What makes you smile

I was working in the garden when I heard the door bell, Sharon who lives 4 doors away was standing there, we became friendly just after she moved in, she was struggling to sort a wild hedge as we walked by, we popped back home and loaned her our cutting tools, which made the task much easier. She recently got 3 hens (I am so jealous, sadly no space in this garden) and she gifted us 6 fresh eggs.

Hubby made a spiced apple cake for the first time, it really very good, he got the recipe from BBC food pages, it's very simple to make, as taste as good as it looks. As Sharon would not let us pay for the eggs we gifted her some cake. 

I dug out my Japanese onions on Saturday, they are not too big, which is just as hubby likes them, I had very few fails, these grew in half of one raised bed, about a square meter. I will leave them on this camping table to dry out for a couple of days and then store them in our garage. Thanks to Dave for the heads up on the ones to grow. 

I popped runner beans in the vacant bed, with marigolds along the edge and for now shallots in pots down the middle, once the broad beans are finished the shallots will go there. I dug the bed out, added blood, fish and bone to the soil, it was still quite dry below the surface, so I am back to watering most nights. I have redone the net on the cabbage and cauliflower plants, I have 8 of each and they are growing well. 

My first lot of runner beans are growing up the canes in this big tub, the peas are starting to grow in the second tub, I also have new potatoes in bags, two are flowering so soon time to harvest them. 

The strawberries are coming every other day, as I have said before the little net bags are really keeping bugs and mice away from the berries, the lower level of the tower has been left for the nibblers, I had my first raspberry as well, the fruits are always earlier than veg. I have bags and pots everywhere around my greenhouse, two with asters and zinnias in, both for cut flowers, I am picking a small bunch of sweet peas every few days, I keep them close to my seat inside so I can smell their sweet scent every evening. 

The flower beds are coming along, I have a few smaller gaps, I do have loads of bedding plants to fill them, as far as I can see only one plant did not return from last years purchases, so I have one bigger gap to fill, I am thinking maybe another astilbe, I already have a white one, maybe I can get a pink one, my white plant is not big enough to propagate it yet, by splitting, I might just fill the gap and split my existing astilbe later in the year and save money.

Spending

 I was in Gunwharf Quays shopping outlet with SIL on Thursday, most of the shops are top brands with silly prices, we did look in Clarks and then Sketchers, where we both saw these sandals, in tan or black, we both liked tan, and the toe strap, at £26.99 they did not break the bank. On to M&S, which we spent nothing. I have a tatty blue pair of sandals which I will pop into Sally army bins. 

These two plants came from our local pet shop, they are just so pretty, I am going to leave them in this Olive tree pot, it's next to our seating area. 

I got two plants from our local gardener, neither I have had before, The tall white one I have a spot for it, the bulb, I'm not sure where I will pop it, I don't have many summer flowering bulbs. It was his big home grown plant sale this Saturday, just £6.50 for both.

Sarah in our local village craft shop, gifted me this book, it arrived damaged, the front cover was ripped and the outer edge was shredded, so I trimmed the edge and mended the rip, it shows how to make more details on dolls and different way to make the bodies. 

In the Monday market, there is a huge book stall, I always look but not purchase as The Works books are cheaper, this time he had a sale on so I got 2 books for £1 each, sadly one book I realised when I got home I had already read, I've not been reading much, but I have a good book now.

Saturday, I was home alone, it was truly peaceful, I have spent time on here catching up with blogs, the past busy 10 days left me with little blogger time. I did a few jobs outside, the bulb is outside my greenhouse, once it grows I can then decide where to put it, I am watching my strawberries and blueberries they are coming to a harvest point, sadly my raspberries are not doing at all well, I have the plants for over 10 years, so maybe I need to replace them. We had another lazy evening reading. 

Sunday, a slow start even though we were up at 7am, another hot sunny day, we had an afternoon BBQ, just the two of us, and a nice walk in the evening.

Flowers

 I was given this beautiful glass pot, it's made to look just like a thimble, and I love it, I don't think I will use it as a plant pot, it needs the light to shine through it. Things should be useful or beautiful,  I can live with not having a use for this, I'm leaving near my desk so I can look at it often.

