WIP cross stitching

This is on one set of hoops

I want to finish it for Christmas

I last stitched here 

 Another WIP on hoops 

I last stitched this here

 This is my current stitching, not done much to it

I last stitched it here 

 Winter Watergarden

I love this design, but it is stitched one over two, which I have never done before and I was struggling with. So I packed it away.

 It is stunningly beautiful

it's on my radar to get finished. 

The sparkly threads and beads bring this stitching to life. 

My tea towels purchased for the fabric.

I have some heavy duty pale green cotton fabric, 

I can use for lining and handles. 

I have had a busy time so far this week, but I can't list what I have been doing, the days have run away with us, we have spent time with friends, babysat Will, and I have had a stash sort out. So basically enjoying the time to myself this week.
How quickly I have slowed down on clock watching, knowing I have tomorrow to finish things and if not, next week will do.
We are planning a BBQ on Saturday, my family and loads of our friends coming, just keeping everything crossed the weather is dry. We have been to Lidl's for extra food, we were both very good and only put food into our trolley, it is so easy to add other items and bump the cost up.
My back I thought was improving, I had a good night's sleep and woke up without pain, but having Will here today, playing with him on the floor, where he loves to be, I am in pain again. If by next week it has not improved I have promised hubby I will seek help.

August, my new life

July was a very low spent month

I spent most on the bargains from my last post, but I see them as investments for my future garden. I got 4 reduced plants from B&Q for £6.50 to fill in a few gaps in the garden.

 I also got a couple of cotton tea towels for my sewing stash. 

I have a healthy £62.56 under spend to use with this months £70, when I redo my side garden. 

 My shed was a tip, 

so on Sunday I pulled every thing out and sorted, 

I had loads of space when finished.

 Had a go at the greenhouse as well 

 This is my lovely nasties shelf, 

 Kiwi seedling is now getting much bigger

 Poinsettia has so much new growth 

I aim to have this for celebrations this Christmas 

I have read how to get the leaves red

 Walnut sapling has doubled in size. 

This pot should be it's home for a long while. 

 Two more books

In Bitter Chill - great read

The Quality of Silence - not really my type of book

but I did read it all

It's been a busy few days,
Sunday we spent time in the garden, I was working at the back section, my growing area, I was in a tidy mood, so the shed was sorted.
We had friends over on Monday for lunch, later family arrived from Derby, we had a BBQ on Monday evening, Will and mummy came and cousins met for the first time.
Today after the family had left for their next part of their holidays, we had Will whilst mummy popped into her work, sorting her new hours for when she returns in January.  We took Will for a long walk, we later met mummy in a local shop where we stopped for coffee.
Tonight it's just the two of us, so a lazy evening. I need to rest because on Monday morning whilst giving the house a quick clean, I twisted my back, really stupid thing to do and it hurts. I am OK walking slow, but I can't bend and standing from sitting, I look as if I have aged 30 years. Not the start I had planned for my new life, but it does stop me rushing about, I have to remember I have more time to do things.

Bargain Hunt

Everyone loves the sales

Wilko's have started reducing their garden items

 So has Robert Dyas

 Ops, shoes

We popped to town for an hour, we always try and only pay £1 for an hours parking, we succeeded this morning hubby had one task to do.
It's that time of year, where I keep an eye on Wilko's, I love to get things at their end of season sale. The 2 black trays were £1 each, the popup greenhouses £2.50 each and the Obelisk £4 each. The Obelisk are for our tomato and cucumber plants next year, the frame are perfect for supporting the plants. The pop up greenhouse are not too big and I can use them to group pots together and cover them when the winter weather gets here. The plastic trays are just perfect for so many things. I had the trays and the Obelisk on my things I needed.
In Robert Dyas, I saw the Wilkinson Sword cutters half price at £9.99 and the propagator set reduced to £7.50, plus we were given a 15% off voucher.
My spending in July was almost nothing on garden and craft, I will show my chart next week at the end of the month.
As for the shoes, Pavers £29.99 and they are so comfortable.
Our meal last night was brilliant, good food and wine, not as expensive as we thought, the only downside was the restaurant was full and loud.
We have popped and seen Will, mummy and daddy, Will is now up on his hands and knees and will be crawling soon, already he gets around the floor, how quick they grow up.

Party food

Today was party food day, loads of cake, crisp, sausages

and this Lemon meringue which I made last night

It's all gone now, but thanks to Mary Berry recipe was lovely 

 Just two spots from the garden

This chimney is beautiful

 These are also lovely

both are not newly planted this year, 

 I got this book from our local library, it was a very good read

Modern story line, which kept me wanting to read more. 

Today was my last working day, not that I did much work, I was coaching for most of the morning. We had loads of nibbles, all lovely delicious food which when eaten in the amounts we had, bad for you. Most of the afternoon, I spend wondering around ensuring I said goodbye to everyone. I had an  interesting exit  meeting with 2 bosses, we chatted and laughed, I was told I could come back, I declined.
So no more 6.20am alarm, no motorway morning and evening fun and games, hubby and I at home. I do feel a fraud, I have worked all my life, and it does feel strange not to have to go to work. I'm too young to retire, I still have to wait for my state pension, over four years.
I am planning structure into my days, I would be happy to sit and read for hours in every day, but I want to do things, I also do not want to promise my time yet, I don't want to promise something I might regret. We need to factor in time with Will, we are active grandparents and want to do more, I do believe it will be good for both of us and Will to do things together.  
I am also thinking if I can find the right role, working a couple of short days each week, I know I have just retired, but I still have loads to give, and it may not necessary be paid work. I don't want to work in a charity shop, that is just not my thing.
Going to be a interesting time, and I have an open mind. So who knows what I will be doing in a month, early next year or next summer. It's for me to find my way.