Back home

Read in the last week

starting from book 1

My garden is still full of colour

 Lovely late rose

 Side beds

 Back bed

 I have done most of my pots

I plan to let these Yew to grow into the shape of this small obelisk 

 Still a few daily raspberries

My Olives are almost ready to pick

I only have a few

I put this chilli plant outside the greenhouse

the last few peppers are turning red.

I have been in the garden for an hour each afternoon, and most of my pots are planted for winter and spring, I have just two left to do, but the plants in them are still blooming. I do have bulbs for the raised garden, that's on my list to do next week.
My harvest is now almost over, it has been a good year for so many plants. I have pruned most of my fruit bushes and added more compost, the blackberry is now cordened along the garage wall.
I love all the colour at this time of year, on the whole I am pleased with my garden, it's looking how I planned.
My raised bed in the greenhouse is good, the plants settled into their new home, Jayne asked if it was permanent, yes it is, I have so many succulents and cacti plants and they have space to be seen and grow. I will bring in my olive and kiwi soon, next year I won't grow tomatoes inside and use my greenhouse for my tender plants.
I have started packing away some of my metal birds, many of them look rusty, which I love, but I still like to protect them over winter. Next week I will put all my blue coloured ornaments into my now tidy shed.
I've not done much crafting, but I have cut a few things out ready for sewing, I plan to finish my socks over this coming weekend, on the whole I am feeling much better, the only sticking point is I don't really want to go from the house. This week I have made myself go out, sign class was good and a perfect place for me to feel good. I did go to our local library, where I am in process of becoming a volunteer for the craft groups.

September

A much cheaper month

My spending is really down, there is so little I want, gardening was bulbs, wool for the ripple blanket, and sewing was 3 Christmas tea towels from the Range, which I will sew into something new.
I am adding another list here for Christmas spend, not presents, but all the bits and bobs I pick up, decorations, hubby thinks I spend alot, but I will prove to him I don't.
We have had a really good month, hubby saved £32 on the house/contents renewal, and also got a £50 voucher for spending at the Co-op, which means with our points back we should have over £100 for December Christmas shopping locally in our Co-op, not the cheapest shop, but free food is still good. He is now looking at our TV and internet, which again has raised it prices.
I have spent no money on clothes again this month, and not purchased any shoes, it's the hardest time of year not to purchase shoes, we all love the sales, but I am determined to go the whole year without any new footwear.
Steps have been mixed, some day well over my target, then days I'm feeling blue very low steps, I'm not worried, we are healthy and whilst away we did loads of walking. We have not used our cycles much, but again, we will be out on them soon.
Waste in the house improves, we are now watching the packaging we buy and often decide not to buy, yogurts is a prime example, we have not purchased any for ages. Both our general and recycling bins are not as full as they used to be. In the garden I have strawberry plants in more small plant pots, these will be sent to charity shop when ready. I have also been using saved compost bags for the spent soil from pots, which can't go into our garden waste bag, so has to go in the rubbish bin.
We did have the cost of our recent break, but is was a Groupon (discount) deal, which included breakfast and evening meals, so basically the cost of the hotel and the traveling cost, a very cheap few days away.
On the down side, our heating was turned on today, on timed for mornings and evenings, we do not have a fireplace in our sitting room, we have an electric fake log burner, which is expensive to run. I do like to save money, but I will not be cold.

Verity

Verity was standing watch over the sea at Ilfracome, as with everyone there you will have an opinion of her, love her or hate her, she does make you think.
Made by Damien Hurst, and on loan to this small sea side town, he is a local lad. She is truth and justice, and towers over everything else at the mouth of the harbour.
The top photos are the first you see of her, sadly from the car park below, she looks serine, in full bloom, when you walk to the edge of the water along a harbour wall, you get to see her other side, which for me was the more beautiful and interesting. I would have loved to see her in a different location, and tried in all my photo's to miss the car park.
We were not aware she was here, and not seen from our hotel, I loved her, she dominates the skyline.

Ilfracombe

Our break was fantastic, just what we both required, we arrived on Thursday, parked the car and walked for three days. Loads of dramatic coastline, lovely sunrises and sun sets, beautiful sunny days, cooler nights. We decided not to leave the small town, and stroll through the many narrow streets.
Our hotel was small a bit dated, but had wonderful staff and owner, who made our stay comfortable, we ate breakfast and evening meals at the hotel, had a snack out when walking. We had fish and chips, cream tea, fudge, ice cream and brought pasties home for tea last night. Devon is a beautiful county, and it was perfect to go back there.
We loved the rocky coastline and the harbour. We got to know Verity, she was a talking point (more next time).
We did not turn the TV on once, and I read a couple of books.
Home now, with Will for the day, back to normal and both of us are feeling so much better.