tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11172359290334622542024-03-19T09:19:14.237+00:00Poppy PatchworkPoppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.comBlogger2314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-8278935321461466602024-03-19T08:52:00.000+00:002024-03-19T08:52:37.933+00:00Another week.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few years ago I made 3 pots of mixed spring bulbs, sadly 2 pots have broken and the contents added to the garden, this is the only pot left, the bottom is cracked and won't last many more years. Having said that it does look good, nice to see tulips, which I can only grow in pots. It sits in the back corner behind our red acer, so won't be seen the the summer months, when it's bare. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTFHFeFepS_9sg2IRU41OgS3RfICS_EXBvNcLEJBIghbpJhnY6gvrp3347LWEFskZf66y23xxqx2LURPR55uHByUz0Bx0k6y1sRT-AVbHr690A58s5aIhtNgJxD9txYhyphenhyphenffHIgmUeX414k9_zPIwo1mw5XfLxJQCWIG6VqnpVsS1UwiyNNK46YWsEbFM/s2812/IMG_20240314_130736_754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2812" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTFHFeFepS_9sg2IRU41OgS3RfICS_EXBvNcLEJBIghbpJhnY6gvrp3347LWEFskZf66y23xxqx2LURPR55uHByUz0Bx0k6y1sRT-AVbHr690A58s5aIhtNgJxD9txYhyphenhyphenffHIgmUeX414k9_zPIwo1mw5XfLxJQCWIG6VqnpVsS1UwiyNNK46YWsEbFM/s320/IMG_20240314_130736_754.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday was another fundraiser for our local Portsmouth Downs Syndrome charity, it was at our out of town shopping centre, we last <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-ds-day.html">attended this </a>when George had his walking frame and Molly was in her pushchair, this time we walked much quicker, mummy had time to chat, as George was with me and hubby had Molly. George loved this guy, bringing Will to see his gun, they interacted for ages, Will is wearing his storm trooper outfit, so many children dressed up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2hIR6pqEuP02M0kda6c-GU_4-9tPhs0Ih705x58BIK9qbD3b3WtWfhc-W1pETj-Al3o9MGc0RXGNnc9K8pZZBSdYZ34AGx3j_RN_zAH7hP991bZRK880TMcIUz8564gcOWO68ifXMjG0tn5LI_9e2EEMY0dNZeyh-CM-icXn20GjHI8-1cl8yL8X0P8/s2048/IMG-20240317-WA0010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2hIR6pqEuP02M0kda6c-GU_4-9tPhs0Ih705x58BIK9qbD3b3WtWfhc-W1pETj-Al3o9MGc0RXGNnc9K8pZZBSdYZ34AGx3j_RN_zAH7hP991bZRK880TMcIUz8564gcOWO68ifXMjG0tn5LI_9e2EEMY0dNZeyh-CM-icXn20GjHI8-1cl8yL8X0P8/s320/IMG-20240317-WA0010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">As always it's a family fun day, whilst raising money, loads of people stopped and donated, the Star-wars people always help out and always bring in the crowds, they are all lovely people who give the day for free and interact with everyone. So many children of different ages, from a baby dressed as Yoda to teenagers, one dressed as Princess Laya, it's nice to see faces we know and lovely for the new parents to see how other children thrive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz87mRrz0X19XfBTZ7JJ01ClniiqKE1QmvXKBwiXu3BqC0O7JEZ6GJtXdQF_G_RhBsbdY1GWuWsYmUa3VsbYKoKPlIX_iDqsj6maEuhceTepjMc-LNOQEgKy0pHCjoVeOGqCxyQ34YtaDHfOkBe5gNtwkNv5z7umPhRdtC1j0TnNQWLw_zhR4N_xbAsSI/s1591/IMG-20240317-WA0015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="1021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz87mRrz0X19XfBTZ7JJ01ClniiqKE1QmvXKBwiXu3BqC0O7JEZ6GJtXdQF_G_RhBsbdY1GWuWsYmUa3VsbYKoKPlIX_iDqsj6maEuhceTepjMc-LNOQEgKy0pHCjoVeOGqCxyQ34YtaDHfOkBe5gNtwkNv5z7umPhRdtC1j0TnNQWLw_zhR4N_xbAsSI/s320/IMG-20240317-WA0015.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a strange week, not seen much of daughter, she has been busy, normally she would pop over a couple of times, but the local roadworks makes it difficult for her, the journey times are now much longer, once or twice she has had to change her mind as the tailbacks were just too long. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was good on Sunday, Next had their sale, I did look, but nothing there I wanted, hubby found some tops, nicely reduced, so he got 4, hopefully some of the older ones will go in recycling. We had a relaxing afternoon together, even managed a coffee outside in a small burst of sunshine.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have removed our winter quilt from our bed, for a lighter one, I have been waking up hot most nights, we both love the weight of our winter quilt, but it's time to start thinking warmer weather. Soon it will be sandal wearing weather, I can't wait to get my toes out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not settling to do much, not reading, definitely no cross stitch, can't concentrate, gardening when it's not raining, I have been cleaning and sorting inside, the lower half of the kitchen was cleaned, whilst the 2 old whitegoods were popped out on the garden. Hubby has been sorting the electrical socket issue in our sitting room, without lifting the wooden floor, but I have emptied my 3 units in the dining room so he could move them, everything got wiped before going back in. For not doing much, things are being sorted and cleaned. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-268297421043498092024-03-17T08:53:00.000+00:002024-03-17T08:53:03.085+00:00Joy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our local village pet shop sells gardening items, including strips of plants, in previous years I have purchased bedding plants. I got 8 broccoli plants for £1.15, I don't eat broccoli, hubby loves it, I have planted 6 in the garden and these 2 in pots in greenhouse, just in case any fail outside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjeTgBPxcjww3Lr5apvEe3K1Z9YsOm_EXrnuGL8OpWCv6x3uhPqVijcoyQKpZwknByL8jxIJyzKESQjI2APf7f8gOZHRwyqgBql7Xo7-dXzy64UUQFv0ICpwHwooyeYeTp6PUJEUnQqgTzVOnjwH9OBBHbIibiGqvFPFKVJ27Ovh3BAqX40jSLw14fNs/s1080/IMG_20240313_163701_048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjeTgBPxcjww3Lr5apvEe3K1Z9YsOm_EXrnuGL8OpWCv6x3uhPqVijcoyQKpZwknByL8jxIJyzKESQjI2APf7f8gOZHRwyqgBql7Xo7-dXzy64UUQFv0ICpwHwooyeYeTp6PUJEUnQqgTzVOnjwH9OBBHbIibiGqvFPFKVJ27Ovh3BAqX40jSLw14fNs/s320/IMG_20240313_163701_048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted ground cover for the front if the rhubarb bed, these 3 should work well, I am so pleased as I was planting these 3, I noticed new growth on the gooseberry plant, I was not sure if it would grow back. I'm now hopeful it has survived and we might get a small harvest this summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD5oM0D9mFa6Vu3csVkBKnJDdDV-hQDH9aCHOuqJI_DLDjRCnQ8yF41D68ktnOHdo40tI1JpWK4ITrkayjDuXuj7LG-nSKGOtAka5fbh1YMRegqnN4gxR_mdrt-0qir6vq9FggOLwf42zxG49ERtJo6dlt0h-Qn_hXCeG9CO2yMONlqErSU5ugafZlcA/s1080/IMG_20240313_163700_992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD5oM0D9mFa6Vu3csVkBKnJDdDV-hQDH9aCHOuqJI_DLDjRCnQ8yF41D68ktnOHdo40tI1JpWK4ITrkayjDuXuj7LG-nSKGOtAka5fbh1YMRegqnN4gxR_mdrt-0qir6vq9FggOLwf42zxG49ERtJo6dlt0h-Qn_hXCeG9CO2yMONlqErSU5ugafZlcA/s320/IMG_20240313_163700_992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I struggle to grow daisies in our clay soil, I got a new plant last year, I'm not sure if it will grow back, I saw this Aster and thought this would look good, I have grown Asters before, for now it's in the greenhouse, until its grown more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefO_ysS6Z_Qf3nBxujxjdamDbLc1kaU4bgOv46PFnKH-v_SVw2AFea0XrHltXOkrp3H81rtNT-RrlsqHsuHIqhmYObUUkY7d7uIWWOzYep-lNfljz0k-2Ta8pY3jqlXEovyLjGWyJeqnKE-m9LM38Qf06IQMjavo-zo-6zFYdYXFcYbmCVK6hCRdVRz8/s1080/IMG_20240313_163700_722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefO_ysS6Z_Qf3nBxujxjdamDbLc1kaU4bgOv46PFnKH-v_SVw2AFea0XrHltXOkrp3H81rtNT-RrlsqHsuHIqhmYObUUkY7d7uIWWOzYep-lNfljz0k-2Ta8pY3jqlXEovyLjGWyJeqnKE-m9LM38Qf06IQMjavo-zo-6zFYdYXFcYbmCVK6hCRdVRz8/s320/IMG_20240313_163700_722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been trying to design a frame for the raspberries, it needs to be tall and strong, we toyed with a wooden structure, but was worried digging in the uprights would damage some of my plants. Hubby saw these obelisk and we have decided they will work, one each end if raspberry patch, I will use string to join both and to make a structure the plants can grow up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHdvfatqF19I9Lnw05_bFsxEHjzm44-Jqnn6hf9L7uVKE1ZMj0AmRBn41sPBUh27Py3vfWGnzPNwBnMkIk4_rM_FlMjJVsCEWlcZ2oxzd5EfQTi5vIxyT2oHM-cBbSYC6aUvMHqvCZULrPDhFV9KSPHXBhGQuta8uhxGw2UOiYfME6QQZ_yW34d0JSHc/s4000/20240313_153013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHdvfatqF19I9Lnw05_bFsxEHjzm44-Jqnn6hf9L7uVKE1ZMj0AmRBn41sPBUh27Py3vfWGnzPNwBnMkIk4_rM_FlMjJVsCEWlcZ2oxzd5EfQTi5vIxyT2oHM-cBbSYC6aUvMHqvCZULrPDhFV9KSPHXBhGQuta8uhxGw2UOiYfME6QQZ_yW34d0JSHc/s320/20240313_153013.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />My tomato and cucumber seeds are now seedlings, they are in small pots, which means I don't need to do anything with them yet. I have flower seeds sown, it's feeling good, so much promise. I have loads more to start, exciting times. I've also worked out where everything will go this year.<div><br /></div><div>It's been drier again, still having some rain, but not days rained out, I am holding off sowing anymore seeds for a week, we have a busy few days coming up and I won't be able to water and care for much, so better to wait. I am working on the wildlife pond, the liner has settled and the lower section is full of water, I do need to tidy the edges, I would like more bigger pieces of slate, which hopefully I can get in the coming days. Once it a bit warmer I will get plants for in the pond.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you see on TV news, a study says we should love slugs and snails, and allow them to live in our garden, they are part of the food chain and eco system, <b>sorry</b>, <b>what</b>, <b>nope</b>, I can't love either.<br /><p></p><div>The electrical goods arrived and are working well, the fridge freezer is the same size as our old one, we have sorted all the food back inside, nothing out of date or opened too long. The cooker is also the same design with a gas hob and electric grill and ovens, so not much difference in it's use, the top is moulded in one piece, which means no joins which are a so and so to clean. We did a shop at Lidl, so the freezer is now almost full, we also got a few Easter bits, as daughter, SIL and children will be here Easter Sunday for lunch and Easter egg hunt. </div></div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-34454053934782970192024-03-14T08:33:00.000+00:002024-03-14T08:33:06.961+00:00Not doing much<p style="text-align: center;">This is so pleasing, Grace has took to this new basket in our office, she sleeps alongside us now most mornings, she is still following us everywhere, slowing getting use to being the only cat. She has always been my cat, but in the last few days she is going to hubby more, she knows he is missing Purdy, she has become vocal, chattering away through the day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-Wx_3TEHyoB3wDjAC0ww4MEgMK1scGgH64W3ZZc5yGukTDridJl5Z46u963BerA5yd02X5e0lV0qke2goJh1YFpacZHnvIBlFVTT6E9CdmC6vRrhqXIa7GeXqRaC3plbH9IVmgmc6kg2jI2dNURt0pYSTQadmrnK54QfuSmrxDQRmuz4w74HmqGMVqQ/s2766/20240312_111419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-Wx_3TEHyoB3wDjAC0ww4MEgMK1scGgH64W3ZZc5yGukTDridJl5Z46u963BerA5yd02X5e0lV0qke2goJh1YFpacZHnvIBlFVTT6E9CdmC6vRrhqXIa7GeXqRaC3plbH9IVmgmc6kg2jI2dNURt0pYSTQadmrnK54QfuSmrxDQRmuz4w74HmqGMVqQ/s320/20240312_111419.jpg" width="260" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Mummy got Molly's fringe cut, her hair was always in her eyes, suddenly she looks so grown up, but to me this photo could be mummy, other than the blonde hair, Molly is just the same as her mum. The hairdresser did a pretty style and added the 2 daisy clips. George had his hair cut as well, he was not so happy, but did not cry this time, so an improvement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4jhz9D3wRN39FPGuJwm-rRDzIvOjqoJyr3CxG1jJNX6r37rfU5W3CagNLhZyYp53ft2XI4AErYW3kuiQAeuoD6kE_vJL0S2SFiZyyEbyMKmj3Pg-RXS8me8EfapULIV2qL5gl55495WAbV5xjp0J_VNYf_kdHVge5f-Nrm5kb165QhQ6drA8DtGoI5Q/s1319/IMG-20240312-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1055" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4jhz9D3wRN39FPGuJwm-rRDzIvOjqoJyr3CxG1jJNX6r37rfU5W3CagNLhZyYp53ft2XI4AErYW3kuiQAeuoD6kE_vJL0S2SFiZyyEbyMKmj3Pg-RXS8me8EfapULIV2qL5gl55495WAbV5xjp0J_VNYf_kdHVge5f-Nrm5kb165QhQ6drA8DtGoI5Q/s320/IMG-20240312-WA0001.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I'm going to have another go at growing peanuts, I manage to get this pack of Monkey nuts (it's an English term), the nuts grow underground much like potatoes, which I really find interesting. I will only use a few, so I will scatter the rest for squirrels, in hope they don't bury too many in our garden. I can't remember when I last tried this, could not find anything in my labels on the side of my page. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QhjycP-Kzcjdi8TT1pmG6nF0gML1Gn4WC6Y-R6PnTAonUZ4hWAZQNN-0DaLPsG6gmzbHiMPaYKKsW9DRNA_O9GsM16fbbEQ5dxZNkfHwgkkF4KYYL9Jytsev4b56E63mtZ1hpq9RvBVEOLDfbdYCCviK6uAGs6xsCl5AzxIfc-nFggz26M-YenY-bbs/s4000/20240301_113518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QhjycP-Kzcjdi8TT1pmG6nF0gML1Gn4WC6Y-R6PnTAonUZ4hWAZQNN-0DaLPsG6gmzbHiMPaYKKsW9DRNA_O9GsM16fbbEQ5dxZNkfHwgkkF4KYYL9Jytsev4b56E63mtZ1hpq9RvBVEOLDfbdYCCviK6uAGs6xsCl5AzxIfc-nFggz26M-YenY-bbs/s320/20240301_113518.jpg" width="180" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">This book has characters I already know, it was an earlier story than the one I had already read, which did not spoil the plot at all, again I love it. He is now on my good authors list, book 21 read this year. I have already stated I have read book 21, but I made a miscount, and this is definitely book 21 read this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpFjVFiDT_nZclVFhjVzQqVFpIHUm6svQEhgojEvfmcvU9QEmmO38aQoHFaOYh3peeT7lELNP3ZztD8CMh5wx2W7smgVVDcnvBhQdVv0kZfCdS-NrhpdRLXKVNhTjbh1qH_jLdzU7p35k88eI0TlZUh2Ox7fBFlxu47-2twY4JaQM_WIJOh6PKpG8bcE/s4000/20240311_092623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpFjVFiDT_nZclVFhjVzQqVFpIHUm6svQEhgojEvfmcvU9QEmmO38aQoHFaOYh3peeT7lELNP3ZztD8CMh5wx2W7smgVVDcnvBhQdVv0kZfCdS-NrhpdRLXKVNhTjbh1qH_jLdzU7p35k88eI0TlZUh2Ox7fBFlxu47-2twY4JaQM_WIJOh6PKpG8bcE/s320/20240311_092623.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another good book, I do love a book with an average person, who is thrown into a difficult situation, this plot twist and turned, is other people good or bad, are they helping or not, loved it to the end. Book 22 read this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuRTLqBpwk0bwflsg2jOoCL5QzJO8YH0Wi1C55Lg_FPn6kn5mleJ1oN3KSDxd2w8lVOQVMhsQ3j5y9457EJwd-10T1-zHHtKWn4eKG7W-f8xzQKVSZ3tqiaF3HOwhZ2pPnpg_4_QG0i-u_y-uaBIuR2M3dLX9bRhiGl3pwE0Llt8k9HJxlPy8c1HCLz8/s3248/20240312_173327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3248" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuRTLqBpwk0bwflsg2jOoCL5QzJO8YH0Wi1C55Lg_FPn6kn5mleJ1oN3KSDxd2w8lVOQVMhsQ3j5y9457EJwd-10T1-zHHtKWn4eKG7W-f8xzQKVSZ3tqiaF3HOwhZ2pPnpg_4_QG0i-u_y-uaBIuR2M3dLX9bRhiGl3pwE0Llt8k9HJxlPy8c1HCLz8/s320/20240312_173327.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It's been mixed here, mad cat woman next door, decided last Friday night to have a pop at us regarding our back garden sensor lights, which have been in place for years, they are too bright for her, she will not close her bedroom curtains, we have both ignored her and not heard anymore, she does choose her moments. <div><br /></div><div>This week I worked on my 2022 book, adding another 2 months, I hope to have it finished before too long, we also defrosted our fridge freezer in the garage, it had been making strange noises, we then moved the kitchen fridge freezer out to the garage ready for a delivery of a new fridge freezer for the kitchen, neither of us wanted to wait until it fails, the freezer section is always full. In a mad moment we also ordered a new cooker, so both items are due today, and the old models will taken away, both were purchased at our old house, both served us well.<div><br /></div><div>Bloody rain is keeping us inside, we do try and walk around the park most days and down to the village, its not as heavy as before. I am really starting to feel well, just so tired, I've not been to a Pilates class yet, hopefully by the end of the month. Today I have a parcel due to arrive, something hubby encouraged me to get, should be last big things for the raspberry bed in the garden.