lovely April evening

Garden is looking good

Pots have been sorted and new compost added

Bay tree is planted

Raspberries and strawberries tidy

Taken this evening

can you see Grace sat in the herb garden

 A simple bunch of daffs

on the kitchen window sill

 All the white I planned to stitch is done

I will have more white to do

but the big blocks are done.

I fancy stitching the name next

I am really pleased I have done the big blocks of white, I still have the final red stripe to stitch, but stitching the red is much betters on my eyes. The middle section I will leave to last.
I have also done some more hexagons, I still have loads cut out.
BUT from tomorrow it's all about a wedding, a daughter with a new husband and fun times. I don't have to go back to work until Monday, so a couple of late mornings, no rushing about, I have loads to do with daughter, some fun, some organising the venue, but the next few days I am really looking forward too.
Work is good, our new system is growing on us, we are busy closing down the old system and ensuring every thing is dealt with.
One shadow a family member is at it again, sad really but she just can't help herself, much of her poison directed at me. But mad cat woman next door is quiet.

All white

 Sheffield is growing, just the last white panel 

I hope to finish this last stripe over the weekend

I have the name MILLS to add under the logo 

and then a few more rows of the stripes. 

but I will stitch the black and white of the center next. 

I did get some sewing done, just one evening. 

You can see I have loads done in the box

but I still have loads of fat quarters to cut out

 Storm Katie took all the dead buds off our Magnolia tree

it's looking a bit bare, but I love these blooms

Spring is here and summer is on it's way

 Tulips in pots, plus Aquilegia

I fell in love with Aquilegia's last year. 

 Out side our back door

 English bluebells, another of my favorite flowers

I have clumps around my back garden, 

We have few plans for the weekend, Josh and Sam are in Manchester. Youngest daughter is Glamping with her friends, last free weekend before her wedding on 9th April. Not heard from oldest daughter.
So just hubby and I, tomorrow we will pop out, it's the local farmers market in town, I would like another blueberry bush. Hubby needs a few things from Wilkinson's, so I get to look around their gardening section, there is nothing I need, but it's not always about need.
Sunday will be a day at home, I have a skirt to sew together and a garden to tidy. It's time I cleaned my two small green houses, I have tomatoes, cucumbers and pepper plants almost ready to be potted on. Hubby is planning to cook another roast dinner.

March list

So March is over, that's a quarter of this year.

I am very pleased with my stash list, 

Sewing was my expensive craft this month. 

March is another huge saving over last year

I have not spent much on our garden. 

I have spent £303.92 so far less than last year.

 I have added an item to this list, Number 35

I have also made a start on a few more items.

I am pleased with my progress. 

This month we had a 3rd list, it was for food spending, but we have recorded everything we spend it's interesting reading, we are doing it again next month.
It's good to highlight where we are spending, never huge amounts, but those little shops do all add up. We have had two visit's to local Co-op shops to stock up on wine, both shops were selling everything at 30% off, sounds as if we drink loads, which we don't but it is nice to share a bottle on the weekend. Our wine rack is full again. plus we got loads of bread mixes, rice and other store cupboard items, 30 % off is alot. I am finding to save money we have to spend when we see bargains, we got cat food because the brand Grace loves was just £3 a box, so we got six boxes, which will last 2 cats just over a month. So each week our spend is different, we are going to try and spend less in April on food. Most of the other things purchased were one off's, things for the wedding.

It is so nice to get home to light evenings, not spent any time in my garden, it's still too cool. My plants inside are doing well, and will stay in our warm office for at least another week. By the end of April I should have loads of flowers, tomatoes, cucumber and pepper plants to get into their growing spots. From last years coleus plant I now have five small plants, hubby is very pleased.
I have been busy stitching white on Sheffield, it's very tiring on my eyes, but I'm getting there, I have also made the template for the name to go below the logo. I have not done any sewing or patchwork, I want to get as much of the white stitching done, I do have to be finished by June and whilst it's 8+ weeks away, the time does creep up on you. 

