Here come the birds

Did I fool you

I have finished the design above the big panel

and then started stitching the birds, these should be yellow, but I did not think they would show up and wanted to use the brown again.

My stash has not arrived yet, that's the down side of great Internet prices, you have to wait for delivery. I have a bit more I can do on this. I have not stitched for two nights, been busy with the real world.

My lime pip now looks like a small plant, I'm a bit excited about this, 

I have never grown anything from a pip. 

Almost a free plant, it loves the window sill in the office

it is very warm and sunny here.

New flowers

All planted this year

My cuttings are still looking good

and my small plants have loads of new growth.

My Chocolate Cosmos is looking good, it's very late, but I'm OK with that, what it lacks this year will be made up next year. At half price, the kit was equal to the cost of the pot, so the plant is a bonus.

It's a strange week so far, I am in the office at work on my own, yesterday we could not get internet access, only to find the bods at HQ had paid the phone bill, but the payment bounced back and BT cut off our line. So they are trying to get it all put back, and BT are not playing fair. So half our building has Internet and the other half is dead, so two were working from home, I was computer sharing with our Business Manager, both our work is done on line.
Later I had my first telephone interview, for a new job which I sailed through, so hoping for an interview next week.
Su had a good look at this computer last night (bribed her with a free meal), it's very slow and will freeze if I work like mad, so I am typing slow. Hubby and I will be looking for a new box soon, we are away this weekend so it will be after that.
I have started planning my days next week, I want to declutter the house, when we moved in 4 years ago, I got rid of loads, but we have things not touched since we have been here and it's all going. I am loving the simpler life and finding I don't need so many gadgets, the amount of stuff we buy because it's popular, every time you enter a supermarket, there is loads they are trying to sell you, how many times have you purchased something useful, which in real terms makes more work, ie the cleaning of it after use. We not longer go shopping in town every Saturday, and spend out time relaxing in the house or garden.

Goodness I sound like my mum!

Has anyone a copy of Blackberries by Clara Waever, I saw in it an old magazine, I don't require the kit, just the pattern, happy to pay for it and cost of posting.

July 15th

Today would be my mum's birthday

Happy birthday mum

Never forgotten

Adding Green

I have done loads on this

The bottom design is on hold for now, I have to place an order for more thread, which I will do today, I will stitch the outside patterns until the colours arrive. 

 To balance the bright green added to the bottom panel, I decided to use it again on this panel, it balances with the bright blue. It's very neat looking design.

 Every thing is coming together, I have large blue flowers to add in bottom panel, I have been toying with using a duller blue to balance it out, but I will decide after I have completed more of the outside designs. 

 My first harvest of veg, 

we are having them for tea with baby new potatoes (shop brought) and steak.

 I will be picking tomatoes soon

 When I created my tubs for veg, I used the compost from the bin I removed from the back of the garage, after, I read it's not great for growing root veg as they would fork and not produce perfect looking crop.

These may look different, but they taste great, they are a mixed crop.

Our neighbour has not moved her car, at the moment everyone is being polite, she is not parked illegal, but in the 5 years we have lived here everyone parks on the other side of the street. 

Yesterday we popped to see the house Su and David are buying, so a very excited couple, later we had lunch at our favorite coffee bar close by and last night we went for a nice Italian meal.

Today is a lazy day, not much housework to do, I have one week left at work, and then I will have plenty of time to clean. 

Later we hope to go out on the bike, it's been weeks, and we both need a nice ride out. We are hoping to find a farm shop so we can buy local produce. 

Tonight we will avoid the World cup final, neither of us like football, we have a few recorded programme to catch up with.

I am having problems with my computer, it keeps freezing and often won't open correct, so I will invite Su and David to tea and have them look at it, it's not that old, I think I might have a bug.

Going orange

My tomatoes are turning orange, these are small on the vine ones, can't wait.

 French beans for Sunday lunch.

 Peppers

 Courgettes 

 Cucumbers 

 My hubby had a 'saw this and thought of you' moment

Beautiful fresh fruit

 My stitching, I have completed the inner box, showing the size of the panels, I thought the green shape looked like a pot, wanted green in this panel, so I dug out a bright green, I will use it again on another panel above.

It is so nice to be able to harvest this week, all my hard work has paid off, not everything grows so well, but the fun is in the trying and the eating when successful. Not much to do in the garden this weekend, just enjoy my time outside, fingers crossed the weather is kind.
We have arrived home tonight to row brewing in our street, our mad catwoman next door, drives a big old Jag, and parks it everywhere and anywhere, tonight she has parked outside her own house, the problem is there is an unwritten rule we all park on the other side of the road, ensuring everyone is able to park their vehicles and people can drive by. By parking on our side of the road she is stopping three cars parking on the other side, already there are neighbours coming home and driving around, we will have to wait and see what happens, this is not a problem for us, but shows how selfish she is, as there were loads of parking in the road which she ignored, it will be middle of next week before she drives her car again.
Work was good, I am not motivated to work as hard as I normally do, but most things have been done this week, next week is my last week, my CV is already out.
We are home all weekend, we have another busy time next weekend, no plans as yet, just loads of laughter, a bit of wine and a meal out tomorrow.