Family times

Mummy and George met us at our favourite garden centre, on Thursday, they always have child friendly displays, George loves a chair. I did get just one plant, hubby got loads of pickles from their shop, he does like different taste, and they sell loads, he is BBQ ready now.

His favourite thing to eat is teacakes, mummy, grancha and nana had naughty cakes, at time to go home he walked to our car and climbed in, so he spent the afternoon with us. Loads of fun and laughter and very tired grandparents, I missed my Pilates class as I ached so much. 

Friday Mummy picked me up and we took George and Molly to a show at Kings Theatre in Portsmouth, it's a charming small building. Both children loved watching In the Night Garden, perfect show for them, they both joined in and enjoyed it, it was pure joy to watch them. I slept over at daughters house, so Friday evening I watched Minecraft videos with Will, and enjoyed Saturday morning together. 

Sunday we went to have afternoon tea with them, we sat outside with their neighbours, we didn't have any street parties here, the last one fizzled out. The children had loads of fun, the main road next to their street was closed for a few hours, so it was safe for them to play, a lovely sunny warm day, loads of laughter.

My Amaryllis is blooming, I feel so lucky to get a third bloom, this was an expensive bulb purchased from a garden centre, hubby got it as part of my Christmas gifts. My other bulbs are drying out in the garage, I have popped each one into a paper bag, so the bulbs are not touching, they are in a wooden tray, so hopefully they will be OK through the summer months. I have never done this before, so I don't know if it will work. 

We did watch TV on Saturday, it was a very historic moment, but I am not a fan of Charles, I think he will be a very different ruler than his mother, he will meddle and be out spoken. To me he is an entitled man, who likes his own way, he has good intentions and has used them for good, but now his mother is no longer here, he has no one to answer to. Maybe I should forget, but Camilla, both their roles in the disaster, which was his first marriage, I just don't like her. Many people are asking if the Royal family will survive, I do think it will, William hopefully will bring in change, become more like the European royals, become closer to the population, I can see Charles making changes, but not enough, he is of the old order. 

It's been a busy time, and I ache and I'm tired, as is hubby, we love spending time with this little family, it does make us sad as we don't get to see our other lads, they are so far away. This coming week is very quiet, only one appointment, so I plan to take it easy, I asked hubby to order me 2 books, so I can find some reading  time.

Making things better

I was going to put words on here and then remembered these lovely flower stickers, I'm very pleased with the result, and will pop it up in my office, it's too nice to go in the garage.

Outside, I am so pleased with my bedding plants, I purchased them in strips as small plants a while ago and potted them on, the plants and more importantly the roots are strong and healthy, perfect for planting out. I have begonia's and bizzy lizzies to pot on, they will go out into the ground later this month.

The few new plants are doing well this week, I got the Azealia from the village, the red and white is very pretty, my Camelia has loads of blooms, the Chinese witch hazel is a few years old, but is steadily growing.  My Alpine garden is planted in the old bird bath, I do need some top covering, at the moment it's just sand, I hope to get some tiny stones. 

My original Peony has loads of buds, I adore this plant, it's the most special plant in my garden, my mum loved it and care for it for years. Last year none of the buds opened, so I am hopefully these will bloom. 

Whilst our neighbour is behaving nicely towards us (ie not shouting or accusing us of anything), hubby has decided to replace the final 2 panels at the bottom of the garden, he has pulled all the stuff out and it's behind the garage, we have the same man coming back soon to do the work, the panels will be delivered early so hubby can paint them before they are placed. This will be the first time in 14 years we have had someone who is working in the garden to return, normally the kafuffle caused ensure no one normally returns. 

The garden is looking good, I still have to side bed to sort, but the bluebells are in full bloom and the daffodil leaves need to die back a bit more, I managed to plant all the gladiola corns and set up a frame to keep them upright, at the back of the old herb bed. Hubby has sealed a tiny hole in one of our water buts, I am hoping it works, if not we will need to purchase a replacement. More importantly, we had loads of time to sit in the sun and enjoy our space, when the sun shines I do have to be outside, these days I dream of my perfect layout, which would include new buildings, patio's and even space for a couple raised veg beds, all very expensive, and only a dream, but it's nice to dream.