Family Easter

I have done a bit more on Sheffield

the red is stitched to the bottom of the work

This will be a square when stitched

Now I must stitch the white

 I made the pink and green flowers yesterday

I have two other fabrics cut ready to sew

I am speeding up by folding the material

and cutting out on double thickness of fabric

I wish I had thought to do it before

After having such fun with Josh and Sam on Friday, they have gone to Manchester for a couple of weeks to spend time with grandma and grand dad Pete.
Saturday youngest daughter Su popped in, just two weeks to her wedding, in the afternoon we got the card to be able to make the seating plan and table name places, that's my job next weekend.
Yesterday Sunday hubby made a lovely roast chicken dinner, I did an old fashioned rice pudding, nothing fancy added just rice, cream and milk, plus the nutmeg topping, oldest daughter Fliss and Jonathan came for lunch, Jonathan's son came as well, so a nice family affair, they played games after lunch giving me time to stitch hexagons whilst watching.
Katie arrived late last night and howled all night, we had no problems in our garden, except our Magonila tree which has lost loads of it's buds, our tree is not having the best of years, firstly the cold snap burnt the first showing of buds and  now loads are on the ground. This morning is breezy and sunny, but it feels cold, typical of March out like a lion. I feel Easter has been wasted this year, it's just too early to get out into the garden.
I am hoping to get my sewing machine out today, it should be just hubby and I all day, I'm not complaining about loss of sewing time, it has been a great family weekend.

Almost a happy post

I just have the white rabbit to stitch

I'm thinking is white the best colour

 This is looking good. 

 Sheffield is back in the frame

just catching up on red. 

The past few days have been good, I have found a 30 minute walk for lunch time, away from the main road, with a nice path through a small wooded area, today I saw, robins, blackbirds, magpies and loads of little brown birds. With blossom appearing everywhere, it does feel like spring.
Plus last week whilst unwell I lost 5 pounds in weight, which means I feel on the right track again, a nice vegetable stir fry for tea will help me along.
I have not cut out any hexagons, with so many seedlings on my desk, I don't have much space.
I also finished After you, which perked up a bit in the end, I was glad I read the sequel, after finishing Me before You, there were so many things I needed to know to close the plot down. I will look for my next book for April.
The wedding is getting closer, just over 3 weeks, my outfit is sorted, as are the table gifts for the children, we managed to get Josh a nice surprise. We have booked a pedicure the week prior to the wedding, both hubby and I are going together. We have also booked a meal for the Thursday before, just parents, bride and groom, a chance to catch up with each other and have a nice meal, before the madness starts.
My blades came yesterday for my rotary cutter, I purchased a 10 pack, the most cost effective way to get them. Hubby had to go to the sorting office to sign for the package, at the sorting office hubby found he also had to sign for a letter. The letter is from the mad cat woman next door, it's been 8 weeks since she last had a pop at us, in the letter she is still accusing us of smoking cannabis around our house and garden, the fumes are coming at her through the roof, walls and her open bedroom window, making her really ill. She accuses us of smoking in front of our grandsons, neither of us smoke at all and no one ever smokes near the boys. Hubby called the police again, after their last visit and spoke to an inspector, who is livid with the slander and harassment coming from the woman. The police inspector has asked us to allow them to deal with the letter, they have a huge file on mad cat woman's anti sociable behaviour. I just want to scream, we are lucky the police understand our problem and will start to use legal methods to make her leave us alone. If not our solicitor will be sending a few letters threatening court action

Sorted

 In between hexagons I have stitched,

these stripes are boring, but quick to stitch

 Note the lovely sky, Sunday was a nice day

our Magnolia tree is fighting back, lovely new buds
can't wait to see these pale pink blooms
it's also nice to see sky rather than the huge conifers in the background.

 I was able to walk on our lawn

and pop this pot into it's corner place
will have to fill with soil and plant

34 fat quarters in here, 2 sections for hexagons

at £18, the box was not cheap, but everything in one place

should hold the whole project in one tidy place.

I also got needles and a thimble for my sore finger. 

I also got more red and white DMC silks for Sheffield cushion, I'm not keen to get them from Hobby craft at 90p each they are much more than the 60p I pay from my usual on line site. I also got anther 5 fat quarters, I am not happy with the green fabrics in top right corner, the designs are printed on, and instructions are for hand wash only, so I am thinking I might not use them and put the purchase down to poor judgement.
Both Hobby craft and Haskins Garden Centre was mobbed, everyone was out and about, but we were able to have a good look around, I did not stray too much from my list in Hobby craft.
Tonight after work Su and I popped to Whitley shopping center, a dash to Tiger and Claires to get a few more items for the youngster's gift bags, all we need now is a trip to The Works for a book for each of them. They were not as expensive as I imagined, I did not want to fill them with sweets.
I am also very pleased I got my jacket for Su's wedding, by waiting I have got the design I really wanted in navy, it finishes off the dress. I wanted 3/4 sleeves, I have short arms and normal jackets just look silly, the sleeves are always over my hands, so I am now outfit ready for the wedding. Su got me a necklace, she was not happy I told her not to get me anything for Mothering Sunday, now I don't have to wear a security pass I can again wear nice necklaces.
I'm off now to rest, I am so tired, why can I never sleep well when hubby is away, oh well he will be back home tomorrow tea time.

