Blooming September

 In between the rain, I popped outside, it's very wet, luckily our garden drains well and has no deep puddles, don't let the blue skies fool you, before I had finished taking these photos it started to rain again. This side bed full of blooms, sadly the rain and wind took all the roses, I really need to do some deadheading, I have staked a few of the bigger blooms. 

The acer is turning colour, soon the leaves will drop which is a shame as it's been beautiful all summer, it does have a lovely shape so the bare branches do add to the winter garden.

I am pleased how this fence line is looking, I have never been a fan of growing plants up a fence, the olive tree is happy in the corner, it has olives growing, they never mature, but it's good to know the tree is healthy. I do not miss my metal table and chairs here, it got very busy, this looks much nicer. 

There are loads of blooms bringing colour into the garden, this begonia will soon be popped back into the greenhouse for the winter, it's a long flowering plant and so easy to keep, I do nothing with it once it's inside until next spring when I start to water it again. The Zinnias and Asters are in full colour.

Flowers at the back, the fuchsia which drops over the back of the pond has done well, I do have to dead head often to stop them falling into the pond, I have sweet willaim's behind and primroses in the tub.  The big tub next to my shed again has been full of flowers, another begonia, the fuchsia was moved earlier this year, I also have a hellebore for winter colour, another pot I just leave. 

These will give winter colour, the fleabane daises will stay green all year, if it's mild they will bloom, I cut them back in the spring to keep them from getting too big, this bed has been a delight. I have cyclamen and violas in pots around the patio nearest to the house. 

Soon it will be time to pack the furniture away for winter, it will stay outside undercover, the chair frames will tuck under the bench frame, and will fit along the wall, we will raise them off the ground slightly and cover them. The cushions will be popped into the back of the attic (loft). The parasol will go into the garage, I'm not keen on this time of year, I feel we are loosing so much. 

The season has changed so quickly this year, my shorts and sandals are succeeded by socks, boots and jeans, fleeces are worn, nights are cooler and much darker. I don't embrace autumn, spring and summer are my season's the garden is my place, I still can watch the garden, often watching the small birds at the feeders, but nothing beats being outside.

Wet weekend

 Saturday was heavy showers mixed with small burst of bright sunshine, a day to be inside, hubby was out most of the day, so I spent time with daughter and children, we had mummy's favourite lunch and cake, another 'free from' so Molly and George can eat it. The house looked like a toy shop for a while, they both help to tidy everything away. 

Later I was able to pop outside, I picked the last of the runner beans and beetroot, more soft fruits, tomatoes and a small butternut squash,  which I cut in hope some of the others will grow in size, the plant is still very healthy. 

In the greenhouse my brassicas have grown, I hope they get a bit bigger and stronger before I put them outside, where they should thrive. 

There are still harvest to be had, I will remove these runner beans, the wind has thrashed them, raspberries are still ripening as are the tomatoes.  

Saturday evening was really quiet, daughter went out with friends, she can now use a local babysitter as Molly and George stay in bed. Lilly slept most of the evening after playing with the little ones all afternoon. The rain was heavy all evening, we watch the Proms, I had not told hubby about Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody being played and Bill Bailey's spot, we enjoyed the music.  

Sunday started dull and dry then it became even wetter than Saturday, I walked to the shops for an orange to go into a Christmas recipe I was making, hubby did a nice meal with duck breast. The house smelt of spices all afternoon, we both commented how nice it was, my project was 3 hours cooking in the slow cooker, brilliant. 

I am feeling bored, I have loads of crafting supplies which I can use, but I don't know what to make, I am not a fan of just making something and packing it away never to be used, once I have something to make which is going to be useful, then I'm full of inspiration. I have knitted socks for loads of family, those who wanted one has a cross stitch design and home made bags, I will make new decorations for the children using needle felting, I really enjoyed using my sewing machine, I will have to look maybe at some fun patchwork, I have loads of fabrics. I just need some inspiration. 

And rest

 It's been a busy week, so much fun earlier with Molly, Thursday we caught the bus into Portsmouth, Gunwharf Quays, there is a Sketchers shoe shop, hubby loves their shoes he finds them very comfortable, we stopped for a while in this undercover seating area whilst a quick rain storm passed. 

