WIP cross stitching

This is on one set of hoops

I want to finish it for Christmas

I last stitched here 

 Another WIP on hoops 

I last stitched this here

 This is my current stitching, not done much to it

I last stitched it here 

 Winter Watergarden

I love this design, but it is stitched one over two, which I have never done before and I was struggling with. So I packed it away.

 It is stunningly beautiful

it's on my radar to get finished. 

The sparkly threads and beads bring this stitching to life. 

My tea towels purchased for the fabric.

I have some heavy duty pale green cotton fabric, 

I can use for lining and handles. 

I have had a busy time so far this week, but I can't list what I have been doing, the days have run away with us, we have spent time with friends, babysat Will, and I have had a stash sort out. So basically enjoying the time to myself this week.
How quickly I have slowed down on clock watching, knowing I have tomorrow to finish things and if not, next week will do.
We are planning a BBQ on Saturday, my family and loads of our friends coming, just keeping everything crossed the weather is dry. We have been to Lidl's for extra food, we were both very good and only put food into our trolley, it is so easy to add other items and bump the cost up.
My back I thought was improving, I had a good night's sleep and woke up without pain, but having Will here today, playing with him on the floor, where he loves to be, I am in pain again. If by next week it has not improved I have promised hubby I will seek help.

Stitching again

I saw this and thought how true

I have stitched on Joyful World, my aim is to finish it and frame it, not sure where I will hang it when finished, only after this is finished can I think of anything new to start.

I am also looking at cotton material, I want to make a patchwork cot quilt of our new baby due in a few weeks, I am thinking I will use a log cabin design.
I have ordered a couple of books to read, so with my wool order I am expecting a couple of nice parcels to arrive.
Today my first day back at work went well, we were busy but not as busy as expected, it was quiet easy to slot back into work. It was also nice as driving to work in the morning, it was not as dark as it has been, makes me think of spring and the new growing season.
This year instead of inflicting my will on hubby, I asked him what he would like to focus on, 1st we agreed to save more, our spending habits are now reaping us spare cash each month. 2nd he wants us to walk more, with the view to being able to cycle in the better weather, so these will be our focus for 2017, but done without slipping away from all we have already achieved.
We also looked at our saving jar, it has just over £90 in, but as we need nothing, the coins all went back in and we will keep adding until the jar is full, which should be summertime and will give us funds for a nice day out.

Busy weekend

Stitching this is fun

but October is too far to the right

I will alter the design to ensure it looks good

I can't be bothered to unpick

 These colours I do like

After work yesterday I worked on my new raised bed

 Looking down a tidy path, the pansies will be planted later today

 my Blackcurrant bush fits here, plus a dahlia going over

One last look at these pots, I will transplant into plastic pots

and they will spend the winter in my green house

I have now my raised cut flower bed, hubby lined the inside with plastic, the bottom section I filled with all the spent compost from the last few plastic pots I had, no roots will ever go this deep so it's a cost effective way to build the soil up. I have added compost, top soil and farmyard manure to the top of the bed, and I have already scattered some seeds, I have loads for next spring. The plastic cover is the door from my old green house it fits perfectly and will keep the cats away, in the spring we will make a mesh top for the blooms to grow through. So the last messy spot is now sorted, later I will replant my pots with winter pansies.
I have already put loads of my nice ornaments from the garden into my shed, my shed is getting full, as it does each year at this time.
We are popping into town this afternoon to get my M&S bargains and then on to Sainsburys for Christmas cake ingredients.
Tonight we are out with friends for a Chinese meal, plus a few glasses of something nice.
Tomorrow the house will smell of the beautiful spices as our cake cooks. Our youngest daughter and her hubby is coming for lunch, I have not seen her for a while, she is blooming in her pregnancy so it will be good to catch up.

Life as we know it.....

Flowers in October

 Hubby has built my raised cut flower bed, 

it's bigger than I expected, which is not a bad thing. 

The contents of all these pots will go in the bottom, 

there is room for the big pot with my blackcurrant bush in the front corner

 I'm feeling smug, this plant shows no signs of stress 

after being repotted and my new super tube to keep it warm.  

 I have done some more stitching

I am loving September colours

November was released today.

I am loving the cold dry mornings, I leave the house at 7.30am each morning, I do enjoy the crisp mornings, wrapping up warm, extra layers and the different clothes I have pulled from my wardrobe.
We are not yet in danger of over night frost. On Saturday I will pack items away from the garden, loads of things spend winter in my shed, all protected. My olive bush will go into the greenhouse and my succulents and cacti will over winter in a new cold frame hubby will make for me before the weekend. I have the old opening window from my lean too greenhouse to pop on top, the plants don't mind the cold but hate the wet.
Our lovely neighbour Win passed away last week, she would have been 102 years old on 2nd January, she was in hospital and did not wake up one morning. We are deeply sad to think we won't be able to chat to her any more, she had a sharp mind and wit. We have had the pleasure of knowing her for 6 years, she is not the sort of woman you forget any time soon.
We have been watching a few more camper vans, a couple got away as the price went too high, we are not in a huge rush, the right one for us is out there.
Work is back to normal, we are still slow but soon enough we will become very busy, but we all get on as a team and days include fun, which is good for everyone.

