End of October

 A new author to me, I saw this book in a few places with great reviews, from the beginning you know Jo has another agenda, she is focused, the delivery of her secret is brilliant, which leads to a good ending, and like so many great books a final chapter once the story is finished. Book 86 read this year.

Another clever plot, a baby is found, DNA proves the mother is a local woman who disappeared 4 years ago. Chaos follows as the search is on for the mother, old reports are reviewed, people interviewed again, the police have to find her this time. A new author to me, this is the start of another DCI series. Book 86 read this year. 

Sunday was a cold bright day, just one quick storm, still very windy. Will and George were here whilst Molly went to a birthday bash at our local kids soft play venue. We spent the time inside, just to cold to play out, I got them party food for lunch and probably a few too many sweets, neither boy goes to too many parties, so we had treats here..

We changed the two clocks back an hour on Saturday night before bed, the rest reset themselves, our car will be done next time we are out in it, later this week, when it's in a local garage. I lit real candles on Sunday evening, we spent the whole time reading, we are not watching Strickly this year, we may pick it up nearer to Christmas. 

Monday was dull and wet when we got up, Lilly was again inside, she hates the rain as much as we do, I did get some sewing out, just at the cutting out stage, I have had my trusty note book out for a while, working out patterns. I will do a post when finished.

Today we have daughter and children, her car is on a garage recall, Molly is on a sleepover, George is at Grandma's, they popped in collect him from ours, tonight daughter and Will are having an evening together. 

Our house is warm and dry, I have no inclination to go out, we had planned a trip to the huge Asda store, but it's half term, so we can wait until next week, hubby has now given me a suggestion for his main Christmas gift, I have already chosen a new handbag for him to gift me, we do also get another small surprise gift, again this year we are not doing our stockings, they are expensive to fill and way too many edible treats go in them.

Wet, wet, wet

 Oh boy has it rained this week, almost non stop since over night on Sunday, I'm not complaining our gardens and the ground water for our water supplies needs this rain. I emptied this container on Sunday evening. By Wednesday teatime we had 25 ml, Thursday morning almost 30 ml. I've emptied it again to see how much rain we get with the coming storms.

So Austen and Boelo have whizzed through, the garden is quite protected and therefore nothing was damaged, I like a tidy garden so everything was already packed away, the cover came for our outside table, so it's now protected. As for rain, by Friday morning we had 28 ml, and here was the measure on Sunday morning, totalling 40 ml.. The average rainfall for here in Hampshire for October is 76-105 ml.

Just a fat pigeon, not seen the hedgehog for a few nights, Lilly is not out after 10pm, which is very pleasing and means she doesn't come in contact with the scary big black tomcat.

I am not a dahlia lover, I got this one because it reminded me of the bright red pompoms my mum grew in her garden, it is the star plant at the moment, full of blooms and buds.  

Thursday after overnight rain it was blue skies and dry, we had to pop out so we stopped in town for lunch and a quick look in a few shops. I've not done much reading it has been a busy week, and will be busy again over the weekend and into next week.

Friday I slept over at daughters, she had a lovely night out, all three children were so very good, bathtime and bedtime were easy, they each enjoyed one to one time and settled quickly. Will I let stay up later, he went to bed at 9.30pm, again happy. Molly now sleeps later, she woke up just after 7am, George just a bit later, Will stayed in bed much later.

We have had a week at home, no popping out for coffee, daughter was busy on Friday morning, I have had my annual blood test to check cholesterol and diabetes, results should be on my page by Monday. Lilly went back to the vets, she was not happy, the vet checked over her back leg and nothing found, she is walking better. We paid for a dose of flea, worm and parasite treatment, just over £50, with the foxes and rats next door, it's best to keep on top of everything, this treatment will last for 3 months, then we will go back to using the lesser over the counter stuff each month.

Hide the card

 I have recently done a bit of shopping, firstly these Clarks trainers were reduced to just £20, a great price, it was not a need but a want, who can resist a pair of pink shoes, they will look good with jeans. These are from their online outlet site, click here if you want to check them out, they are all perfect, just old designs, which does not bother me.

I found this Tshirt and jumper in the sale at Trespass, both for under £30, I blame hubby for this purchase, I was not going into the shop, he dragged me in. Both will be very useful, the Tshirt is 100% cotton, just great bargains.

We packed the outside furniture away, it's all under this cover, very compact, the chairs tuck under the bench and the cushions pile on top, the cover is totally waterproof, we are waiting for a cover to arrive for the table, no room in the garage this year. 