My back has started aching, so I am being very careful, I do need to dig out my composter, but it can wait a week, I am crafting inside and resting, I am having a busy week, spending time with our littlest  grandchildren tonight, I'm having a sleep over on Friday, whilst mummy has a night out and daddy is working away. Tuesday we went to a garden centre for coffee and a chat with sign group, we then went to B&Q, hubby needed more fence paint, I wondered in the plant section, opps, so new plants and other bits came home with us.

The house feels clean and tidy, we both like to pack things away, but had got a bit naughty at popping things in the spare bedroom wardrobe and the back of our wardrobe, growing up in a large family we each had our own space and mum always wanted everything clean and tidy, as I get older I get more and more like my mum. On a happy finish, my third Amaryllis bloom is opening, another stunning bloom. 

Crafting.

Another new design added, this one I stitched earlier this year, just a few diamonds, this fills the last section along the bottom. I want to complete these and do the oblong box, then is back to the right side. The mark above the flower is where I unpicked one I did not like the colour, I can and will stitch over the mark.

We collected our pottery last week, all fired and finished, I was very impressed the flower was still attached to the plate, I will add some decoration using rub off stickers and it will hang in the garage over my garden side. The little pot I made to store my sewing clips in, I made it the size I needed forgetting it would shrink in the kiln, I can't get many clips in the pot, so I will find another use. 

Hubbys dish is the straighter sided dish on the left, mine is on the right, these were made on the wheel with the help of the tutor, she did more on mine to keep the shape, a potter I am not, they both look beautiful, they have been placed in our down stairs bathroom, it has a blue décor. 

Hubby struggled with the hand build, he started with a pot but could not get it neat, so he made me a plant saucer, which is very useful, Mojo is the nickname he calls me, I love it and love he made it for me., using colours I love. It was a brilliant thing to do together, so much fun. 

Sunday morning was sunny and dry, so the grandchildren spent hours outside playing, so much room to run around, we sat and watched them, the easiest of child care, they play so well together. 

I have been online and booked another day class, this time for wet needle felting, in hope to start my journey with needle felting, again it's in our local centre so just a free bus ride away, this will happen in early July. I am also watching for a couple more, which like the felting course I will do alone, it's not at all to hubby's taste. We still are looking for a few things to do together, hopefully in photography, which we both love. I also gave in and went to purchase the square boxes, but they are out of stock, so I got some cheaper ones the same size. 

Quiet weekend, Friday we cleaned the house, our friends arrived and we walked to the village for lunch and a long chat, my neighbour came with us, another lazy evening at home. Saturday was a day at home, outside in the garden, we both popped on shorts, it was warm all day, I got loads done, was shattered afterwards, lovely early night. Sunday we had daughter and the children, lovely roast turkey lunch, Will stayed for a sleep over, which was fun, he is so interesting and never stops talking. Today is a bank holiday, not that it makes any difference to us, just another day at home together and much quieter, I can find more to do outside, the garden is almost summer ready, not sure if the weather is going to be kind. 

April was a sort out month, our walk in wardrobe in our bedroom has been done, it looks much better, the back wall was a bit of a dumping place, for weeks we had loads from the spare bedroom wardrobe. As I was putting items back into the spare room, I had a huge sort, again things had been popped in there. So loads of decluttering, moving things around so they are in the correct place, why was there a canteen of cutlery in the wardrobe, and do we need 2 sets along with our everyday set. Living with less is so freeing, even with doors and drawers closed, it feels tidy as I enter into each room, I have turned into my Mother's daughter, she's watching me with a huge grin.

April round up.

I did return 2 balls of Aran yarn, which were not needed, and swapped them for some delightful fabrics. Expensive month in the garden, but loads of plants being grown on for the summer, purchasing just 4 plants for my Alpine dish was expensive at £32.50, but I wanted something different.

I spent £43, I got new slippers (very necessary) and a new pair of sandals (naughty), I recycled 2 pairs of sandals, both were not as comfortable as they could be. I also got cut flowers for Easter and a book to read.

We did a big shop, this time at a local huge Tesco superstore, just getting store items which we can't get at Lidl's, and a few bits for Easter, we spent over £200, just shocked at how much food is costing. Again no food waste this month, I spent nothing on clothes, I have had another sort out in my wardrobe, getting rid of stuff I don't wear. We had a bigger household spend with new carpet and rug, and a few smaller items, all needed and should last for years. 

My weigh is a bit lower, with Easter in this month and me loving chocolate, I was never going to lose much weight, and going to Newcastle with family, loads of lovely meals, my steps again have improved.