I treated myself to a white Amaryllis from Lidl this week, I have 5 bulbs in my greenhouse, but I can only get leaves to regrow, I adore these big blooms and often find these cheaper ones grow better than expensive ones from the garden centre. It's in the usual place next to TV stand, I will leave plastic cover on for a week, to allow the bulb to acclimatise.

My sewing is still making me very happy, after I had my 1st treatment on my back, I needed to sit and rest, I had a restful Saturday, so I've done loads, the navy band down the left was super easy to stitch, the orange flowers became repetitive and quick, I shall place 3 here.

I walked through our park on Friday, there are three rose beds all full of blooms, but here around the bandstand is best, roses in mid November, it's crazy. We are so very lucky our parks department can keep everywhere looking so good. In the garden my Salvia hot lips are still full of blooms, my Begonias are hanging in, once the frost starts they will disappear. 

George and Molly are both much better, they both had the same nasty bug, George's neck is still swollen, daughter will decide tomorrow if he needs to go back to hospital, because of his medical issues he is able to be taken back to the children's ward and avoid A&E after any admission, I have everything crossed it starts to disappear.

Friday and Saturday nights, yet again more fireworks, just as loud as the others, poor Grace was not happy, Purdy was not at all bothered.

My back was very sore Friday afternoon and most of Saturday,  I have a trapped nerve and also need some work on my lower back, but she feels sure it can be cured. I am paying for my treatments, I feel it would take too long to be referred through NHS. I really am fed up not being able to do things, hubby is very supportive and will do everything, but I dislike being sat around so much, luckily my stitching helps pass the time. I did start reading The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths, I find some of her books good, others very slow this was a slow start and by page 80 it had not gripped me.

Today hubby is out, so a lovely day at home, I have a couple of small things to do, mainly if weather allows, either way it's going to be a pleasant restful day. Happily it has stopped raining for a few days, the ground is saturated, but there is nothing much to do in the garden, I don't cut back the flower stalks, leaving them for the bugs. I have emptied two buckets both filled with rain water, it's crazy just how much rain has fallen.

Little bites

I'm working on the back of this jacket for George, I separated the 3 parts at the armhole shaping, like the body, I need to add extra rows, he is a tall boy, it's all stocking stitch now. I love the button bands are made as I knit and not added later. I've not done so much on this, but it simple knitting from now on. 

I am also working on Molly's dress, this yarn is so soft, I am now at the point to shape the armholes and will work separate front and back pieces, I am past the part I got stuck on last time. I have enjoyed knitting this in the round, the yarn colour mixtures makes this beautiful. The design had the lace work on the back as well as the bodice, but I knitted in stocking stitch, in hope it's flatter and won't be uncomfortable. 

Will's 1st day at school this week, he has visited a few times and a couple of his best friends are in the same class, so a happy little boy, with his book bag. He has got up and dressed every morning happy to go. 

My lovely friend has made me another wooden pot, this time he has left some bark on the side, there are a couple of natural cracks in the wood as well. It's stunning, I love the colours and it's so tactile to touch. 

For once I popped in place without showing hubby, he's not so keen on all my wooden pots, I have shown him since.

Another book finished, a new to me author, she has loads of titles but I won't want to read any more, it was not my best read, book 38 read this year. 

Wednesday I went with mummy to pick up Will from school, the school grounds look fantastic, so many places for the children to have fun. He only attended the morning so we picked him up at 12, he was happy hungry and a bit angry, once fed he was himself and told us everything he did. I got cuddles with George and Molly, and time to chat with mummy.  Later another quiet time at home with hubby.

Thursday I was at daughters before the school run, George was sick in the night, mummy had no sleep, so Will was taken to school, George went for a nap, Molly slept after here feed, mummy was sent to bed for the morning, I had a lazy few hours. I stayed much later daughter had her own medical appointment, George did not attend his, Will came home happy another good day, he had a sticker on his shirt, stating he had ate all his lunch, it was so much fun to have a play afternoon with them.

Today, Friday, we have again nothing on, it's raining which I am pleased about, I am tired so happy not to do much, I hope to walk to the village for a couple of things, I have a greenhouse project to try, then I think loads of reading time, luckily for me hubby is a book worm as well. 

Some you win....

Had a wonderful lunch on Thursday with old work mates, not seen them since November 2019, it was a long lunch sat outside, with gift swaps as always, Ann make the most wonderful preserves, and a new face mask. For a short while everything felt really good, catching up with everyone's news and a bit of added gossip, Ann is retired like me, whilst Lizzy still works at the same place.