I was sent a copy of this gardening magazine with seeds, for two years I subscribed to them it finished last year, I have no idea why this was sent, I tried to email them, but was blocked as I don't have an account anymore?

Tender plants are in the greenhouse, other pots are moved to ensure a clear walking space, ornaments are all in a big box in the garage. I still have to mulch the veg beds, I have everything for my new spring bulb pots, Molly wants to come and help me create them. The rest of this week is rainy days, so a timely sort.

Monday we sorted both bedrooms, we slept in our spare room, giving our visitor our big room an en-suite,  BIL was rested ready for his long drive home. We have sorted the fridge, froze a few bits and checked dates to ensure nothing is wasted.

Tuesday it rained all day, later I sat with the children whilst daughter met their teachers, all three children had great reports, both Molly and George were very tired. Today, Wednesday is another very wet day, I have to pop to town on the bus to deliver a birthday card, then home for another blood test and Lilly's second vet visit.

I am pleased with my purchases, I should not need anything else this year. I have packed away the Christmas bits, we have ordered a huge book for Will, he told hubby he wanted it on Sunday.

I have pulled out my cotton Christmas fabrics, I have decided on my patchwork, with my back still feeling great I can get my sewing machine out. I have also all the ingredients for our cakes, we have had a few busy days, hopefully I can get them done at the weekend.

Weekend

 Just a lonely clematis bloom by our main entrance, unexpected and beautiful. 

This begonia is normally in the greenhouse by now, it's still full of blooms, such a vibrant colour.

Saturday afternoon we sat outside in the garden, it was lovely, just chatting and enjoying the garden.

We popped to our favourite garden centre with hubby's sister and her hubby, they have put out the snowman seat, we took our annual photo, no grandchildren just us.

Hubby's sister and her hubby arrived Friday afternoon, we had a nice time chatting and catching up with family news. Saturday we popped to Whitley for some shopping and then to Garsons garden centre, I did not purchase any plants, I did get a couple Christmas bits and some nice chocolates for us, all packed away for now. Back home we sat in the sunshine in the garden. Later hubby cooked a nice meal, steak for the guys and fish for us ladies, we had another nice quiet evening together.

Sunday we walked around Portchester castle and then had lunch in the local pub, again a great meal, back home daughter came to visit with her three, they were happily chatting and playing, it was quiet when they went home, our house is not big enough for so many people, another lazy night in.

Today SIL is driving back to south Wales, we have beds to sort and some housework to do, then a restful afternoon. This week we will pack away our outside seating, I will pop tender plants into the greenhouse, and all my birds from the side shelf into the garage, sadly it's time to close the garden, hopefully we will use the sunroom for much longer.

Autumnal garden

 I'm in trouble with hubby, I got his saw out again and worked on our red acer, it was just too bulky this summer. It is brutal, but necessary, next year I will reduce the height. I'm not worried it will grow back, I did the same to my olive treea couple of years ago, and Sam does our magnolia tree regularly. 

I have left growth near the base, removed all of the front section. The wildlife camera is attached to the bottom of the trunk.

The pond is looking clearer, I have added a couple of the branches from my red acer, just to soften the area, the cyclamen plant is coming back, I am so pleased with this area, all I do is ensure the water level does not drop. Mum's bird table top stays here, I like the look.

I have removed the runner-beans and tomato plants, I will mulch the two beds, I will sow broad beans next month, the rest of the veg space will lay farrow for the cooler months. 

The garden as always still has colour, the fleabane daisies again is the star, frothy pretty dasies, what's not to like. 

Saturday was dry and sunny, just few cloudy spells, we enjoyed coffee in our sunroom, a perfect spot out of the wind, I did a fair amount of gardening, making it look good for our visitors this coming weekend. I will pack away all my ornaments and the outside seating area next week, always a sad time here. I managed to add some supports to my agapanthus, I have two spots where the plants are getting huge, I hope the supports will hold the blooms up next year, they are evergreen, so it's best to do it now. 

Sunday was cloudy, not too cold, so a bit more time outside, the veg beds are tidy, I am still picking raspberries, I have also dug out my gooseberry, all the leaves have been ate, I have popped it into a growbag to see if I can prevent sawfly, I have always struggled to grow them. I have everything ready for planting my spring bulbs, stored in the greenhouse, I will get them done early November.

My wildlife camera is now just recording Lilly in the garden at night, I have removed all the low branches, I am surprised not to see other cats coming in, we have often seen them, maybe I'm winning that battle. 

As autumn arrives

It's time to collect conkers, there is a huge Horse chestnut tree in our park, we picked up a handful, leaving loads for the local children, I love the colour and shine on these, here in a bowl in the kitchen

The second lower branch has been removed from our acer, hopefully it will fill out again, I can then keep it trimmed and not have to cut it back harsh, we want the growth just over the slate area. It will require more delicate trimming to reach a decent shape.