Another heart

Post man called today, with this beautiful gift

 Inside an angel

Thank you Paula, I love your blog 

and I'm so glad your hubby is recovering well, keep us informed on his progress, 

I want to know when he can do cartwheels again. 

 I am coming along with the boring stitching

I am pleased it is looking neat and the red and black are fully covering the fabric. 

I will do more to the stripes and then go back and do the interesting center

 Hexagons

That's a lovely word

 I did a few more this week

The new blue fabric is not great to stitch

but the birds are lovely.

Thank you for your comments regarding my stash spend list, at this point I am buying what I want and not restricting myself. Last year I had a die cutting machine for a Christmas gift so I was purchasing cutters, which bumped up my spending in the first three months. I am off to Hobby craft on Sunday, I have a few things I require, I do need a box for my completed hexagons, I have nothing suitable here.
We also have to make up 4 goodie bags for the children coming to daughters wedding, that will be a trip to a shop called Tiger, which is full of fun stuff.
I also want a couple of plants for the garden, I would love another red pompom dahlia tuber, my mum grew these, so every summer our garden was full of colour. Last March I spent £195.84 on craft and my garden, so I think I can make another major saving this year.
In other great news, Josh has got the senior school he wanted, so in September he will be with his friends, he was here last night with Sam for tea, both have had their hair cut, so Sam has no curls, I can't wait for them to grow again.
Thank you also for the comments regarding hubby being bored, he does do volunteer work on a Wednesday, he tries to play golf on a Tuesday and Thursday, but often the weather is not good enough to get out. I always knew the winter months were going to be hard.

Just the begining

Just laid these out to see what I had

I will make some more next weekend

 These are one from each of most of my fabrics

I wanted to check they were OK for this type of sewing

The striped fabric hexagons are not so easy to stitch.

Most of you will know what the back looks like, but I have been asked, 

so I picked three of the best to show. 

The paper hexagon stays in until they have all been sewn together

The corners are very important, they have to be neat so they all fit together. 

The red ring is done, just doing the white panel
so a boring couple of weeks stitching

I have been informed my parcel from France will be delivered tomorrow, so another stitching project to start, I am excited with doing the Christmas tree it is just so pretty. Hubby has changed his mind regarding the cushion he wants me to make, he now wants different wording, so I am waiting for him to find the design, and fingers crossed there won't be the need to get loads of other different colour thread, I had thought I had purchased all I needed.
My new job is going well, it's not hard work, just lots of it, learning their systems will also help, every thing is very logical and practical, so right up my street. The past couple of nights finishing at 5pm has been a bit of a wake up for me, but I am getting to grips with the new start and finish times, on the other hand it's nice not to have to get up at 6am any more. My journey each way is longer, I now use the motorway, but lucky for me I go the opposite way to every one else, so whilst the other side is full of cars, my side is not so busy. On the plus side, it is still light at 5pm so I am not driving home in the dark.
This week I have not walked after work, been a bit tired, we are popping out in a moment, I need to walk to the bank, so we will go the long way through the park.

Print, cut, sew

Trying a different type of patchwork

I like the idea of hand sewing 

 I have been collecting fat quarters for ages

a nice mixture of designs and colours

 My first finished hexagons, these were picked for their design

I want to store them in a big box, getting all of the required hexagons finished before stitching together, I have no plans on designs, I will wait until I have made loads. I am not very good a doing random style, I spend ages ensuring the random effect is what I want, to scared to just pick up any hexagon and sew.  

 I hope to finish the ring of red soon

I want to then stitch the long white panel on the left

white is the hardest part to do. 

  Another book finished

Another good read, I am now on the hunt again for a different author 

I am having fun breaking away from my usual reads. 

Sunday was a stay at home day, after we cleaned the house, it was craft all the way. I was going to get out my sewing machine, but whilst looking at fabrics, I put all the fat quarters together and realised I had enough to get this project going.
I have also collected together all my felt squares, again I have loads for projects.
Later I did manage to do some more on Sheffield, I am powering into this stitching, it has to be finished by June.
I love stay at home days, hubby gets bored, but I am trying to get him into hobbies for him rather than him sat at the computer all day, he loves backgammon, cards and golf.
My plants from Saturday are looking OK, it's always a worry when you move things.

In other news

Not the best photo's

 But stitching is coming along nicely 

I stitched a small amount  most evenings when Logan was in bed. 

I have been naughty, been shopping on the internet

I had to order a pack with pattern and fabric, a tea towel, which I will not stitch on, I have loads of different shades of pale fabric here to choose from, I also will have to order the DMC threads, but I should have most of them already. It is coming from France so it will take a while, but it has already been dispatched.  

