Hmm................

I enjoyed this book, she writes a good plot, again slightly different, I guessed who done it, with a twist in the middle, but not how, so a clever revel at the end, a really enjoyable book. Book 28 read this year. No crafting again I can't concentrate on anything for too long. 

This tiny bulb in my small apline dish is Weldenia Candida, I purchased it last year, whilst not expensive, it cost more than I would normally pay, I loved the blooms last spring. I hoped it would survive in my alpine dish as there is no drainage holes, just plenty of gravel, so I am overjoyed to see it again this year, it has one flower every day, which only last for just one day, last year we have 14 blooms, you can see the next bud below the flower. 

Peonies are one of my favourite flowers, so again this time of year is special, this plant came from my mum's garden, this is the 2nd garden we have planted it in, only 5 buds are going to open, I think I might need to dig around and remove some of the roots. I hope to find a yellow one this spring, I have just the perfect spot of it. 

This camellia was purchased last year, I had thought at one point the buds would fail, but it has been blooming for a couple of weeks. It's my first time of growing one, in a tub as our soil is not right conditions, whilst it's flowering it's near the front of the garden, later I will pop it to the back. 

I deleted my extra comments of the last post, as from Thursday hubby was unwell and got worse each day, Monday we called 111 and the doctor made an appointment at our local A&E, he was seen at the time given and taken straight to a cubical, he was suffering extreme diarrhoea, loads of test were done, his kidneys were playing up, so they kept him in. They have stabilized his kidneys, and on Wednesday we got the results, he had Campobylactor food poising, the infections doctor came to speak to him when I was visiting, hubby knew about the bug he had, as it was part of the H&S food handling courses he ran for years, the doctor was impressed, it was his first time of finding someone who under stood the bug. We think we know where it came from, we had lunch out last week on Tuesday, hubby had a cold chicken sandwich. 

I got an secondary infection, so I too have been unwell, we both have lost days, mine has started to clear up, and hubby is looking much better, he had been in isolation the whole time, his room does have a window, so it's not to bad. The hardest part was coming home to an empty house, something I have not done for 45 years, having said that I was still feeling unwell, so I went straight to bed. 

Yesterday was a long day, hubby was told they would allow him home, that was before lunch, his antibiotics arrived mid afternoon, so it was a case of waiting. I visited in hope I could drive him home, but just before 6pm there were no signs of any consent for him to leave, so I drove home. Luckily we live just 20mins drive from hospital, I sat at home waiting to hear from him, he came home later last evening.

The garden is not being touched, I did manage to water the veg and greenhouse once, and netted my pea shoots as the pigeons were eating them, I might have to sow some more. I'm having a social media break this weekend, we are doing nothing, loads of rest in the sunshine.

This year so far has not been nice to us, we are hoping things turn for the better very quickly. 

New growth

This alpine plant is beautiful,  it was the most expensive plant I got, it's called Weldenia Candida, it's native in Mexico, it's central spot in the display is to highlight the flowers when they grow, I should get atleast six flowers this year.

The third bloom has faded from my Amaryllis  so I popped it once again in the greenhouse,  this lovely bulb just keeps giving, I have never seen a side shoot on these bulbs before, and have no idea what is growing, it's a case of wait and see. 

I have loads of cutting in my sphagnum moss, some grow others don't, I have planted a rose and honeysuckle rooted this way. I pop all cutting in, in the hope some will grow. This large plant saucer is full of rainwater and sits in a shady part of my greenhouse. I have had this system for over two years, the moss rejuvenates itself, I gave a huge lump to a friend, who is using it in the same way. I hope to pot on buzzy lizzies soon, they root easily. 

Hubby walked to the village, popped to the pet shop and saw white lavender, lovely huge plants and only £5.40 each, he decided to get two, so the tubs have been changed. We passed the eucalyptus plants to a lady who wants them to feature in her wedding next year, so pleased to pass them on. I purchase almost all my plants from our local pet shop, the quality is always good and with prices I love. I have added the cost to my monthly list, the other new smaller plant will stay where it is until the garden work next spring.

Another unwanted digout, I noticed the new pretty dahlia was missing from the centre front of this garden, cursing our squirrel,  I looked for it and found rat holes and no plant. This bed has an open bottom, so I had to dig it out, found their entrance and a couple of hyacinth bulbs, hubby has lined the bed with chicken wire and some big stones  I refilled it and replanted my shrubs and bulbs. All I can do now is hope the shrubs survive,  this is the reason for the new garden next year, we can't control what is under the decking.

Daughter and the three little ones came over on Saturday, daddy is working away, we had a day outside and a mid afternoon BBQ, so much laughter, they all play well and daughter had a restful day. George at three and a half has been given hearing aids, which he will not wear, we have tried everything, he only has partial hearing loss, I think he hears most things, any tips on how we get past this barrier, as soon as he sees their boxes he is gone, we have tried bribery with chocolate, a treat he loves, nothing works. George fell over at home and bit his top lip, loads of blood, but he was a brave boy.