</div></div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-18027003677144141042024-03-12T08:39:00.000+00:002024-03-12T08:39:05.365+00:00Starting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I planted these last week, the 3 packs other than red pompom dahlias all in raised bed in front of the greenhouse, dahlia's planted along the back, freesia's in the front corner, hopefully to give me some beautiful summer colour, the red pompom is in a pot in the greenhouse for now, I can cover the raised bed if frost is promised, so all should grow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnNGNHXic9Sm1bJtkFsqf7FMESM8yzipUpjTKyz_aiNeljsOAAKd62NnaH5VmAvwng5vzypPxqvFPL_MRsoDb5JZeoj7sPrAuWuyDEM356tmr-xZG-SD9JX5eBzW-8jOCw1ZmqTVr-zJDtL9smlB6zU7uujSx_eQvwwqtMGdOHjHtGf_YTKAZntsENDY/s2832/20240304_133629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnNGNHXic9Sm1bJtkFsqf7FMESM8yzipUpjTKyz_aiNeljsOAAKd62NnaH5VmAvwng5vzypPxqvFPL_MRsoDb5JZeoj7sPrAuWuyDEM356tmr-xZG-SD9JX5eBzW-8jOCw1ZmqTVr-zJDtL9smlB6zU7uujSx_eQvwwqtMGdOHjHtGf_YTKAZntsENDY/s320/20240304_133629.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When looking on my side of the garage, I do look like a real gardener, for years I would keep a bag of compost to use, and maybe a fine John Innes, these days I have many different compost, which I now mix for the conditions I require, are you a mixer or do use use as it comes. I do think we are doing better not using peat in compost, but it does make our compost lacking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TLAKxfhsx6f3tqLExq-_ujV56p1tYenzg_CW_oTE4nUJL7n8zjikBfmYrtB4FIRG68AhAbQOwAX60R55csGhz37sCxY896yGrUfMKP3a-5ICFEIN4HLUxwzN5K6FPYdDWV3l1mhhcgcfMOlldVRb6VyRJAbXAhwU9mFXBPqTtxJF_jXlgMEfVftZm0Y/s3727/20240310_113029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="3727" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TLAKxfhsx6f3tqLExq-_ujV56p1tYenzg_CW_oTE4nUJL7n8zjikBfmYrtB4FIRG68AhAbQOwAX60R55csGhz37sCxY896yGrUfMKP3a-5ICFEIN4HLUxwzN5K6FPYdDWV3l1mhhcgcfMOlldVRb6VyRJAbXAhwU9mFXBPqTtxJF_jXlgMEfVftZm0Y/s320/20240310_113029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This spot is outside the greenhouse in the rhubarb bed, the pot with the spring bulbs in will be used for a tomato plant in the coming months, the hellebore covers the front of the pot, I am loving the primrose in the front of the bed, this one photo shows how I want this bed, mixed with flowers, fruit and tomato plants, whilst providing food to eat, I can still have the colour I crave. The old handle from my mum's fork has sat in this spot for years, sadly I have never seen a robin perch on it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5PI2lvM7fqBKZS5dPdWsTSIV52AxE7Y6Q1eznT1vGkzOp5S1hL1FBwHAi1JbprIVs4_YiDnamTKYapTnHsTonTL5_fZAhzsaBP8tRInJPc8RM5dq__7mLxhTjZ2qSZ7-4XqiXBkDZaYc_9KIqWvaJ6M3976mgBVKBOO8HLSTJjLaojCgT1Oay39d0mg/s3423/20240304_133811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3423" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5PI2lvM7fqBKZS5dPdWsTSIV52AxE7Y6Q1eznT1vGkzOp5S1hL1FBwHAi1JbprIVs4_YiDnamTKYapTnHsTonTL5_fZAhzsaBP8tRInJPc8RM5dq__7mLxhTjZ2qSZ7-4XqiXBkDZaYc_9KIqWvaJ6M3976mgBVKBOO8HLSTJjLaojCgT1Oay39d0mg/s320/20240304_133811.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The various fruits are doing well, I sorted my strawberry tub and added plants on bottom level, all babies from existing plants, the earlier blueberry has loads of buds, my rhubarb, I can't take any fruit in this it's first year, I have a wire fence around it to keep pest away. I have raspberries coming up, I will need to build their frame soon, the blackberries are beginning to bud as well. I also have flowers on my broad beans, so much promise to come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AfsimMVeNNmvwipSaRFC6uvRz9GJW59rKI2nNtLD3nwXIBmpi0ZMelMPzP3kQtp7cie-Ft2CJHsX16oAQC1J28qZ55aGEWCcLseO7_oF5QpcDZs3Mn8oZVrt8VLF71j5PRQmpbz-1z3IzC_YaPX-bVWB34GMRTdi-xCbztKnJfIBv4HNUlhoz-CAyqw/s434/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20093534.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="434" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AfsimMVeNNmvwipSaRFC6uvRz9GJW59rKI2nNtLD3nwXIBmpi0ZMelMPzP3kQtp7cie-Ft2CJHsX16oAQC1J28qZ55aGEWCcLseO7_oF5QpcDZs3Mn8oZVrt8VLF71j5PRQmpbz-1z3IzC_YaPX-bVWB34GMRTdi-xCbztKnJfIBv4HNUlhoz-CAyqw/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-05%20093534.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the greenhouse my plants are a good size, these were purchased small to grow on before planting out, I'm not sure what's in the twiggy pot, I've put it here in case it's something which will grow again, I'm sure it was something I put back into this pot last year. The Amaryllis had a new bud, I cut off the 2 which refused to grow. I have been sorting the greenhouse, making enough room for the busy weeks ahead. I have moved my green tub here for now, we can see the bulbs from the house and garden, with so much rain, I don't want the bulbs to rot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvgq2aRokYP0j_onxrhC9ZpiGvldQqIOY8CwyXCwp1lQgrQccNn-VNKZWbt_XyG_qVtd6_nx4s8es5DON0vU9zipNi28eEWDWXC0VJjP43B7Bv_sEx9MmvMgDHlh39WLTgS3daAZxhJoHgOp-O7IKOHhpTdc8OOKVPjfwbTQ-QMFkv4tZ-G0_xrzd40w/s4000/20240310_115841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvgq2aRokYP0j_onxrhC9ZpiGvldQqIOY8CwyXCwp1lQgrQccNn-VNKZWbt_XyG_qVtd6_nx4s8es5DON0vU9zipNi28eEWDWXC0VJjP43B7Bv_sEx9MmvMgDHlh39WLTgS3daAZxhJoHgOp-O7IKOHhpTdc8OOKVPjfwbTQ-QMFkv4tZ-G0_xrzd40w/s320/20240310_115841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have planted one potato bag, it's in the greenhouse for now along with a tub full of carrot seeds, hopefully I can get an early start, we have had a few light frost, but my greenhouse is in a sunny position, I have raised both off the floor. <span style="text-align: center;">I have already sown little gem lettuce in my raised salad bed, which is covered with glass, </span>I have started tomato and cucumber seeds, these are in my office, the warmest place in our house, I gave all my seed trays a good watering, so I can soon start filling them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had this post partly done on Wednesday evening, last week whilst the sun shone I was outside most days, my garden section in the garage has had a good sort and clean. Now again we have rain, everyday rain, it's again so dull and grey, hopefully for only one week, I have cabin fever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We purchased a new cat basket for here in the office, we spend time in here most mornings, it's always sunny and warm, Grace is wandering around under our feet, we are terrified we will step on her, hopefully the basket will keep her near to us in a sunny warm spot. We popped to town on Monday morning and she was sleeping in the new bed when we returned, everything at this time is about keeping her happy. </div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-38870626175006550362024-03-10T11:26:00.003+00:002024-03-10T14:44:25.014+00:00Mothering Sunday<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Friday we had visitors, mummy and daddy came with George and Molly, we were happy with the diversion, so loads of happy smiles, we played outside for a while in sunshine, it was cooler, but running around kept us warm. George was happy to wave goodbye to them and happily played with puzzles, he enjoys them and is not so frustrated any more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mjm2P-NNc7jLmk2jVoPFp1Pg-LOxEbe83hotj-5FTLfLqCiyWBBA03kqiEW0_RoK68Iln7aLp8D79OjwIYkHbVqa0HqSZ68z8rrG3mKJcDucKhwAnP42HIGK71gRxZxd9ph-0L7VW7Zxq-PTOu8e-HSPllAT6u7xQqMCGG1NCMgNWNjTzX1R6skdJUo/s4000/20240308_135051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mjm2P-NNc7jLmk2jVoPFp1Pg-LOxEbe83hotj-5FTLfLqCiyWBBA03kqiEW0_RoK68Iln7aLp8D79OjwIYkHbVqa0HqSZ68z8rrG3mKJcDucKhwAnP42HIGK71gRxZxd9ph-0L7VW7Zxq-PTOu8e-HSPllAT6u7xQqMCGG1NCMgNWNjTzX1R6skdJUo/s320/20240308_135051.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hubby got me some lovely flowers, I don't purchase cut flowers anymore, but he decided these would add colour to our room, they are lovely, I do have my cards up, daughter gave me a gift voucher for a local garden centre, they have very good quality plants. Hubby also got me a few bits for the garden, none of them a surprise, all required and will be used.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnieGDuCGkb-LYpNFoO_irpquNrc2etnIbh7jJ7cxQjlyLEAipVYLMk5gAij1LwPQzQobb5eHmw-MSGq6NKtE6hi3Q5zdE3DwZstpkRwYzT9tISjmZUKpIeKmC5IXJC0UjZJSbofsnnI-csJrKUcDjN_h9wp-KzY0FrJRN4vqMAEqSiSma99ofkE7bf_M/s320/20240310_094902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="320" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnieGDuCGkb-LYpNFoO_irpquNrc2etnIbh7jJ7cxQjlyLEAipVYLMk5gAij1LwPQzQobb5eHmw-MSGq6NKtE6hi3Q5zdE3DwZstpkRwYzT9tISjmZUKpIeKmC5IXJC0UjZJSbofsnnI-csJrKUcDjN_h9wp-KzY0FrJRN4vqMAEqSiSma99ofkE7bf_M/s1600/20240310_094902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This cactus flowered last November, it sits on our downstairs bathroom window sill, it's a sunny spot, it did flower more than once last year. I almost moved it to the kitchen window sill, but decided it should stay where it is. Last year after it bloomed I turned the pot around the the other side bloomed, I will do that again, just waiting to see these lovely flowers again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MTgpAJyho86LUtOsEt9K3YZXXAyXvrtc1I-CKIDfnE2PYQVG9VahrJeWu0uzqfdFT0OLt1VkzTUFMpm8_Z52ISFPWQACqpkrhmyQIxSl6xxO92BB7A9HUGBulKdRcKNLF88zrrGzK2dA8KZGIee3mFsNgpuPFkSFdQ8IExLB38nPKfj5qQGfzGqiSJI/s2739/20240309_093622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2246" data-original-width="2739" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MTgpAJyho86LUtOsEt9K3YZXXAyXvrtc1I-CKIDfnE2PYQVG9VahrJeWu0uzqfdFT0OLt1VkzTUFMpm8_Z52ISFPWQACqpkrhmyQIxSl6xxO92BB7A9HUGBulKdRcKNLF88zrrGzK2dA8KZGIee3mFsNgpuPFkSFdQ8IExLB38nPKfj5qQGfzGqiSJI/s320/20240309_093622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another good book, it started as a husband and wife story, but grew to involve other women the now ex-husband was using, a good plot, clever story, I enjoyed reading it. I have read this author before and always enjoy her stories. Book 21 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLdZZdHiI5tvRfVa_c4rEsfGWtyreQKpmHtMmyBgqyy1vYyjteU2BfvwuY4kda1CqQt5dH9dn7N4JQSjKs_5rMEp_NlSBFpoiHcWoADRg5ciuP6BeRQPLRBrOjCyztmB3aPc4VEaH9GL8xH7EdPSrfwwFsmcEcCrrKbqqDuogFyyG5i_i3mEQ1J3_r_I/s2813/IMG_20240309_105556_479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2813" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLdZZdHiI5tvRfVa_c4rEsfGWtyreQKpmHtMmyBgqyy1vYyjteU2BfvwuY4kda1CqQt5dH9dn7N4JQSjKs_5rMEp_NlSBFpoiHcWoADRg5ciuP6BeRQPLRBrOjCyztmB3aPc4VEaH9GL8xH7EdPSrfwwFsmcEcCrrKbqqDuogFyyG5i_i3mEQ1J3_r_I/s320/IMG_20240309_105556_479.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">George was very good, we had dinosaurs in our bathtub, loads of splashing, and after reading books he was tired, he did get up a couple of times before settling, which is normal for him. He slept all through the night, Grace did not have a good night and wondered all through the house, she woke George and myself about 6am. Mummy came and collected him on her own, so we had a lovely chat with her. The afternoon was quiet, Grace was following me around, so I sat and read with her on my lap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for your kind comments, it's is hard to lose a pet, Purdy was the younger of our two, so our focus had been on Grace and ensuring she was OK, cats do mask their illness, we were unaware of any issues until Monday evening, on Wednesday evening we knew she needed help and called the next morning. Our vets were wonderful, she immediately saw the issues, and scanned Purdy to see what was happening, Purdy had heart and lung issues which gave us no choice on the outcome. We had made a agreement many years ago, any decisions would always be based on their health and not our feelings. We do not have any cat insurance, we stopped a few years ago, when both cats stopped going outside our garden, the prices were rising very fast for older cats, and we had never made a claim, hubby walked to vet to pay our bill, they were lovely, told him he could have waited until the following week. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-2858077836954814382024-03-08T08:42:00.000+00:002024-03-08T08:42:25.405+00:00Purdy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have always loved this photo, she has always tucked herself back, watching what is going on around her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16TY2Fs40yuI-IbY4QSIrqyu20-SS8Qo1EIvOh5pD66iJB-QlmSaHjq34GrPN9C9wXq-c7VcvL6HJuLf3f1E7Rd5_giBg4insAsY9KCWcbjfXvdSTQw-L2dBDbxqYq-KBt_xPGplMrmTIs15d_HNJO3zN9ftPk_VG96dBScM11pFuNoZpx6cTdVz2LrA/s985/IMG_20240307_172602_640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="788" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16TY2Fs40yuI-IbY4QSIrqyu20-SS8Qo1EIvOh5pD66iJB-QlmSaHjq34GrPN9C9wXq-c7VcvL6HJuLf3f1E7Rd5_giBg4insAsY9KCWcbjfXvdSTQw-L2dBDbxqYq-KBt_xPGplMrmTIs15d_HNJO3zN9ftPk_VG96dBScM11pFuNoZpx6cTdVz2LrA/s320/IMG_20240307_172602_640.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Loves to sleep on the corner of our rug.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmQpTmp6k4YMkyvOh-R1GtXfrjBx2PCHtiXdr5vHxu1Vcrr_EyU_LH3FgDlTi7ka3nyQaWcvEFCy3_U4HDySVU-o6yMD3Oj1Q5yQ15-tjJGzRQ2wY9Cm2vrOLeGwJpZFG5-lY6Fc-Jqc0C8rFSZGLmipB3zGH4uIYs3yW9u3pQt8IeXXmhyphenhyphenm70LsxR7Q/s1321/IMG_20240307_172602_841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmQpTmp6k4YMkyvOh-R1GtXfrjBx2PCHtiXdr5vHxu1Vcrr_EyU_LH3FgDlTi7ka3nyQaWcvEFCy3_U4HDySVU-o6yMD3Oj1Q5yQ15-tjJGzRQ2wY9Cm2vrOLeGwJpZFG5-lY6Fc-Jqc0C8rFSZGLmipB3zGH4uIYs3yW9u3pQt8IeXXmhyphenhyphenm70LsxR7Q/s320/IMG_20240307_172602_841.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Always out in the garden with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN2Y2JIWETDiQqC58NCGORPdcyjfnjb3HgYDBxJOTj-G5HsmPEWZiXBrRjzhpGlPvrKdUZuLTjZj3WEz-F6YDG0dL7u9Y_VH1V25W7iV9ofh3rtSRMjEOrDMcKlT_4HLAbt5Rzb2SVlzrJSAQgun1n62e-XW9mwm4bnYX6PGxkQ1TpmrXVppRInY4mRQ/s924/IMG_20240307_172602_775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="739" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN2Y2JIWETDiQqC58NCGORPdcyjfnjb3HgYDBxJOTj-G5HsmPEWZiXBrRjzhpGlPvrKdUZuLTjZj3WEz-F6YDG0dL7u9Y_VH1V25W7iV9ofh3rtSRMjEOrDMcKlT_4HLAbt5Rzb2SVlzrJSAQgun1n62e-XW9mwm4bnYX6PGxkQ1TpmrXVppRInY4mRQ/s320/IMG_20240307_172602_775.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fIhXrG8YpkGXfv2h05ZRMCs0brO66C2L1q_V1jUSBmkpvqCZSKKQw3dnKzkwWbxlN_eA13oSFNALLodv_UK6q0NdsOICP4luLztTATJXFgyI8fIxifKiJd977mN1VECDbOtw8cjI-ziFcV-Rid8e2BuWyydHo10sqOpSxDbxh1Bihyi1U9shdanooDU/s1044/IMG_20240307_172602_721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fIhXrG8YpkGXfv2h05ZRMCs0brO66C2L1q_V1jUSBmkpvqCZSKKQw3dnKzkwWbxlN_eA13oSFNALLodv_UK6q0NdsOICP4luLztTATJXFgyI8fIxifKiJd977mN1VECDbOtw8cjI-ziFcV-Rid8e2BuWyydHo10sqOpSxDbxh1Bihyi1U9shdanooDU/s320/IMG_20240307_172602_721.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>We are now a one cat household, Purdy started acting differently on Monday, her breathing was different, but in every other way, she was herself, by Wednesday evening she was in her basket and not wanting to come out. Thursday we booked her into the vets, where immediately the vet wanted to do a scan, our lovely lady was truly unwell. The vet suggested at her age, and her symptoms, realistically there was little she could suggest. So we came home without her, I sat with her for the final injection, not an easy task, but I could not let her be alone.<p></p><p>She came to us as a stray, took time to settle as a house cat, but became part of the family, though younger than Grace, she soon became her protector, keeping other cats out of our garden. Always followed me out into the garden, again watching me, coming closer at coffee time for lots of love. 13 years she lived with us, each day a pleasure to have her.</p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-88279500527720462672024-03-07T08:54:00.002+00:002024-03-07T08:54:36.051+00:00Improving <p style="text-align: center;"> I unpicked the outer cover of this bag, I am replacing the front, back and bottom, which I had made in lightweight black leather. I used my new unpicking tool, which hubby gave me for Christmas, the wooden oversized handle made it much easier to use. Here you can see the spotty fabric for the two sides and the strap. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEQ5mVYqPSkDwyN3IFOGotpq1JDZ1JIQU1aGL6bYamAf_IVvVOdn9oJm0LG56B-fzsARb1M6BBqrRANuZkeb8s5GfgCnd_SoSSZmTgAlTt52UMquGWuvkDBqBg1LHIiWRl4qxmNTaL2EBfTT58eWOn-xHlg-i_wMtYx4uPwqrNGYavz_vsPHbMru7h_o/s3334/20240221_123107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3334" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEQ5mVYqPSkDwyN3IFOGotpq1JDZ1JIQU1aGL6bYamAf_IVvVOdn9oJm0LG56B-fzsARb1M6BBqrRANuZkeb8s5GfgCnd_SoSSZmTgAlTt52UMquGWuvkDBqBg1LHIiWRl4qxmNTaL2EBfTT58eWOn-xHlg-i_wMtYx4uPwqrNGYavz_vsPHbMru7h_o/s320/20240221_123107.