Not blue

Kirt has new hair  he is looking much better it's not the same grass as before, the light does look good through it, I thought he would like a change, we all play about with our hair. I have popped the old plant at the back of the garden so the birds can steal more dried grass.

I have purchased a white lavender plant, I was pleased telling hubby I had taken loads of cuttings for new plants when he said the lavender is blue, I checked back through my posts and indeed the plant is blue, so once this is settled, I will take cuttings. This plant cost £12, and we would need six, so I'm happy to wait a year before changing the tubs by our entrance door.

As we were wondering around a garden centre looking for the above plants, hubby said, 'I like that', pointing to a green parasol, we both loved the design, we had been discussing getting a new one, they had different colours so the blue one came home with us. It's been a bit breezy and the base is holding it firm, so a great addition, I love the spokes, it's really pretty and holds steady. It won't fit through the hole in the middle of the table, and hubby can't make the lower hole any bigger, so we will keep moving it until we find the best spot.

I got some simple warm lights for our bunting, our garden does not get any light at night and this fence section is dark. I rest my case on the fact I'm a woman of certain age and I love loads of lights, these are solar, and static, they could flash, but I don't like flashing lights.

So a simple coffee one morning with friends, became expensive, but most of the things we needed, using the garden in the new layout, is working, the parasol gives loads of shade around the table. Hubby put the pergola on our local Facebook page for a good price and it has sold, another step towards our new garden layout. I have not added the cost of the parasol to my stash and garden list, big things always come out of the household budget, especially if hubby wants it as well.  

I did not watch Chelsea this year, I was happier sitting in my own garden, than watching perfection on TV. I have gone off Monty Don, I'm not watching Gardeners World, I loved his garden, but I now feel its just the same each year, I want realism, and more about plants, their history, their native habitat, and more detailed care. 

I have done more of my cross stitch, no other sewing, I don't have a knitting project, and I'm not reading much, We are in our garden most of the day, the sun is hot, the breeze cool, so together it's pleasant, just little bit's to do, mainly weeding and dead heading. We are walking more, trips around our local park most days, chatting to dog walkers, it's a social place. 

Inside out

We had Molly on a sleep over, with 3 children we have them sleep over one at a time, she slept all night and was really happy next morning, it's been years since I did little girls hair, she is not keen on having her hair brushed, so after cleaning her teeth, I left the cold tap on and did her hair whilst she was playing with the water. 

Just a few new things in the garden this year, the Azalea has loads of new buds, I'm not normally a fan of pink/red plants, the Geranium in the mug, is a replacement for a plant lost, both photo's on top row. The tiny white flowers in my half pots looks pretty, my Camelia is still blooming, with just a few buds left, all these plants are new this year.

These blooms are regular in the garden, the chives are blooming again, I love them, we do cut them, but always grow too many. The Hosta, in my copper coal bucket grows well, I pull it away from everything in hope to stop the slugs and snail, at some point the leaves will all get eaten, but it's the natural cycle. My early Alliums are blooming, this is their 2nd year. 

I am trying a few new plants this summer, my Astrantia's grew well, one is in the garden the other in the huge pot by my greenhouse door. This Physalis, Chinese Lantern is completely new, I have popped it into my big brown pot, which was the only empty pot, it's still in the greenhouse, now by the open door, soon I hope to have it in the garden. I am growing this for ornamental reasons, not to eat any fruits. 

I want to change the two bigger pots by our side door, our main entrance, at the moment I have eucalyptus which has got woody at the bottom, it's hard to try and keep them like a bush, after chatting with hubby we have decided to go for white lavender, he has blue lavender in the front bed. Being tight, I have decided not to change the pots this year  I have taken 8 cuttings from my white lavender in the back garden, just to see if I can get 6 plants, it's worth a try, I have rooted lavender before.

I have three water butts, and I have just half of one butt left, so as the half term comes to an end, is it wrong of me to hope and want rain, any gardeners will understand, going into summer with little rain water, is not a place I want to be. Everything is focused on the outside at this time of year, we are enjoying our space, and next door has gone quiet.

