wednesday I dug out my garden waste composter, so much beautiful homemade compost, ready for my seed potatoes, I will still need a couple more bags of compost, there is no point in having a second composter, as I don't have enough garden waste. 

Here they come

Something different, inside on my desk is my pregnant onion, I love this plant, it grows new babies on the side of the bulb, I purchased it this time last year, so I was surprised to see a flower forming, I have checked online the plant won't die if it flowers but it will need extra care, I am very interested in what a flower would look like. 

 I started my tomato and cucumber plants a bit later, I used Alicante tomato seeds and slices of tiny yellow, orange and black tomatoes taken from a purchased mixed pack, I want to grow more this summer to freeze for winter soups. They are a bit leggy which is OK, my seed potatoes are very slow, but they are now showing some growth. 

I have peas and runner beans to start, it's a bit early, I will mix the runner bean types, I grew them early last year and they struggled with the cooler spring. All my free seeds with my subscription to Kitchen Garden, I have given to our local primary school, they have a school garden and should be able to use them, plus we had a lovely walk to the school.

My top shelf in the greenhouse is looking good, I will start some flower seeds soon, I am going to make seed snails in hope for longer roots to form. I was sorting my section in the garage and found packs of flower seeds, so I'm going to start them, no point in wasting them. I prefer plug plants, especially as I don't need so many bedding plants these days. 

I have been sorting new plants I have 2 good strawberry plants, babies from my own plants. The hellebore I separated into 2 plants are both thriving, I also planted 9 fleabane daisies from cuttings, I have other cuttings which I hope to create new plants, this is the busy time of the year in my greenhouse. I checked my to do list, it's very small as is my to purchase list, I would like 2 x Aquilegia plants for each side of my red rose, a couple nemesia plants for a nice pot,

I have sown the following in my salad bed, mixed salad leaves, lettuce, beetroot, spring onions and radishes in hope they all grow, they are under cover for now, the soil is so fine everything should grow. My broadbeans have started to flower, my transplanted carrots are looking good, I have buds on my blueberry plants and the raspberry plants have started to grow. 

Hubby sorted both the outside wooden chairs, he will put the table together soon, I am asking locally who is best to use to dip my metal table and chairs and then get them powder coated back to white. We are also looking to get the rendering sorted on our extension in the back garden, hubby wants to paint the lower half of the front and side of the bungalow, which is an easy job.