Random stuff

 I always love every story by this author it's another tale with DCI Roy Grace based in Brighton, he really does find believable people and plots to create a story, this had a very clever start, no one is invincible, this is his newest release in paperback, I could not put this book down. Book 44 read this year.

Another author I love reading, she too is the master of putting people together in believable stories, loads of 'he done it' moments and a final twist I did not see coming, her stories are very easy reading, no gore, clever words. Book 45 read this year.

For a while our community centre has been running a repair cafe once a month, you pre-book your item, it's very popular in the village, and fantastic use of the community centre. We have lived here 16+ years, the centre was rebuilt just after we moved in, now it's always busy with loads of classes and other events.

 

We have summer knitted displays in the village, two of our huge trees have been wrapped, a line of bunting, the post box topper and some of the bollards have hats, all knitted, it's fun to see, and loads of hard work. There is the artisans market here this weekend, loads of lovely things planned, it should be a good time.

I'm making another photo book, this time for my eldest brother, Derek, he has just been placed into a lovely secure home, Martin has been collecting photos, which he was copying and placing into a photo album, I suggested I made a book with thick paper, which can't be easily ripped, I can always order another copy if needed, I have also added everyone's names, it feels good to be able to help, I don't live close to them.

I have been waiting for the postman to delivery my first Kitchen Garden magazine of my renewed subscription, by the end of April it had not arrived, on checking I could not find any confirmation of my payment, checking the bank account no payment had been taken. I found the original email and was very happy to see I could still access the offer, a good price with 50 packs of seeds, mainly veg and herbs and the promise of 3 packets with each monthly magazine. My seeds arrived I will keep 33 packets and donate to school 17 packets.

I've done very little this week, my mouth has been sore rather than painful, we have had a few bits collected and a couple of deliveries, so we have stayed close to home, resting, reading and making plans for my next sewing project. Thank you for kind comments, they were well received, hubby is very good, I'm managing soft food, I'm maybe a bit less chatty and a bit moody, sitting around doing nothing is very tiring. 

After the rain

 The recent rain has done wonders for the garden, all my water buts are now full again, and after the thunderstorm on Saturday, the ground is no longer dusty dry. My back veg section is looking very productive, we are having regular carrots and broad beans, plus salad bits and of course strawberries. My recent planted runner beans are climbing the posts.

I have very little space to walk around, my bags and buckets are already showing loads of good growth, the flowers are growing tall in their two bags, I'm very hopeful to have cut flowers inside this year, I have finally cracked growing sweet peas, I do love to see them inside, I am regularly picking them. 

My one hosta plant has four blooms growing, both are now much bigger, this new larger pot is working, sadly they both have been munched, the yellow begonia is filling out nicely in the middle front, I have moved it along the fence and it now looks much better, the sun does not reach this spot until the evening. 

We have been moving plants again, the olive tree is now in the corner by the extension,  it's a much sheltered spot, I popped most of the pots with it, the metal table and two chairs don't  really have a space anymore, so I think I might try and sell them.

It's been just too wet to be outside much in the past few days, fortunately there is very little to do, I have a few cuttings, in water, in hope I can add a couple different plants along the back fence and fill the gaps, I also dug out roots from my snowberry plants, I have two existing plants and hopefully made another three, I would like them to fill the back section of my daisy bed. My perennials seeds are very mixed in the greenhouse, I am busy reading up on conditions required, and if I should pop any into fridge or freezer to recreate their normal sprouting cycles. 

I have managed to get some new hurdles (low fences) for my two raised veg beds, I am really disappointed with the split willow ones, they were middle range prices, I expected they would last better than just the year I have had them, the ones I would love are just too expensive, I did look into going on a course to learn to weave them myself, again not at all cheap. So I have gone for budget range, with metal and plastic, in hope they look good from a distance, they work so well in keeping cats off my beds and keeping all the produce from flopping over. 

I've had a cracked tooth removed today, it was not to bad, my jaw aches and I've got to take it easy for a few days, no gardening,  that's going to be fun.

I'm wild, grrr

 I'm not a house cat, they want me to be a house cat, I just love their garden, so many exciting things out there and all for me to play with. I do disappear at times, I never go far and always come back. She made me a wonderful water drinking spot, she calls it her wildlife pond.

They got me a new tower recently, I do love it, BUT I'm not going overboard, it's a cat thing, I play a lot when they are out, I'm not sure why Dave the bear is on the top level, I'm not bothered, I don't go on that bit much and I can easily knock him off if I want too. 

They have started leaving my escape route (cat flap she calls it) open later at night, I now realize it gives me complete freedom, I am still kept in over night, I'm not sure why, they keep changing the rules so maybe soon they will stop locking it. I love to sit and look in, and then run away when they open the door, I get them almost every time. 

What is going on with the weather, I can tell you 'I hate the rain' I don't like being wet and it means I have to come inside, the ground stays wet with puddles for so long, I'm not keen on wet paws and all my hiding places drip for ages afterwards. They try to cheer me up, I do like the treats, but not so happy with to many cuddles, I have 'beds' everywhere for me to hide and sleep, I do love to sleep as much as I like to eat treats. 

I have two brilliant outside games, I steal the decorations from his water feature, he chases me for them back, and then I realised I could steal the funny little bags she puts on the green things growing on a plant tower, the little bags help the green things turn red, they then eat them, it was funny playing catch me if you can with her, I did not drop the bag at all, she muttered all the time at me, making the game even better.

I'm being told I'm going to my special place for a couple of days soon, so they can have a break, I do love Jackie, but she keeps me inside which is not so fun, I do get extra treats from Jackie, she takes almost as many photos of me as mum does.

Love Lilly xx

Summer

The garden is looking good, I planted out most of my bedding plants, I had a few too many so I've packed them in, these shelves are now looking empty, soon it will be time to pack them away again, just the smaller of the french marigolds here until they get bigger and a couple peonies.

I have potted on loads of sweet williams, so far no show for aquilegia's and foxgloves, I have also started some lupins, the two begonias will come out soon and be placed back near the seating area, the tomatoes will stay inside, I don't have much room to put the pots outside, I do have one tomato plant in one of my raised beds.

The garden is full, it's extremely pleasing when everywhere is performing, it's been a good start to the season, we are still saving water from the house, for now I throw it over the magnolia or acer roots. Hubby trimmed the climbing rose by the garage, I could not reach the top, he also trimmed the acer in the ground, he was far more gentler than I would have been.

The seating area is looking good, most of the french marigolds will go in the front of this long bed, there are zinnias and asters dotted about which will fill the space with summer colour.  

Tuesday we popped to my favourite garden centre, it was a dull day, the promised rain arrived, I purchased 4 small plants I did not need but liked, and two packets of flower seeds which I will start now for next year, they have started selling seeds in half packets at a lower price which suits me. I have been good doing housework a couple of days, I do try and keep on top of it, on sunny days I prefer to be outside, but the house still gets dusty.

Wednesday I was busy out side, a good day for harvest, more strawberries and rhubarb,  broadbeans enough for two meals, carrots, lettuce, spring onions and another small posy of sweet peas. I started more carrots, mixed salad leaves, spring onions and radishes, everywhere is looking good.

It's raining again this morning, I'm not complaining, the ground is still dry under the surface, my water buts are now almost full again. Later we will catch the bus into town, we are not looking for anything, most of the branded shops have gone, there are now more independent shops opening, it's been a few weeks since we visited, so nice to get out, the buses are very regular and we both use our bus passes.