Mix it up

These are doing well

I wanted them settled in their new conditions before potting them up

Busy time this weekend

 New shoot on our Amaryllis

probably just leaves, but I live in hope
I have another Orchid in bud, so more flowers inside

 Another good book finished
I enjoyed it to the last word.
We had a TV free night, another from my list of 52 in 2016,
enjoyed reading and listening to music.

 The white rose is done

I am also trying to fill the stripes.
I am a bit further along with this project,
but there is lots of simple blocks of colour. 

I have delayed posting this week I was hoping for some happy news, 

but maybe next week. 

Work is busy, they are still telling us nothing, we got an email late this afternoon after we complained, just saying bear with us, we were promised a meeting today but they don't want to speak to us, our boss was on a day off.
Wednesday we had fun with Josh and Sam after school, they again were in a great mood, they both enjoy having tea with us. Sam and I made a huge floor puzzle a map of the world showing all the animals and where they lived, Sam was very good at understanding why certain animals lived where they do.
We have walked every evening this week, and I have lost another pound, it's pleasing, we are not on a diet, we have stopped snacking and cut back on portion sizes. I am also not eating before 8am and eat nothing after 5.30pm, I saw a programe on TV which suggested this was a better way to aid our digestion. With the extra walking I am hoping this spring to remove another stone, I have done it before and put it back on when I was ill, so I know I can do it, it's just getting my head in the right place.
We don't have much planned for the weekend, it's going to be a see what happens two days. Saturday is promised to be very wet, which is a shame it's been dry for a while.

Candlemas Day

Crocus in our front garden

My little hedge plants are doing well

I want to make a low box hedge curved around here. 

New life Peony buds. 

plus growing back from last year, poppies

Today 2nd Feb is Candlemas day, and the weather has been lovely, which if you believe the old wives tales, that means winter will come back and get us.  It's the mid point in winter, halfway between the shortest day and spring equinox. If for any reason you still have Christmas decorations up, today they must come down.
My mum always said March was the month to watch, but that's weeks away.
February is so promising, after the lull of January where everything shiny has been packed away, we ate so many leftovers, the gardens are bare, February is new beginnings, the promise of the year ahead, planning what to grow,  looking forward.

Green fingers

Our poor Magnolia tree

it simply does not know what season it is

it should recover it has in previous years

 We have a bit of colour in the garden

Daffodils are in bloom

 Hubby has requested more Fuchsia's in the garden

so these were £1.99 each, I will grow them on

plus a couple sneaky Geranium's

 Coleus is another favourite of his and mine

I should have 3 great plants by the summer 

 African violets are doing well

just need to see some buds soon
 I don't have anywhere to start too many seeds inside this year,
 but I am hoping to start chilies and cucumbers soon.

The weekend was very restful, we popped to a garden center, we did then go to Lee on the Solent, but it was breezy and cold so we did not go for a walk. A brisk walk to the village and post box, made up for the walk we missed.

So 1st of Feb, great news on my craft spend, last year £122.06 ( to be fair a Christmas present of Xyron cutting machine gave way to purchases of dies at reduced prices) this year £24.29 so I spent £97.99 less than last year, a great start.
I am on target for 52 things in 2016. I got the car washed yesterday for £5.00, just too cold for the bucket and sponge. We have been for our walk this evening, so I'm feeling good.
I have not done much stitching, I have started reading The Angel Tree by Lucinda Riley, I'm enjoying it, it was lovely to curl up in a chair most of yesterday and read, plus lovely hubby made scones, with cream and jam.

Wet or dry

Last week

 This morning

I don't think it will last, but we are off out soon to make the most of it. 

 This week's stitching

 I have hidden here all week and got loads done

its for a birthday in June

The rest of this week has been much the same, work makes me tired and irritable by the time I get home, hubby is lovely and cooks wonderful meals, our curried veg (not vegetable curry) was brilliant, it's now on our menu list to have again, we did not do the chickpeas, which was good the curry was more than enough, with loads of leftovers. It has been wet so I have missed a couple of days walking after work, so I will do extra steps today.
Something is working I got on the scales this morning and I'm 2lb down, we are not on diets, just eating sensibly and walking more.
We are having another dryish month, not opening any bottles of red wine, we wanted a dry January, but with my brothers birthday and our weekend away, we allowed ourselves to drink only on these two occasions, to make up for it we are doing the same in February, just having a drink at  the Valentine Ball and a meal out later in the month. I sounds as if we drink alot, we normally would open one or two bottle of red wine a week and share over a few nights.
I still have to wash my car, I took two bags to the charity shop, I wanted to do more but now is not the time, I can't get my head around it.