Yea Friday

I walked around spider land this afternoon

better known as our back garden

This beautiful bloom from the Magnolia tree

Just stunning

 A few more flowers coming along

everything is much smaller and late

 Plus I have been looking at my stash of designs

so many beautiful patterns

so hard to choose what to do

or start a new design of my own, 

it's been a few years since I made a design 

Today I am feeling much better, the rest of the week has been a yoyo

Hubby has just over three weeks until he retires, he only works 3 days, but all the plans made to slow his work down went wrong and this week he has worked 4 days, and the final few weeks will see him away alot and loads of driving. So he is very tired. On Wednesday driving home from Hastings, 90 miles away after a full day of tutoring, he had a small road accident, he's OK but the car is damaged, on the plus side it's a company car,  his working day was 13 hours, which is ridiculous. So a bad day all round. Yesterday he had off, but was so tired he did nothing all day, he is on his way home tonight, should be about an hour. There is little we can do, he won't let people down, but we are counting down to September 2nd, his final day.

We had plans to be away in Somerset this weekend, loads more driving, with a trip to Bristol airport with his son, going back home to Ireland. But plans have changed, son is poorly so did not travel over  to Bristol today, and the family wedding we have chosen not to attend, the tale is a sad one, and not for here, we decided a few weeks ago not to go. Both daughters are travelling to Somerset as we speak, so now we have a quiet weekend at home just the two of us, what bliss. No plans, no watching the clock, the weather is going to be good. 

Work was busy but every one working together, time for a few moment of fun and loads finished, the outlook is now loads better, I don't mind hard work when every one pulls together. 

Time to start the weekend, hope your plans are good and they all come together. 

Inside

Another free flower

this house always has an Orchid in flower

My second set of flowers from this violet

 Plus new plants from leaf cuttings, these two are doing well

Kiwi's are still slowly growing,

my window sill is a bit bare at this time

 I have finished Fingersmith,

it's a great read, a surprising twist in the middle

I will start The Little Stranger later

I am having the laziest time at the moment, I have not stitched at all, we do manage to walk each evening, so I am hitting my step target, just one more week and then I will increase the steps I need each day.

I did dead head my flowers last night, it's the most important job at this time of year, keeping the flowers coming and ensuring the garden is full of colour.
Sunday was not such a great trip out, I'm not a fan of too much shopping, my friend has no confidence and always needs help to decide what to buy, after loads of shops she came home with nothing, we did manage a nice long lunch together.
Work is frustrating, the way we work does not solve problems, so they keep coming back, I prefer to spend a bit of time and get things sorted, but our boss does not work that way, BUT the annoying woman is on holiday and next week when she is back, she has moved departments, so close by but not in our small office.
I am feeling very restless, off sorts, and not sure what to do about it, I have been a bit blue for a while, almost every thing is irritating to me, which is not normal, my poor hubby is trying hard to cheer me up, there is alot of silliness going on around us, little stuff we can't control,.
Still enjoying a nice cup of tea, hubby will be home about 8ish, so nice quiet house and The British Bake off starts tonight, so not all is lost.

Busy weekend

Our girls enjoying the morning sunshine

and watching me with the camera

These are discussing the weather 

the sailor normal lives under our olive bush

My melon plant, I love the tendrils, the perfect curl

I have loads of flowers and fruit forming,

 the small melon I removed the stem was thin on that part

 I did not think it worth  trying to grow it larger

soon I will cut them back and leave just 3 or 4 fruits

Inside my maidenhair fern

it loves this shelf in our warm sunny office

I keep the roots rather wet.
This was tiny when I purchased it

Lastly from the garden

loads of summer colour

No stitching just loads of reading and enjoying the garden.

The weekend is passing quickly, we had a great meal out on Friday, we went to an Italian restaurant, I had risotto and hubby wanted a pizza, but without cheese, they were very good and he loved his meal, great feedback was left when we got home regarding the food and the service.  

Yesterday another wedding dress shop with youngest daughter and more beautiful dresses, one came out a winner and now is top of her list, this shop has the best reputation for service and care to ensure everything is perfect. One last shop today, I'm not going just bridesmaids with Su, she already had this appointment, so they will pop along. Last night was a BBQ at youngest daughters house, with Davids parents, just six of us, very quiet but enjoyable, loads of wedding plans were made. Nice chat with David's mum on wedding day attire, we decided no hats. It is great both families get along so well. It was a shame it got cold once the sun had gone, August has started far too cool. 

In a moment I am doing a quick clean and tidy on the ground floor, it's just dusty where we keep the patio doors open, we are both tidy so it won't take long. Later I am going out for lunch with a friend, and a bit of shopping, she wants help with the purchase of a special dress, she is very slender and wants to get the right style. 

This evening a nice quiet one at home, ready for the new week coming. 

I hope you are enjoying your weekend and have the sunshine as well. 

Blooming marvelous

Our Magnolia tree in 2nd bloom

pure bliss, and lucky to still have these flowers after the strong winds we have had, it's been more like late September/October. Still we are promised a better fore caste for the coming weekend

 I picked these three poppies from the garden

I love the thin petals, the colours and shape. 

 Done a bit more stitching

I have guessed the bottom right hand square will be another heart

The middle section arrived yesterday

I don't want to stitch more words in these last two hearts

so I am looking for something relevant to hubby and myself

I have decided to send my finished stitching Mandala Flowers to Michelle I love to see her crochet as well as stitching, plus partners Jack stitching ( yes lucky lady they craft together), and Sylvia her lovely cat. I will post it this weekend.
Tomorrow is the last day of July, where did that month go, as reflected by loads of bloggers this year is flying by. I don't feel as if I achieved much in July, garden looks OK, I have seen it better. I have been walking when possible (ie when it's not raining) and hitting my target steps. I am feeling restless, but I don't know what I want to do, nothing fires my imagination.
I am now working with Su to make her wedding stationary, we are keeping it simple and on Saturday we are at another wedding dress shop.
We do have a lovely wedding later in August, my niece is planning a super day, we will be away for a few days. Next weekend a visit to my brothers house, which is always fun, he is promising a BBQ in his revamped garden. Plus changes in work which most of us will enjoy.
I have been to our local library and found two books by Sarah Walters I so enjoyed Paying Guest, I am now reading Fingersmith, which will be my August good read.