 Friday was not so good, I had a pedicure booked, I have a cough, so I took a test just to be sure, it was negative as expected, but the lady refused to do my pedicure, can't blame her, but what's the point of taking test. I sent her all the information on Thursday evening, so at least I did not turn up on the day and upset her. I have another lady doing my pedicure next Thursday, happy to see me.  

We stayed in on Friday morning, waiting for the post, medical delivery for hubby, can't be left on the doorstep, later we drove to a local  Dobbies garden centre, hoping it might have improved since our last visit, Plants did look better, but I'm not impressed, won't go there again, I got just 1begonia.

Hubby got a couple of dahlias for pots in his front garden, not sure how long these will last, he does not care for his plants once planted and complains when I do anything. 

I had loads of emails from Blogger this morning, they have deleted 6 of my post, they don't give induvial reasons, just refer you to their policies, I'm a bit at a loss to why and what's happened, I have never knowingly put any contentious content on my blog. Their links are so general it gives me no help. On checking, the post I think are to do with my cross stitch project, so I assume it's about copyright, but in each case I have paid for the patterns from the designer, maybe someone does not like what I am doing with their designs. 

I drove on the motorway M27 and into Portsmouth on Thursday, it was so strange to be driving again, most of the past 15 months I have stayed local, but driving into the city where so many things have changed, it was surreal, the roads felt very busy, cars everywhere, I drove to the bottom along the sea front, which was so lovely. 

Today is my mammogram, the lorry is in our local carpark, so just a quick pop out and get it done, no other plans this weekend, nothing required, nowhere to go, so just time at home together. I am hoping to finish my cross stitch this week, and I have plenty of books to read. 

I did get some gardening done, I have planted loads of bedding plants in hope they survive the weather and slugs, they are all a healthy size, and ready enough to be outside. My Acer is looking good in its new home, the leaves did not drop off, I love watching the branches dancing in the wind, our small wild birds are in it through out the day, it was the best decision to place it near the decking. I have loads more in the greenhouse, which I hope to plant this coming week, hoping for loads of cour this summer. 

Another birthday

The best birthday cards always have huge writing inside, made by tiny hands, this year I have had lovely cards.

My friend got me this mug, I won't use it for tea, but it will be used in my office/craft room, probably with needles in it, she got herself one as well, as she loves knitting and most crafts. 

It would not be my birthday, without a really good bottle of wine, and this is my favorite, we enjoyed it with a Chinese takeaway, not a birthday gift, but one I have been keeping for this birthday. 

Youngest daughter got this pot a while ago and I was allowed it early so I could plant it up, inside I put hyacinth bulbs,  it came with tulips, but they are in a pot in the garden. There is the start of new growth, not enough to show on this photo.

Youngest daughter, is really thoughtful and gave me this Christmas candle early, I wish you could smell it, it's everything Christmas with a lovely hit of ginger, she purchased 4, for MIL, her stepmum, herself and me, all given early so we can have the most wonderful addition to the month of December. 

It's a strange birthday, my cake was cut on Tuesday with my friends over for coffee, and then enjoyed by Will and daughter on Wednesday, we finished it on Thursday and Friday. Hubby got me our Pergola as my birthday present, he wanted to buy me jewelry, but there was nothing I wanted, and I won't buy something just to have it live in a box in my drawer, he also popped £50 in a card, as he felt we would both benefit from my main present. 

We had a lovely day at home together, and shared a takeaway from our favorite place and the above wonderful bottle of wine, sadly just the 2 of us, normally we would have some family here, but like so many, it's life now, making the best.

On Saturday I was 65, how did than happen, I don't feel 65, but then how should I feel, my dear mum was old to me at 65, and I don't feel old, I feel much the same as this post 5 years ago. I retired from work a couple years ago and since then I have been enjoying life with hubby, loving I have so much time with Will and George. I know I am lucky, I am healthy, and that's a big plus, I had my battle with breast cancer back in 2010, so I know illness sucks at our age.  

Warning contains cute photo's

We were asked to look out for a parcel in the post from hubbies brother and SIL, it has arrived, they are a lovely couple and will often send things just because.