These daisies are back in full bloom, I just adore them, both my snowberry plants have died back, I will rethink the back section of this bed, I would like some height along the back.

We popped to B&Q for some cyclamen plants, I also got a pack of reduced violas as well, I have planted most of them into various pots.

Sadly along the back fence it looks as if my pyracanths has died, the begonia in the huge pot is blooming.

One of my snowberry plants had one green branch, so I have cut all the deadwood off and planted in one of my growbags, all I can do is give it a chance to revive itself. I have also potted up two daisies from my birdbath dish, would be nice to have them next spring as well.

We have ate carrots, potatoes and runner beans a few times, and mixed lettuce leaves, tomatoes and cucumber most days, the veg garden has come to life. Oh we get a handful of raspberries every other day.

It's been a grey dull week, with low cloud and not too much rain, we have not gone out much, most of our spare time is reading, I have picked up my knitting and cross stitching. I do need to sort the last couple of months in my 2025 blog book before November.

For once we have no projects to do, normally at this time of year we have one task, everything is up together inside and out. I have done one big online purchase, which should arrive in due course, we had been chatting and decided we required a replacement, purchased now because it was in a September sale.

Sun worshipers

I have always loved succulents, this bowl was created last year, I've done nothing with it this year.

These are scattered along by the side bed, again I have left them to grow.

This plant has loads of babies and lives in my greenhouse, these haworthia cooperi are beautiful whilst small, the leaves swell and look almost transparent. I have reduced my plants in the greenhouse,  quite a few started to look ropey. 

The hedgehog house was too big for the space behind my big pot, hubby asked if we could put it under the acer, it fits here and looks good, hubby added a waterproof cover for the roof. I put some violets by the side of the ramp.

The season has shifted toward autumn, I will move the succulents into the greenhouse, they don't mind the rain, all are on feet so the pots can drain, they will survive the cold as well, I just prefer to relocate them to a drier spot.  

On a completely different note, our tree surgeon, Sam called in the week, we have been chasing him for an invoice for his recent work, he has agreed he will return in the future and cutback both our Magnolia tree and the front boundary, he says we won't be beaten by our horrible neighbour, he can pop his camera in his lorry and record himself doing any work out the front. I am so relieved, it's not a task hubby and I can do easily anymore, I really expected him not to return. 

Winter accommodation

I have been looking at hedgehog houses for our regular visitor, hubby said I can make that, and he did, using marine ply, so it's completely weatherproof. 

He put a hinged roof on so we can clean it, it has two chambers and a tunnel, all designed to keep predators out. It would have been cheaper to purchase one, I'm really pleased, as is hubby, we have placed it behind the big pot with my olive tree in, a spot the hedgehog often sniffs around. Inside for bedding we put barley hay.

My pond is looking good, the water is much clearer, I can see the tiny cyclamen are growing in the front. The grasses have looked good, this area is pleasing, I have not done anything to rectify the front corner being lower than it should, it does not effect the pond, just I can see more of the container. 

The garden is looking past its best, the recent rain has brought plants back to life, I can see a few have died and some needs cutting right back, the veg beds are still giving.

I have few plans for the winter months, I do have broad beans to go in, probably late November, most of the veg space will be empty, I have leaves to cover the soil, which should rot down and feed the soil.

Blogger is again playing up, I can now comment on your post, for a while I could not upload photo's, again that has been sorted. The final issue is still unresolved, my list of your post has not updated for a couple of days, before that some post were missing, now everything is stuck. 

25 years ago we were in rural Spain, as the news unfolded of the fate of the twin towers, we found a TV with BBC news and sat stunned, our daughter was home with the cats, she phoned us many times in tears. The flight home a few days later was very subdued. 

After the issues in Portsmouth from last Sunday, where the RNIL landed 120 people off a boat in the Channel, our local Facebook pages are scattered with ugly comments, there is going to be a rally this coming Sunday, the man behind the rally recently in Dover, lives locally, its doesn't feel a nice place to be at the moment. I do agree we have allowed too many people to stay who arrive illegally, who mainly appear to be young males, but, is this the way forward.

More rain please

 I purchased two blue lavender plants for the front of this square bed, it will save me having to get bedding plants each year for the front. I have a white lavender in the middle and in each front corner there is a bleeding heat and hellebore. 