Sunday another day at home, we work, rest and play well together, having time in the day to sit, enjoy coffee and a chat is wonderful, sitting in the sun even with the cool breeze is good, we enjoy watching the small birds on our feeders, which we fill all year around, I refresh their water every morning as well. At this stage of our lives time is on our side, jobs can be manana, instead of get it done now as we have work tomorrow. 

Today is the start of a busy week, I have a short list of things I want sorting, and then we plan some fun time. 

Back outside

Hubby cleared the decking and oiled it all, it does look good, it was a full days work, it's the sort of job you are pleased with once it's finished. I can't think of anything else he has to do outside, but I'm sure he will find more to do.

 We had to move this very heavy alpine dish from the round table, I had a thought, we popped it on the birdbath stand in the herb garden. I love it, I had been looking for a place to put this as I wanted to be able to use the round table, this was almost as big as the table, as seen here. The water never stayed in the birdbath, most of the birds use another bath in the garden. 

   I have started work in the greenhouse on my raised bed, I can sit here for a short time and start to sort, the small stones are in a bag, the bigger pebbles I will put elsewhere, I have started potting up some of the plants. I will work in here every other day and rest my back in-between.  We have both decided not to reuse this frame in the greenhouse, hubby will take it apart and store the planks, we are on the hunt for some shelving.

 I have a few softwood cuttings, Lavender, Salvia hotlips and Clematis and 4 pineapple babies, these have been here for a while and hopefully they will start to root and grow.  Most are for our garden, I have done more than I require in hope I get what I need, sister and neighbour will have the rest. 

Our fence panels have finally been replaced, not the easiest of task as the guys were not allowed into next doors property, but they managed the whole job without her shouting at them. She saved that treat for much later, apparently everything is wrong about the fence, stupid woman.  

Friday we were outside a few times, at 11am for 2 minutes silence, 2pm for afternoon tea, we all decided we wanted to have tea earlier than the suggested 4pm, all our lovely neighbours were out. we also went out at 9.30pm to see the lights from Portsmouth dockyard, they were promised to light up the sky, but it was not dark enough, so all we could see was a glow from the direction of the dockyard.
Saturday we were inside all morning and until mid afternoon, social distancing from the fence guys, after they left we popped the big items back along the boundary, no mess to clear up as they left the place really tidy. They even managed not to damage my raspberries along by the tree, I have loads of summer fruit berries forming. In the evening we had pizza, red wine and watched The Darkest Hour, a film we enjoyed.
Sunday is was much duller and cooler in the morning, we got another huge box of photo's out, it is such fun to have all the memories in one place, most of our photo's are from 1980's and before, since then we have not had many photo's printed, I store all my digital photo's on a huge external drive, these include tons of videos of grandsons from various phones.

Colour everywhere

This new raised bed has looked perfect all summer, I have not added anything since I created it, it is under planted with loads of spring bulbs, I am not touching this bed until the frost come. 

 Another nice selection, my bonsai acer has lost all it's leaves, but is still healthy.

 Rose buds, and so much colour in the garden.
I will soon pack all the birds in my shed for the winter.

 I don't expect these leaves to be here much longer. 

 This is the 1st year for this planting in my sink and I have been very pleased with it, next spring I will reduce the grasses, as I don't want them taking over here. 

 It's such a shame this shrub from our neighbours garden has been cut back, I loved it when it grew over my shed. But it was top heavy and it's more important to ensure the plant survives. 

Hubby picked up all the leaves and stuff off the lawn and around the garden, which immediately made it look tidy again, I am not cutting anything back as yet, I am very pleased with the colour.
I did purchase some purple tulips to plant, but I am waiting for a plant in a pot to die back a bit more, I am not removing the plant, I will add compost and plant the bulbs in the same pot.
I have very little to do, I did have a plan, which has been shelved, at this moment I'm not sure if I will do it next year, or rethink my outside raised bed by the greenhouse. This is the only spot in the garden which is not producing, it was made for cut flowers, but for the 2nd year has failed. I am not going to think about how much I have spent on cut flowers for the house this year, but it is much more than it should be.
I am beginning to do craft again, I have done loads to baby George's cot blanket, it will be finished next week. I am pulling out all the material so I can make Christmas gifts with my sewing machine.
We will walk to our library today to get more books, I have finished all five books, but I will only get a couple of books this time.
We have Will staying for 2 nights, Saturday and Sunday, so I won't be doing much over the weekend, we never plan much as we let Will decide what he wants to do, and spend time having fun with him. With baby George due in 4 weeks, it's the last chance for mummy and daddy to get some time together, they are away for the 2 days, being a couple again.

