Lazy weekend

 I've been stitching again, working on the left side, I was over the moon to get the corner decoration and two pink flowers in place, loads of counting and checking, these set the working lines for this quarter.

My joy has faded, on the easiest part I have miss counted the darker stitches should be a straight diagonal line. It would be hell to unpick, so it has to stay it won't cause me issues later as the design crashes into the three tumbleling stars. 

5 university friends who shared a house receive an invitation to return to their university digs, no-one wants to return, but they are too scared to not go. Back to a time when their 6th member was murdered, they all have memories in various levels about that time. A brilliant book, I really enjoyed reading it. Book 36 read this year.

Her life is a mess, rather than facing the issues,  she goes to Corfu, looking for someone or something, and gets caught up in a sting. The red flags were flying all through the plot, but who did what, with a clever twist. Book 37 read this year.

I have read this author before, another great plot, this time it's a mans story, he falls head over heels in love, it's the real thing, quickly strange things start amongst his female friends, why. Things are adding up, but does 2+ 2 make 5. Book 38 read this year.

Between the relentless wind and rain I am not doing much outside, our garden is looking after itself, I will try and do some deadheading, in a dry patch, I have even turned down a visit to our favourite garden centre, I have never liked being cold and wet. Everywhere is so grey and dull, typical summer here.

I am enjoying lazy days reading, guilt free whist not feeling great, the house needs cleaning, so much dust everywhere. We had a lazy weekend, stayed at home the whole time, it's nice to stop and do nothing after a busy few weeks, simple meals, food we love. My sisters days went well, it was dry when they came out of the church, yes she went for the full works, she was happy as was her partner, now husband, he is a bit under the thumb (Janice ?) I've not seen many photo's as yet. 

Washed out

 The weather is horrible, high winds, thunderstorms, hailstones, our garden has been battered, we have had a few coffee mornings in our sunroom with the doors shut, Lilly has often sat inside with us. It's very still and quiet inside, really enjoyable, the garden has not been damaged, just petals blown off roses and poppies. 

I pick strawberries every other day, the tiny bags protect the fruit, as does not growing them on the ground, there are enough uncovered for the bugs and small birds and mice. Another cucumber, again not full size, the plant seams very happy outside as does both my tomato plants. A few more sweet-peas, these are growing faster. We used the berries in an Eaton Mess, it was yummy. 

Last year I purchased 3 gaura plants, the white one planted in my side bed has not come back this year and one of the pink ones is looking iffy, I already have a cutting growing taken last year it's already in a pot, I'm not sure of these  colours, they just in water are growing strong roots, hopefully more plants. I adore these plants and their tiny flowers and hope to have more in other beds.

It's been a week at home, just too wet to go anywhere, Monday I did more pottery painting with daughter and her three, they all had an inset day off from school. Thursday we had our dental checks, we had planned to go into town, but just too wet.

Friday we planned a day out, we were both getting stir crazy from being inside so much, we did not stay out too long, neither of us get any delight in cruising arounds shops just having a look, it was a dry day. We decided not to hang around to have lunch out, later we sat in our summerhouse, lovely sunshine, out of the wind.

Our plans this weekend has changed, we were going home to Somerset, but my tummy issues have gotten really bad, I have a doctors appointment early next to week. My brother who we always stay with is also ill, which helped shape our decision, neither of us wanted to put on him or even get his bugs. My sister is getting married to her long term partner, she is not happy with me but it can't be helped, the journey is 3 hours each way and I'm just not up to it.

Some you win

 First pickings of strawberries, they were very sweet, there are loads more to come, the little net bags are working, I do leave berries on lower level open for the wildlife. 

First of my sweet-peas, all the same colour, I have everything crossed for another good year, the sweetwilliamsare home grown as well.

Just to balance things, my poor hostas, a dining area for snails I keep looking for them, I have given in this season, I will clear the top of the tub later in the year, clearing out as many as I can.

I have ripped out my broad-beans they were covered in blackfly, they are infected every year, for some reason this season they overwhelmed the plants, we did get one meal from them, none in freezer. I could get new plants but I fear the blackfly would come back.

It's not often I show the mishaps in the garden, I do tell you about them, I am OK with things going wrong, plants never returning, I never use chemicals, I'm hopeful as the years pass the eco system in the garden is balanced enough to save most things.

Water is always an issue, often we have long periods of dry weather, I do collect rain water but it's never enough, so I water often. Last year we missed the hose pipe ban, our local water supplier Portsmouth Water is good at amassing vast amounts of water. Yesterday the storms came, so gardens are now soaked and water butts are full again. 

Having a cat keeps other cats away, I do pick up after Lilly most days, locally foxes are a problem, hubby has blocked most entrance points, they can climb over fences luckily they don't here. We rarely see hedgehogs any more, occasionally mice, again luckily we not seen a rat in ages. Pigeons are a pain, I do net my veg beds.

Just being in the garden is so rewarding for both of us, these days there is less work to be done, so we practice the art of sitting and watching.

May round up

 Just one cheap ball of yarn for a pair of socks, nothing else for crafting, I'm doing very little inside, garden was another low spend month, we have not visited many garden centres this month, I don't record the bigger project spends which come out of our household budget.

2 Books read this month

The car has had a new clutch, it's 12 years old and mine, I purchased it new, I really don't see the need to renew it, it's a great size for the two of us, locally we only use it to go shopping, to daughters house or a garden centre, to go into town or Portsmouth we use our free bus pass. We trust the local mechanic, who works here, or in the case of the clutch took it to his garage at home. We have a good list of local trades people who we can call on, it's helpful as we age and hubby not able to do so much, plus their cost are way below any national companies.

The garage conversion cost was mainly the new doors, we did all the other work together saving loads, still cost involved as we made it look good, we did reuse loads of our own stuff.

I did get a few bits of clothing, I don't have a clothing budget, just trying to keep a low spend, the quilted jacket was a bargain not to be missed, I've already worn it a few times.

Again food waste was almost nothing, most of it went into my composters, which are working well with the added garden greenery. We do put a few bits into the council food waste bin, just stuff I don't compost, knowing our portion sizes help to stop waste, we only cook what we can eat.

We have dropped my portion size again, I have for most of the month avoided bread, biscuits ect, and potatoes, I am feeling much better for it, sadly the scales show no improvement.