The back corners have a Chinese witch hazel and a Forsythia, in the middle is a variegated evergreen shrub, which I can't remember the name, I have gaura and astrantia  plants on both sides and an aster daisy in the middle space, I aim to fill this middle section with perennials. This bed does get sun from mid-afternoon onwards.

I popped a plastic liner in hubbies old biker boots, the plants did not survive this summer, but this pansy, which I did not plant did, very pretty. 

My pyracantha, which I planted along the back fence looks dead, it had been in the ground just a couple of years, I will leave it in hope it might come back, everything else is surviving, my white rose in the corner has not bloomed since early summer.

The ground is still very dry, digging the hole for the lavenders I quickly came to dry soil, they are planted in hope the rain due again in a few days will help them settle. For many years I mainly used bedding plants to bring colour into the gardens, I always said my flower beds were too small for all year interest. Since the garden refit 3 years ago, I have changed my planting, I still love to see blooms, I now enjoy the texture and form of plants as well, I have shrubs and perennials to ensure I have something to look at all year round.

My three flower beds are almost sorted, the heatwave has killed off a few plants, most things have survived, I'm sad I'm unable to keep the huge daisies I love alive, I have purchased many and been gifted many which have come from local gardens, none have survived.

Making...

 Wednesday morning was wet, afternoon was showers, one very heavy, later the sun came out, I enjoyed a much cooler day. As promised I'm going to bore you with my new rain measuring cup, we had 8mm, throughout the day.

Molly has been at ours on a double sleepover, she has been doing crafts, which she loves, I got some plastic shapes, which you insert bits, we used some pressed flowers I had previously made, we then collected more fresh flowers from the garden and put them in my flower press.

Pepper Pig money box, painted by Molly, I promise you there were other paint colours, not just black.

Having fun with a dolly bobbin.

Pom-poms and a friendship bracelet. 

Thursday evening  hubby was out so we had a girly evening, watching a couple of films, munching marshmallows, Molly is such good fun. Most of the yarn crafting was beyond Mollys little hands, she does love the finished items, it's enough for her to know there are many things we can make together.

I am really loving the cooler days, two days of showers has done so much for the whole garden, just steady rain, not too heavy. I got a couple blue lavender plants from our local market trader, and whilst in town I got 3 packs of small spring blooms, I resisted the tulips I have enough on order, just £15 spent, I'm having a very cheap month.

Finally

Runner beans, two are already huge, too big to eat, I will leave them to ripen for seeds, there are more on the plants and loads of flowers. 

Another cucumber ready for picking, I have one in the fridge so I will leave this one for a few days, there are loads more forming and still flowers.

Tomatoes, these from two plants, it's a poor year for them, along with home grown lettuce, we can have a salad.

Hubby took all the cuttings from the front to our local tip over the weekend, he just wanted it gone, next door did not appear, sadly she knows we will stand our ground and only verbally attacks anyone else on our property. Hubby also cleaned all the windows inside and out, nice to see them dust free, I think he was bored.

We finally have had proper rain, early this morning, it's a steady constant rain, perfect to soak into the parched soils, the last time we had rain like this was June 10th, I am hoping to see a fresh garden in the coming days. 

Seeing red

 I arrived back home late afternoon on Monday and took a walk around the garden, this beautiful dahlia is now blooming, I purchased it last month, after the initial bloom faded the plant showed no signs of growth, suddenly it has a growth spurt and loads of buds.

This pelargonium is in a big mug shaped pot on my outside table, it's loving the hot summer. 

This rose is its third lot of blooms, it's was struggling until I popped it in a big pot in a sunny place.

A deeper red in this pot, with two shades of pink.

This Gaura is from a cutting, only small this year, such a pretty shade of pink.

I had a great time with daughter and children, the accommodation was really good, plenty of space inside, not too hot, the kitchen was fully equipped, we only used the cooker top for breakfast bacon, the toaster, kettle and dish washer. The site has been extended, our area was only added in the last year, the club house area was very busy, the pools were full, other than having lunch in the restaurant, and the children having time in the arcades, we stayed at our accommodation, the children loved the hot tub, they spent most of the days in the water. Daughter took Will and Molly to a china painting session, I stayed back with George, who loved having the hot tub to himself. Molly went dancing with mummy each evening, Will was not interested in going, George would hate the crowds.

Monday we had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa, it was lovely to sit outside, it felt so cool with a lovely breeze, we all agree we show a united front to our little ones, their dad might not be present in their lives, but grand parents are.

It's pure joy to be home, I slept well last night, we have nothing planned for today, just a lazy day at home, Wednesday I will pop to daughters to sit for an hour, then Molly is coming for a sleepover.

There is rain in the forecast, its cloudy and muggy, no rain here yet.