Home....

 Songbirds is a beautiful book, a slow pace, a maid goes missing, and the police are not interested, so it's down to those who knew her to find help and answers. I loved The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by the same author, so I had high hopes for this story, she did not disappoint, I could not put it down, read on our couple of days away. Book 63 read.

Another good book, I have often said I don't enjoy American crime, this set in a small town on the edge of the wilderness, it twisted and added at every turn, I guessed some of the plot, but not everything, I did love the main characters. Book 64 read this year. 

This book was in places confusing, as more family information was given, it gave more questions then answers, the flash backs were not always obvious, but the end did sort loads out, it's hard to say much about the plot, except she was the girl who escaped.  Book 65 read this year.

I have re-potted some of my houseplants, Bette was not looking good the peals were tiny and not healthy, also my pineapple, spider plant and Chinese money plant all needed fresh compost, hopefully they will thrive again. They look droopy, but should perk up soon, I've moved some, my office space is cluttered as the plants and pots get bigger. I do need to find a stand for my spider plant. 

I've not done much crafting since I got home, I'm loving the reading time, just sat with the doors open or outside in the shade, it's bliss. I am still working on my hexagons, I'm determined to finish the sewing machine cover. I have a couple of other projects in the planning, I have 5 or 6 friends of Luna Lupin to make, plus clothes, I have 1 big cross-stitch canvas I would like to use, whilst I can see to stitch the 28 dpi, I'm thinking another mix-up design, I enjoyed making the last one. I also purchased some curtain fabric, just the sample piece, only cost £2, it colours my sister would love, just to decide should I make a bag or cushion cover for her. 

Tuesday we went to a new garden centre for coffee with the sign ladies, the coffee and chat was brilliant, but the garden centre was lovely, but much the same as our local one, so probably won't pop back there. 

We are having cloudy muggy days, it's got warmer again, but no rain, not had any decent rain for almost 6 weeks. Southern Water is imposing a hosepipe ban from Friday, its not for us we use Portsmouth water, but we are expecting them to follow, I can still use hose for my pots, the main garden I don't water so much. We are forming a plan for another waterbut, we already have 3, it will be near the front of the house and catch rainwater from the roof, hubby thinks in a drought, he could redirect the waste pipe from our shower into the butt, therefore giving us a good extra supply, our products we use are all delicate, without colours or added smells. We would not need a permanent attachment from the shower, that would be to much water when we don't require it, if it works it should be brilliant. I still have rainwater in my butt's, as some plants don't thrive on tap water, I am being very careful. 

Midweek break, photo heavy

We visited the railway museum in Swindon, spent a good couple of hours wandering around, so much to look at, for hubby loads of memories, I grew up in a small village in Somerset not close to any railtracks, I did not travel on a train until I was 14, we travelled to Bristol to choose our bridesmaid dresses for my elder brothers wedding. I do love these huge engines, there were lots of information, making it an really interesting visit.

I love these old engines, I love the workings, the rivets, the size of things.

The signs are beautiful as well.

The other main visit was to the standing stones at Avebury, I have many time visited Stonehenge, as a child we walked around the site touching the stones, sadly these days you can only walk around the outside, not close to the stones. I have never visited Avebury before and was stunned at how many stones there are around the village, they feel the same at Stonehenge, just smaller and loads of them. Again a few hours just walking around, these stones you can get up close and touch them, over 3 different sites all close together.

We also found this wonderful group of 4 trees, their roots now sit on the surface making a stunning pattern, people have hung items in the trees, in the heat of the day it was a lovely cool quiet place to be. 

Next to the museum was a huge outlet shopping centre, we did walk around, the shops were mainly high-end names, so we did not go inside many, the prices charged at even outlet prices are much too high for us. I did love how they mixed the old and new together, looking up we could see all the old structure. We visited a very disappointing huge garden centre, we had an equally disappointing lunch there, we arrived to early to go straight to the hotel. We also visited a walled garden, but due to the long period of dry weather, most of the summer plants were being removed, we did enjoy the walk around the grounds. We kept busy in the daytime, resting and reading in the evenings.

We had an afternoon in Royal Wotton Basset, I have only been to the town once, I was with hubby on the back of his motorbike doing a ride of respect, along with hundreds of bikes following the route of fallen soldiers on their return home, I did a post here. It was lovely to walk around the town, lots a independent shops, flower decorations and even a couple knitted tops for post boxes. 

We drove to the hotel using M27, M3, A34 and M4 all very busy routes, but when we drove home we stayed off the motorways, a much nicer trip, took a bit longer, but we did stop for a late lunch along the way. Friday afternoon was lazy, with an early night. Daughter came over with Will, George and Molly for an afternoon BBQ on Saturday, we sat outside for ages catching up, another lazy evening. Sunday was a day at home, Reading and enjoying the peace which is our home. 

 

July roundup

 

Slightly higher spend on craft, I did get a new set of poppers and their tool, should help with small items and save making tiny button holes, and some fabric and pretty tape., almost nothing on garden, 

I did purchase more clothes, hubby is happy I took loads of old tops to the clothes bank, all had good life in them, hubby was just fed up seeing me in the same items, after so many years. 

We had a bad couple of weeks for food waste early in the month, whilst both were unwell we took our eyes off dates, and things were left too long in fridge, and because we had visitors we had more food than normal, one visitor was a fussy eater, eating things one day and refusing the next, sadly we wasted far to much food. We did try and use as much as we could, but I was not eating much, we did allow our fridge to empty, so we could restock with the food we love to eat. 

Asda is running their Blue Light card discount until October, so we got 10% off most of our shopping this month, we did not look at anything other than food.

I should be saying how much weight I have lost, but the fat is stubbornly sticking and I'm still struggling, I was reading an article where they suggest women of our age are prone to belly fat and diabetes issues, how our body changes with age and how different parts slow down, most of which I already knew.   My steps were much lower in July, but I'm not bothered, with Covid and the heat, it is what it is. 

Last few days of July

I have almost finished the front and first side panel, just a few to stitch together on top left, it's the correct height. I now need to sew the side and back panel, I already have a big section done, just need to add to it, the back will be higher, I have a flap to tuck over the top of the machine.

Another new author to me, I did not fully read the back cover and choose it based on it set in Australia outback, someone is missing, it's one of many books about Ben Hope, ex SAS, I found the story too cut and dry, Ben had experienced so much, he had answers for everything, OK if you like matcho stuff but not my style. Book 61 read this year. 

So your a dog who has been experimented on, enhanced, can read, has GPS, and they say I'm not working properly and should be terminated, so what do you do, run, totally daft story, but I loved it. Book 62 read this year. 

Tuesday we had a sign ladies met at our house, sat in the shade in the garden for lunch, loads of chatter, lots of fun. No smell from next door, hubby sprayed everywhere to eliminate most of the flies, a peaceful couple of hours, later I babysat 3 youngest grandchildren whilst mummy went to a show, a late night but enjoyable for everyone. I had more time with Will, he is such an interesting little soul.

Wednesday we drove to just outside of Swindon, we have been staying in a old house hotel for a few days, I will post photos in my next post, we are driving home today, with a stop on the way, we both are now lovely and relaxed. 

How quickly this month has flown by, the year is going just as quick, my god the evenings are getting darker, soon the season will change again.