These are beautiful, the Welsh Griffin to celebrate hubbies heritage,  and the bee and flower to show my love of nature and gardening. These hand painted colourful works of art, reflect both of us beautifully, I will think very carefully about what frame to use, they are going to bring us joy every time we see them. 

It was Halloween dress up in Nursey this week, Will loves these bones costumes, he has had one most years. Nursery allowed the children to dress up all week to ensure they had a fun time as trick and treating was off the list of things to do for many children. 

There is something very special in seeing George wear this costume, it seams only yesterday Will had it as his 1st every dressing up costume. Both mummy and daddy had a childhood full of fun, so it's important to them for their boys to enjoy making their own memories. 

I have finished my 4 squares, and was prepared for them all to be different, having the colours in different places, so how come 3 of the squares almost match, I'm not sure what to do now, I think I might knit another square or 2 and see how they look, the 2 spare ones I can use for dish clothes, as so many of you say home made ones are brilliant. It's not big enough for anything, so I still need to decide how to do the edges. 

Another good book, I have read 70 books this year so far, and the quality is amazing, we are so lucky to be able to lose ourselves in a good read. 

No thoughts on our situation, we all know what is happening in our part of the world and elsewhere, I control what I can, and try to keep anxiety levels low. It is hard, I want so much for us, our children and grandsons, this really is the strangest of years and the next couple of months won't improve, fingers crossed rules will be obeyed and we can keep the best life we can. 

Just how much rain is there still to come.....

Third time lucky.

As the title says, it has taken a few tries to get this knitting sorted, the pattern shown in my last post for a baby dress, typical me I have changed how I am knitting this, instead of doing a front and a back and then sewing it together, I have knitted on the round, I checked the pattern and it worked without having to adjust the number of stitches. As for my issues, 1st attempt, I got to row 5 and realised I had a twist in the knitting, so unpick, 2nd attempt, I got to row 9, but it looked scruffy, I do knit loose if I am not concentrating, so unpick again, lesson learnt pay attention to my work.

Up close, the pattern is lacy and the yarn is flecked, 

so together they are creating a pretty design. 

I have done more on my socks, the grey colour is boring, 

but the person will love them, so I keep going.

I love this cotton yarn, the shade is to my taste, I have a lacy short sleeved jumper pattern for this. These were on a special offer and I made a great saving, yarn is not cheap, so I love it when I find something I like, because I knit in 4 ply I don't often find the best bargains. I can knit in other weights, but I love 4 ply, it drapes and always looks lighter. 

My yarn order has arrived, 8 balls of cotton and 4 balls of Drops baby Merino, as I said in my previous post I love this yarn, it is soft, and lower in Lanolin, which gives me problems. I'm not sure what I am going to use these for, but I got 10% off (1st order discount)  and the price was the same as on other sites, purchasing them put the value of my order to obtain free shipping. I am tight and never like to pay postage. 

 I have been impressed with Knitting Network, the parcel came quickly and was well packaged without using plastic, they have sent me another 10% off, which is dated the end of this month, so that won't be used. They also send emails with their deals on, which is OK, I only purchase when I need too, I am trying to keep my stash at a reasonable amount. 

Nothing much has been done, we have had a few dull and muggy days, still to hot to do anything, and with nowhere to go, we stay at home. We had another order from Asda, keeping our stocks up, I do feel OK popping to Lidl's every other week, and there is always our local Co-op. Last night was cooler and we both slept better, it's another dull day here.

We have a mouse problem in our attic (loft), which is next to our bedroom, previous owners built into the attic, so we only had a stud wall dividing both areas. Hubby sorted one end a couple of weeks ago, but mice are still getting into the attic, we have placed traps, but we need to find how they are getting in. So we emptied everything out, and found no nest, but signs of activity by the joining wall to next door, which is no surprise to us, we have added more traps, which hubby will check daily, we could not find any point of entry. On the plus side, we have listed loads on local selling pages and have already sold some stuff, I found a wool winder I forgot I had, and we have thrown stuff away. For now we have a tidy attic space. I have listed my tailor dummy and my loom and all the items to go with it, sadly I find problems with my back when weaving. 

