Mix it up

Thursday night I did some more cutting out

adding a few different design and colour hexagons

These are my task for this weekend, to get all 33 stitched.

 Popped to Wilkinson's and these fell into my basket

I have added the cost to my hobby spending list

I also got some clips to help with my green netting over the raised garden.

It's been a busy week at work, I have been learning my true role, it was important I spend time learning the basics, it will help me understand the more complex task ahead. We have just over two weeks before Jo leaves and I am on my own. I am feeling confident, it's all about not making mistakes and finishing each task.
I have been good and walked everyday in my lunch break, I have found a 15 minute walk, I would like to walk for 25 minutes, so I will be looking for a different route. I am making my 6000 steps a day, I was hoping to be on 7000 steps now March has arrived, but I rather take things slowly and get to my target of 10,000 steps per day. My weight loss has stopped, which is a pain, but once the light evenings are back I will be out longer after work.
Today we have had loads of hail and sleet, at lunch time the grounds around the office was white, and it was still sleeting when I came home. Here we have not had anything, but it does keep trying, so this weekend might just be our winter weekend, typical March weather biting you just as you this spring is coming.
I have done more to Sheffied United cushion, the red and white stripes are boring but necessary, I am putting the name 'MILLS' below the logo, so that will add colour, the letters are black with a gold outline.
I have not started my book, thank you for the comments you have given me, I will set aside some time this weekend, it feels very decedent to sit and read, it is also restful and rewarding, normally Grace sits on my lap so we share the relaxing time.

Who want's me

Mandala Flowers is done

 I have enjoyed every stitch

I love these fresh colours

 

Now it's up to you, the cross stitching is done

I am not finishing it as anything, that's up to you

If you would like it, please tell me what you will do with it, how you will finish it 

leave a comment on this post, I'm happy to send it anywhere in the world

Next week I will chose who to send it to

If no takers, it can live in my work box.

 Carrie Rose is packed away again,

 I have finished this section, in fact I have done a bit more

but now I have to wait until the designer sends the next section. 

 Last one standing, 

the wind has removed all the leaves on the other blooms

 Something has moved all the straw around my strawberry plants into this mound

We do have a family of hedgehogs visit most evenings

they have done a great job of keeping slugs at bay this year

The Strawberries have finished, so I won't disturb it yet. 

This week is very tiring and long, don't know why, just one of those weeks, we have a busy weekend coming up. We have decided to go proper shopping for clothes, hubby requires a good pair of black trousers and brown shoes, I could do with a nice pair of navy trousers, a decent pair of jeans, so Saturday could be hectic. Best get these few things whilst he still has his salary. I have looked all over the net hoping for a discount voucher for M&S, it would help ease the pain.
Tonight both Josh and Sam came for tea, Josh went to see Ant-man with mummy and Sam stayed with us, they are going to Grandma's in Manchester for three weeks, so we had loads of cuddles.
I want to finish my book before starting any new stitching, and for once I have not even thought what I would like to make next. I do require an online order of threads, which I can sort this weekend.
For now I'm off to search for my passport, can't find it anywhere, and we want to book a break in September at the start of hubbies retirement, and we want it to be in the sunshine.
PS. hubby found my passport in his jacket pocket, after collecting a parcel for me last week.

Happy Sunny Saturday

Just the corner blue flowers to do

The photo would not turn, can't understand why my camera does this

But looked what dropped into my post box

I have started the side panel, shown here as the top

I could not turn this photo, 

 Lilies anyone, from our garden

I love the form of these flowers

 These daisies remind me of my dad

they were the only flower he grew, 

Stunningly simple

 Purdy, what you doing mum

 Grace, oh she has that camera again, lets ignore her

We have both purchased new lens, hubbies came yesterday, mine is due on Monday, I did have a play with hubbies, it's great we have the same camera's, these new lens are similar but not the same. We now have a huge complete set of lens. I love close up of flowers, each flower is so perfectly made and the detail is stunning.
I'm getting my sewing machine out, I have badges to add to hubbies bike waistcoat, he is out next weekend, I have a few little things I can get done as well. Later I want time in the garden, I have ignored it for over a week, so it is needing a bit of work to be done.
Tomorrow I am looking at wedding dresses, our youngest Su go engaged this week to the lovely David, which is a joy to everyone and something special after the terrible time they had at Silverstone last weekend. At the moment we are just looking at styles, she is losing weight, they have booked April 2016.

We also have to save time for the Tennis finals. 

More of the same

This is coming along nicely

I do need to purchase some more bright yellow thread

 These are stunning, hubby hates their smell

I love them

 Daisies are doing well, I planted them last year

the hope is they will fill this corner and flower after my peony 

 Dahlia doing well, with just one sweet pea

Still not a lot of harvest here, but every thing is growing, it would help if we could have some of the promised rain, another dry day here, just cloudy for most of the time.

I am really enjoying my stitching, but I have no where I can use it, the colours whilst stunning will not go in any room. So on my final post showing the whole piece finished I will offer it as a give away. The design will be completed, but I will not make it up, who every gets the finished piece can decide what to do with it. So watch this space.  I would rather give it away, than see it stuck in my work box.

Home alone tonight, hubby has photography club, nothing planned just relax and stitch.

Still hot

Home made ice cream sundae

With fresh fruit, jelly and clotted cream

we have a couple of large glasses made for this use.