Out and about

I went shopping and got 4 large glass baubles 

not for the baubles, but they will be used on my tree

 The tube they came in, is perfect for this plant, Bouganvillea Amarilla

I could not get a tall thin cloche anywhere, the tube is the next best thing, the plant is about 20cm's high now and doing well. I have repotted it after checking on the net for it's care. It requires sunny hot and dry conditions, which means it will live here on my desk always inside. I have a friend who has one in her conservatory. 

 An orange pip for a friends son, 

I have more lime pips, keeping every thing crossed one might grow. 

 I have done a bit of stitching

 I am behind with this but I will soon catch up.

June is the last completely finished box, but I want to change the flowers in some and am happy to wait to see the whole finished before I choose my colours. 

We had the weekend away in Somerset visiting with family, catching up on every one.
Logan and Finn are a cute as ever and full of laughter and fun, we played Batman together, they had been swimming in the morning, so not as full as energy as normal. Again Logan is very happy in his second year at school, both boys have got very tall, how quick they grow.
My sisters garden is stunning, they have worked hard, we sat and had a coffee outside this morning, they have loads of small birds around their house, who visited whilst we chatted. We brought home some of their old decking planks, I require a 4' x 2' raised garden, we will use the planks on the outside, it will tuck in a nice spot and I can plant flowers for a cut flower bed. When done it will be the last job in our garden, I will have a few large plastic tubs to get rid off and then we will be tidy everywhere.
We all went for a curry last night, 5 of us enjoying the company, family and good food makes a great evening. Tonight we are planning an early night to bed. It's lovely and sunny here, but I am going to relax inside, the few things to do in the garden can wait until next weekend.

Back to real life

My stash list is not great reading 

after my shopping trip with my sister

I've saved £165.25 on last years spend so far

It's going to be hard to hit the target of £200

I have about £25 left for the year.

To cheer myself up, I picked a few flowers from the garden

The sweet peas scent is beautiful, lovely colours

 The plant from Tenerife is doing well

Taken from the top, it looks much brighter now. I held the clear cup which formed the top beside the plant to see how much it has grown. Because it was filling the clear top, I got some clear plastic and made a ring around the plant, and the put the clear top back on. I won't do anything with this for a few weeks, other than leave it on our sunny windowsill. I want the plant to get stronger before I think of re-potting it. 

 I managed to do a bit of stitching, I have completed two more boxes

just need to fill them now

I will wait and do December's box when I see the design, I am thinking if the design is Christmasy (is that a word), I will do the box in a different colour. I am hoping my daughter will like this stitching, I would like to frame it and put on the nursery wall, but only if she likes it, if not I'm not sure what to do with it. 

How quickly has September flown by, our garden is slowly going over, having a week away did not help, no dead heading done. The outside tomatoes have been removed, they were looking past their best, the plant in the greenhouse has loads of flowers on, so I am still feeding them, I can only hope they grow, they produce a small fruit.
I love all the seasons for different reasons, Autumn is the time for coming home in the rain and into a warm dry house, because our climate is changing the leaves stay on the tree's longer, and the russet colours are stunning. We also turn our minds to the glitter of Christmas, whilst I love the glitter again we will have our much smaller budget, and have a family celebration, after all that's what Christmas is about, sharing with those you love, enjoying happy times.

Stitch, read-read & grow

It is about time I showed some stitching

I have a few flowers in July to finish

loving the dog, I have changed a few colours on these two designs.

 Just finished this lovely book, another very good read

it was great to have stay at home time for reading some of last week. 

I have read loads of this authors books and other than one I have enjoyed them all

 I hope to start this later tonight

it's the third and final book in the set.

Another author which I am loving. 

 My mystery plant was a bleeding heart, with pretty white flowers. 

In the cottage garden, I'm loving the mix of colours

 My chimney pot at the back of the garden is now blooming

the fuchsia is very pretty, plus 2 begonia's bursting into life 

It has turned cold here and wet, but our gardens really do need the rain, everything is looking much better. Hubby has weeded the lawn and is now building up bare patches.
Hubby is now allowed to drive after his shoulder operation, but still has to wait at least 12 weeks before he can play golf or use his motorbike, I do feel for him, he does love his two games of golf each week, I'm pleased to see him using his arm so freely.
I'm back at work, they have had a reshuffle and one person left last Friday, we are all in shock, because we thought the lady was the safest in her role. Oh well you never know what your bosses are thinking, everyone in our department is rather quiet, I was glad to be on holiday whilst the changes were going on.
I am really enjoying our youngest daughter being so happy, expecting her first child in February is very exciting. I am looking to make a few things, she is very interested in baby shoes, so I have loads of patterns found and once I know if I am to make pink or blue shoes I will be busy.
Not had my sewing machine out this week, hope to find time next weekend.

