Whilst the rain falls

First book read this year, it's been so wet and dull, so plenty of reading time, I did enjoy this book, slightly different from her other books I have read, still with a medical background, set in two time lines. Book 1 read this year.

I love this author, so again I knew this would be a good book, he builds the plot around lives and then brings them all together, a very different theme, these people who have severed their time in jail are given new lives by the probation service, but they are being hunted and murdered, who, why? the police are on the case, twist and turns. I loved every word. Book 2 read this year. 

I gifted hubby these multi tools a few years ago, he did have them by his computer and then they were packed away, he does not use them, this week he has sorted his side of our office (long overdue) and stated these could go, I grabbed them, and they are now mine, as well as looking good the tools are useful, I have them out on show, I have used them often, I love them. 

I did pop into TK Max on Tuesday whilst in town, I got a pack of 6 crackers, reduced to a good price, and some paper tree ornaments, I love these simple folded designs, all packed away for later this year. I also got 3 jute bags locally, reduced to £1 each, I have no other plans to purchase anything for Christmas, everything is now packed away. 

I did manage an hour outside on Wednesday, the sun broke through for the shortest of time, the winds dropped and it was very pleasant, this side bed has been plagued with wild garlic, I purchased cheap bulbs many years ago, and every year they spread, so I have dug out the whole of this section and removed loads of tiny bulbs, all of which I popped in our rubbish bin, I did not want them in my compost. I am now hoping I have dug enough out to stop too many shoots, I know I will not have got them all, but I'm hoping most are gone. 

It took a while to sort my second pair of glasses out, for an unknown reason, the shop had ordered my second pair without my permission, which should not have been an issue other than I am struggling with these new to me bifocals. They were very helpful in the shop, but it took ages, going through the whole kerfuffle, no I didn't ask them to be made, why I was having issues, what they could do to help me, I'm not convinced they have sorted the issue I have when sat reading, that part of the lens feels far to small, I will know at the end of the month when the second pair arrive. We did wander around a couple of shops, not needing anything, but the wet weather was closing in, so we came home. 

Later on Tuesday daughter came over with Will, George and Molly, so the house was full of laughter, I should have taken a photo of Molly, she is looking so grown up, there is very little toddler left in her, she is not 3 until July, it looked like  a book shop here, they got all the books out to read. 

Wednesday was a lazy day at home, more storms in the morning and evening, nothing much to do inside and no interest to do much, so I sat on my computer popping more post into my 2022 book, I'm about a 1/3 of the way through, I hope to import and sort both 2022 and 2023 ready for the November discounts. 

Thursday started dry, by lunchtime the relentless rain arrived, non stop for the rest of the day, I have looked at all my seeds and made plans for the coming growing season, I will post next time, as a reminder to me of what I have. Today we are popping to the new huge B&M, to look at their garden centre, it's close to Dunelm and Home bargains, can't think we need much, but will look out for bargains, afterwards going to daughters house to look after her 3 for an hour. 

Starting a leap year.

 I saw this idea on another blog, 'my little jar of good things', each time something lovely happens in your life you make a note of it and pop it into the jar, another blog suggested you write a note each week. At the end of the year, you can spend time sharing memories of the good times from the year. I always keep these candle jars, this one will be perfect, added a few stickers I had.

Crafting, I have my knitted blanket to finish, I've done half the squares, a ball of sock yarn is ready for knitting. I have also been looking at my year wheel I started this time last year, I have been sketching, I'm hoping I can be inspired to get it done. My hexagons flowers sit and wait for inspiration, I am trying not to start anything new, it would be lovely to get one thing finished first.

Once the Christmas flowers and greenery are packed away, I have an empty vase on the small table by the patio doors, I could pack it away for a few weeks, but I want colour in our room, so it is tulip time again, far too early, they do brighten this corner. Completely soft plastic, but realistic, I got the red and white in February 2020, the pink/yellow ones I added last year, I do love to see these, they look very real.

We did stay up to watch the London fireworks, but only so I could sit with our cats as the local fireworks start, Grace our old lady slept through them all, she hates fireworks, these days she is going deaf, Purdy sat and watched them, so we were in bed by 12.30, evening just the two of us as we like it. 

Monday, I cleaned top to bottom, washed the wooden floors, packed away our Christmas cards, I have left little sets of lights around to brighten dark corners. I will give our kitchen a full clean, cupboards inside and out, I have an itch to sort, it's that time of year.

A new year, always makes me look at my crafting, and garden planning, I try and ensure I don't have too many unfinished projects, I do have a couple cross stich projects, not touched for years, I really should get rid of them, but they take up little space. I am going to book a couple more needle felting courses, making a rabbit and a bird, both half days and should help me increase my ability to make more animals. Hubby and I would like to find a local basket weaving class, something to do together. 