 1st Dahlia of the season

just a simple flower

perfect for the bee's to get into

 Yesterday was just too muggy to play out side

 Getting ready for a BBQ tonight

just the three of us, 

Purdy in the shade

 Stitching, second yellow flower done.

I had to unpick more of this flower and got so cross 

I removed all of it and started again

I have not done anything in the past few days, just too hot, and yesterday was far too muggy, we have not had any more storms since Tuesday, but they are fore caste for tonight. I need to get into the garden, I have things to harvest, but other than watering the pots, the garden has been just viewed from the cool of our sitting room.
Work has been difficult today, we were called to a meeting and told all the supervisors roles were being reviewed, and 20 people would go, which would not effect our small group. Then we find out the nicest person was let go today after 40 years service, so loads of sad faces, we will find out on Monday if anyone else is going. We also had a charity day for a lady who lost her battle with cancer, the building is huge so the hope is loads of money was raised.
No plans over the weekend, the house requires a good clean, and we have to feed youngest daughters cat, she is at Silverstone with her partner to watch the F1 racing. We also need to go shopping, we now have our replacement working Fridge freezer, it was worth the wait

Thursday already

I have finished the center

I added some pale yellow half stitches in the blue flowers

These match the colours in the corner blue flowers

 I have also stitched one of the four outer flowers

I did think of doing these in a deep red

but I like this bright yellow

 My new purchase at the weekend, solar pots

they work well on the outside patio table

and they go well with Robin

 My lad's, Sam is a Grancha's boy

Josh again was camera shy

 More love in the mist

From bud, to flower and on to setting seeds

this plant is just wonderful

Yet another week passing quickly, we had the boys last night after school, Josh has been using my big camera to take some photo's and getting loads of tips from Grancha. I let Sam use my little snappy camera, he's not so good, just loads of photo's of peoples chins, oh well we all have to start somewhere.
Later I will be packing bags, we are back home in Somerset for the weekend, I will finish a 2pm tomorrow so we can get an early start, Glastonbury festival is on, so we will take the longer Motorway journey, our usual route will be very busy. Going to visit Logan and Finn, I've not seen them in ages, so I am owed so many cuddles, BBQ with mummy and daddy so a nice family night. Saturday night we will be with my brother Martin, no plans for the evening, will see how we feel.
It's lovely to have such promise for the weekend ahead.

Whats on yours?

Window sill update

 New flowers on my African Violet

below new plants forming from leaves

I want to put these in nice pots as gifts

 Kiwi seedlings now with 3 leaves

 Orange plant

 Rosemary and Basil cuttings

in my new bottle, looks lovely on the window sill

and smells divine

Our Magnolia tree is dropping it's seeds

onto the new lawn so each day I collect them

Josh took this photo for me

Cross stitch update
 I decided to stick with the colour's I have already used

I'm pleased with this, it's looking good. 

Hope to get the center done so I can finish the outside. 

I finished at 3pm today, so a nice long late afternoon and evening at home, hubby is cutting the grass, how quickly it is growing, our weather is perfect, warm days with rain every 2/3 days. Soon I will wander around the plot, not much to harvest as yet, but it's all coming along.
No other plans for tonight, not seeing the boys, they are going straight home after school, but I will pick them up tomorrow.

Proud mum

Both daughters before their Moonlit memories walk

raising funds for Rowan's hospice

1000 people walked

 We picked them up at 12.30ish

a late night for me, but I got loads of stitching done

this central design is almost finished,

the gaps have two different designs,

I have to decide what colour to use, or even to add a new colour

 Melon time, it's steadily increasing in size, 

I have a couple other small ones forming

I think I will limit how many I allow to grow, 

it's better to have a few I can get to harvest size.

 Question time

these are free flowers from my neighbours garden

can anyone identify them for me please.

I'm tired this morning it was past 2am when I got to bed, I really can't remember the last time we were up so late, but we are having a lazy start on this Fathers day. Hubby has had his lovely cards and a couple of gifts, later we are off out for the day.

I think too much

Just a quick Friday night post

I love blog life, it's fun 

(and after a full days work, we need it), 

We link up with like minded people 

(much better than some of who we interact with in our real lives)

I get loads of brilliant idea from you

you give me food ideas to try 

I'm nosey, and love to see your gardens and home

I like to show off my best bit's of the garden

and my stitching (latest photo below)

so I am really sadden to hear other nice bloggers 

who get stupid comments left on their post

I love the positive outlook on all of you I visit

(yes I know we all make an off post)

and I love they we everyone does their best to cheer the author up

So if you are reading this and think I'm not real

Oh I am, I live both my real and virtual lives

Oh and please remove yourself from my blog

Sorry about the above, I don't like judgmental people at the best of times, and definitely not ones who make judgments with limited knowledge.
I'm off to eat our Chinese, we were going out for one, but all our local ones have closed, so a quick visit to supermarket, and supper is in the oven.

Flowers in June

Flowers in the garden, up close

 Above and below Love in the Mist

I love the bud just about to burst

 Saxifraga 'Primuloides

Pretty little alpine

 I love yellow and white flowers

 Roses

 Pretty in pink

So many different Aquilegia's

 A bit of blue, 

coming along well

I have done nothing this week other than stitch, not alot to do in the garden, just enjoy everything. We have had the boys every night after school, which has been fun, Sammy loves being outside.
I'm home alone tonight, so loads of time for relaxing, I've just finished left over pizza from the boys tea, so no cooking tonight. It rained last night so no watering to do, as you can see I have done my walk around the garden with camera in hand.