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back in 2020, I was playing with french knots, and used this lovely material to make a circle of raised dots, I had in mind to use it for the top fold over flap of a bag. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hosv8QvAGZMGOk6hpxAPum60IdK0c8updAfY6t2QHog61NJ32limCvto5qU2y2eRP76Q0z3D3XiAtoRoeGXN3kj5vE7CGn9Wkwl01ZYTFyV3adev58zxladABiM4-1scL34zRWHMZj4hNkqEin-Z9lPE6irOqA4L-3MCxoIUoDmlbLyqsACoGetxx14/s472/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20113334.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="472" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Hosv8QvAGZMGOk6hpxAPum60IdK0c8updAfY6t2QHog61NJ32limCvto5qU2y2eRP76Q0z3D3XiAtoRoeGXN3kj5vE7CGn9Wkwl01ZYTFyV3adev58zxladABiM4-1scL34zRWHMZj4hNkqEin-Z9lPE6irOqA4L-3MCxoIUoDmlbLyqsACoGetxx14/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20113334.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I did some sewing for a neighbour, cushions for her campervan, I was trying to show her how to make them, but ended up making them myself, she gave me the unused fabrics, which have been very handy in <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2018/08/bags-of-fun.html">other makes</a>. The black velvet is very sturdy and dense, perfect for this bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITr0UDAIyK89Q1ebrGh7aEGLBvq1LsQSgKOXklA8_8gQ8WclXAdlwF3WCLbITCcL2Ljwecmo2lWFxmuGmWyxEm9KR5XPZniKC_2ENQurpCCW5t5IoPS8tRZebgmG4p_JoaB6_dDtc0HfRQyxmEgMl98ezLU-oYgVLESLGhU0A9dlLwvrzh3Vjrr9HMQs/s4000/20240306_091721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITr0UDAIyK89Q1ebrGh7aEGLBvq1LsQSgKOXklA8_8gQ8WclXAdlwF3WCLbITCcL2Ljwecmo2lWFxmuGmWyxEm9KR5XPZniKC_2ENQurpCCW5t5IoPS8tRZebgmG4p_JoaB6_dDtc0HfRQyxmEgMl98ezLU-oYgVLESLGhU0A9dlLwvrzh3Vjrr9HMQs/s320/20240306_091721.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so happy with the finished bag, it now feels a good weight, sturdy enough to keep it's shape when things are inside, and useful size so I can pop things in. I made the sides and bottom in one piece, which gives it strength, it's fully lined so there is nothing weak about this make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyN2zA8yz873kVmVZNCv4OTV_tqQpJVES7zG5m3uGhnW00MhwOF0Lh0EowLySexTqzAlOM4TDcOSey-Ar25cMwo3Yx6a3m7jFDZ-dB39LS_rwD-x9cdnRozFxzEkBl_XXtRci7ENEF4EUh3_syOUbgCk7fbqg9u_yx7VcCsyhqVofy4zDVPr__a66Lsk/s3245/20240306_091704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3245" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyN2zA8yz873kVmVZNCv4OTV_tqQpJVES7zG5m3uGhnW00MhwOF0Lh0EowLySexTqzAlOM4TDcOSey-Ar25cMwo3Yx6a3m7jFDZ-dB39LS_rwD-x9cdnRozFxzEkBl_XXtRci7ENEF4EUh3_syOUbgCk7fbqg9u_yx7VcCsyhqVofy4zDVPr__a66Lsk/s320/20240306_091704.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I knew this book would be good, I've read loads of her titles before, a clever plot set in a village/ small town along the south coast, loads of things happening, including gossip, a beautiful twist at the end. Book 20 read this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUFq6G5GztM-Eeuv_IPGDTRvqijoVfNReXn9ohMKo3Lmhz428Rg7DacmL4GATHsH8ieMrRmlJXiW7z2YBJ8t0StFa-FWjBdz8W148RgxPu20JuZ7K0CDiSVBIUjrvhTDbZXPCiV-WbSfzP1QkwoXDx4UMhV4o7_OBrwJqSAGdTMJtZXpAD1uEs7FWYEg/s3138/20240305_085347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3138" data-original-width="2042" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUFq6G5GztM-Eeuv_IPGDTRvqijoVfNReXn9ohMKo3Lmhz428Rg7DacmL4GATHsH8ieMrRmlJXiW7z2YBJ8t0StFa-FWjBdz8W148RgxPu20JuZ7K0CDiSVBIUjrvhTDbZXPCiV-WbSfzP1QkwoXDx4UMhV4o7_OBrwJqSAGdTMJtZXpAD1uEs7FWYEg/s320/20240305_085347.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Monday we took the bus to town, had lunch out for a change, hubby was out in the afternoon so I walked to our library and then pottered for an hour outside, later I was tired and read.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday we had plans all day, but the weather gods changed everything, with rain all day, instead of dry weather. We did walk to our local Co-op for milk, I sat at the sewing machine, I also spent an hour importing post into my 2022 book, I'm over half way now and on plan and then time reading, as normal nothing on TV. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wednesday hubby was out in the morning, It was sunny blue skies but cold, I was again out in the garden, I have cut back loads of dead wood from our back fence, most of it Winter Jasmine, it now looks better, just pottering most of the day, we came back in at 4pm. Pure bliss, early shower and catch up on some TV. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-41453254883820437652024-03-04T08:51:00.000+00:002024-03-04T08:51:30.094+00:00Normal is....<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> On Friday afternoon, we had our favourite pair of little people visiting, they are both full of fun and laughter, here they are trying on hubbies new gloves, huge but enough fun for giggles all around. The house looked like a toy shop, but who cares when there is so much to share. George was very happy, he does get sad days, which we find hard to work out the reason, he can't communicate too well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_RpjzwfJGLN-0Y9UTp5Z7pCkXzo2LTXiJPeY3pSI6FCGUtcbVKmp-VliaHaSbD4vBdNI4zfjUjlJHGJLTHrtOupG4apTbTvfEcAIPXPJormmwOHPXJbLhpYFgDQ6-T4M8Jle2C_n2BhzUy_U50GUF-49Q71zMIrp1IdZOAKdkBvR6Tv_m_a0a11AF8U/s2040/IMG-20240301-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_RpjzwfJGLN-0Y9UTp5Z7pCkXzo2LTXiJPeY3pSI6FCGUtcbVKmp-VliaHaSbD4vBdNI4zfjUjlJHGJLTHrtOupG4apTbTvfEcAIPXPJormmwOHPXJbLhpYFgDQ6-T4M8Jle2C_n2BhzUy_U50GUF-49Q71zMIrp1IdZOAKdkBvR6Tv_m_a0a11AF8U/s320/IMG-20240301-WA0002.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am very pleased with outside my greenhouse, this is a working area for the garden, but I do like to see it looking good, this set of shelves I purchased at our last house, so they are over 15 years old, They sit in this space, and are very handy for odd pots with plants in, I've been outside and not moved anything around, so area sorted. I can still see my big black tub from the house, it's good to see these shelves being used again. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaY7I7PUsnzDZqCIhFtZtukD3rC6SpxAzq_C4Xxis7_1I81hDCDluoZPtEQ1crgUYwzOO0Y0mNf_v1bfKVZH9Tfi-DZ1tzAA9lGzNZ5j3a5xXtpxvfmu239xOoRyyvJzrj9bpgJsy3FgnaBBVeIxfqxOaEZocyZ07ilJdH8Nm-sZTRU-RoJ4aM4eYlNM/s4000/20240303_123829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaY7I7PUsnzDZqCIhFtZtukD3rC6SpxAzq_C4Xxis7_1I81hDCDluoZPtEQ1crgUYwzOO0Y0mNf_v1bfKVZH9Tfi-DZ1tzAA9lGzNZ5j3a5xXtpxvfmu239xOoRyyvJzrj9bpgJsy3FgnaBBVeIxfqxOaEZocyZ07ilJdH8Nm-sZTRU-RoJ4aM4eYlNM/s320/20240303_123829.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have played with the wildlife pond, it does not need to be pretty, just useful for any wildlife I can attract, the lower section has gravel in the bottom, it's quiet deep in places, I need to sort the sides to hide the pond liner, I have planted more ground cover plants, I got 3 for a pound each in a reduced section, the top container has bigger pebbles and my 1st plant, it's leaves curl as they grow, I hope to get a solar pump in this section to have moving water, I will also need ramps for the wildlife to get out of the water. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yrApSX6hOdPhbVhUnWLvzJRj04XgEeu-eECUb0Rw8tL3td44xcRnPeCW3jgqU5u_638MkEigyHF8vrXCvmhWOE3jlxOEW1agy61jVdHlsvelHd4rNor-mpXAIWFghuc0O40dN-WT5vwFfdF5w4llpAmYeZWNx6Gi6RX5kmuEvUgrjcM6WzjJ44Yp5i0/s4000/20240303_145702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yrApSX6hOdPhbVhUnWLvzJRj04XgEeu-eECUb0Rw8tL3td44xcRnPeCW3jgqU5u_638MkEigyHF8vrXCvmhWOE3jlxOEW1agy61jVdHlsvelHd4rNor-mpXAIWFghuc0O40dN-WT5vwFfdF5w4llpAmYeZWNx6Gi6RX5kmuEvUgrjcM6WzjJ44Yp5i0/s320/20240303_145702.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I picked this book up because I loved her previous book, Before I go to sleep, this book is just as good, as a journalist film maker, she has come back to her childhood village, she has changed and no one knows her, she has no family left. She is making a film, which quickly becomes about missing girls, I guessed some of the plot by the middle and guessed the twist before it was revealed, still a brilliant read. Book 19 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-kMu72qVyG9ww_2zQr1V0CeJS6Noc5We1hYzS4v6MkN-xJZm1Nw0sGqbQXpcQqkpnzCr7aKFUyLodQKeWp27fOd5eAJgU4tRwVCp4ZhPCrMOePMZwuawx8kIKL6qQcJuuBQBjLXRN7N_FQ2G0eT27HwA5fKB-TZu3WScNHhsPjrHQtXV5jLB_wqPQt0/s3518/20240303_150824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3518" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-kMu72qVyG9ww_2zQr1V0CeJS6Noc5We1hYzS4v6MkN-xJZm1Nw0sGqbQXpcQqkpnzCr7aKFUyLodQKeWp27fOd5eAJgU4tRwVCp4ZhPCrMOePMZwuawx8kIKL6qQcJuuBQBjLXRN7N_FQ2G0eT27HwA5fKB-TZu3WScNHhsPjrHQtXV5jLB_wqPQt0/s320/20240303_150824.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did anyone watch The Jury on channel 4, I found it very interesting, knowing it was made for TV and heavily edited, I still found the concept truly clever, to have 2 sets of 12 people, each unaware of the other jury. Watching how someone can change another's opinion, I would have loved to watch them deliberate longer, it helped having such an interesting case. It was on for 4 evenings in a row, I could not wait to watch the next episode. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2vg4ZRpkVGcilguk1KbYpF5VzRQtzeto7ZopgIQeKqbVusW014VVckeOB6DJhkQT_KxNdvi81YTIET_d5VMpjAPEgWUv9jBusbC-hvTEHkUu52H1kLKTR42dWXZfyAGT7AR5tt0xmr-z4wjY36PIFq7E5qGf77d_pjSEL9yBmjKi4zxWN5iXBcLmzyY/s4000/IMG_20240227_221838_804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2vg4ZRpkVGcilguk1KbYpF5VzRQtzeto7ZopgIQeKqbVusW014VVckeOB6DJhkQT_KxNdvi81YTIET_d5VMpjAPEgWUv9jBusbC-hvTEHkUu52H1kLKTR42dWXZfyAGT7AR5tt0xmr-z4wjY36PIFq7E5qGf77d_pjSEL9yBmjKi4zxWN5iXBcLmzyY/s320/IMG_20240227_221838_804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Molly slept over on Friday and was good, fast asleep by 7pm, a bit later than normal, she woke once but went back to sleep, she then slept until 7.30am, which is unheard of, normally she wakes just after 6am. Hubby took her home, whilst I sorted the spare bedroom, mummy had put up their play tent, so with Will and George they had plenty of games to play.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This weekend we had a simple normal for us weekend, both Saturday and Sunday were blue skies, dry and on Sunday warm, I did not do much on Saturday, I was tired and still feeling yuck, we did have a glass of red wine with a Chinese takeaway in the evening, I slept the best night sleep in weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We woke up late on Sunday, hubby got up just before 9am, he opened the curtains, lovely blue skies and popped the radio on, love songs on radio 2, I relaxed, snoozed and listen to the radio until 10.30, then a long lovely shower. We had coffee and biscuits in the garden, it was so warm, I then pottered for a couple of hours, hubby gave our bench a coat of clear varnish. We had lunch outside for the first time this year, and sat chatting, later we walked to the village shops, our neighbour was in the local tap bar, so we popped in for a quick half, they sell wonderful ciders. Later we read and relaxed some more, for the first time in months I feel well and good, I was tired after time outside, but it's a good tired. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've still not sown any seeds, but I have sorted my potato growing bags and the tubs for my carrots, another step forward, I can wait another week or two. I was also able to tidy my side of the garage once the bench was back outside again.</div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-87931269468185615662024-03-01T09:58:00.000+00:002024-03-01T09:58:11.768+00:00Tulips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First tulip of the season, the plants in this grey oblong tub have all been moved from the <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2023/04/flowers-not-showers.html">raised bed</a> by our back door, the tub is now in a <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2024/01/dry-january.html">different sunnier spot</a>, so to see a tulip in early March is not normal here. There are loads of bulbs, the woody plant is a Fuchsia, there is also a Peony and aquilegia in here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF9dPjuvqe1g_ewVV3UAH_TklMYivtB0_cgxKiN8EAC8163Tf32TNkOGJaBu-97lUhrL1eGgTU3tTujTFbB1peQSdvoD_JDIxi3wUDEdRMbtAnYGsSSi-ppUoBfjUaswbvSSMbk3ysB_VSdDXW5GrKliyI6_Vz_5-g1M0aAhYfN-rSWOiarsonvvYhS8/s4000/20240226_101712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF9dPjuvqe1g_ewVV3UAH_TklMYivtB0_cgxKiN8EAC8163Tf32TNkOGJaBu-97lUhrL1eGgTU3tTujTFbB1peQSdvoD_JDIxi3wUDEdRMbtAnYGsSSi-ppUoBfjUaswbvSSMbk3ysB_VSdDXW5GrKliyI6_Vz_5-g1M0aAhYfN-rSWOiarsonvvYhS8/s320/20240226_101712.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many different spring plants are blooming, sadly the snowdrops in this pot are going over, they have bloomed so well, I don't intend to change this pot at all, just store it away until next spring. I have large and small daffodils, whilst loving the tet-2-tet's, I still love the bigger blooms. The primrose is one I have had for years, I had added more this spring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy0OK34mKG-764d3x77qcGnhgogykoZcESca0LSpjmLSPkjIkCNSM6HWZH6InoZROMudIPkGQ7C4peJT9ocUN1fpA5VZtzoLDbrDGVCdeDdE0PBq1iju6Hh7JxYKIt0FsiOkccb6DES9fwI8Yd9UP2wKoAUCWck7e2Yz9Bk28plpPusMSbu33kSvwlI0/s342/Screenshot%202024-02-26%20103144.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy0OK34mKG-764d3x77qcGnhgogykoZcESca0LSpjmLSPkjIkCNSM6HWZH6InoZROMudIPkGQ7C4peJT9ocUN1fpA5VZtzoLDbrDGVCdeDdE0PBq1iju6Hh7JxYKIt0FsiOkccb6DES9fwI8Yd9UP2wKoAUCWck7e2Yz9Bk28plpPusMSbu33kSvwlI0/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-26%20103144.png" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Inside my Amaryllis is in full bloom, I only have one flower stalk, which is OK, these blooms last a long time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J4VI-8iq9KXUPZCMsa2pTomF4gqUQyEVnjO3CNsryzieDKnmKihyphenhyphenS1QyuwAZ5-sF9vToeGVoOXyibPQoTg5FI3jzT7Fdla-PIbYJVp6nzgC0Wd2b0wHyKaf93lujUM7LXyljBHFWk5SAxXRUrdH-plF20boFhlVDS1ottyL8JFNRlRVbiL-12z-nsUA/s463/Screenshot%202024-02-26%20103428.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="463" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J4VI-8iq9KXUPZCMsa2pTomF4gqUQyEVnjO3CNsryzieDKnmKihyphenhyphenS1QyuwAZ5-sF9vToeGVoOXyibPQoTg5FI3jzT7Fdla-PIbYJVp6nzgC0Wd2b0wHyKaf93lujUM7LXyljBHFWk5SAxXRUrdH-plF20boFhlVDS1ottyL8JFNRlRVbiL-12z-nsUA/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-26%20103428.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another great book, having finished One day, I thought this looked good by the same author, it's a story of a couple in their 50's, their life has been great, they are on their last foreign holiday with their teenage soon, dad has his list, he is trying hard, things go wrong, a great story and read. Book 18 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVH6NsDgsuq2vx0zV3NUkr_AzBkLn3YQXk3F474_oLnAWMX-6NZ3dZfFN0qLPaeK1sEpA8-wXsF0AbMwEiuavII5Dto92p8QC7AqYyRzkkc5oTAsyVcxn65tlBTma4AmcSeLz1pI7SC3ZHyzvxoiBDLl7Y12XuaL1MTLVKDCvAmfGwQlg54nN4JzdPW8/s3207/20240229_090043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3207" data-original-width="2079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVH6NsDgsuq2vx0zV3NUkr_AzBkLn3YQXk3F474_oLnAWMX-6NZ3dZfFN0qLPaeK1sEpA8-wXsF0AbMwEiuavII5Dto92p8QC7AqYyRzkkc5oTAsyVcxn65tlBTma4AmcSeLz1pI7SC3ZHyzvxoiBDLl7Y12XuaL1MTLVKDCvAmfGwQlg54nN4JzdPW8/s320/20240229_090043.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm feeling better, I've noticed dust and did some cleaning, the windows were dirty, so I've cleaned them, after 6 weeks of feeling ill, it's good to be doing things, even if it's just housework. We did pop to Lidl's for a top up fridge shop, £90+ later, with only a £4.99 non food item added to our basket, food prices are incredibly high. <div><br /></div><div>I have been in the garden a couple of times, did a 4th revamp of the area outside my greenhouse, with hubby laughing at me, I moved an old pot to the other side if the back fence, in the corner, it has a broken base, I put my second winter jasmine in it, hopefully it will grow along the back fence, from the opposite side, with a rose already planted and growing. I sorted the wildlife pond liner, just to see how much space I have, it will need loads more work before I can add plants. Little jobs, soon it will be sowing time, I sorted the subscription to Kitchen garden magazine, just for one year, which will help with any gaps in my veg knowledge. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight we have Molly on a sleepover, mummy is going out, and Molly is not settling well at night, so rather than Molly giving the babysitter the run around, she can sleep (eventually) here. Should make an interesting evening/night/early morning. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-17347648380001736752024-02-29T08:47:00.000+00:002024-02-29T08:47:56.037+00:00February round up<p style="text-align: center;"> Almost nothing spent on crafts, I am busy, but I am using what I already have, I just purchased a shaped cutter for use in needle felting. I got loads of plastic wrapped metal post and a net for use in the veg beds, and seeds, again I've just over spent, I have most everything I need now, that won't stop me spending in the garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBPKZ2mJOXx2kEOtsAn1pRsrvIDxRm8RH_rmwSY_VhmwHZFEsp9xq8jHbNbiWqXlW3njbV0hqQp2p5yhZCc9c4OhKoJS6OL9S8X2BZQna_kpmmrb5agx4GDSqstBktW9z8VBkuOfZvQp5ZbQue2tHv-ngspo5AI0jopjmHcKCWcbeR1ChiURnD0vX2vg/s534/Screenshot%202024-02-14%20093131.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="534" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBPKZ2mJOXx2kEOtsAn1pRsrvIDxRm8RH_rmwSY_VhmwHZFEsp9xq8jHbNbiWqXlW3njbV0hqQp2p5yhZCc9c4OhKoJS6OL9S8X2BZQna_kpmmrb5agx4GDSqstBktW9z8VBkuOfZvQp5ZbQue2tHv-ngspo5AI0jopjmHcKCWcbeR1ChiURnD0vX2vg/w400-h175/Screenshot%202024-02-14%20093131.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Again no food waste, purchasing our fruit and veg without packaging is brilliant, we get just the amount we require, we go to our local Monday market, there are a few veg stalls, the one we use has top quality, and the produce last the whole week, which stops us walking to local shops for bits. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Nothing big in the house it was the month for car, tax, insurance and MOT, which was in our budget, no issues with the car, phew, we did think new tyres were required, but ours will last anther six months.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I have put 4 pounds on this month, my steps have dropped, I lost 2 days when my fitbit stopped recording, and also weeks of feeling unwell, kept me inside, I'm not going to worry about such things, I can get back on track in March. I still have this hacking cough, as does hubby, both our energy levels are very low, it's a chore to do anything, February this year has been a lost month in our home, on the bright side, we spent very little this month. </p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-1835599756590900202024-02-26T09:52:00.000+00:002024-02-26T09:52:47.555+00:00Family<p style="text-align: center;"> I was not sure about this book, I had read most of the fast back section, so I took a chance, AI in the police force, not robocop, think computer and hologram, it was a good book, showing how people and their faults and hunches win over fact and data. I had guessed some of the plot half way through, which did not deter from a good read. A new author to me, she has a second book in the series, which I will also read. Book 16 read this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkcS-GpGMzaa9cokWzCeqb7aV3ZO8ddlqvA-6FZqvajiPUU566EJ8aPfb-9jniB2hxh0D1rlLUG2hpKKKA2nQLkdJJMhQunA92gXIQ0N6PvBxBCBSDtyCyaBzx8GBP7qot2chAXubPAgRFnoVPuF5WYpaBEyPEY0MPhpNqPh9FA9ZsxV5dw_V-R2r4ss/s3232/20240223_092552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3232" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkcS-GpGMzaa9cokWzCeqb7aV3ZO8ddlqvA-6FZqvajiPUU566EJ8aPfb-9jniB2hxh0D1rlLUG2hpKKKA2nQLkdJJMhQunA92gXIQ0N6PvBxBCBSDtyCyaBzx8GBP7qot2chAXubPAgRFnoVPuF5WYpaBEyPEY0MPhpNqPh9FA9ZsxV5dw_V-R2r4ss/s320/20240223_092552.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have heard loads of good things about the serial of One Day on Netflix I thought I would like to watch it, I was sure I had read the book, I could even remember the title page, when checking it was not on my reading list. I popped to the village hub, where they sell second hand books for 50p each and got a copy. It is a wonderful roller coaster of two very different lives, all revolving around one day, the 15th July (my mum's birthday), with the saddest of endings. I can now watch the series, book 17 read this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawllxQEe-VNV430RzzrzAFY6axUhZRwz9vqq9pxGB-7d6CknozC9nk4wdPC0539CNkSRwta9prakghe0p7D-AyzWAZ82drPIh7znyTF1f0leNN4Sbmea06ms0QndPY3LZT20fqkGSssDBXOXPpDwP4ly_0yNVk1gBwPDWMwh4crRgbl0IgOsg9xwHCsc/s3135/20240225_095940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3135" data-original-width="2090" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawllxQEe-VNV430RzzrzAFY6axUhZRwz9vqq9pxGB-7d6CknozC9nk4wdPC0539CNkSRwta9prakghe0p7D-AyzWAZ82drPIh7znyTF1f0leNN4Sbmea06ms0QndPY3LZT20fqkGSssDBXOXPpDwP4ly_0yNVk1gBwPDWMwh4crRgbl0IgOsg9xwHCsc/s320/20240225_095940.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the blooms on Amaryllis, they grow tall and huge, these will last for a while, against the green walls they look good. I will enjoy every moment they give me. The other bulbs are in the greenhouse, not doing much. I also have a few tet-2-tets, the wind had knocked down a few, so I cut them and are enjoying their bright colours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMqc62ehmFo4fvD9Va-mBafx0cR8EcwMCQ5fEjvIh2NOLcGBM62QtWwV5ONtFO4FMlhlcOaaMa10n6P0KFz-2mq22pIX4gWmzZhpbNgCI51jMfwbr1mJPur4svbSsXZIQnfRdFrg6VB2tBUraAEV2nCSUjDabpCpYfIAHAlgtcORXpawHKcAzEOF3TT8/s4000/20240223_105656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMqc62ehmFo4fvD9Va-mBafx0cR8EcwMCQ5fEjvIh2NOLcGBM62QtWwV5ONtFO4FMlhlcOaaMa10n6P0KFz-2mq22pIX4gWmzZhpbNgCI51jMfwbr1mJPur4svbSsXZIQnfRdFrg6VB2tBUraAEV2nCSUjDabpCpYfIAHAlgtcORXpawHKcAzEOF3TT8/s320/20240223_105656.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have not done any of my cross stitch, and I have not started putting together my bag, both these projects need more concentration than I am able to give them at this point. Reading is my go to activity, I can lose myself in words for hours, which helps as my energy levels are still so low. The fore caste for the next 7 days is rain everyday, and it's colder, so I have plenty to do inside, just wish spring would come early this year, my seeds sit and wait for me to use them. I did manage to do a bit of housework, but it all needs a good clean, I don't think I've done one since late November.<div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">We had Will and Molly for a couple of hours on Sunday, George had been invited to a birthday party, he does not get many invites, this one was from a child mummy did not know, and when she asked nursery, they said the whole group had not been invited, just some of the children the child knew. These simple acts of inclusion makes daughter so happy, having a child who is different, is hard, the children in George's nursery group are brilliant with him, to them he is George, who at times needs a bit of help.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">Having a disabled child in the family, changes everything, daughter has become a strong defender of disabilities, she works to ensure George who has Downs Syndrome, has the best life. Through her local <a href="https://portsmouthdsa.org/">Portsmouth DS</a> charity, she has had support from the day he was born, he now gets extra schooling to help towards his September start, daughter now supports new parents in our local area, ensuring there is a network for any parent to call on. The charity allows grandparents at their local do's as they recognise the support is needed to the whole family, Portsmouth is one of the strongest groups in UK. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">My mum was a very strong lady, looking after a huge family, ensuring everyone was happy, well fed and looked tidy, she never stopped, I class myself as a strong woman, my life's lows taught me many lessons, and now I see my strong daughter following in our footsteps, I am so proud of her.</span></div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-83622027094044380912024-02-24T10:10:00.000+00:002024-02-24T10:10:07.268+00:00Colour outside<p> <span style="text-align: center;">Our new hellebore is very pretty, I love the tinge of purple on the edge of each petal, I have planted this in our red rose bed (old herb bed), it's under the Magnolia tree and can be seen from the house. I now need to watch this bed and see what regrows, for once I have no plans, it's a case of wait and see.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hPKL8e5DMNod2VVHB8xw16MDRQKHfWPq1ojETzxLwlkbkjDnng_y2iJViEtIJOfYX4RDr8aKJxXER9nbxwxKp-bZemZb9sLdWkdKDR3W4ZbUusnzeUJbfXx0pXeThR84fdkfLw6rO7-LW3GCY6ICvy8hZDePJIfA1TfxZ1f2bTTn01zEvJgp9UZprcA/s402/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121519.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hPKL8e5DMNod2VVHB8xw16MDRQKHfWPq1ojETzxLwlkbkjDnng_y2iJViEtIJOfYX4RDr8aKJxXER9nbxwxKp-bZemZb9sLdWkdKDR3W4ZbUusnzeUJbfXx0pXeThR84fdkfLw6rO7-LW3GCY6ICvy8hZDePJIfA1TfxZ1f2bTTn01zEvJgp9UZprcA/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121519.png" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Small pots are doing well, I don't have so many as I have been planting them into the ground, a heather transplanted from hubbies front garden to a pot, has returned and is flowering, the second plant in the pot is not so big. Snowdrops in the brown pot, always looking good, last year I dug out half, but again the pot is full. My new this year planter, which hubby chose the plants are looking good, I did add hyacinths, the contents will be added to a bed once finished. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcm3wi0Ms628390xTouyqK-G_gTx37m-TLd7YBt_ngTg3z_VIgOZr_irwMWBG_baE5ga7jDtn_jeMwavB_BeHaKbxxBl22Cq4I8uGcF_DrmT84uI-oq7gsnAMFEdwSGGCv4QAY1NeytxERrcXn7hys66ptGL3QeHbVcoMJHGKQXdwCm8xKuq-Fazn0Oc/s346/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121708.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="335" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcm3wi0Ms628390xTouyqK-G_gTx37m-TLd7YBt_ngTg3z_VIgOZr_irwMWBG_baE5ga7jDtn_jeMwavB_BeHaKbxxBl22Cq4I8uGcF_DrmT84uI-oq7gsnAMFEdwSGGCv4QAY1NeytxERrcXn7hys66ptGL3QeHbVcoMJHGKQXdwCm8xKuq-Fazn0Oc/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121708.png" width="310" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bigger pots are doing well, 3 pots have settled, the bottom right is full of tulips and daffs, the pot is for my tomato plant, but for now, the promise of flowers to come, again the bulbs will be planted in the ground once they go over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH90oveA1_Zgi34qWwa_eqEAufwL1EZsPGp2POruE2zR1j_HPz7k6ri6QqCheUmC4fRDSDirxgzA0E7rntBuvQ56ocee2qsqFCS9GpVhXqv3hCxmRX6ambRGSdOkTjv5pmHWPERYFXQ8LDdbNu7HaPUAHCfkbhDmvKufl9qjzdYWFIlMUZUYcv5BsnhU/s424/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121843.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="424" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH90oveA1_Zgi34qWwa_eqEAufwL1EZsPGp2POruE2zR1j_HPz7k6ri6QqCheUmC4fRDSDirxgzA0E7rntBuvQ56ocee2qsqFCS9GpVhXqv3hCxmRX6ambRGSdOkTjv5pmHWPERYFXQ8LDdbNu7HaPUAHCfkbhDmvKufl9qjzdYWFIlMUZUYcv5BsnhU/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-18%20121843.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bed at the back of the garden, with our rhubarb plant in had some space at the front, I have planted a gooseberry bush, which I don't think it will survive. To keep this front section full, I have bulbs, primroses, and soon some forget-me-not seeds. I do need to protect the ground from our cats, hopefully this area will fill out and I can remove these old greenhouse shelves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TIkf2CnB5WGOyruQl02xxEdLdpNgdDXR2iS_wH6yIX6pT1DI-2ecYuYmPLQkKvS7ITUlNb4dfLbjk4-EMlc7eXTbjlDimgfQvNWFYgzi9QmNWtsubGzJrAXS2zTcsis9C-YYpA6ajjBBef5vGy_zhwsEv3UWX_q1oCCAysuUD7FJ3DT83WxRoFRpcf0/s4000/20240218_113105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TIkf2CnB5WGOyruQl02xxEdLdpNgdDXR2iS_wH6yIX6pT1DI-2ecYuYmPLQkKvS7ITUlNb4dfLbjk4-EMlc7eXTbjlDimgfQvNWFYgzi9QmNWtsubGzJrAXS2zTcsis9C-YYpA6ajjBBef5vGy_zhwsEv3UWX_q1oCCAysuUD7FJ3DT83WxRoFRpcf0/s320/20240218_113105.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My side bed is full of bulbs, I am so pleased there are very few wild garlic leaves, I did manage to get rid of most of them, I also have here english bluebells, once the daffs have bloomed, I will dig and separate some for the red rose bed. I will need to add summer colour to this bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVRR1vSliG1u7NcU0Xici6URb3TFE-rMnnEo3fP54AnrdEZB0uoDYogHtEBjawCoNtuijrRA-nspEaPW6KxQHtSN4BmWmubbCCxOjB2Ykj4JzaDR2fqC2X3PqMYaVP9abnXbZ7ghPFM0CMciz9mjRDEiB-NaJHejodCOeop81r9kCm1nCNgZdTJD-zWg/s3567/20240223_092154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1897" data-original-width="3567" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVRR1vSliG1u7NcU0Xici6URb3TFE-rMnnEo3fP54AnrdEZB0uoDYogHtEBjawCoNtuijrRA-nspEaPW6KxQHtSN4BmWmubbCCxOjB2Ykj4JzaDR2fqC2X3PqMYaVP9abnXbZ7ghPFM0CMciz9mjRDEiB-NaJHejodCOeop81r9kCm1nCNgZdTJD-zWg/s320/20240223_092154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do love to see these buds on the Magnolia tree, maybe a bit early, but it's the promise of better times, warm sunshine, and spring. I was awake early and heard the birds first dawn chorus, for me of the year. This tree always blooms first before the leaves, so it will soon be a wash in pink. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ4lbMVMbRX3H7hRbxm4ytJ6s3PFqKb3ywuANDJTs7wj_bdwkdBtZFGRB9HK_gh32uAcBGI6gWwYzkBHEkkgn-uSfVnf5NMqAiSO_J9LbZxlTpeffwKXbBZ8MLw2m36G6fzzIxnWNboU5wZ_EggJdQ6rOBYsHlN6awIId9X3u_yU9yEJZhXPSNHquo_U/s2519/20240223_092205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ4lbMVMbRX3H7hRbxm4ytJ6s3PFqKb3ywuANDJTs7wj_bdwkdBtZFGRB9HK_gh32uAcBGI6gWwYzkBHEkkgn-uSfVnf5NMqAiSO_J9LbZxlTpeffwKXbBZ8MLw2m36G6fzzIxnWNboU5wZ_EggJdQ6rOBYsHlN6awIId9X3u_yU9yEJZhXPSNHquo_U/s320/20240223_092205.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div>I have placed my strawberry tower outside the greenhouse, it will be in full sun until mid afternoon, I'm hoping that might be enough, the heat from the glass should also help the plants on their way. I have played around with the pots in this area three times, I am feeling this might be the right layout, but as hubby says I am known for changing the location of pots. Whilst having more pots here, it does feel clearer, and much easier to get to the water-but, composter and my store of plastic pots. I also have soil in my raised bed, covered ready for sowing salad seeds next month. </div><div><br /></div><div>We dug out more of the old twisted willow tree stump, there is enough room to now dig a wildlife pond, I have some groundcover plants to fill the edges with pretty pebbles. I moved a hellebore from this section, it's now in the red rose bed. I dug out a winter jasmine planted in the wrong spot, it was not doing well, for now it's in a deep pot, I have yet to decide where to place it. I am moving closer to the new growing season, I have very few jobs left to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>With all this rain, all I can do is watch everything grow, like most gardeners, the first thing I do each wet day is look out through the patio doors, on dry days I walk around our garden. I have very few plans spinning around my head, just the wildlife pond and seeds for planting. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-56374665416544906562024-02-22T10:19:00.008+00:002024-02-22T10:22:58.670+00:00Real or fake<p style="text-align: center;"> These are the second blooms on my Albuca Sprialis, Frizzle sizzle this time, they give off a vanilla smell, not to strong, I don't have many flowering houseplants, this sits on my desk. The flower is understated, I purchased this plant for it's curly leaves, it's a bulb and I think I might now have two bulbs, once it finished flowering they start to die back so I will repot it/them.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94w6KtlPe2DAk81SgI8Nr93MeQcB1j1l-rCzko3WZowXRMCD3AeIqv6_zqxcfiPNGMQ_W42udee7_WLefNdirNOS3FwoCc6wz1FgLUFcSeDkSTXKAUuTWsa3S5_XR-bBfYa36L6oZ8mBr7HV3hMIGFkIts5SA3ZIqjEC0bjSKsOZwh5AQO1Y-9NxFtWo/s350/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20105045.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94w6KtlPe2DAk81SgI8Nr93MeQcB1j1l-rCzko3WZowXRMCD3AeIqv6_zqxcfiPNGMQ_W42udee7_WLefNdirNOS3FwoCc6wz1FgLUFcSeDkSTXKAUuTWsa3S5_XR-bBfYa36L6oZ8mBr7HV3hMIGFkIts5SA3ZIqjEC0bjSKsOZwh5AQO1Y-9NxFtWo/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20105045.png" width="286" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">My first flower from an Amaryllis bulb, I have had such a poor show this season, but happy to see a huge bloom in the sitting-room, all the other bulbs are in my greenhouse, they only produced leaves in their second year. Whilst these blooms are white, they do add so much colour to our room. