Outside

 The pond area is looking good, the grasses work well, I love the tiny cyclamen infront, I can't see this from the house, my cider pot blocks the view. It's always lovely to pop here, there are primroses and hellebores in flower in the fruit bed, pretty pops of colour.

Whilst I was cutting back the old hellebore leaves to let the buds show, I found another almost black flowering hellebore, so I have two plants which is pleasing, I think I moved the parent plant to my square garden from the black pot. I do have two other pink plants, which the shoots are a bit later.

When we were in Lidl's last week, I picked up this trio of hyacinths, I did not get any bulbs last autumn, I'm using my hand painted pot, after they have bloomed I will pop them in the garden.

A couple of weeks ago, I cut back my gaura plant with white blooms, I popped 4 bits into water, so I'm pleased to see roots on two bits, I have read these plants don't live for years, so I will regularly take cuttings.

Friday was wet, all day, just steady rain, we did not go anywhere, Saturday was blue skies and bright, so I had an hour in the garden, I tied my broad bean plants higher up their stakes, I cut a small cauliflower and thinned some smaller carrots for lunch today. I cut a scrappy cabbage for our neighbours chickens and I raked the paths between my raised veg beds, I have a special plastic rake which makes the job so easy. Next I went in my greenhouse, which was nice and warm, checked my plants, re-potted a couple which were out growing their pots. It was warm inside, so I lingered long than necessary, soon I will start my sweet peas and other seeds, the new growing season is starting. The ground is still frozen so I can only sort stuff for the greenhouse. 

We have nothing planned for today, we are expecting rain all day, it does feel slightly warmer this morning. I am still reading, this time from my kindle, and I have started knitting another pair of socks, I prefer it when my hands are busy.

Blooming

My first amaryllis has two buds on, this will have bright red flowers, I can't wait for them to bloom. I have a second white one which has started to grow, and a couple more old bulbs which only have leaves so far.

I have left out my silk flowers from Christmas, 

I do love to see blooms, these all look real and add much needed colour to my room, tucked back far enough to look good.

I struggled with this book at the start, people on a aeroplane, lots of different characters, it felt very bitty, but it was worth sticking with it. This author has good and bad plots, I have before given up on her books. Would you want to know your future, when and how you will die, what will you do with this knowledge,  give in or fight it. Huge book 485 pages, book 2 read this year.

Hubby has been chasing the delivery of our new air-fryer, following the courier Evry, once the parcel arrived at the local hub, it sat there not moving, finally he contacted the seller, who did some checking and sent another parcel via DHL, which arrived the next day. Our plumber is due to replace the mixer bar on the shower next week. Wednesday hubby was using his desk top computer, it frozen and then shut down, it's too old to be repaired, so we have our local guy building at new model and retrieving as much data as he can. Hopefully that's the 3rd thing to break in the past two weeks. Pricy start to this year.

We are not doing much, my WI meeting was postponed last night because of the weather, I did pop outside earlier in the week and skidded all around the icy patio, it was pure luck I stayed on my feet. Even hubby has just hunkered down, it's warm here, we have everything we need. It rained most of Thursday not as hard as we expected, overnight the rain and wind was heavy. This morning is grey skies more rain and wind, but not so strong, our gardens are alright, no damage, I just hope where ever you are you are safe, dry and warm and have electricity. I've not spoken to my brother, I sent him a message, he has electricity and is home.

Thank you for all your comments regarding my printed blog books, just a couple things to think on, firstly you work at your own pace, the book remains on your computer until you upload it and then payment is required for the printing, secondly I always wait until there is a good offer, normally 50% off or a smaller discount with free shipping. the company send regular emails, not too many to be a nuisance, I always aim for November, at the moment there is a 40% off deal on offer. 

Just a sprinkle

 

I don't get to show snow photos often, normally it completely misses us, it stayed around for just one day. Not enough to call it lying snow, it is extremely cold here, we are popping the heating on for longer, I wish our electric wood burner was a real wood burner, just imagine being toasty infront of real flames. Last year we got fans for the top of two radiators, which help the rooms feel warmer, the small bedroom has not had any mould in the corners this year, which is a relief. 

Storm Goretti is due in our region tonight, we are not under any weather warnings, just heavy rain and gales, but there is snow where to warm air meets the cold front north of us, I am keeping everything crossed we just get rain, being so close to the coast helps with our weather. 

Grandchildren had fun at home outside, all three hoping for more snow, they have settled back into school, last night's bedtime was good both the little ones were worn out.

We are not doing much, too cold to be outside, I do check the garden and greenhouse, not opening the door, everything is as it should be. I am reading a huge book, it's been a struggle as there are so many people in the plot, but I trust the author and will keep going. 

In hardback

Steve was asking about my blog books which I print through Blurb, The template for books is free to use, just download it, payment is only when you send the book for printing, I always use a photo book style. 

With my first book the printers had a template to allow you to import your whole year to a book format, I found it very hard and would only import a month at a time, each photo was a full page, which I did not want, as on average I have 4 photos per post, and I wanted each post on just one page, as you pay by the number of pages it made economical sense. I do find it much easier these days as I input the words into my created text blocks and then each photo, keeping everything away from the pink sections, over the years it has got much easier as I have created a system which works for me. I don't add any comments, just my post.

 I do ensure all the tops of the pages are level, the side line up, I am a neat freak, then I check the written content, having to change a few words here and there to make them flow better, then spell check and image resolution to sort. I then read through twice, just to be happy. I always choose the same covers and paper quality, so the books match as much as they can, when I read through once printed I do find at least one small error, but that's OK as I am only human, and nothing should be perfect. 

The cost of the books have not really changed much, always waiting for a good discount, Black Friday in November is always good, they allow you to print as many copies as you wish, I only ever print one copy. My last book purchased last November was with 50% off so I paid with postage £65.20 with 189 pages and hard cover no wrap. They are very quick to deliver, never waiting more than a week.

Doing at bit of maths (so very me), I worked out on average it takes me about 6 minutes to complete the post into a neat template normally on one page, so in 2024 I have 179 post so importing took me about 19 hours. The editing I do in 3 sessions, taking anything up to two hours each time. Therefore I think each book takes about 25 hours to sort, most of the work can be done over months, an hour here or there does not feel to busy. 2024 is now finished, just 2025 to do.

I have done other post in more detail here and here or click on the link my books.

I do love these book a real indulgence for me, the younger grandchildren like to see their photos in my books, I also love to pick up a book and read, they are also a very quick reference point when I want to remember when something was done around the house and garden. 

Now is the perfect time to stop printing them, we see less of the children now they are all at school and all the major changes inside and out have been done, I do aim to keep blogging which I love, I also can be found on Instagram, my Facebook page I no longer use, I do check it to see how nieces and nephews are doing. Who knows I might relent and print 2026, but I'm not planning too.