I went with youngest daughter for her wedding dress fitting, the dress fitted perfectly, just a bit long, it needs all five layers to be shortened by a couple of inches, it is being done at the shop, I could do it, but there are a couple of chiffon layers, so I am happy for them to do it. The wedding is just six weeks away.
Su looked stunning her smile was beautiful, I would love to show you, but she would do something awful to me if I did.
Hubby and I went into town looking for my outfit, but nothing jumped out at me, I am hoping the spring lines will be here soon and I can choose something with loads of colour. I did go to Sainsbury's to get some trousers for work, they are a style I like and at £14 a pair, they won't break the bank, plus this week they have had 25% off clothing, so they cost £10.50 each.
I have not started anything new in my 52 list for 2016, but still ongoing with lots of things, I did not walk as much as in previous weeks, it's hard to take Logan too far, so in fact I have put a few pounds on in the last week.
But I have sowed seeds for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers a bit later than others, but my little green houses do not have heat, so I can't bring them along to early. Hubby is complaining about the gardening stuff in our office, but I am managing to keep it all on my side.  I am enjoying being in my shed again. Counting down the days until the real fun begins again in the garden.

A sewing post

Colours for my next project

 Hubby has set me a task

He would like this design on a cushion

I have already turned the design into a pattern

The threads and canvas cost £28.00
so I have already spent more in Feb than Jan

Still loving this
I have two crossed blades to stitch under the white rose
so inside will not be all black

 I am loving the simplicity of this

March - Joyful World

a quick stitch for me

 This is for Jo, Through the keyhole

I always fold my fabric whilst stitching on a large piece,

the double fabric holds tighter in these clips

but the folds are never too bad and always iron out

I roll my work in between stitching each update. 

I have not stitched my patchwork cushion, it's still in the frame, waiting, some time soon I will finish it. I am enjoying the stitch along, this one is very different to the normal designer I follow. Later I will do some more on Sheffield.
Logan is with us for a few days, so later in the week I will post loads of photo's.
We had another great night out on Saturday, good company, lovely food and loads of music to dance to. Most of Sunday was resting, the knee's can't take it, even if the mind is willing.

Mix it up

These are doing well

I wanted them settled in their new conditions before potting them up

Busy time this weekend

 New shoot on our Amaryllis

probably just leaves, but I live in hope
I have another Orchid in bud, so more flowers inside

 Another good book finished
I enjoyed it to the last word.
We had a TV free night, another from my list of 52 in 2016,
enjoyed reading and listening to music.

 The white rose is done

I am also trying to fill the stripes.
I am a bit further along with this project,
but there is lots of simple blocks of colour. 

I have delayed posting this week I was hoping for some happy news, 

but maybe next week. 

Work is busy, they are still telling us nothing, we got an email late this afternoon after we complained, just saying bear with us, we were promised a meeting today but they don't want to speak to us, our boss was on a day off.
Wednesday we had fun with Josh and Sam after school, they again were in a great mood, they both enjoy having tea with us. Sam and I made a huge floor puzzle a map of the world showing all the animals and where they lived, Sam was very good at understanding why certain animals lived where they do.
We have walked every evening this week, and I have lost another pound, it's pleasing, we are not on a diet, we have stopped snacking and cut back on portion sizes. I am also not eating before 8am and eat nothing after 5.30pm, I saw a programe on TV which suggested this was a better way to aid our digestion. With the extra walking I am hoping this spring to remove another stone, I have done it before and put it back on when I was ill, so I know I can do it, it's just getting my head in the right place.
We don't have much planned for the weekend, it's going to be a see what happens two days. Saturday is promised to be very wet, which is a shame it's been dry for a while.

Wet or dry

Last week

 This morning

I don't think it will last, but we are off out soon to make the most of it. 

 This week's stitching

 I have hidden here all week and got loads done

its for a birthday in June

The rest of this week has been much the same, work makes me tired and irritable by the time I get home, hubby is lovely and cooks wonderful meals, our curried veg (not vegetable curry) was brilliant, it's now on our menu list to have again, we did not do the chickpeas, which was good the curry was more than enough, with loads of leftovers. It has been wet so I have missed a couple of days walking after work, so I will do extra steps today.
Something is working I got on the scales this morning and I'm 2lb down, we are not on diets, just eating sensibly and walking more.
We are having another dryish month, not opening any bottles of red wine, we wanted a dry January, but with my brothers birthday and our weekend away, we allowed ourselves to drink only on these two occasions, to make up for it we are doing the same in February, just having a drink at  the Valentine Ball and a meal out later in the month. I sounds as if we drink alot, we normally would open one or two bottle of red wine a week and share over a few nights.
I still have to wash my car, I took two bags to the charity shop, I wanted to do more but now is not the time, I can't get my head around it.