More legs

7 pairs of Jeans

 Couple of zips

I have had these jeans for ages, most are good quality, when my older brother Mel lost his battle with cancer years ago, I kept his jeans to make a keepsake for my brother Martin, I have made myself cushions before with old jeans, seen here. My brother Martin has a new sofa, so it's time for me to use the denim and make him 2 large cushions, this will be a Christmas gift from me to him. I can show this here, blogging does not interest him.
Yesterday hubby was sorting our small attic space, he does it every year after we get the Christmas decorations out, I now have a huge space in my fabric stash, not that I plan to purchase any more, I still have more fabric than I can use.
So today the sewing machine is out, I have cut the legs off and will have 28 strips of denim to use, they will be square, with a black velvet back, I hope to have them finished and under my tree by the end of the weekend. As yet I have not decided how I will stitch them together, or even if they will be matching cushions, the design desions will be made as I work with the colours of the denim.

Being spoilt.

It was Mothering Sunday last weekend, we did not do much, both daughters have their own family, and it's right they should spend the day with their children. Plus I never like going out on such busy days. I did get gifts, yarn for socks, I love the summer colours of both.

 Something nice to eat, these have gone and they were lovely

Hubby got me this lovely tortoise, for my garden.

 I got 2 needle felting kits to try, just simple ones to start.

 Plus some tools, I used the refund from the cancelled course to purchase these, as the course was a Christmas gift from hubby to me, I have not added these to my stash list. I just need the time to start them.

I did a very sneaky cast on with my Leftie shawl on Sunday afternoon. I should have finished my jumper, but this called. I decided not to use the burgundy, just loving these colours, not my normal choices. 

Sunday was a lazy day in our sunny garden, it was not as warm as it has been, but the sunshine was brilliant. I pottered for hours, doing a final tidy before we are away to Spain. Hubby had to get out the leaf sucker/blower to pick up the huge pile of petals fallen off the Magnolia tree over night, the tree gives us loads of work at this time of year, I don't like to see the petals on the lawn. It's the same later in the year when the leaves drop. But the tree gives us so much pleasure.
We are now packed, enjoying a lovely cup of coffee before driving to my brothers house, we leave the car there and he will take us to Bristol airport to fly to Spain. Our nearest airport is Gatwick and then Heathrow, but we don't like either place, plus I get to see my brother for a short while.
I loved the yarn above I have packed the yellow one to make socks whilst away, and I have a few books on my kindle, so plenty of relaxing things to do.

Loads in

I am already wearing the green shoes, they are so comfortable, these were purchased for our trip to Spain next week. I threw away 2 pairs of sandals last summer, they were scruffy. This is a big moment for me, the last time I purchased any foot wear was August 2017, seen here. I went the whole of last year without purchasing anything, and should not need any more foot wear this year.

 This is so cool, we are looking for gifts to take to Spain, Izzy never spends money on herself, so I wanted something nice. In Boots, it's Ted Baker and has products in, on shelf for £26, but at the till I paid £1.33, daughter went and purchased the last one on the shelf for herself. I never get a bargain like this, so chuffed. 

Eldest daughter has loads of these crochet kit boxes, she is not using them, so she passed 4 to me, I do want to try different patterns for crochet. The only box I won't make up as the design are the 4 balls of cotton in the bottom right corner, I love these colours, but don't require a long thin scarf. I have other cotton 4ply leftovers I can use with these, and make something else, not sure what at this moment. 

 Each box has yarn, stuffing if required, a hook, a charm, a postcard and a small booklet with the design and instructions in. One box has a dog soft toy, I will start with that one first. What lovely boxes to pass on. 

Thursday was a relax day, we popped to town and only got the things on my shopping list, had a fantastic lunch with younger daughter, no Will he was at nursery. We got home mid afternoon, for a relax, then I went to eldest daughters for tea, with both Josh and Sam, plus their step brother Ethan, Pizza for tea and loads of laughter. How quickly the boys are growing up.
Friday Will and mummy popped over, I had Will for the afternoon, mummy is away in Dublin for the weekend, daddy was at work. We had a lazy evening, we played in the garden all day, it's staggering how much energy a 2year old has, compared to his Nanna and Grancha.
Saturday we have housework, laundry and time in the garden, ensuring everything is good before we are away again.
I have almost finished my jumper, it will be going to Spain with me, I am so pleased, I have been asked by grandson Sam to make him a jumper, the same round neck knit down pattern, but knitted in black, thank goodness it's summer light nights. I will order the yarn once we are back home.