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisg-lu__02JzkNYUnbA-y7fycc-P9zGwCAgWYUrQHv3MDJ0IWjylCt5EAezUb4oBEOt6SieLZmrUv5_A9dwbrAVK0awGA21EJy3tmUOlsdDx8RHsnwDDimKufrOko2tSzmlx27Q60IfVbBf9hUotxtmVn6aLTec6bqJdLTmOVXMaKJFV1ymUCkqsEudYQ/s4000/20240221_114628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisg-lu__02JzkNYUnbA-y7fycc-P9zGwCAgWYUrQHv3MDJ0IWjylCt5EAezUb4oBEOt6SieLZmrUv5_A9dwbrAVK0awGA21EJy3tmUOlsdDx8RHsnwDDimKufrOko2tSzmlx27Q60IfVbBf9hUotxtmVn6aLTec6bqJdLTmOVXMaKJFV1ymUCkqsEudYQ/s320/20240221_114628.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">These are my fake flowers, I use them each year in season, in a couple of months I will pack them away and find summer flowers, they never feel old and tired, I love the colours. Most cut flowers sold are not grown here in UK, so their carbon footprint is huge, plus when I added up the cost of all the cut flowers I used to purchased each year. Most of my silk flowers are years old, I chose to get quality and they are lasting. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8EyyNUHXroLYGz_Fy7wlm82QjD1rDU011wXadf2VXfnle2cChlEE_i1t_T_OP-ggBOF5VA_02BtdN38tKFjX9IQ3Lef2b6kOueH1muT_2B1qc_Uoez7lRQOC-hbsTaN1S-nrSxXi6frR5SZK_fnjZV59WkduZzIcZDBi9NzmpS34phjNBblmJUU_Pwo/s484/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20105223.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="484" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8EyyNUHXroLYGz_Fy7wlm82QjD1rDU011wXadf2VXfnle2cChlEE_i1t_T_OP-ggBOF5VA_02BtdN38tKFjX9IQ3Lef2b6kOueH1muT_2B1qc_Uoez7lRQOC-hbsTaN1S-nrSxXi6frR5SZK_fnjZV59WkduZzIcZDBi9NzmpS34phjNBblmJUU_Pwo/w400-h226/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20105223.png" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Another new author to me, the book was on the 2 week fast read, from our library, from the start it had me hooked, 2 different time lines, I'm not sure if it was a love story (not a soppy one) or a discovery, but I enjoyed every word, a modern gentle story. Book 15 read this year. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetGe-kQkoHArq4_ZcSmLa4JAGGN_17R_xx-f04PD3eXmF9ZSTFeemlGbKIXF9uVPFV9nxva-B7WdyaABPQfpWs5XvlJufbC7DlEhx__Y18viG2anOt7VRMOOOVzynql82PWF8MubkNoRmEbnD-PLaFjedwJjicnlKlZlrvAGFA3TgozD5qzql2rCGwPE/s4000/20240222_085218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetGe-kQkoHArq4_ZcSmLa4JAGGN_17R_xx-f04PD3eXmF9ZSTFeemlGbKIXF9uVPFV9nxva-B7WdyaABPQfpWs5XvlJufbC7DlEhx__Y18viG2anOt7VRMOOOVzynql82PWF8MubkNoRmEbnD-PLaFjedwJjicnlKlZlrvAGFA3TgozD5qzql2rCGwPE/s320/20240222_085218.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A pineapple upside down cake, I made my first ever one at senior school, it became my go to cake in the 70's, it's year since I made one, I got the ingredients a while ago, but no energy to make it. So yesterday warm with custard, we had a trip down memory lane. It's still yummy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyorT8rJ6tGZNKQeBc80MglQ1vDlfBVQlwZ-tmqpyzRu764iLdxr02ovPkrNKDbsxH5WCEjhdlPLPZKRdLAMzh0eYF839UH8MbgDlB8zqVcA3yKO_ydbJBHbkJ75I8ytnZhsPoLYgwck6O8y9UEuuFfFHT2sRQoGg89gVMMHp6o31mAGs6yo-hrTaEWW4/s2250/IMG_20240221_155254_196.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2250" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyorT8rJ6tGZNKQeBc80MglQ1vDlfBVQlwZ-tmqpyzRu764iLdxr02ovPkrNKDbsxH5WCEjhdlPLPZKRdLAMzh0eYF839UH8MbgDlB8zqVcA3yKO_ydbJBHbkJ75I8ytnZhsPoLYgwck6O8y9UEuuFfFHT2sRQoGg89gVMMHp6o31mAGs6yo-hrTaEWW4/s320/IMG_20240221_155254_196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Thank you once again for all your comments, I am a tidy freak, I have been all my life, I grew up in a huge house in rural Somerset, with my mum and dad, an uncle (my mum's brother), and my 6 brothers and 2 sisters, I still always hear my mum's voice, 'pack it away, everything in it's place'. We probably had the cleanest house in the area, my mum was a demon at cleaning, we never were allowed out scruffy, we were never a big rowdy or dirty family, manners were everything to her, and we had to keep our own space tidy. Luckily for me hubby after years in the army is the same, he likes things packed away and jobs done, rather than walking around stuff, but in all honesty, I am far worse/better that him, I can't stand things out of place. <div><br /></div><div>It's another nothing week, raining all the time, we have not been out much at all, we did pop to town on Monday for our fruit and veg, but it was a quick visit, the rest of the time has been home, I have unpicked my big bag, and now need to cut out the new front and back and sew it together. I have started another book, and I watch the rain falling from the warmth of our home. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the local news this morning, our lovely pub on the beach at Lee on the Solent, we had Sunday lunch there a while ago, has burnt down, the fire was huge, the fire engines were surrounding the building, but they have been unable to save the interiors, it's going to take ages for the damage to be rebuilt, such sad news. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-7197966452645056052024-02-21T09:27:00.000+00:002024-02-21T09:27:02.999+00:00Sorting<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> This lovely unit has sat next to my chair for almost 20 years, it's cherished, and used most days, with 4 shallow and 1 deep drawers. It's a perfect height for my coffee cup, I do keep a basket next to this unit with my projects in, all very tidy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLyQrF3CJgnhjLuFp0Pyjf-kKMKQ714l73hnTWyydHZhNjLUM53HMvdydquYeK4L7hXk4EYMZdAB7qv_lBhAO2M2dGgx3UHKk912F5rWEAByAFQy6xnmGKH_e4iB2ZdxzlUdVodmp1dOEUpduxEiMICMI7G3hpRw_EVkfUhs7hBNXRtUUUb-GeivKjhA/s3475/20240219_154325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3475" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLyQrF3CJgnhjLuFp0Pyjf-kKMKQ714l73hnTWyydHZhNjLUM53HMvdydquYeK4L7hXk4EYMZdAB7qv_lBhAO2M2dGgx3UHKk912F5rWEAByAFQy6xnmGKH_e4iB2ZdxzlUdVodmp1dOEUpduxEiMICMI7G3hpRw_EVkfUhs7hBNXRtUUUb-GeivKjhA/s320/20240219_154325.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The top 2 drawers have my DMC threads, each is wrapped around a small plastic card, they are stored in numerical order. I don't think I will purchase many more, with such a great selection I have almost every shade I might need. The first two sections on the left are whites, I use two different shades of white. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAvP4iSN3CjLM6nZWecwKOXuEbmJfAzI0puu-ze4YeFqrwGCD4FELDrN-lOeslwvGAcgfPy9DDQQt2AlrPRZLkUY5AsmBWUW5PNAr3g10hNHXpt0i68VPux214E7m37dMYsGHiBp4ACvyR3dCZm_Wg6aL2nVlWBQmp4WUlVV_uChW0moaqJcaid61mSg/s4000/20240219_154227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAvP4iSN3CjLM6nZWecwKOXuEbmJfAzI0puu-ze4YeFqrwGCD4FELDrN-lOeslwvGAcgfPy9DDQQt2AlrPRZLkUY5AsmBWUW5PNAr3g10hNHXpt0i68VPux214E7m37dMYsGHiBp4ACvyR3dCZm_Wg6aL2nVlWBQmp4WUlVV_uChW0moaqJcaid61mSg/s320/20240219_154227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent an afternoon sorting these cards, packing them into just the top two drawers. I have the main threads and two smaller part collections. This is years of investment, I rarely purchase kits, I get my designs, and then the fabric and threads, I always use much finer fabrics, which only needs 1 strand of thread. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6kv3w3QL-QrbMDOTj13Z71FkL6PdzVt-j7o1hjUhO6lbhZZxmAwq1o56xVBnndJxb1e4WPO8Z2I4OCHKOMRN-EXBT8weEElt678bWl5RAfSwiZs02EvpMzHcw7nPtdA8OjzIjV8YbMmFuCPHXE47FD8bPFhsMo7d2Y99mjsj4LqNtHDCAVx62VDxva4/s4000/20240219_154235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6kv3w3QL-QrbMDOTj13Z71FkL6PdzVt-j7o1hjUhO6lbhZZxmAwq1o56xVBnndJxb1e4WPO8Z2I4OCHKOMRN-EXBT8weEElt678bWl5RAfSwiZs02EvpMzHcw7nPtdA8OjzIjV8YbMmFuCPHXE47FD8bPFhsMo7d2Y99mjsj4LqNtHDCAVx62VDxva4/s320/20240219_154235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The third drawer has my tools I use in along with a few shinny threads, everything close at hand, with a place to keep my glasses, I can keep sharp scissors in here as both George and Molly know not to open my drawers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrzTzIhWO8Dbmkb3Gn9uX-A-tLMfPvOPUFurufPwhskEn6R8ru42SjzpVaLmTNrguOivyAP8v5hFqRWU7Vbujb5k8_GrROadrak04pBVu6o1bkXp-A9hN-XR-dAnw-XtuiFZawqrv4giiQw5jNmzGVCnaw5PY1OcrDMQdzG6qoADLsKT_CTLDZ5D1B8E/s4000/20240219_154242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrzTzIhWO8Dbmkb3Gn9uX-A-tLMfPvOPUFurufPwhskEn6R8ru42SjzpVaLmTNrguOivyAP8v5hFqRWU7Vbujb5k8_GrROadrak04pBVu6o1bkXp-A9hN-XR-dAnw-XtuiFZawqrv4giiQw5jNmzGVCnaw5PY1OcrDMQdzG6qoADLsKT_CTLDZ5D1B8E/s320/20240219_154242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 4th drawer has bits and bobs in, the last deep drawer has my needles and some cottons on a tray, with loads of aider and even-weave, all were gifts to me and a much bigger size than I use at the moment. Hubby got me this unit many years ago for a Mothering Sunday gift, it was expensive and a bit more than he would normally spend, it has earnt it's space in our home and my heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I keep more fabric and yarn in different spots around the house, <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2020/04/stash-check-in.html">as seen here</a>, and as with my threads, I am now using what I have, so less stuff than shown in this post. I have also pulled out <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2020/04/different-crafts.html">this black bag</a> I made back in 2020, at the time I used a thin black leather for the front and back, but I've never really liked it, it always feels very flimsy, I have some black velvet upholstery fabric, so I will unpick the outer and remake and hopefully love the bag. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am beginning to notice things, so I must be feeling better, we walked to the library and I got 5 more books, I've done some housework, and even managed an hour outside on Monday, when it was dry. This morning again it's raining, we are on the edge of a yellow rain warning, meaning it's not so bad here, another stay inside day.</div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-35311705671250431402024-02-19T09:02:00.001+00:002024-02-19T09:02:16.185+00:00Birthday weekend<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Will had his 7th birthday on Sunday, he had a lovely takeaway with mummy and daddy on Friday, and opened their gift to him, daddy had to fly to Bahrain on Saturday to prepare for the 1st F1 race of the year. Saturday he had fun with school friends, he did not want to go out, they all played at his house, with another takeaway Pizza lunch. A quick visit to Smyths toy shop in Portsmouth on Sunday morning, where they all spent Christmas money.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih60obU_SorVFGYJA5x8pToiZEVW9Xl115rNfmZPiipQiROk1yiN-HYkVljsZOKFNkz5MQkGfcymmmO_U9Uu3PJ49d3s-uA2qs1HaOMUb7_wFzo43a8T6Yw0Nu6FylMIS_2CPM8GtHrthQsPdYQdpaTnhrn7Y3DoU1pnmDxJIAP0eqh5Kn5_EpHyYzcgE/s1200/IMG-20240218-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1200" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih60obU_SorVFGYJA5x8pToiZEVW9Xl115rNfmZPiipQiROk1yiN-HYkVljsZOKFNkz5MQkGfcymmmO_U9Uu3PJ49d3s-uA2qs1HaOMUb7_wFzo43a8T6Yw0Nu6FylMIS_2CPM8GtHrthQsPdYQdpaTnhrn7Y3DoU1pnmDxJIAP0eqh5Kn5_EpHyYzcgE/s320/IMG-20240218-WA0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday afternoon we popped over for some cake, it had already been cut, but that's not an issue, we had already given him his card and some money, he wanted a huge Minecraft Lego set, so mummy asked we all give him some money so he could learn how expensive these items can be, with some of his Christmas money he got his set. We also got him a couple books from a new to him set, Captain Underpants, which he loved. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPIVit6I6BrKkcXyyPomeDJUTzIaXTnjWOgMDLmt9xOh1X4I6apBhPgUQFhD5U7D_YG-xbyg5cVZkWUuIdMZSwYAips9K-yT9GE8mlhlP45BbVnPPiKrH_w7fiFIzfFbBkcxQH70wkKQFywQi6LzyYEcaGXeLjmjgC8oJBVSfjn-pzwy9vnkRlI15xrk/s3134/20240218_134415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3134" data-original-width="1873" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPIVit6I6BrKkcXyyPomeDJUTzIaXTnjWOgMDLmt9xOh1X4I6apBhPgUQFhD5U7D_YG-xbyg5cVZkWUuIdMZSwYAips9K-yT9GE8mlhlP45BbVnPPiKrH_w7fiFIzfFbBkcxQH70wkKQFywQi6LzyYEcaGXeLjmjgC8oJBVSfjn-pzwy9vnkRlI15xrk/s320/20240218_134415.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have started my second design, it was going well, until the grey, as much as I love these tiny stitches, they are hell to unpick, I am doing a bit most days until it's all gone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLbfFkA3l3RmASGWmB6kOraI16DBvkXwa2uBqMnkR0ygBDgVRe7vMqQdj2l_BqTsi26Q2LpNmSdVlwMNxL6_LlNoClaw4vGAsuayNJ5gaEHlSo1YC8PT96fU5uU6uFCtR6yHlYaoFBg1kJmNvTSEOeavd9Ak-rKCDNp0z4Q1fMiOrVhV_dDpM9jm6y7U/s320/20240212_095332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLbfFkA3l3RmASGWmB6kOraI16DBvkXwa2uBqMnkR0ygBDgVRe7vMqQdj2l_BqTsi26Q2LpNmSdVlwMNxL6_LlNoClaw4vGAsuayNJ5gaEHlSo1YC8PT96fU5uU6uFCtR6yHlYaoFBg1kJmNvTSEOeavd9Ak-rKCDNp0z4Q1fMiOrVhV_dDpM9jm6y7U/s1600/20240212_095332.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />We had Molly and George on Saturday, they are both very good, but we were exhausted afterwards, to us it's important Will has some time for his things, the younger two take up so much of daughters time, normally it would not be an issue to have them, George was in a very cuddly mood, some days he can be quite sad, and is unable to tell us why.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm bored, I sit and shuffle my seed packets like a gambler shuffling his deck of cards, checking all the time, just in case the sowing date has changed on the packets, my greenhouse is lovely and warm and the desire is to start them off is huge, but as we all know we are having our false spring, March is always a cold month here along the south coast, so I don't want lovely seedlings struggling because I could not wait, having said that I will start tomatoes and cucumbers.<div><br /></div><div>Whilst I am feeling a bit better, I still have the awful cough, and therefore a headache, it was so bad on Saturday, I burst a blood vessel in my right eye, by mid afternoon I am shattered, but I'm not sleeping well, I have had a word with myself and this week I am trying to get out and do more, I need to rid myself of these bloody bugs. </div><p></p></div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-51918453757824301882024-02-17T10:14:00.000+00:002024-02-17T10:14:03.078+00:00Just books<p style="text-align: center;">This book had a very confusing start, two different investigations, which should not be a problem, but everyone is friends with everyone, so the lines got a bit blurred, once the plot got going it was easier, set again in Scotland, I did guess almost correct on one case, close but not totally right. I did enjoy the plots. Book 11 read this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxNk8EZy5hJfYE96Wt73TrGzQKvobfOx0wwM0amJ_p5QjNBfzuwxkR6oKwrO6woGInZlMrtG5vdpqihWHC3YTZvUC9AZWXbQysw9VgFFzfvW9FJVODZsnhkO3IXa3icq5wBMfyv2qbpwcC_BAmCACXbJUwPeRR7nQVi3YYYCdF2Zm3qiOxpATqUxP5pM/s3276/20240212_095310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3276" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxNk8EZy5hJfYE96Wt73TrGzQKvobfOx0wwM0amJ_p5QjNBfzuwxkR6oKwrO6woGInZlMrtG5vdpqihWHC3YTZvUC9AZWXbQysw9VgFFzfvW9FJVODZsnhkO3IXa3icq5wBMfyv2qbpwcC_BAmCACXbJUwPeRR7nQVi3YYYCdF2Zm3qiOxpATqUxP5pM/s320/20240212_095310.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another slow start book, the main character is rich, smooth and good at everything, not a start I like, but I decided to keep going as his first book I read was brilliant. The plot was good, the character not so, the plot kept me to the end, but if Win is in another book, I will pass on it. Book 12 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjRS1yNbnNqlD7ERdgN0vXK5r1rYBPguRJLrgJMJOKERtCTW-BjTR2jnXfXo-S0IwaVRkjYTODxsDmxkgwxdXjPkX57tOsk3cyGXcMKE-GPHgNPeI8Hc4WwxgH6tpvABRsG6Y2MnP-gtg9RusNiGR9Mfe6GR7G7xSuLb54rxKfqI1C3Ty6YF71PsrQ2A/s3478/20240213_171642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3478" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjRS1yNbnNqlD7ERdgN0vXK5r1rYBPguRJLrgJMJOKERtCTW-BjTR2jnXfXo-S0IwaVRkjYTODxsDmxkgwxdXjPkX57tOsk3cyGXcMKE-GPHgNPeI8Hc4WwxgH6tpvABRsG6Y2MnP-gtg9RusNiGR9Mfe6GR7G7xSuLb54rxKfqI1C3Ty6YF71PsrQ2A/s320/20240213_171642.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed this book, the plot was a bit different and with a modern twist, the author does love a well informed, connected hero, with enough wrong directions to twist the plot. Book 13 read this year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzj2prs7CPllP9Z-F-3KCAphFBEA9v0dYaB3IUrfcBu37UKcoUTVHLkZRs7JDLlLMWOTTX4-p-LH4kyXOffRRu78-RcaPgeiFweJhSU4H435oVdPLKBM0Cv2SoFRBwYIYXvtvcezC_MmXoxmLXpCo2JFi4gDwnxKqzYFlm41ELlGA-5CotWPzlWJqS0o/s2931/20240215_090558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2931" data-original-width="1924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzj2prs7CPllP9Z-F-3KCAphFBEA9v0dYaB3IUrfcBu37UKcoUTVHLkZRs7JDLlLMWOTTX4-p-LH4kyXOffRRu78-RcaPgeiFweJhSU4H435oVdPLKBM0Cv2SoFRBwYIYXvtvcezC_MmXoxmLXpCo2JFi4gDwnxKqzYFlm41ELlGA-5CotWPzlWJqS0o/s320/20240215_090558.