October gone

I came in just under budget, but spent more than predicted

the purchase of the walking foot was not budgeted at all. 

As yet I have not found the Christmas fabrics I am searching for, I still have a couple of places to pop to, I really do not want to take a chance on the net and end up with the wrong weight of cotton. 

I have portioned the leftovers from Sunday lunch, the beef was on discount for the larger pieces, so we purchased knowing we would have loads left over.

Monday's tea, beef roast, plus a bowl for Will who was on another sleepover.

 The turkey and stuffing are in the fridge, enough to make pie, 

again I will add cranberry sauce and palma ham. 

The beef will be used this week for meals. 

 Turkey carcass and left over veg, once the meat came away from the bones, I added the veg, warmed everything through and blended it. I am fussy with what veg I eat, but adding it to a soup, mixes the taste and I get to eat everything. 

 Four huge pots of good thick soup, which is perfect this week as our temperatures are dropping. These four cups will make three lunches for hubby and I. 

We are on a mission to clear the fridge this week, we have enough to ensure we should not require a big shop, hubby will make bread today.
Will had a good sleep over, we were up at six, bit earlier than normal, I put him in his travel cot whilst I had my shower and he is taking a nap, not sure how long he will be down, our sitting room looks like a toy shop, we have the morning to play together, then he is out with mummy to another baby playtime.
I have finished reading Dead Woman Walking, Sharon Bolton, she is a master of leading you wrong and then when she revels the true plot, it was there all along. I could not put the book down, hubby is now reading it. I am also reading letters from Father Christmas, J R R Tolkien, a dip into a long gone world of childhood in the 30's and 40's. It is the publication of letters to his children, I can dip into it as and when I want.
Whilst I was feeling under the weather, my steps dropped and honestly I was not too bothered, but yesterday I got to my target, so the plan will be a couple of walks today. These cold sunny crisp mornings are great time for walks.

In the greenhouse

Free plants,

 I have 12 violets grown from roots taken from a huge plant in my garden, I want to plant these all along the front of my side garden, so they hang over the raised bed. Soon I will pot these on, to stay in the greenhouse all winter. I will then get another 12 root cutting to grow for my sister. 

 This is my Kiwi plant, grown from a seed, 

it took three attempts, bit it is now a nice size. 

 I was given this walnut tree and a small plant, it has tripled in size. 

 Not a free plant but a reduced daisy I purchased last month, it will stay in the greenhouse over winter, I have the perfect spot for it next spring. 

I love my nasties, I made a few mixed pots this summer, but again these will winter in the dry, they do not mind the cold, but hate to be cold and wet. 

 Geraniums, loads of different ones,

 in the spring I will take cutting to make more plants.  

 A close up of our back fence by my greenhouse, so full of colour, not alot grows here, my neighbour has four trees all in his back 9 foot of garden, they make a lovely backdrop for our garden, but stops most things growing. The table and chairs make a great workbench for me, when I am not sipping my tea. 

I am not planning to heat my greenhouse, I have a big plastic propagator, which I have placed on the raised bed inside, and a few of the delicate plants sit in it, when the real cold weather comers I can close the top to give extra protection. My citrus and olive plants both do well inside away from the frost.
It has been much cooler today, on my walk this morning the air had a bit of a chill, I do love cold sunny days.
We had a family lunch this afternoon, Will, mummy and daddy, plus daddies parents, we had been looking for a nice pub, but all the good ones were very busy, so we decided to eat at home and allow Will plenty of play area. We had our second turkey dinner, plus roast beef, Grandma and grandpa brought the desserts, rhubarb crumble, lemon meringue, so a huge lovely meal was had by all.
Will has been a bit out of sorts, we thing the clocks going back last night threw his routine, he has been tired most of the day.
We have a quiet night in together, and a lazy day tomorrow, we have so much leftovers we won't need to cook. I will be having Will again tomorrow, I do love our days together.
I have not done any more to the quilt, I hope to finish it this week, and then stitch the reading wigwam.

Spoilt

Hubby got me two books 

 and a lovely plant

 I required a walking foot for quilting

 Daughter got me this book 

 It will last five years and has a different question for each day

I love this, she has a copy as well, and we are filling in each day

it's something to look back on. 

Hubby has been home all week, the plan was to have a few days out, but me feeling under the weather stopped any chance of going out, not that I am bothered I like being at home, I can always find something to do, plus hubby got a relaxing week off. I am feeling much better, still not quite right, but much better.
Friday we needed to pop to town, I wanted a walking foot for my sewing machine to stitch my thicker layers together, I had seen one on Amazon, but did not want to wait for it to arrive. Popped to two shops, got the foot in the second shop for £35, which was more than I expected, but £10 cheaper than the first shop. I also got some thread, all the cost have been added to my stash list.
We wanted to get Major Peake's book, Ask an Astronaut, and after hearing him on the radio saying all the profits made go to charity, we decided to buy it, with so many grand sons it's a perfect book to have. Hubby saw the new Sharon Bolton book, Dead Woman Walking and got it for me (he loves to read her as well), he also got a couple of books for him. I have already started reading the book.
He also purchased the lovely plant at £7 and in a nice ceramic pot, it amazes me how anyone makes a profit, it should flower up to and beyond Christmas.
Friday afternoon I spend time in the garden, I have cut back all the late raspberries, which is a bit early, but I had a pile of leaves to put on the plot which I mulched with farmyard manure, I cut back all my mints and mulched each section. I have planted more bulbs in my back garden, the clay is much looser and I am hoping they grow. In previous years almost all bulbs I planted have rotted, but I have worked on the soil this year, so fingers crossed. I also planted a bit pot with spring bulbs, so I will see some colour.
Last night we had a meal out with a workmate of hubbies and his wife, she is another gardener, so we enjoyed a nice chat and meal. Hubby does a few hours each week driving for a community mini bus service. 

Today is housework!!!!

Getting there

Will's quilt is coming along, 

I have to stitch all three layers together

the back is just a pale grey. 

It's pinned and ready to go. 

 I am very pleased so far

 Good bargain for card making

I love my light box

Just a small display 

I never decorate for Halloween, but I do like to keep a few sweets in, just in case we get a knock at the door, we always open the door to early callers, which are the children in our street.  I got these squashes because they look pretty, and I will use them in soup, the scary ceramic one in the corner I have had for years and normally sits on my doorstep at this time of year.
My light box I have had for a while and I do change the messages, it a fun thing to have in a dark corner.
We have been shopping today, Lidl firstly, got most of what we needed, plus stuff for a big family lunch on Sunday, then on to Tesco, cheapest place for beef, we also got Bertolli with butter it's only £1.50 again. With Christmas in mind we got a few things, plus 6 bottles of wine with a 25% discount. Our coffee was at full price but we still have a few packs left, so no panic as yet. The sticky back book covers came from there as well, £6 off, less then half price, I have added the £2 to my stash list.
I have done very little this week, still feeling a bit yuck, today has been my best day. I have not picked a book up to read, yesterday was so sunny and warm, but I did not feel up to being in my garden, which is very rare, the fore caste for tomorrow is good, so my plan is to be in the garden in the morning, and sew some more on the quilt in the afternoon. It's nice to be making plans again.
Friday will have to be housework, the place is tidy but could do with a proper clean, and with a houseful on Sunday, it's a must be done task.