Relaxing

 This stitching is still keeping me busy, I am enjoying every moment, the lower pattern has been done across to the middle, like the first side it crashes into the centre stars. I have not touched my knitted blanket in ages, it's too warm to knit blankets, maybe I should start my socks.

Whilst in town we picked up daughters pottery items, including my plaque, this has a back and a glass piece for the heart, it should be a photo frame, I kind of like it as it is, it's on my shelf in the sunroom.

A new author to me, hubby had popped it on my Kindle last month, it was a fantastic read, brilliant storyline, I'm not giving any details, I could not put it down, a proper page turner, a fascinating tale. Book 40 read this year.

Hubby relaxes in the kitchen, he cooked a brisket of beef in the slow cooker on Monday, we had homegrown new potatoes and carrots with it. Tuesday, he added veg to the shredded beef and made 5 huge pasties, and a double portion of beef and veg frozen for more pasties or shepherd's pie, loads added to the freezer. The pasties were great, we shared one for tea with a salad.

We did not stay in town long on Tuesday, there are so few shops about, recently I purchased a cheap pair of knee length shorts from Poundland, just £9, hoping they would be OK to wear in garden, the shorts are great, so I got a second pair, also got Molly a pink football shirt, both boys have football shirts, she will be so happy. Rest of day was spent in the sunroom, it was a breezy warm day.

Wednesday was a busy day, I had blood test first thing, then later my 2nd shingles jab, hubby had a hospital appointment, he went on his own, just routine, with his heart and kidney issues, they keep a good eye on his. Rest of the time was a bit of gardening, moved a couple plants filling gaps in flower bed, I rescued a sturdy tomato plant growing in the peanut bag, now planted with other two outside and then my time inside. 

Most evenings we sit and watch a hedgehog run around our garden, he/she can't get to the raised veg beds, which have nets on to keep Lilly out, hopefully it's having a good feed on any slugs or snails, it's safe in my organic garden, just another level of delight. We are not watching the football, not our sport and the matches start far too late.

Lazy days

 I will always love our garden, these days there is not a view I am unhappy with.

I do wish we could open those patio doors once again, smell and flies are the issue from next door.

I have done nothing for days, after spending Saturday in bed, Sunday was the laziest of days, sat in the shade and then in our sunroom, I read all day, just what was needed. I surprised myself and slept all night as well.

I was due to go to IKEA with daughter on Monday, we postponed to later in the week, knowing I would have more energy to enjoy the day out. So hubby and I had a lazy day at home, I knew I was feeling better as I did a few bits around the garden. There does not seam to be many flowers at the moment, the heavy rain bashed so many including the huge poppies, but there are more buds on the roses, and other plants will follow. 

I am in trouble with daughter she found out we missed seeing a show whilst caring for George, I 'forgot' to say anything before she went away, knowing she would maybe have stayed at home. Both Will and Molly had a great time, George was not really aware of what he was missing and had a great time here, he does love both of us. Daughter did agree with me it was easier for her to just have two, she was able to focus on them, it was the first time they have flown, normally George has most of her attention, as usual daddy was present for all the good bits, other times she said he faded into the background. She managed to enjoy her time there knowing the children were having loads of fun and because it was their time with him, he paid all the bills, she only covered the cost of passports and the flights (in itself still expensive) This for now is the only way the children get to see their dad, he has no plans to return to the UK.

Last week

 I've  stitched on Mollys second swimming badge, she is doing well. I have also added stuffing to George's dog Henry, he was rather limp and would not stand up, I love being able to do these task for them.

We met daughter at Dunelm for a coffee and a cake, I saw these silk daisies which I love, I would have liked an old fashioned milk bottle, this Kilner jar looks almost as good. I already had the field poppies and cornflowers, these being a favourite bunch of flowers for me.

Hubby took George to the park and village on Saturday, he loved the park, at the village was the local craft market, so it was busy, they did not stay long, hubby said George went straight to the flowers and pointed to this bunch 'for nana'

Here's a memory jerker, always when George visits, the drawer handles have to put up, I have told him often it's not the right way, yesterday he had free reign to change them all.

Another good book, read on my kindle apt, your husband tricks you into moving out, you still love him, he's got a younger woman, it follows the wife's story, then the other woman's with a great twist at the end. Book 39 read this year.

It took until Saturday morning for George to be well again, most of Friday he refused to eat much I did not worry because he was sipping water all through the day, it was a dull day, so indoor playing suited him. Saturday he was with Grancha (hubby) all day, he was a great little boy, played outside in the sunshine, football and his balance bike being the favourites. Sadly I woke up in the early hours on Saturday and had George's bug, not at all nice, I did get up late on Saturday and just sat around, but I was so tired I went back to bed, George was OK with me being in bed, he kept coming to check on me, passing me my drink, much the same as I did to him on Thursday, plus lots of cuddles and him stroking my face.

We missed our Gala at the castle again this year, I do like to go, it's a proper family day, George has always loved to '999' section with fire engines and police cars, they always have so many children's rides, the adults rides are in a different field and only open later in the day. Hubby is out all day today, which is fine I can have a very lazy day, I might drive up to see daughter and little ones, to hear about thrie trip, much depends on how I feel. 

I almost forgot we missed a good local show a tribute to Robbie Williams, we passed our tickets on to friends who loved the show, hopefully we can catch it again. 

Out front

 Hubby takes care of the front of the house including our side entrance, this clematis has gone wild this year, flowering much lower and earlier in the season, the hope is to have an arch of flowers. On the other side we planted this philadelphlus last year, it was a small plant and it did not grow too much, this year its putting on loads of growth and hopefully at some point white flowers, we would love them to meet at the top and tumble into each other.

We spent an hour cutting back all the tall overgrown shrubs along our front wall, our neighbour planted everything next to the low wall on her side, it's all very overgrown way past the height of our roof, we now don't get much sunlight in our office in the mornings, at least we were working in the shade, it all encroaches into our space, so it needs sorting a couple times a year.

After all the rain the back garden is looking good, I chopped back the fleabane daisies they were going wild, they will grow back quickly. Just a few gaps to fill, I have loads of smaller plants not quite ready.

I love this time of year, seeing plants returning, growing our fruit and veg, only small harvest, enough to keep us happy, we try to keep to seasonal produce, which means we enjoy them for just a short while.

Our little people had a trip planned to visit their daddy, a short flight from Southampton airport to Netherland on Thursday morning, sadly George pick up a sickness bug which was going around school and is staying with us, daughter was really upset on leaving him, but cancelling the trip would upset his brother and sister. Friday morning he was better, sadly no way of getting on the trip, so we plan loads of extra special fun together. 

Hubby was not too happy with me, I'm still not 100%, family is everything, mummy will be back on Saturday, just waiting to see if I get his bugs.