Is it really 1st of July!

I have over spent against last years figure by £10.12

but June 2015 I had been good and already cut back my spending

The rest of 2015 was lower spend because I was trying to be good. 

I am still £276.24 less than last year, so on target to save £200.00 on 2015 spend.

On the craft front, I have stitched more of these together

still keeping to picking up a hexi and using it, not swapping it for another. 

 I also did more on Joyful World

I hope to finish this over the weekend, 

we are home for a quiet weekend, so I have time. 

The following weekend is going to be busy. 

Just a few flowers in the garden

everywhere is looking really good,

 just wish the sun would shine and we could spend time outside

but we are starting to get more harvest. 

 I wanted to make a miniature garden, not a fairy garden just loads of small plants, I had a cracked pot, so I thought I would have a go, it doesn't look good, will try and find a better pot. 

I do love the cacti in these tiny pots, they have all been taken from other plants. The bigger pot (which is still a small pot) has my new plant in which looks like a tree. The idea is right, I just have to rethink it. 

I have been very poor on my 52 things to do in 2016, I will have to revisit the list and put more into action. 

But I am busy in my greenhouse, everything is growing so very well, I love growing the pips into plants. I was asked regarding the pips, the one hint which has helped is wash all the flesh of the fruit off the pip, somehow it helps it crack and shoot, plus I don't plant the pip I lay it on top of soil. 

My tiny Kiwi is looking healthy, our neighbour had a tree which over hung our garden, the blossom was beautiful, but it was cut down last November with all the large tree's, so I am hoping to see Kiwi blossom in years to come. 

Last night we had a family BBQ, hubby's oldest son and wife is over from Ireland on holiday, plus my brother has been staying, youngest daughter and her new hubby popped in. So we were very British, sat with warm hoodies on outside enjoying catching up, nothing beats a midweek BBQ plus our garden is looking very tidy so I could relax and have fun. 

Something for nothing

I am trying something new in a bid to stop using the blue slug pellets

These have been spread over the cottage garden bed, 

they stank of sheep, just hope they work

I am using copper tape around my pots.

 Loads of flowers on my melon plant
last year I grew just one melon.

 Kiwi seedlings

I put a slice of Kiwi on top of soil, hoping to get further than last year, 

these should grow well in this small pot, 

so I won't have to move them until they are much larger. 

 Orange pip, again hoping for more sucess than last time

 Melon seeds, just for fun

 This followed me home on Saturday

hubby was not sure about the colour, 

but already I have 3 cuttings hoping for new plants

 Latest flower in the garden, 1st Dahlia to bloom

A bit more sewing last night, 

I love stitching these boxes, hope to get July finished by the weekend. 

I spent an hour in Win's garden after work, just a bit of weeding and a few late plants gone into her front garden.  Plus 30 mins in the greenhouse, as you can see from above I have loads of seeds and pips coming along. My Orchids are back inside, the leaves were being bleached white, which does not look good, so I have them on trays behind my sofa, there is really nowhere to put them in this house.
My garden is looking well, the cottage garden is filling up, in a few weeks it will look beautiful. Almost every thing is now out, just a few English Marigolds and another Fuchsia to go into a pot.
We are eating cucumbers, strawberries and raspberries, I have salad leaves ready for cutting.
I have herbs I will pick over next weekend ready for drying.
So all is well in our little plot, off now to read my book, life is good.

Beautiful stitching

Postman gave us two great items in our mail

 Pam's patchwork is fantastic

 This beautiful pouch is for me to keep my cross stitch pattern pages in

goodness I will have a smile each time I use it

 Perfect matching Pam, you are very skilled. 

 Postie also brought us these, £39.00 of vouches

every little helps as they say

 I have finished stitching June

I love the bear, I was naughty and used some shades of my own choice. 

Hubby is much better, he's bored which is a sign he's doing well. Last evening we walked around Portchester Castle, it was a sunny warm evening, we enjoyed the views.

It has been thundering most of the day, every where goes dark, a few rumbles of thunder, heavy rain, and then back to sunshine. Another storm is here, the sky is lit with lightening and loads more rain. 

We have been out to B&Q, for a few items, more on that next time, plus a garden center for some compost and plants. I do not buy compost from B&Q any more the quality is always poor and not worth using for the lovely plants we have. My spend match to last year was much lower this month, so this trip out has blown my budget. 

Later we will have the football match on and I can do some stitching, no plans at all to be outside. 

The country has made the decision to leave Europe, I don't know if it is the right or wrong decision, but it is made, so the next few years are going to be changes for us. I expect some things will be better, but first we have to get through the next few economic months, I just hope it is not a rough ride.