In the post

A very dear lady called Karen sent me an email a while ago, we have chatted a few times, she is not a blogger but loves reading blogs, she sent to me a small parcel, I'm a lucky person.

Home made lavender bag with home grown lavender from her garden, and the most beautiful cat fabric bag, a home knitted cloth and the most perfect soap purchased from Lanzarote, it's such a shame you can't smell these items, and a beautiful hand made card. The lavender bag is in our big wardrobe, and the soap is in our upstairs bathroom, so many beautiful scents.  

I have had more emails from blogger, they have reviewed my 6 post, and have reinstated each one, I had not contacted them, so it was a surprise to me. I have no idea why or who started this chain of events, and sadly no way of knowing. I have no objections to the policing of online media, I always embrace it, but details of any decisions would be nice. Comments received on my last post are saying they have seen this before, it does not stop me wondering what their criteria is. 

My mammogram went well, I walked up to arrive just on my appointment time, they were happy to see me, even with my cough (which is getting better), they were pleased I got the test before coming, the lorry coming into our community is a brilliant scheme, parking at our local hospital is always difficult to find spaces and oh so expensive. 

The rain has been non stop, it's pouring down as I write this post, very good for the garden, as I was planting out last week, I did notice the ground below was still dry, I flattened all the leaves from the daffs and bluebells, I then added loads dried chicken poo and farmyard manure and after planting some bark I had left over from the front garden, the whole side garden should do well this year. 

Yesterday I did some more stitching, I am very close to finishing my big project, I will post photo's once completed. I also sat and read for the evening, nothing we wanted to watch on TV, our Alexa is set to play music we love, last night I listened to George Michael , followed by 80's music. 

Some you win....

Had a wonderful lunch on Thursday with old work mates, not seen them since November 2019, it was a long lunch sat outside, with gift swaps as always, Ann make the most wonderful preserves, and a new face mask. For a short while everything felt really good, catching up with everyone's news and a bit of added gossip, Ann is retired like me, whilst Lizzy still works at the same place.

 Friday was not so good, I had a pedicure booked, I have a cough, so I took a test just to be sure, it was negative as expected, but the lady refused to do my pedicure, can't blame her, but what's the point of taking test. I sent her all the information on Thursday evening, so at least I did not turn up on the day and upset her. I have another lady doing my pedicure next Thursday, happy to see me.  

We stayed in on Friday morning, waiting for the post, medical delivery for hubby, can't be left on the doorstep, later we drove to a local  Dobbies garden centre, hoping it might have improved since our last visit, Plants did look better, but I'm not impressed, won't go there again, I got just 1begonia.

Hubby got a couple of dahlias for pots in his front garden, not sure how long these will last, he does not care for his plants once planted and complains when I do anything. 

I had loads of emails from Blogger this morning, they have deleted 6 of my post, they don't give induvial reasons, just refer you to their policies, I'm a bit at a loss to why and what's happened, I have never knowingly put any contentious content on my blog. Their links are so general it gives me no help. On checking, the post I think are to do with my cross stitch project, so I assume it's about copyright, but in each case I have paid for the patterns from the designer, maybe someone does not like what I am doing with their designs. 

I drove on the motorway M27 and into Portsmouth on Thursday, it was so strange to be driving again, most of the past 15 months I have stayed local, but driving into the city where so many things have changed, it was surreal, the roads felt very busy, cars everywhere, I drove to the bottom along the sea front, which was so lovely. 

Today is my mammogram, the lorry is in our local carpark, so just a quick pop out and get it done, no other plans this weekend, nothing required, nowhere to go, so just time at home together. I am hoping to finish my cross stitch this week, and I have plenty of books to read. 

I did get some gardening done, I have planted loads of bedding plants in hope they survive the weather and slugs, they are all a healthy size, and ready enough to be outside. My Acer is looking good in its new home, the leaves did not drop off, I love watching the branches dancing in the wind, our small wild birds are in it through out the day, it was the best decision to place it near the decking. I have loads more in the greenhouse, which I hope to plant this coming week, hoping for loads of cour this summer. 