Dish it up

I redid this pot last month

 This is one from last year

 Made two years ago 

 I love this simple pot

 Done last month 

I have had this pot since the 70's, it's called onion ware

Not alot doing here, enjoyed our first BBQ of the summer tonight, we have just come inside, it's been a lovely sunny hot day. The garden is looking good, my fruit bushes are full of swelling fruit, the gooseberry bushes are still green, I do hope I have killed off the saw flies.
We have loads of tomatoes on our two plants, and the cucumbers are growing tall. I cut lettuce with our tea, and hope to dig up the early potatoes on Saturday.
We have a big project happen in the garden, which starts on Tuesday, it's hubbies project, more on it next week.
My inside seed and seedlings are all doing well, I have been promised a walnut tree sapling, which is exciting.
Work is very slow, just not enough to go around, but two people have given in their notice, so the work load will improve, I hate being idle.
I have been following Chelsea Flower Show, I do enjoy watching Monty and Joe Swift on BBC2 each evening.   But I am reading so much, I have sewing to do this weekend, a project for a friend.

Daddy or chips

Daddy or chips

do you remember the advert on TV

sewing or knitting, a hard choice

 Sewing won out

 There is much more work in this

but I have done the left hand side of the top line

now I have to infill and work my way down the side. 

 What does a girl do when it is pouring with rain

watching her garden, keeping a check on things

Grace was curled up on the carpet

I have managed a quick tour of the garden, 

emptied loads of pots over flowing with rain water. 

I have covered my alpine dish, I am fearful the plants won't survive the soaking. 

I don't know about you but enough of this rain, still I get loads of craft time, sewing in this case, I hope to knit tomorrow evening, hubby is away so I can concentrate on the pattern.
Work is good, we have a laugh most days, but we still get loads done. I popped to the library this evening, returned my last two books, when I got home Josh and Sam had popped around, very nice surprise, both were in a great mood, despite have been inside all day, we have planned tomorrows tea, home made pizza, so I need to get a few more toppings, they boys will make their own.
I am getting worried for hubby, he retires next Wednesday, and is going to be home alone alot, he has not found anything much to start to fill his days. I have held off sorting our small front garden and have set him the task of replanting it. He had yesterday off, and was really bored by the time I got in from work.

Out the back

This little duckling came home with me

Robin is happy to have a friend 

 My Alpine bowl is looking good

 With a new stone from the beach at Beer

naughty I know, but very pretty

 Harvest is coming along, 

I love this huge tub

 1st crop, small but ready soon. 

I'm off out to spend the afternoon in the garden, not too much to do, so I can have some relaxing time. I am hoping we might have some carrots to pull, would be nice to eat home grown.
This morning was spent in another wedding dress shop, I think we really have found the dress, the smile on Su's face said it all.

Been shopping

I've given in and been to the garden center

This Coleus was chosen by hubby

It a plant he has always loved.

 Cosmos and Nicotiana to fill holes in the garden

I have pulled a huge plant from here which was getting far to big 

Plus a Begonia for my tower pots

 Plus plants for an Alpine garden

 Now bear with me on this

We can all remember the Hot Chocolate hit single

'it started with a kiss'

 For me

'it started with a dish

I never thought it would end like this'

 Six years ago when we ripped out the kitchen we removed a Butlers sink, which I wanted to make into an Alpine garden, but hubby choose different plants, and now the sink holds my mints.  But I never gave up on an Alpine garden, I was watching Gardeners World and saw a guest making pots and gardens for Alpines. Yesterday we popped into Sainsburys and this pot was reduced to £12, so it was mine. The strange looking stone we brought home from a beach holiday years ago, I know we should not bring home stones, but I loved the shape. The fine stone, and slate I already had, so 5 plants for £10, plus 2 I already had. I have filled the bottom of the dish with gravel to keep the roots out of water. So lets sing along 'it started with a dish'

Found the above book in a charity shop for 50p, not started it yet, hoping this will be my July good read.
We have also been purchasing clothes, I got a nice summer dress half price in Sainsbury for £10, perfect fit, it could not have been better if I had made it myself, plus I would not be able to get cotton fabric and lining for just £10. Today I got a half price pair of sandals at Cotton Traders, £15 instead of £30, I am very heavy with shoes, so I never buy cheep ones.
Wedding dress shopping with Su this morning, was very interesting, 2nd time around for her, 1st for David, they have book a nice local large house/hotel for next April, her dress style is perfect for her, we have two other shops to visit before she will make her choice.
We are on a short break to Honiton later this week, many years ago it was famous for Honiton Lake making, so I am hopeful there will be a few nice craft shops about, our hotel is a large house with huge grounds, so our cameras and all the new lens are being packed.
Hope your weekend was good for you.