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have loved every book by this author, he has such a wide platform of ideas, the family next door are murdered, could it be the gunman went to the wrong house, the plot unfolds, set in Promise falls, which a few of his books are located, and a few people are back in the plot, it would also read as a good stand alone plot. Book 14 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D1HRscDOACIG__6hVGIU0bgu3jB0wZGOw5HUSbdUs6RxUxHHQS1CSvZCbGIjzBhl5XnSeMVtV7ICQZQ1jbtxO1NWheVdmWr12JGU_zdHdjWiZZ6M1eZyBbQHwzbJLCyTAQOnLvzU9dVCC3iIWjkQC2L5daJK4Lry1AEy3XA043jXPyLMGS0Y6TAsPzo/s3410/20240217_092351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3410" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D1HRscDOACIG__6hVGIU0bgu3jB0wZGOw5HUSbdUs6RxUxHHQS1CSvZCbGIjzBhl5XnSeMVtV7ICQZQ1jbtxO1NWheVdmWr12JGU_zdHdjWiZZ6M1eZyBbQHwzbJLCyTAQOnLvzU9dVCC3iIWjkQC2L5daJK4Lry1AEy3XA043jXPyLMGS0Y6TAsPzo/s320/20240217_092351.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We are both still feeling unwell, I am truly fed up with coughing, headaches, sniffing and feeling wiped out, this is the third week for me, I spoke to my doctor on Thursday, there is nothing much he can suggest to help, we are already doing what he would advise. I can manage an hour long task in the morning and then I need to rest, I am reading because I can't concentrate on my sewing, I missed Pilates again this week, sorry about the moan, but I really have had enough. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had one quick trip to a nice garden centre we both love, it's more than a nursery, but still has brilliant quality plants at a good price, we did not stop for coffee, to much coughing to be able to sit and enjoy a drink, without emptying the café. Hubby helped choose 2 hellebores, different colours to what we already have, and I got some more of the green edging for the old herb bed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I managed to do some housework, it does take me longer, having to stop and catch my breath, we did get a visit from my SIL, his new uniform for work arrived and as always the trousers are far too long, for me it's a simple quick job, he was worried because I was unwell, but it's done and we are both happy. </div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-78705737879808540862024-02-14T08:50:00.000+00:002024-02-14T08:50:14.741+00:00February garden<p style="text-align: center;">For many years our garden was bare in all the cooler months, these days I have some colour, I adore hellebores, these bloom first in the garden, I have added to them, my daughter has given me two for birthday gifts (my birthday is in November). I now have 5 plants in different colours. I hope to get a few more, most of these are at the back end, which is now my veg section.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqWMCyLLX4hUybr4nfp1fb1BPyiUNeZGgq3JZXDVljCcgrWYv3iwY_tsu_vswHfx5NsFw2QNdBBVHmnt8s-YBSBEBufIr3mTPGSrVlTtJHW7Hc6UYGsQi8BHhMckgxJIMDu6vSeSKg1t9OxKb1IeIDK-nSXAOWowzVbcZRPUo0JficLev8bQ7vH3Vg-4/s443/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20102650.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="443" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqWMCyLLX4hUybr4nfp1fb1BPyiUNeZGgq3JZXDVljCcgrWYv3iwY_tsu_vswHfx5NsFw2QNdBBVHmnt8s-YBSBEBufIr3mTPGSrVlTtJHW7Hc6UYGsQi8BHhMckgxJIMDu6vSeSKg1t9OxKb1IeIDK-nSXAOWowzVbcZRPUo0JficLev8bQ7vH3Vg-4/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20102650.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I again adore snowdrops, but the bulbs rot in our heavy clay, over the 15 years we have lived here, I have added loads to the soil to break it down, so the bulbs now survive, I grow them in the ground and in pots, once the flowing pots finish, I intend to put them in the ground and get more bulbs later in the year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDojGusDvKX9r8eNbRTxBd7NyacPyh_S5JKYdzLMfKMt0o3PuAVlCX2K4zxObj2wYsDDMEqSUjRkdBBG26OXAA6YoJVxE5V3gsNj2Mpsd738g9-yZ1Tv6ixQjVJStlgsOgR01wCOlKSAeJjfSqoGmEOM-h4IsEgWYLy5Tbvcwp0YoLLzW_zwSvjrdSvRM/s456/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20102432.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="456" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDojGusDvKX9r8eNbRTxBd7NyacPyh_S5JKYdzLMfKMt0o3PuAVlCX2K4zxObj2wYsDDMEqSUjRkdBBG26OXAA6YoJVxE5V3gsNj2Mpsd738g9-yZ1Tv6ixQjVJStlgsOgR01wCOlKSAeJjfSqoGmEOM-h4IsEgWYLy5Tbvcwp0YoLLzW_zwSvjrdSvRM/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20102432.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My seed potatoes are starting to slowly sprout, I'm not thinking about them going into the grow bags until March is here, so slow and sure is the route for me. It's a very itchy time of year, I want things to grow, I know it's to early to sow or plant, but the desire is there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240lTK-lu5O1rAm6q-96ztOECTQz0FQ6ByaBPLBdKep27m_g01dbtCXTOyM1o9ilQdCmUxxooEMMGfsbE93kUbJvPdAJFVK7RSKYL6MsWLaEBGgM0yhDaHQSO791lEGDjL1mHOXDkmHMTCLLqzmz6EcACkAT7wlz5IyYgEsnmolv6tIPT48fV1XkSbyg/s320/20240208_095255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="320" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj240lTK-lu5O1rAm6q-96ztOECTQz0FQ6ByaBPLBdKep27m_g01dbtCXTOyM1o9ilQdCmUxxooEMMGfsbE93kUbJvPdAJFVK7RSKYL6MsWLaEBGgM0yhDaHQSO791lEGDjL1mHOXDkmHMTCLLqzmz6EcACkAT7wlz5IyYgEsnmolv6tIPT48fV1XkSbyg/s1600/20240208_095255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We did pop to The Range, hoping to get a replacement Tony tortoise, he was a gift and through the winter his head broke off, sadly none in stock, but these came home with us, I have been looking for red pompom dahlias for a while, I hope there is one in the mixed bag, hubby chose the single colour one. All these packs for just £10.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N5CmembG7Ux4-Hw6nBiA2INbu8U1NkCS8nlACVeAbxGqfc15lmI-cEY93Rwrf9eo1O6ubIG6x_r8jUdDI_g15WY-BujJJhp7uCW1_0YJOGd5C4wWozjqT6hnSNwZzIgqAhgss1etFT2HOxxnXDkwOCcPpnWytk5LbDNDb741varA_2juzO3guv20dnE/s4000/20240209_114341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N5CmembG7Ux4-Hw6nBiA2INbu8U1NkCS8nlACVeAbxGqfc15lmI-cEY93Rwrf9eo1O6ubIG6x_r8jUdDI_g15WY-BujJJhp7uCW1_0YJOGd5C4wWozjqT6hnSNwZzIgqAhgss1etFT2HOxxnXDkwOCcPpnWytk5LbDNDb741varA_2juzO3guv20dnE/s320/20240209_114341.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div>There are leaves from bulbs everywhere, the long side bed going to the garage is full of daffodils, later there will be bluebells, the new bed is full as well, I will have to check back on photo's as to what I planted, or maybe just wait and enjoy. The old herb bed is not so full, I will transplant more from the side bed after they have flowered. The Magnolia tree has a couple of pink buds as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>The amount of rain we are again having keeps me inside, most afternoons we read, in one way it's good, it stops me doing things, as does these bloody stick around bugs. Hubby is still unwell, neither of us have any energy, we are planning a garden centre visit one morning soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whilst waiting for the days to pass so I can start my seeds, I have been thinking about my strawberry tower, it's needs it's permanent place, somewhere it can sit and not be in the way, whilst being in the sunshine, I do have an idea forming using the space outside my greenhouse. I do like to think things over because you can always be sure to move one thing in our small garden, starts a chain reaction, where other pots need to move, and repurposed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not eating much, hubby did make simple pancakes for tea last night, I am craving sugar, so I had mine with part of a chocolate covered icecream Magnumn, and some fresh raspberries. Valentines day will pass quietly in our house, we have cards, which are in their 3rd year of use, we just wrote another message inside with 2024 beside, no gifts or flowers, at our ages we don't need wasteful stuff to prove our affections for each other. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-32547114250400100092024-02-11T09:47:00.001+00:002024-02-11T10:04:52.113+00:00Much the same<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have sat for ages this past week, the bugs have stopped me doing much, but it did give me more stitching time, so the heart is complete, I added the yellow and pink at the bottom, I wanted the two extra colours to tie in with my next design which has 8 colours, I will use the same colours again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLuBa0VgSI-yHIN084htClnPnyCT6nuwKfpESHx_LkOskpzULv0KfZwFlU4a6Zq4sspOUuZ2GcwgCUJqyp_N_knS9KtSAM_6vGSXd7bctSt_f33o5zrLIC85jiV33-QZzEBtwDGKWiE4pWpqBODJ1nM3MoQWGNCFObNieSSwxBE6xHq5ZhgZLop1TOkE/s3000/20240206_150533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLuBa0VgSI-yHIN084htClnPnyCT6nuwKfpESHx_LkOskpzULv0KfZwFlU4a6Zq4sspOUuZ2GcwgCUJqyp_N_knS9KtSAM_6vGSXd7bctSt_f33o5zrLIC85jiV33-QZzEBtwDGKWiE4pWpqBODJ1nM3MoQWGNCFObNieSSwxBE6xHq5ZhgZLop1TOkE/s320/20240206_150533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maggie asked for the stitch details, not 1 stitch over 2 holes, which many people do with such high DPI, I stitch into every hole on the even weave, I always use DMC silks (floss), which are 6 strands wound into 1, I separate the strands and only use 1 of the 6 with a tiny needle, making my work very fine. I love my finished projects, they are not bulky, with tiny stitches, using only 1 strand there is no visible twist in the threads, keeping it neat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAoorJkaKgtkym228Lm3T5DFfLfyveN5dtscEsvw_oxABqH7FNxFDOa_hkPduTcZ1V9g-s77VersbYCa1eKkSbU-Dx75jHMxpktf47ie61QJKpa8U1ogu4_Y4qWeOYuPVgLflPxLlwujWdZbJFgYXJHh11T6ihF4XNXxEnM7dumlgNY6v2Wn9dyfUNEk/s439/Screenshot%202024-02-09%20115258.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="439" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAoorJkaKgtkym228Lm3T5DFfLfyveN5dtscEsvw_oxABqH7FNxFDOa_hkPduTcZ1V9g-s77VersbYCa1eKkSbU-Dx75jHMxpktf47ie61QJKpa8U1ogu4_Y4qWeOYuPVgLflPxLlwujWdZbJFgYXJHh11T6ihF4XNXxEnM7dumlgNY6v2Wn9dyfUNEk/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-09%20115258.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another great book, even though the author is well known, this is the first novel of his I have read. I enjoyed the main character, he is serving time in jail for murdering his 3 year old son, which he does not remember doing, but he is lost at the thought of life without him, his SIL visits him after 5 years in jail, and starts a chain reaction. I will look for more titles, always great to be at the start of a new reading journey. Book 9 read this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jsTZbgh_nSwNlWQfurue2w5YWVZZppFvaRUlodo6nv-ocuF5fGOfdD1tHQlGg-a3kzs-0TZ0G2dURhyphenhypheneeNukElw0Mum-NtA4ERqkUBdTgA5Uk27gbcDICeo00WtBeksDcSQtChgZ17vpK6CXIaxKSZn6sLHoNwG8qz8XDQNESfCyBzdmqjf2J33RqYs/s3000/20240208_095025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jsTZbgh_nSwNlWQfurue2w5YWVZZppFvaRUlodo6nv-ocuF5fGOfdD1tHQlGg-a3kzs-0TZ0G2dURhyphenhypheneeNukElw0Mum-NtA4ERqkUBdTgA5Uk27gbcDICeo00WtBeksDcSQtChgZ17vpK6CXIaxKSZn6sLHoNwG8qz8XDQNESfCyBzdmqjf2J33RqYs/s320/20240208_095025.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another new to me author, I was not sure at the beginning, but kept going, it's about a doctor, nurse and police officer, their lives become intertwined, an interesting plot with twists. I enjoyed reading it, book 10 read this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmGbSqG-3OmuaPgXBsXrC2MSI0y8tXybZZlpJO3kRLij4NugxarqRkTNLKvakANp20hCfcPYbFC-h7qLCDguSEJ6yy1s38XN4kA3d5Q0eIfTgxKvPKllvIfiljOnw8rsiy1dLVbDoF17Nt6Y95HzYZ8gPCUcLyVhj5cnaxTOGAKmIwdyxeW6VZWy8wr4/s3108/20240210_091618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3108" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmGbSqG-3OmuaPgXBsXrC2MSI0y8tXybZZlpJO3kRLij4NugxarqRkTNLKvakANp20hCfcPYbFC-h7qLCDguSEJ6yy1s38XN4kA3d5Q0eIfTgxKvPKllvIfiljOnw8rsiy1dLVbDoF17Nt6Y95HzYZ8gPCUcLyVhj5cnaxTOGAKmIwdyxeW6VZWy8wr4/s320/20240210_091618.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I purchased this candle locally, it's a Christmas decoration, I've not packed it away, I am burning it so I can use the pot, not sure what for, something will come to mind by December. I paid £5 in the sales for it, the original cost was £19.99, not sure it was worth that price tag, it is very pretty. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkopKjThBVX8_o-iybud5CALnd1XcEa22BoIVCUGKezuaeD3wkrHny2IZ2oqxNcX6BoGc_AGyyYatm7bUoUPd1S_4opoKNvCdYg6yrowCeofTDna5p9KrWmXtXjEA_H3_CKjWKkXXixz6jr3aSyd_7fOcHBnFs2E6vGOqDFA1S2sNMgKoQIF_Aw5dTV2k/s411/Screenshot%202024-02-08%20095806.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="411" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkopKjThBVX8_o-iybud5CALnd1XcEa22BoIVCUGKezuaeD3wkrHny2IZ2oqxNcX6BoGc_AGyyYatm7bUoUPd1S_4opoKNvCdYg6yrowCeofTDna5p9KrWmXtXjEA_H3_CKjWKkXXixz6jr3aSyd_7fOcHBnFs2E6vGOqDFA1S2sNMgKoQIF_Aw5dTV2k/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-08%20095806.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This chest infection I've had is lingering, I've not left the house for days, earlier on I was not feeling well enough to go out, the past couple of days have been non stop rain, I'm not complaining as I know many of you have had snow. Friday I did walk to our village, we had a spell in the middle of the day, where the rain stopped. Hubby has started coughing, not as bad as I have, but he is much stronger than me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hubby has been very preoccupied with worry for his brother, whose insurance has covered the cost of the hospital stay but would not cover the cost of his journey home, which was complicated, more so with the language differences, the British consulate was very helpful and eventually he got his flight home. It has been a worry for everyone, BIL is 80, one of the group he travelled with stated they had been drinking all evening and the insurance company played that up, but there was little alcohol in his blood test, but the statement had been made. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today we are being taken out for lunch with daughter, SIL and 3 little ones, to a place we love, it's right on the beach, so space to run around, early enough so we can go home and rest.</div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-36211888608863166772024-02-09T08:54:00.000+00:002024-02-09T08:54:20.855+00:0015 years<p style="text-align: center;"> I started my blogging journey on February 9th, 2009, it was a <a href="https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2009/02/wet-winters-afternoon.html">cold day</a>, much like today, my eldest daughter had been blogging for a few months and helped me set up this blog, I let her do it thinking, I won't bother, but I caught the bug and I'm still here chatting about life local to me. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBefmb1Tmydx-lxuZvoSvFAOsRHW3k793mSs3adqQH7ML8vprh8UhA0DKE7G8x3UUC6CnaFXxwqaomqX0qM7OKoDw0poBxMZl_QK1WBElhb3BBe9W3XMzxVMExwh_akGFlo90hwRZfmsgIlNkLMgt20H-FOSVHftcExEZHav2ZSseRFEohv7m7TjBeDY/s497/Screenshot%202024-02-08%20122451.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="497" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBefmb1Tmydx-lxuZvoSvFAOsRHW3k793mSs3adqQH7ML8vprh8UhA0DKE7G8x3UUC6CnaFXxwqaomqX0qM7OKoDw0poBxMZl_QK1WBElhb3BBe9W3XMzxVMExwh_akGFlo90hwRZfmsgIlNkLMgt20H-FOSVHftcExEZHav2ZSseRFEohv7m7TjBeDY/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-08%20122451.png" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have printed each year into a book, just putting each post with photo's, at first the system did it for me, these days I have to do more work, I could change providers, but I love to see my books all matching. I am working on 2022, and hope to get it finished with 2023 in November, when the publisher has their very best discounts. These are just for me, not cheap, but it's a luxury I enjoy, I often flick through a book if I am looking for something to refer back to, I can spend an afternoon reading one, just for the pure joy of reading it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlBiiu7kzMlUoXSQuxPIESqLL649w-eNGWjPhICfAHfTxWCsJm5kjPeu3QrUOhUD2fy0_G29HF0g5NoZX6tlS1ooGuQx6Z9bcTpJ-C4gkSNZB7Ark1vRm95sYo4kA4grEPCUL9_CVnpYhw6K9mLFEjcTzpKn_0sNWGeYonl-ug8BC4k86EwJa0r0tzqg/s3000/20240118_102504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2398" data-original-width="3000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlBiiu7kzMlUoXSQuxPIESqLL649w-eNGWjPhICfAHfTxWCsJm5kjPeu3QrUOhUD2fy0_G29HF0g5NoZX6tlS1ooGuQx6Z9bcTpJ-C4gkSNZB7Ark1vRm95sYo4kA4grEPCUL9_CVnpYhw6K9mLFEjcTzpKn_0sNWGeYonl-ug8BC4k86EwJa0r0tzqg/s320/20240118_102504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Loads of things have changed in my life, I'm retired, we have more grandsons and a granddaughter, we moved to our forever home, we have lost friends along the way, made some new ones, I record the highlights of my life here and a few lows. <span style="text-align: left;">I am amazed how many people follow, read and comment on my post, and I'm grateful to everyone of you, I have always wrote for myself, recording my life such as it is, gardening, crafting, reading, preferring a much simpler life. </span></div><p style="text-align: left;">I have never blogged everyday, I just don't have that much to say, averaging about 180 post each year, I keep it local and try not to bring in what is happening in our world, at the top of my page is the comment 'My little bit of this big world'. At one point I had 3 blogs, one for my <a href="https://somersethouseaproject.blogspot.com/">dolls house</a> and another for <a href="https://onedayinthelens.blogspot.com/">photography</a>, they are both still there, but I have not used either for years. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">I do try and balance each post I write and swap the topics about, I am seasonal, gardening when the weather allows, crafting throughout the year, but more so as it get's closer to Christmas, if I am making gifts. I knit and crochet more in the cooler months, I not good trying to knit on hot days. I read alot, but last year I decided to cut back on my reading and do things instead, again I read more in the cooler months. I like to have photo's and I think 4 are enough, I do post more if it's a garden post.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I love my mornings, I spent an hour reading your posts, I love to see what everyone is doing, we are all so different, I feel this section of the internet is just what I require, whilst not ignoring everything going on around the world, it's nice to have a corner where harmony and sensible thoughts are shared. </p><p style="text-align: left;">So I will keep on with my bit of blogland, with hope you all keep your bit going, we may never meet each other in person, we can enjoy each others company, at home with your preferred hot drink (mine's a coffee) and enjoy our moment together. </p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-9860683192070005712024-02-07T09:17:00.000+00:002024-02-07T09:17:29.225+00:00New starts<p style="text-align: center;">I have made a great start to my new project, I am so happy to be stitching again, no problems with the small linen, the colours have all been picked from my stash, I will pop them in a bag and reuse them through this project. My last project was my final 28dpi, so this should be my final, final 28dpi, but I will keep the same title, and this is my final, unless, I purchase more even-weave.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EmPl8lC-iI-1DzW119z8JKzoGd-YSCBVrwIl_ZOPxCKfOmm0Ozs7gjqf6Ayu5NyDeA-Qip03CwNWxq4r0oayGpWTDK5yAHzFhRNBSpfrNMF774k2kqtaDgZA1iTCt1X0_AtTkkdKXGM2VBb13ZKEZHeG5od40UhXH3B1ZijzYtQnvbDKqboYUzIo3Rg/s3000/20240202_103509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EmPl8lC-iI-1DzW119z8JKzoGd-YSCBVrwIl_ZOPxCKfOmm0Ozs7gjqf6Ayu5NyDeA-Qip03CwNWxq4r0oayGpWTDK5yAHzFhRNBSpfrNMF774k2kqtaDgZA1iTCt1X0_AtTkkdKXGM2VBb13ZKEZHeG5od40UhXH3B1ZijzYtQnvbDKqboYUzIo3Rg/s320/20240202_103509.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Finally I have an Amaryllis bud, all of the 5 bulbs grown last year produced leaves but no buds, they are all in the greenhouse to see what happens next. This bulb was a cheap one from a supermarket, I think it's a white flower, but I'm not sure, I've thrown the box away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf41ZW90VTGgNR1fjGp_vOh2g4V-u_YEfPwxbUxkl8H9q1nkuYlFIN1y-0nbEPlC04FAuF3fz0KMuitEuxcX_2arj_F3oPi81YHYJT0GHC7qjIo20h6dBgysLn3U_amOBGiaaRqOVPBGPP9vCbpG5GNjCZto2TtZ0jE3qEebcS2qGMiaQzGXbe7FVc_4/s3000/20240206_094803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf41ZW90VTGgNR1fjGp_vOh2g4V-u_YEfPwxbUxkl8H9q1nkuYlFIN1y-0nbEPlC04FAuF3fz0KMuitEuxcX_2arj_F3oPi81YHYJT0GHC7qjIo20h6dBgysLn3U_amOBGiaaRqOVPBGPP9vCbpG5GNjCZto2TtZ0jE3qEebcS2qGMiaQzGXbe7FVc_4/s320/20240206_094803.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Seeds, I love them, but not quite ready for sowing yet, I will soon start 4 different tomatoes and a cucumber, I aim to wait a few more weeks. I don't want leggy seedlings and I want to be able to have the ground warm enough to put them out. I am watching the long range fore caste in hope we don't have another cold spell coming.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRy5rdH4sp9W3uphLmp27UK-jBCBWQBUDWIHdAzJV97BTFgLNFgdv1r2xO5vKbZB7DxfXb-0SJnno11akbnI7UwhsdBgdtkqZnvNG_FMVhB-zY_yKaThlzQT2S6H6M19FFf49naPuaG4t3hGwEKMmZ8opBgJlZPASjGG8svbdt6DDCRlsE5bFkmCLvMA/s320/20240131_113639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="320" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRy5rdH4sp9W3uphLmp27UK-jBCBWQBUDWIHdAzJV97BTFgLNFgdv1r2xO5vKbZB7DxfXb-0SJnno11akbnI7UwhsdBgdtkqZnvNG_FMVhB-zY_yKaThlzQT2S6H6M19FFf49naPuaG4t3hGwEKMmZ8opBgJlZPASjGG8svbdt6DDCRlsE5bFkmCLvMA/s1600/20240131_113639.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another great book, I do enjoy this author and Inspector Banks, I have read all the previous stories, this can be a stand alone plot, old bones have been found, who, how and why are being chased, following how they piece together the crime from very few clues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7I2Jwb5tQJ-0jgySGcLs_Mf9LDLliSuo2ODk-ML6zyV6LYdLtoALQz6oSRUiGftSBsPphe4hyphenhyphenaTU6ZSEYSpXIaL1I1bbaVwYV0ODbp_acrUoPdcSwr7YSxqDLU2a6DSLD1NfhK5UtRgvs5osYJU958c8IB1EJSNJX5gSoTRHnHnzholDQl4I6hQcuEk/s3000/20240202_103451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7I2Jwb5tQJ-0jgySGcLs_Mf9LDLliSuo2ODk-ML6zyV6LYdLtoALQz6oSRUiGftSBsPphe4hyphenhyphenaTU6ZSEYSpXIaL1I1bbaVwYV0ODbp_acrUoPdcSwr7YSxqDLU2a6DSLD1NfhK5UtRgvs5osYJU958c8IB1EJSNJX5gSoTRHnHnzholDQl4I6hQcuEk/s320/20240202_103451.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I've not done much since I came home, I picked up bugs, whilst feeling a bit sniffy over the weekend, the bugs have now fully come out to give me as much discomfort as they can. I don't think the children gave it to me this time, I feel so yuck I have taken a Covid test, we know it's loose in our area, as numbers testing positive are rising here, mine was negative. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We popped to town on Monday for our fruit and veg, sadly most of our favourite shops are gone from our high street, the shopping centre has loads of empty units, the local council has now purchased the shopping centre and say they have plans to bring it back to life, we have everything crossed they are successful. </p><p style="text-align: left;">There have been a couple of accidents in the big road works, which shut down the main route, totally drivers fault, so they have changed the layout to ensure drivers behave, no one is happy, but it seams there is nothing anyone can do, our local councillors understand, but the decisions are made at county level. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We have no plans for this week, it's very windy and threating rain, grey days, we have everything crossed the cold spell and snow stays north of us, we are quiet stocked up if the weather does do it's worse. </p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-23532327257864706432024-02-05T08:46:00.001+00:002024-02-05T08:56:25.934+00:00Should I<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went out for tea Saturday, at a local to my daughters house, out of town shopping centre, it's very family friendly, safe for the children, with loads of things for them to climb on. This bear has been a firm favourite for years, 3 happy children, who enjoyed ice cream with their tea, daughter and I happy, no cooking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07EZLg3euBmGHYC_q79E3f8aBZBMAqlwskV11xCi1K9ash02KC7JdUQqdvNdGtRZvUSHTydj5tfTy2yfGXt7PmhBXJCSxsmrFOBTfYu53OPAcYs5EZliMPv5yy9OOv4vzeQ5O8XFeUAYFB-UHy534KpBj4YqrrVeojnqJvBOMwNror1I_jfCIGMm-tks/s1600/IMG-20240203-WA0007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07EZLg3euBmGHYC_q79E3f8aBZBMAqlwskV11xCi1K9ash02KC7JdUQqdvNdGtRZvUSHTydj5tfTy2yfGXt7PmhBXJCSxsmrFOBTfYu53OPAcYs5EZliMPv5yy9OOv4vzeQ5O8XFeUAYFB-UHy534KpBj4YqrrVeojnqJvBOMwNror1I_jfCIGMm-tks/s320/IMG-20240203-WA0007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have finished the felted daisy, it's big, but I wanted it a good size, so it would show when I wear it on my coat, I did not make the petals to dense, I like the softer look. The orange I used for the centre looks great, and brings all the shades together. I was really pleased this time, I did not prick my fingers once and I did not break a needle, so that's a positive win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4q06PGuSCfaqGn7KlcrAICyLPlee-5AFt2sAmO-YyDDKTGrMmTzO_tXALA_igPj5_l2cBSCSNj1jY80hDpxRn4KBHnrdijTDrLvNACughm1WAMlyMOdqLen9gaZzuMSYGynX0hZmF-r_c3slVNgnpOUMceJq7-PO7mjI7HYzYvd843Kf2f2LaSm5ZOA/s320/20240126_131019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4q06PGuSCfaqGn7KlcrAICyLPlee-5AFt2sAmO-YyDDKTGrMmTzO_tXALA_igPj5_l2cBSCSNj1jY80hDpxRn4KBHnrdijTDrLvNACughm1WAMlyMOdqLen9gaZzuMSYGynX0hZmF-r_c3slVNgnpOUMceJq7-PO7mjI7HYzYvd843Kf2f2LaSm5ZOA/s1600/20240126_131019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have printed off this design, I've had it saved for ages in my Pintrest files, I am looking to start another cross stitch, I have one pack of Evenweave 28 count in antique white, which a stitching size of 350sts x 450sts, small cushion size. I don't have a finished design to make, just another idea forming around shapes and patterns, and this heart is my first choice, I will again be using from my huge stash of silks (floss). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP54yJPXjdmP471fthD-2jCwfXhsAF1FdqiQl9Nxog-aNonF4Kq0IRwV29iJ3p1HXnvlgOHefGZhSOWRWXVrTtSqIx6aOD0ev9vStUKM72I825L-yLcZbRBiquQmrYDXz-cCli0YPuZo8XmjI3YIDAAYxeKgQmedF3_NlTHnOTE5lMhydIpoOsdubzuU/s495/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20124323.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="449" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP54yJPXjdmP471fthD-2jCwfXhsAF1FdqiQl9Nxog-aNonF4Kq0IRwV29iJ3p1HXnvlgOHefGZhSOWRWXVrTtSqIx6aOD0ev9vStUKM72I825L-yLcZbRBiquQmrYDXz-cCli0YPuZo8XmjI3YIDAAYxeKgQmedF3_NlTHnOTE5lMhydIpoOsdubzuU/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20124323.png" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another good book from a new to me author, a slow start, but good enough to keep me reading, a very different location and story, set in a 'village' in Scotland, the main narrator was amusing. I am getting my books again from our library, using their popular fast back section, you loan the book for just two weeks, they always have a great selection. Book 7 read this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I started to read Apple Never Falls by Liane Moriarty, but gave up, it's one of her off books in my view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEXjimVbZBGduaTxp83b9Et37ldq-4axhNpCTHwG2ANDVRvFFOPYg3NX3uWc-8YRah0NnqBhvNGE26GpiYSHVyHFzfROv3aa0dyTuFtXAwXsLG0I2CWmdBJ6x1rMyKd4ArFK8_-sOTKG2ECzShbtXr7cF7D70Rl7STPRoQM6bvFmK_D72riLJUvf6Ju8/s3000/20240131_100006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2164" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEXjimVbZBGduaTxp83b9Et37ldq-4axhNpCTHwG2ANDVRvFFOPYg3NX3uWc-8YRah0NnqBhvNGE26GpiYSHVyHFzfROv3aa0dyTuFtXAwXsLG0I2CWmdBJ6x1rMyKd4ArFK8_-sOTKG2ECzShbtXr7cF7D70Rl7STPRoQM6bvFmK_D72riLJUvf6Ju8/s320/20240131_100006.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My title 'Should I' be starting a big project, well at this time of year it's a perfect time, I want to be growing in the garden, sowing seeds, but it's too early, so now is a good time to keep my hands busy. I have already done some stitching, I will show photo's soon, when you can see the design. I have also been looking at the second shape, a circle, not yet finally decided on which design. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My weekend has been truly lovely, I arrived after George and Molly were in bed on Friday night, so they would settle, had some time with Will, sat and chatted with daughter, sharing a glass of wine. Saturday as predicted was an early start, both Molly and George were excited to see me, we had a morning at home, daughter decided not to go out on Saturday night, so a second evening in together. It is great to have our time, rather then the children being front and centre. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With regards to my friends, the lady with the broken ankle is starting to walk again, the lady with a broken leg had to wait until Friday for her operation, their schedules are ridiculous, all these strikes are killing our NHS, hubby's brother is still in Spain, hopefully he will be home soon, daughter's FIL now has Covid, he is on the mend, just slowly. Getting older is no fun at all. </div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-66116121092999692172024-02-02T09:08:00.000+00:002024-02-02T09:08:11.265+00:00Flowers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We popped to a different garden centre yesterday, I got a pack of 6 primroses for the back section of the garden, I plan to pop them in the front of the bed with the rhubarb in. For now we can have instant colour, they can stay in this dish for a few weeks. I also got 3 packs of seeds, all were half price, a low spend visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMil0t3BcawWTaLoj5dEp_mgyAI6gcLq-TLkdkPGdriq33ZzqeEao0qMb3xzwNzaqTvkOF3l90oHYKadQfyQ03adgYVHhz6Zu2Sa1Avhhl_IZ3QiXZfLSeyEtYZGyraFoIhjBY1QXYO6CEIfcWCKk4dH9uhjwU0P_AuizjfIZEmAaJKursqKM1ESmY3aI/s3000/20240126_152452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMil0t3BcawWTaLoj5dEp_mgyAI6gcLq-TLkdkPGdriq33ZzqeEao0qMb3xzwNzaqTvkOF3l90oHYKadQfyQ03adgYVHhz6Zu2Sa1Avhhl_IZ3QiXZfLSeyEtYZGyraFoIhjBY1QXYO6CEIfcWCKk4dH9uhjwU0P_AuizjfIZEmAaJKursqKM1ESmY3aI/s320/20240126_152452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My pot is looking good, some of the bulbs are starting to show, should be nice for weeks to come. There are no drainage holes in this pot, so regularly I am tipping out water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7rSCc4oA0h6qGG4l5V_nsD-8DK0lSTN9uHdPDBj1TtwQHEQLxbDvbESfDnbs33-iALA9Fimfg1piv1pTI0GHQGHOQdFtj2cjgSJp4boUqWnxaSlbq2I35VypmNjcUo68xdvDhw0LdXsbdWgN169aUjQozfDZAm-ZQ1PLsnT4Yf9oW_3fWNqPsakvyFg/s3000/20240126_152504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7rSCc4oA0h6qGG4l5V_nsD-8DK0lSTN9uHdPDBj1TtwQHEQLxbDvbESfDnbs33-iALA9Fimfg1piv1pTI0GHQGHOQdFtj2cjgSJp4boUqWnxaSlbq2I35VypmNjcUo68xdvDhw0LdXsbdWgN169aUjQozfDZAm-ZQ1PLsnT4Yf9oW_3fWNqPsakvyFg/s320/20240126_152504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My repotted plants are doing well, as are my alpine cuttings I took ages ago, still tiny, each plants had a nice root, so they should all take. My greenhouse is ready for seeds once I can start them, they are sorted into sowing months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBXB3iwCeZDeirh41c1x1LoOh0SBWg1FDOYJDp1EVqU_6hk2kGQF44Y5EXnpAaqB6_MZgZJ1-r0DTOyYSmpgaIN8wKkMhIuWuU0AV83MDdzKjVKb6QmYRa7T1pPvfAUYuLtVsyi1HTJ2ihBMN0oA_Lq1vm5Rz1_KvQCXWbChTstwFQ9b643so7shvmVk/s3000/20240126_152554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBXB3iwCeZDeirh41c1x1LoOh0SBWg1FDOYJDp1EVqU_6hk2kGQF44Y5EXnpAaqB6_MZgZJ1-r0DTOyYSmpgaIN8wKkMhIuWuU0AV83MDdzKjVKb6QmYRa7T1pPvfAUYuLtVsyi1HTJ2ihBMN0oA_Lq1vm5Rz1_KvQCXWbChTstwFQ9b643so7shvmVk/s320/20240126_152554.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Daughter popped in with George and Molly on Tuesday, it was nice enough to play outside, both got their Pepper Pig balls out and played football, it's so pleasing to see them run around with out any different levels to trip them up. Loads of laughter and lots of sad faces when mummy said it was time to pick up Will from school. <p></p><div>I walked to our library to return some books, I did not get any more as I have a few to read, I prefer to pop in often to see if they have anything new, they generally pop them out on Mondays. We have not been to the village much, what few bit's of shopping required we got from the local Co-op, which is the opposite direction, often ensuring it's on the final section of our daily walk, hubby has now used his voucher. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have done more on my 2022 book, I am half way through the year, I am trying to have one morning a week sorting it, I would like to catch up this year. I have also been looking on my Pintrest page at cross stitch designs, the plan is forming, all I need to do is pick up my needle and get going. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I am sleeping over at daughters for a couple nights, she has an appointment early tomorrow morning and is going out on Saturday evening, sadly daddy has been called into work for the weekend, so I am on nanna duties, which I love. I am looking forward to an evening together with daughter tonight, I will take a bottle of wine, won't be a late night as Molly is an early riser, and all Saturday together, I don't see so much of Will now he's at school. </div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-91835443375516803442024-01-31T09:03:00.001+00:002024-01-31T09:03:19.658+00:00January round up<p style="text-align: center;"> January is always a mixed time, some years I spend loads, others hardly anything, this year it's a bigger start, just £5 on buttons for my green cardi, the rest on the garden, building for sowing seeds this spring. A good start to the year, I hope to stay under the £1000 again, which is £83.33 per month, so just over this month.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvMQrRpEC0_gzXMwq6VoFaYMuRA8GMtvefZG0TyBcbvlsoNmz90cCVqK6x2c5BKgkOQOW488gTrF4G8qSChoGcEkVtWQJPxS1Q5xw7Xe9qVEJT_64H4D7UM3hgcNdqhYVe1CXWWodlXuek7OGoa9ysXv8A_kylxrps1YyIEBefirGT-VpR0zBDi03YC4/s714/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20115143.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="714" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvMQrRpEC0_gzXMwq6VoFaYMuRA8GMtvefZG0TyBcbvlsoNmz90cCVqK6x2c5BKgkOQOW488gTrF4G8qSChoGcEkVtWQJPxS1Q5xw7Xe9qVEJT_64H4D7UM3hgcNdqhYVe1CXWWodlXuek7OGoa9ysXv8A_kylxrps1YyIEBefirGT-VpR0zBDi03YC4/w400-h127/Screenshot%202024-01-14%20115143.png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I did spend £33.50 on Christmas bits, which are packed away, I prefer to spend in January when things are reduced, I did not get any cards, we still have plenty. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I did get some new socks, nothing else, I am hoping this will be a very low spending year on clothes. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We have not wasted any of the Christmas excess, I still have some cheeses to eat, and piles of chocolate to get through, everything else we planned into our meals, sadly I did not get one cold turkey sandwich which I missed as I love them, forgot to ask daughter. We are back to eating simply, making meals from ingredients stored here at home, soups for lunch and homemade cakes for treats. Our food spend has been very low this month.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I put a few pounds back on over Christmas, so many empty calories at that time of year, I have lost them already, I'm happy to weigh less than last year, it's a positive start. My focus for the next few months is on steps, ensuring I move more rather than watching what I eat, I have been building each week to do more steps than the previous week. I would like to do another exercise class along side Pilates, everything is going the right way, I spoke to nurse at doctors surgery and got my blood test results from last December into a format I understand, my pre diabetes results were back down to 41, and my cholesterol levels were lower, both very pleasing. </p><p style="text-align: left;">January passed much quicker this year, normally it drags on, I'm not sure if that's good or bad, hopefully not a sign that this year is going to rush by. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It has been a terrible month, the oldest lady from sign group fell and broke her ankle, she had a operation to fix it and has to learn to walk again, another lady fell and broke her leg, she had her op this week, hubby's older brother fell whilst on holiday, broke his hip and is in a Spanish hospital, waiting until he fit enough after his op to fly home. The friends we went to London with, the husband slipped and fell, he is walking wounded, daughters FIL is in local hospital not well, not a good month, stay safe everyone. </p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-33120082300123019052024-01-29T09:00:00.000+00:002024-01-29T09:00:39.520+00:00Dry weekend<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday was a lovely day, blue skies and warm for this time of year, we both went out into the garden, it's our first coffee moment of the year in our new garden, only the small chairs out for just as long as we needed them. Both cats followed us outside, they love being outside, wandering around checking up all the details.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dMJGV7kohTFUYWoVHJB7a_s8_LF6UzHDmMuAG7Sx9apR59B17MFHq-7ZJseiXIyRXbRNLb_buI634b7Kc4m1JgRooLoIRFZgze8N9MIoDWKBUmvywHiWrchtPeZjiTZNJunegF7dcb8g2FBAzaTnXJ63mU11iiVbCNRkNz4dqTyBYtwaSbQYdZYAK_M/s3000/20240127_122935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dMJGV7kohTFUYWoVHJB7a_s8_LF6UzHDmMuAG7Sx9apR59B17MFHq-7ZJseiXIyRXbRNLb_buI634b7Kc4m1JgRooLoIRFZgze8N9MIoDWKBUmvywHiWrchtPeZjiTZNJunegF7dcb8g2FBAzaTnXJ63mU11iiVbCNRkNz4dqTyBYtwaSbQYdZYAK_M/s320/20240127_122935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hubby was on maintenance duty, he painted this half wall along the side bed, much easier when the plants are not in growth. My edging looks good, it's a bit high this end, I will need to sort it, I do have a piece to pop along the short end. Loads of bulbs coming through and very pleasing not to see any of the wild garlic, I'm sure there are still some left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R50iTndlVMn68D72cThSu1xQsxt_8Xi3BaOlQi0t9T4NsQJ9TkGrN1tyRBKGKmdJmubX5h3cDsBoF1Za3SWSQp1H7QoFMNrVKF_Mmn4nfU6THWn-diFrK1nPB6Uq6f6BrqH-vPKMd0lbWR4HWc9QTkTwicuyXUwJD9HbMC0UbSeLCOUojWmbnLRV7xo/s3000/20240127_131923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R50iTndlVMn68D72cThSu1xQsxt_8Xi3BaOlQi0t9T4NsQJ9TkGrN1tyRBKGKmdJmubX5h3cDsBoF1Za3SWSQp1H7QoFMNrVKF_Mmn4nfU6THWn-diFrK1nPB6Uq6f6BrqH-vPKMd0lbWR4HWc9QTkTwicuyXUwJD9HbMC0UbSeLCOUojWmbnLRV7xo/s320/20240127_131923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trays in the small plastic greenhouse are done, there are eight in here, I used left over top soil from the garden, it's lovely and fine and should work well. I'm not thinking about sowing for a few more weeks, when the soil should be warm enough to aid germination. These trays are for now shut inside for extra warmth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnjf4r-uDnjV1hKjjNSSHnAFguRUkoDWQYlCa-zaY8qBOOPKji8g6x8pdIXtCXxLrsXyNSP_XfX9PlZ22DclPFHLpkqWGFjTi79BIZFwdmsrX79J32ORwB9y6BTEQrFO-a8Tt0RhDQ2CT8xAAw72IDPd-YG7CDQwPRr7JpiTYIaRezOymUUM0mN_Twvs/s3000/20240127_131742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnjf4r-uDnjV1hKjjNSSHnAFguRUkoDWQYlCa-zaY8qBOOPKji8g6x8pdIXtCXxLrsXyNSP_XfX9PlZ22DclPFHLpkqWGFjTi79BIZFwdmsrX79J32ORwB9y6BTEQrFO-a8Tt0RhDQ2CT8xAAw72IDPd-YG7CDQwPRr7JpiTYIaRezOymUUM0mN_Twvs/s320/20240127_131742.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have one tray of longer seed holders, these are for my runner beans and a few leeks, there is also four of the smaller seed trays in these two bigger trays. These are on the lower section of my staging, on the sunny side of the greenhouse. For the first time in ages I have most of my seed trays in use, I have another double tray and lid, which I will sow with French Marigolds and leave outside for them to grow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zAtj16FemfRs18mTol-ZGw7M-jRkAvf7cBFke7d6A5wZqegXxvSzgLYwwMf5Zgyy8Kt2tXTt8c-U4zG07QBSc5kok5GvKD5Aqem-pq3ZLXkkN8FM0RKsI90PT4oYHrDXyUQF2smI6zAZ_dJFsB4Y3CLQ5rgSQEiV7DyRYHbInT96Nkjwnq564oulyng/s3000/20240127_131809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="3000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zAtj16FemfRs18mTol-ZGw7M-jRkAvf7cBFke7d6A5wZqegXxvSzgLYwwMf5Zgyy8Kt2tXTt8c-U4zG07QBSc5kok5GvKD5Aqem-pq3ZLXkkN8FM0RKsI90PT4oYHrDXyUQF2smI6zAZ_dJFsB4Y3CLQ5rgSQEiV7DyRYHbInT96Nkjwnq564oulyng/s320/20240127_131809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The greenhouse is busy, this smaller plastic greenhouse will stay where it is until the warmer weather, when I can move it to the side and use the shelves as extra storage, I have placed it in the warmest part of this space. It's good to see everywhere being used fully, behind the silver (it's a radiator reflection panel), is my bougainvillea, it's doing better than last year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKWujoDLxX_6OhwBgSdcwcf2Mt2So7N1XPKZzfNdJ6Kt5Yhr-XMci66GWbF0b1QHS7f2JSM89ObW5mlnR5W5hioxjg_JEcxkvVqvuuSyxX5opz9kQZc8BVP3zQ7xso1o-0KZS1lJrUPEicQQEm6BYexQ927GbLxu4Tsy0SH4vHcZKtyCFaqdNYOsV3F8/s3000/20240127_131832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKWujoDLxX_6OhwBgSdcwcf2Mt2So7N1XPKZzfNdJ6Kt5Yhr-XMci66GWbF0b1QHS7f2JSM89ObW5mlnR5W5hioxjg_JEcxkvVqvuuSyxX5opz9kQZc8BVP3zQ7xso1o-0KZS1lJrUPEicQQEm6BYexQ927GbLxu4Tsy0SH4vHcZKtyCFaqdNYOsV3F8/s320/20240127_131832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hubby also helped remove some old wood which was along the garden, where all the slate is next to the Magnolia tree, with the lawn edging we did not need the boards, I also scooped all the slate from in front of the raspberry bed and put it under the red acer, this brought the level of the ground up to the lawn level, and saved me getting a couple bags of slate. I use an old decking board cut down to size to fill the gap in front of the raspberry bed, which is tidy enough for my working part of the garden. I did think of planting in the area, but it's a thin strip and would be hard to keep the cats off the soil. <div><br /></div><div>I have one area I am focusing on now, my tall raised bed in front of the greenhouse, I struggled to keep this full of flowers in previous years, giving colour through the summer, I have planted loads of bulbs, I am wanting to see what grows, and maybe change the layout. In a tiny garden every bit of space has to be productive, I want to fill my raised bed and use it as a salad bed, it's big enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday was quiet day at home, I did a few smaller jobs inside, a bit of cleaning, and then after a short walk I sat and read, perfect time after a busy day before. The automatic greenhouse window opened for the first time on Sunday, not for long, it's good to see it still works.<br /><div><br /></div><div>We watched the final of The Traitors, I picked up this series a few weeks ago, I enjoyed it and hubby started watching as well, I will watch series 1 on catch up, we don't normally like reality shows, but this one was different. We also enjoy The Masked Singer, I don't know why as the host and at least one panel member I don't like, but it's fun. We are also enjoying Pottery throw down, having done a day class last year, it's no where as easy as they make it look, and they are all great potters. <div><p></p></div></div></div>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1117235929033462254.post-5195892503176909482024-01-27T13:42:00.002+00:002024-01-27T13:42:34.757+00:00Making a flower<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did not have the colour green I wanted, so I mixed 3 different shades, these are brushes sold for brushing cat fur, they work well on small bits of roving, if I do more bigger mixing of fibres, I will consider getting the proper brushes. I'm pleased with the shades, much better than a flat colour. I am trying to bring different skills to my needlefelting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ-XzLd7Rj9nq9xQj9NWEcqotoitUdwLOjPl6c7urOojMVAm18C-TGMuqWBCg2gK9YT2gMpxuA4Uokeg6Hcu1qeWPxMTgck_ZvD3ooyRhFJUp-XaAqBgEHdsTHHiTiy0mfgsWf1HdEXP4m9iPbaIm4PU-2Uk2yOqhOdYalM7UAm0SKxOY7-JAVIWGnlg/s3000/20240124_122915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ-XzLd7Rj9nq9xQj9NWEcqotoitUdwLOjPl6c7urOojMVAm18C-TGMuqWBCg2gK9YT2gMpxuA4Uokeg6Hcu1qeWPxMTgck_ZvD3ooyRhFJUp-XaAqBgEHdsTHHiTiy0mfgsWf1HdEXP4m9iPbaIm4PU-2Uk2yOqhOdYalM7UAm0SKxOY7-JAVIWGnlg/s320/20240124_122915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I made the base leaf, using a metal flower cutter, I do love the metal shapes, it's not perfect, the shades do look good, more natural, it will have a daisy on top, firstly I need to attach the pin, this will be a pin for my coat. The plastic template will make various parts of the flower. I think I will try and find a few leaf shaped cutters, the flower is OK, but not as realistic as I wanted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJlZy7T-HOcpkh1VFrNj4d6rEUNCLowBI4vLeKkevZfSHe6kWoRVYXOsDIm_tMVmCnDLdTINshYxMbNQGUW_-3B03LKC4erIHseNoNb2td6IWzqfq99_qb4O5pvj2cOSXHQB3JhktBCP9N2duKwZAADxBOumvZkHO_uiPBF0GSzbbTEwdrm7Tg532ktI/s3000/20240124_130127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJlZy7T-HOcpkh1VFrNj4d6rEUNCLowBI4vLeKkevZfSHe6kWoRVYXOsDIm_tMVmCnDLdTINshYxMbNQGUW_-3B03LKC4erIHseNoNb2td6IWzqfq99_qb4O5pvj2cOSXHQB3JhktBCP9N2duKwZAADxBOumvZkHO_uiPBF0GSzbbTEwdrm7Tg532ktI/s320/20240124_130127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rather than making my daisy white, I wanted some colour, so this pale pink is just perfect, daisies have always fascinated me, from my dad growing huge one's, the only flower he grew, to sat making daisy chains on sunny days. Here you can see the 3 stages of the petal, using the mould to create the petal, then making them tidy before adding them to the leaf and creating the flower. I have a few different shades of yellow for the centre. The biggest thing I am learning, is just how little you require of the rovings to create anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KFoX0IG6GjFVzSRzcwDU0W1rjbJmVyH9-TE88oLD_xGX5YdI7axK7tp5FC2GlElt5g2SKdEaejdTgpL7neUJkaRIc1dwlsiYcpfhfaeawbA5vjeUGYkzAPyQ4II1AXSOX1g2jmHpNZDNAQvVFx4xlWweIHl6YxomAxwKs0lTNnvj7THokoAwC2BvhyphenhyphenA/s390/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20130836.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="390" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KFoX0IG6GjFVzSRzcwDU0W1rjbJmVyH9-TE88oLD_xGX5YdI7axK7tp5FC2GlElt5g2SKdEaejdTgpL7neUJkaRIc1dwlsiYcpfhfaeawbA5vjeUGYkzAPyQ4II1AXSOX1g2jmHpNZDNAQvVFx4xlWweIHl6YxomAxwKs0lTNnvj7THokoAwC2BvhyphenhyphenA/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-26%20130836.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another book, it started extremely well, bringing to life four friends, a different holiday, trekking in Norway, things don't go to plan, some have not prepared, not even sure they want to be there. Some good twist to the plot, and a clever way to bring a back story to life. I have not read this author before, I would read another book. Book 6 read this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WrTVKBEPaBLM4xu_9VANg2_YP7mhlpYBG_bJ149FU9-SKeKszNnjGN8OIi6PLnK6KdO3CopDiNaq7vh3Fbx6GhBKmlYoDeXNhECagX97XlBNOEEMG-YMJJjQU9OIL7N-iJ9BvESjvT06Srr_AgQXRdSu5lssU-E8k7UktMiPsxIGIGYCQ9sd8cdrYYc/s3000/20240126_125632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WrTVKBEPaBLM4xu_9VANg2_YP7mhlpYBG_bJ149FU9-SKeKszNnjGN8OIi6PLnK6KdO3CopDiNaq7vh3Fbx6GhBKmlYoDeXNhECagX97XlBNOEEMG-YMJJjQU9OIL7N-iJ9BvESjvT06Srr_AgQXRdSu5lssU-E8k7UktMiPsxIGIGYCQ9sd8cdrYYc/s320/20240126_125632.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not feeling crafty at all, I would like to knit, but I don't need cardigans, jumpers or socks. I did think of making another crochet Tunisian lap blanket, it would use some of my stash of yarn, but again I don't need one. I have one piece of even-weave which I use for cross stitching, I would like to use it for one last large project, another mix it up design, but my mind is not completely there yet. I am still doing my British Sign Language, I have found a set of video's called Commanding hands, which is taking me to the next level, I try and watch the same video a couple times a week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The weather has been much kinder this week, mostly we have had rain overnight, the days can be either bright and sunny or grey and not so dismal, but without the relentless rain it feels so much better. We popped to our local pub for a Sunday roast, which we enjoyed other than the frozen veg, we sat chatting with others for ages. Monday I did a deep clean of our bedroom and en-suite, it was good to know it was done. We were in the garden Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, just pottering and keeping up-to-date with task, most of the time I am moving pots, trying to get the balanced look I like, I had popped everything back as it was, the new space is so huge I want to use it all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pilates was good, I feel so much better after doing these simple exercises, we have started going for local walks again, which we are both enjoying, building steps and strength, our Park is already looking lovely, the trees planted last year are thriving. </div><p></p>Poppypatchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12749159567150084975noreply@blogger.com6