Reading

Just finished this book, another story about Roy Grace stationed in Brighton, Peter James is changing the style of these books, just a bit in each book, keeps it sharp and readable.  18th book read this year.

On our coffee get together last week, one of my friends thought of me and took loads of books from her friend for me, 7 books on top of my shelf, these were going to the charity shop, they will still go to the charity shop but not before I read them and then pass them to my neighbour. 

In a lovely act of kindness Maggie from BlackCountry Wench blog has offered to send me this book, I have read Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy stories and loved every word, I have always loved blogging, reading everyone's news and I love how kind we are to each other, thank you Maggie.

If you look at the top left of this blog, you can see my favorite post about our child's garden bench, how each grand child has had their photo taken sat on it, it's Georges turn with big brother Will, don't they look cute. The boys came over on Tuesday and Wednesday, with mummy, we did have some time in the garden, so much laughter, and for a nice change it was warm and sunny. 

Thank you for your kind understanding comments on my last post, I almost deleted it rather than published it, but I decided it is my reflection of life at this time, most years I have published my blogs into a book for myself, so if I print this year it will be another honest read. With the end in sight, these last few weeks are dragging, there are only so many garden centres we can visit, especially as I don't really have any space for more plants. We do have plans, but these days are slow and long, the weather does not help, still spending too much time inside. 

I am having a busy few days, lunch out today, pedicure tomorrow, 1st one for over a year and on Saturday it's my turn for the dreaded boob squash, I have had a really bad cough, thanks baby George for sharing it, so I have had a Covid test, which was negative, thank goodness. I did not go to Tuesdays coffee morning in one ladies garden, the numbers crept up to expected 9 people, so hubby and I stayed away, these days I see more people relaxing the rules with a shrug of their shoulders.

I'm bored

I love the leaf colours of my jade plant, it lives and thrives in my greenhouse, don't you just love the pot it's in, it's a biscuit barrel, and reflects everything around it. 

These bedding plants are ready to go out, I am going to have to get them in the ground soon, some are ones I dug up last year and the others were plug plants I have grown on. . 

Blooms in the greenhouse, these will be placed around the garden in June. 

My pomegranate plant, grown from seed, it's a few years old, last year it was left outside in winter for the 1st time, I love the colours on the leaves, it's a really healthy plant. I have no idea on how this will grow, is it a big bush or will it grow into a tree, I'm just happy to watch and learn. 

I may have purchased another indoor plant, I have always loved maidenhead ferns, this is a nice size, and looks good on kitchen window sill, my herbs are now in the garden, I will use the pots in my greenhouse. I have got my plants online, Candide Gardening plants are always sent well wrapped and the plants have all been if fantastic condition, I'm not being paid to say this, just my own thoughts. 

The 3rd Amaryllis is also sprouting leaves, I am doing nothing to these bulbs, just waiting to see what happens, they are on the floor in the greenhouse, my cucumber behind is in it's growing pot. 

This is the straight view from our sitting room, 

I love it, it's our world, it makes me smile.

Our world has become very small, it's all about home life, the past year home has been our safe place, my post have become boring, we are doing nothing, so sewing and garden updates are all I have to talk about, with the odd photos of Will and George. We have popped to a few shops, but we have over the years got into the habit of not purchasing stuff we don't want or need, understanding our commercial world, where the shops/internet flash stuff at you, you need this, buy it now. 

We are both tidy people, so the house and garden is sorted to how we like it, after living here for 11 years, it's all to our taste. I am almost finished my big cross stitch, I have books to read, and a couple of small ripple blankets to make, but I am bored. Our world has shrunk far too small, we are starting to meet up with friends, later this month my brother will be here and then we will visit my family in Somerset, we have a short mid week break booked as well. We need summer to be here, so we can go further from our house, do different things, widen our outlook. Any task we find to do, we jump on it, enjoying the purpose of the task, something to do, we work well together, our skills between us ensure we can sort most things. We now need to get out and start enjoying the bigger world, I love our home, but it's not enough at this moment, hopefully Boris will release us more today, Monday can't come soon enough, I will still be very cautious, it's been a long, long winter in every way.