We watched the local ferries from Isle of Wright and the little green one seen here going to and from Gosport across the water, blue skies before the rain came back. This is a perfect spot to visit, next to historic dockyard and loads of old ships alongside modern warships, The Price of Wales is moored, plenty of places to eat, lots of nightlife, and of course The Spinnaker Tower. The shops are all outlet, so better prices and most give discount on Blue Light card, hubby is a veteran for army, for us a quick bus ride from home.

Thursday evening I went to my second WI meeting, this time we had local responders to chat and demonstrate lifesaving equipment, it was very interesting, I have a few more tips on how to help, with hubby's heart condition any information is helpful. I will officially join in October, already I met a lovely lady and her daughter who lives quite close to us.

Friday we did our big shop at Lidl, it was expensive as I got all the ingredients for my Christmas cakes before prices rise even higher, it's still a bit early to make them, I'm pleased to be ahead, I already had a few bits. These bulbs at £1.99 a pack were too good to leave, they can go in a couple big pots.

Wednesday when we were in town I picked up these pumpkins, they are so pretty, I hope to use them in my autumnal display, which I will sort next week, much earlier than other years, but our weather has definitely changed. 

I got my sewing machine out and took up the hems on my new jeans, just a quick job, I'm not sure if the legs have got longer or mine have shrunk, regular length always fitted me. I am also sorting out some needlefelting to do, I have found another design for the children's Christmas tree, I have started looking for another cross stitch pattern, I need something to do in the evenings whilst sat in my chair. 

Outside I aim to cut back the runner beans, the growth is slow and the frame is being bashed by the winds, I will put my brassicas in the bed, they have doubled in size. Raspberries and blackberries are still given fruits, the tomatoes are ripening on the vine, just enough to keep us happy. I have loads of tiny butternut squash, the plant is still very healthy, I have one a good size, but I just don't know when it is ready.

Tomorrow is daughters birthday, they are all coming here for the day, more party food, hubby baked sausage rolls and eccles cakes, another 'free from' birthday cake. Rest of today is rest and enjoy the quiet.

Wet play

 Molly came for a sleepover on Tuesday, she is desperate to go to school each morning when George goes to his class, so we thought a night at ours would help, I had loads for her to do including this colouring page made from a photo taken when we last went to the beach, which she loved. We played outside, balls, scooters, bubbles all enjoyed, back inside she got all our puzzles out. 

Molly wanted to help in the garden, after picking and eating the raspberries, we found a pot for some spring bulbs, she is very good at following instructions, she helped decide which bulbs to use. Photo just for me so I can remember what is planted in here.

Wednesday morning Molly and I took the bus into town which she loved and met mummy, we spent a few hours at our local pottery café, each painting an item, we have done this a few times before, Molly choose a cat and loved it, I decided I needed another mushroom lamp, I'm not very good at decorating, and definitely not so good at the design, I do love crafting but struggle with art. They will be ready for collection in two weeks. Later we had lunch out together plus a visit to a few shops.

This plot leads you everywhere, so many suspects, what happened to Sam, where is she, why are the police not doing very much. A clever plot, twisting, adding to the tail. Book 65 read this year

Another new author to me, this book was very different, a young woman's final school project looking into a murder in her town five years previous. She includes one victims brother, not knowing if he is the right person to work with her. It leads her to suspect many of the people who live locally in the area, a nice ending. Book 66 read this year.

I did pop to our library and got 3 books, one I realised I had read before, it does feel good to hold a book again after reading so many on my tablet, this story is very different, set in an old converted house in Bath, the people who live there are brought together by a frail lady who they decide to help. Looking back at the ladies life as a top quality dress maker, discovering the famous person she dressed, not my normal read, another great book. Book 67 read this year.

I did start to read The Perfect Home, Natasha Boydell, I could not get into the plot and realised I was not interested in the story, just a bit too soft style of writing for me. I have a few inside project for the coming days, we are due to stay wet until after the weekend.

My time in the garden is dropping as the weather changes, I still walk around most mornings just checking everything and where Lilly is, Lilly has taken to sleeping on my net cover for my brassicas, it's not a strong contraption so it dips, and I curse her, she watches me but is not learning. The garden is still giving so I wait to plant out winter items, I am often ahead of myself, waiting for the space to appear, I never learn. 

Nothing much is happening here, which is OK, we both love quiet, hubby's medical results are mixed and as yet there are no changes to his medication, at this time there is nothing they can do, its a case of wait and watch, not bad news as he will never improve, but he is maintaining his level of fitness.