Tulips

 I fell back in love with tulips a couple years ago, I do grow them in tubs and love them, pops of colour. These were the first to flower and were new last year.

These were new this year and stunning.

I did not plant many bulbs last year, I have plans for a bigger display next spring, so far the wind has not caused too much damage, they are not playing to well, the flowers are popping up one at a time, so no big burst of colour here. 

The tulips in this pot are blind again, not one flower bud, its a shame as they were lovely frilly colourful blooms, the giant snowdrops looked good and soon the fleabane daisies will flower, so all is not lost.

These are special and a few years old, all fake, I do love a display inside to cheer us.

In the past couple of years I have only purchased 'named' brands of bulbs mainly from garden centres, but it does not seam to make any difference, my failure rate is still high, especially in the second year blooms, I am aware tulips blooms often fail to return in following years, also often I get a completely different colour than on labels. This year I will purchase from a different suppliers, if you have any trusted sites please share them with me.

Daughter came with children on Sunday, Molly is a lot better still not eating or drinking much, she did join in playing with George, she has missed the start of the new school term, and will be off a few more days. She has suffered eczema, rashes and sore patches all her life, she can't have any traces of dairy products, she is still under hospital care trying to sort all her allergies. Thank you for your kind comments on my last post, it was scary to see her so poorly, it was the worse attack she has ever had. 

We have a busy week ahead, so I'm resting when I can, not much to do in garden, the greenhouse is full, all doing well, I plan to sow more next week.

Nana on call

Just another view of my side bed, so full of blue, the camassia blooms whilst pretty don't last too long, there are two yellow rose bushes just about showing, and loads of other plants starting to regrow. 

 George has new glasses which he is now wears all the time, his first pair was a specific design to help children cope with wearing glasses for the first time and rather expensive. These are a standard design, he is very happy with them.

Daughter called me at 5.30am on Friday to come and sit with boys whilst Molly was checked out at A&E, at first they tested for sepsis, thankfully it was negative, she has not been well for a couple of days, it was confirmed it was a severe reaction, no way of knowing to what. This photo was taken late afternoon when the rash was settling, the earlier photo is too horrible to post.

I've spent days at daughters house, Thursday morning looking after the children whilst daughter and hubby took a trip to IKEA, Will now has his new bedroom, hubby got a few small bits for us, I got the better part of the deal. In the evening I went to WI, it was a relaxing music evening, which was well attended.

Friday I was out early, both boys were still in bed, so first hour was very quiet, George and I had a couple hours together. Once home Molly was very subdued she listened to her favourite music most of the day, she is still unwell. I had planned a sleepover which helped daughter as they were all tired.

Saturday was an early start, George woke at 6.50am, we snuggled on the sofa for an hour, Molly looked better, but is still unwell, she is not eating much which probably helps her, I really hate to see any of them sick. I stayed until mid afternoon, it was a lazy time, loads of cuddles. Back home I did nothing just rested, we both had an early night.

Today we woke up to cloudy blue skies, it blew like mad last night and lots of rain, the wind died back a bit, it was warmer than previous days, but still cool, daughter is due to visit, they had not been out in days, George had been poorly before Molly. We did consider a BBQ, but decided best to wait a bit longer, doing the children's favourite food for lunch

Going Blue

 Another new author to me, this being a very light read, a good plot, just not enough of it, book 28 read this year.

A favourite author, hubby popped this book on my kindle, brilliant story, spoilt only by it being 48 pages long. Book 29 read this year.

Another favourite author, a husband goes missing his famous actress wife has to find her way through this horror, her back story runs along side, her very alternative childhood, just brilliant. Book 30 read this year.

The garden is changing again the yellow and white blooms have faded and it's time for blue to shine, I have bluebells all around the garden and a few clumps camassia's, which are also blue, both had self-seeded, so the bed is full of blues, you can get white blooms as well. This side bed always has a great start to the growing year. 

I have camassia's in the centre of this bed as well, I love the way their height gives an extra level to the bed and then like all the other bulbs they disappear until the next spring. My fleabane daises have loads of tiny flowers forming, my summer bed returning. 

It's been a glorious few days, the breeze has been cool and I have avoided working in the shade, we have had coffee and cake outside, I have pottered doing small tweaks around the garden, I cleaned behind the garage, loads of tiny leaves everywhere, I have put away most of my spring pots in their summer protected spot, out of view in the garden. I sold some of my ceramic pots, the rest have been packed away gor now.

I have also sat more and just enjoyed our view, it's now an easy garden to keep how we like it. Football is being played, my poor plants are under threat, luckily they do not kick the ball very hard, I have also watered everywhere on Tuesday evening, I was only going to do my pots, but our ground is just so dry. 

We did pop to our favourite garden centre just for a few bits, I did not spend much and came away with just what I required, which must be a first for me, I have also purchased 4 strips of bedding plants from our local pet shop, these will be grown on and planted out in a few weeks once much bigger.  

Easter weekend

The children had so much fun hunting for everything, again Molly and George did their hunt together, Molly does love to include George, here finding new soft bunnies rather than too much chocolate. Will had to search in the veg section, the little ones can't have dairy, so separate hunts are necessary. 

Daughter, Molly and myself, 3 generations, its a photo we often take.

A family photos, perfect memories. 

After lunch the boys were given a Fifa 2026 world cup folder each, Will is collecting cards, we thought George would like the same, he does not understand the concept of collecting cards, but he likes to be treated the same as his big brother, Molly had Bluey, which she loves, the cards are a good treat not too expensive for when they are being good.

 

Sunday was a cooler day, very breezy, cloudy, we did have a couple short bouts of rain, not enough to say it was a storm. The children played outside we had a few balloons with confetti in, they loved them once they popped, and were covered in coloured spots. Everyone enjoyed lunch, a turkey roast, followers by chocolate brownies made with coconut oil, so little ones could eat some. Later we had a quiet evening together, a perfect day for everyone 

Monday was a day at home, we had not done much this holiday, George was very poorly on Friday and Saturday, he does get ill quickly, luckily he bounced back quick, mummy kept them home where they played outside. Again no plans to be on the roads, our area is always busy on sunny days, so many nice water front spaces and of course Portchester Castle at the other end of the village.

Storm Dave skirted to the north of us, it was very breezy, no rain, we were lucky to miss it, we have had enough rain to sort my dry pots and everywhere given a good soak, hubbies brother in Newcastle lost his garden wall, the wind was relentless.