It was fun to have Molly, she is so much like her mum, brings back so many happy memories, she plays independent, and tries most everything, typical youngest child with her I can do it attitude. I did tell my daughter the trick to getting Molly's hair done. We have had a simple few days at home, eating loads of salad and relaxing.

One final thought, how can it be June already, sat here shaking my head, it will be Christmas all too soon. 

May Round up

 

Another big spend in the garden, my little lemon plant was expensive, but I did want to replace the one lost in the cold weather. My leather trainers were a bargain, too good to miss and I will wear them loads, no other clothes purchased and a couple of books to read.

More expense in the garden, replacing the final 2 broken panels, we are private again, with firm good quality post, hopefully for years to come, the post should stay even if any panels break. 

I have spent a bit more on top up shops at daughters and we used loads more fuel in the car, she did ask how much should she pay us, but I won't answer, life is expensive when you have kids. 

19th of May was UK's earth overshoot day, on this date we had used all the annual  renewable resources, we are using these resources at twice the rate they are being produced, it's not just us, almost all countries are the same, our world can't keep up with human needs, we have to change. Just do your bit to help, like us, think about your foot print, and make it greener, don't worry if you are not perfect at it, very few of us are, but as they say 'every little bit helps'.

No food going off, it's the same each month, we get enough fresh fruit and veg each week, which keeps us out of the local supermarkets for top ups, just one visit to Lidl's for general shop. Hubby is not listening to me about portion size, he cooks too much and shares it all out, even though I was brought up to eat everything on your plate, I have started only eating what a need and binning the rest, in hope he understands, I think the message is getting through, he now hates waste as much as me. 

My weigh is down a few pounds and my steps up loads, children are great at keeping you fit, the two little ones wanted almost everything I was eating, so in every case, I cut bits off ready to let them try, they both love raisin and cinnamon toasted bagels (my breakfast), the school run added an extra 3000+ steps each and every day. 

Sunny Bank holiday

Thursday we walked along the marina at Port Solent, very expensive area, the flats around mostly come with a mooring as well as parking spaces. There are a few nice shops and loads of places to eat. Hubby got his shoes, which is a relief,  he got a pair a week ago, but took them back when the eyelet hole broke. We got Will from school, which is always fun, saw George and Molly for a short visit.

Molly and George came to play on Friday, whilst mummy took older brother Will to the cinema, they played with their new Pepper Pig balls and spent most of the time outside. Our house and garden looked like a toy shop for a while, we did manage to get some quiet time later, a cartoon called Bing is the newest favourite for both of them.

Saturday a lazy day at home, we never take our car out on holiday weekends, the roads are extra busy with the hot sunny weather, everyone driving to the coast. I finished this book all 999 pages, I have read everyone in the series, the author is J K Rowling writing under a pseudonym, her earlier books have all been televised, all true to the storyline and very enjoyable. Book 9 read this year.

Sunday we went to daughters house for a BBQ, Grandma and Grandpa were there, so a true family time, daughter has recovered from her infection,  thank you so much for all your best wishes, it was a worrying time. Plenty of food cooked by SIL, the little ones entertained us, they are both so cute.

We had a sunny bank holiday so far, which makes a lovely change, and the forecast for the coming week is good, it's half term so many families are going to be happy. We are retired so the extra days holiday means nothing to us, but it's lovely to know mums and dad are having more time with our grandchildren. We had planned to be in Somerset over the weekend, but hubby was not feeling good, so we stayed home. He is feeling  much better, just tired most of the time, I'm hoping it's just the sudden very hot weather, I am keeping an eye on him, any jobs need doing can wait.

I am still doing my Pilates class, I have missed a class, I went on Thursday, my back was a bit sore, so I rested instead of doing a couple of the exercises,  best to be safe. I have not done any cross stitching, my book was good and we are outside later each day.

Today is a day at home together,  I can't think of anything better, we are chatting loads about things changing when our garden is remodelled next spring, needless to say I'm over the moon,  we eat outside every day, life is good. Later I'm going to pamper myself, I should have done it on Saturday, but we stayed outside much later.