Both hubby and I decided we did not like our patio looking so bare, so we have moved some things back, not the wooden table and chairs, they can stay in the garage until drier days arrive, we both enjoy our view of the garden from the house. For now it's windy and storms, grey days and much cooler, we do have some colour outside.

We have not been far from our village since before Christmas, we are popping to town today to get my second pair of glasses, I will change the frames for a bigger pair as they are bifocals, I am struggling the the reading bottom half, watching TV is brilliant. If the rain is not to relentless I hope to get back home dry, daughter is coming over in afternoon,  Will starts back at school on Wednesday. 

Another year

How quickly the days, weeks and months fly by and once again here we are at the last day of the year, it's been a good year, the house is back to how it looks most of the year, I have loads of candles to burn, to bring in light, my garden note book is out, time to plan, nothing big, just raised bed planting, and a rejig of the greenhouse, I will sow seeds this spring. Life is about home, we have worked hard to ensure we are able to enjoy our retired years, we both love our home and garden.

I have found time for a final book this year, I love this author, when I picked up this book I knew I would be enjoying the story, she always manages to find a different theme for her books, she never repeats a plot. Book 37 read this year. I have not read as many books this year, I have tried to be outside more, doing things with hubby. 

My Christmas cake has been cut, we always wait until decorations are packed away, it's lovely and moist again, I always cut off the icing and marzipan, I can't eat nuts, so I get just the fruit cake hit. Daughter sent photo of Will, George and Molly eating theirs, my brother has not cut his yet.

We are both healthy as are our family, these days we are actively ensuring we are the best we can be, my weight is much lower that at the start of this year. Thanks to Pilates class, I feel much fitter, my movement is much easier, I have had less backache, and my posture has improved, I have also lost inches around my body. Hubby is in good health and as strong as ever, I sometime wonder how well he is aging, much better than me, but our bodies whilst looking similar, have had very different lives, children and cancer for me, heart issues for him. I have put a couple pounds back on, I'm not too bothered, it was in 2021 I was last this lower weight.

Sadly again we did not see much of our older grandsons, with weekend sports clubs and busy lives, living so far away means we don't see them often enough, knowing they are growing, healthy and happy keeps us going. I see my siblings when we visit Somerset, but hubby's siblings are all around the country, we did get to see his older brother and sister twice in the year, another brother in the autumn and have plans to visit Wales in February to see another sister and brother. 

I don't make resolutions at the end of the year, I prefer to have goals set through out the year and have a balanced life rather than everything in one go. Again I am going to say, nothing big is planned for the next year, we are going to decorate our bedroom and the stairs, which is a bigger project, but we can take our time in the summer when the days are longer and warmer. 

If you are still with me I wish you a Happy New Year,

 and hope you wishes come true for you.

December round up

December is always a low spend month, and this year I had no crafts needing finishing for Christmas, nothing in the garden, our part of the refit sorted everything, just £5 spent on a pack of bulbs and £7.49 on plastic eyes. So a very low spend month.

No clothes purchased this month, nothing required, I am hoping for a good low spend next year, as I replaced loads this year. 

The cost of the garden refit came from our savings, we will need to start to replace some of the funds. Our upstairs bathroom window was sticking, so we had a new handle fitted and after checking  our bedroom, we had that handle done as well.

We had very little to get for Christmas this month, most of what we purchased locally was paid for from hubby's ex-company who always send him a £50 gift voucher. 

Now the figures for the year, I'm very pleased, I have used so much from my stash, only purchasing what I need, rather than what I like, I hope to do the same next year, our garden will always have a cost, £110 was spend on one off purchases, structures for plants and netting ect. 

Clothes included 2 good quality winter warm coats, gym clothes and 3 pairs of shoes, under £43 per month, so again I'm happy with my spend. Christmas consumables came in under £40 for the year, we got half price cards last January, which we have loads left over, I did get 2 lovely candles in ceramic trees. 

As queen of spread sheets, I thought I would show you this, I started recording my spending back in 2015, this is my monthly spend in the last 6 years, I have not included the garden refit in these figures, as that was a separate spend. I do find it interesting to check in different ways. 2019 was the most expensive year, I finished working that year, as in the previous year I collected many useful items for the garden, swapping from bedding plants to shrubs. October was my expensive month in 2023, half the cost was for bulbs in my new bed.

This final chart shows my spending by craft and garden each year, it shows me how I use my funds, and confirms which crafts I am enjoying, the only difference is cross stitch, my stash is so huge I can do many projects before I need to spend. The garden always is the most expensive, but the joy we both get makes it worth while.

A very indulgent post for me.