Blooming colourful

What you doing mum

 Grace follows me every time into the garden

 Flowers in the side bed

 Back bed

 Beautiful Acer

 Chimney under our Magnolia tree

 Beautiful flowers

 Pot by front door

 Pot by garage

 My tiny Olive, just 6-8 olives left on the plant, 

if we get another heat wave, I might get to harvest them. 

I have quiet alot of space coming in my garden where plants are fading, but I'm not ready to plant for autumn and winter yet, as you can see I still have loads of colour.
I have not done much, hubby has had the past two weeks off driving and is home full time, so my normal routine is out the window, he does get bored alot, whilst I have loads to do. 
BUT I twisted my back again, so I ache, which makes doing too much difficult, we did pop to Asda yesterday, I do love their Shades quilted toilet rolls, we also picked up cat food and beer on offer, all important purchases. We found a few other good priced items, and probably spent more than we should, but it's good to get a stock up shop.
Today I'm off to see the doctor, with an ongoing issue, I will mention my back, bet he says rest and painkillers. Later I'm out with my neighbour Chris, we were going for coffee together, but I think it will be lunch.
Later I have a bit of sewing to do, I'm behind, but it's enjoyable so no issues for me, I have an idea for another item for my sisters craft selling.  I'm still enjoying knitting my socks on the magic loop, which once you get sorted in your mind is very easy to use, I found a video on Youtube and watched it a couple of times.

Bank Hoilday weekend

Hubby has managed some more painting, this book case is set into the wall where the old door way was. I am hoping to be able to put back all our books, we keep quirky titles and short reads here. 

Pulling out fabrics for a huge sewing marathon. 

Front pile, 4 items cut out and ready to sew, 

pile with purple fabrics waiting to be cut out

at the back Christmas fabrics. 

Loved Girl on the Train, 

Paula Hawkins has done it again, 

very good book, loads of interesting turns along the way. 

While hubby paints and I sew, Purdy lays in the middle of our sitting room and snores, Grace is in her basket behind the sofa, it is a cat's life here. 

This morning it's wet again, but that's our normal summer, yesterday was sunny, so we are having a good mix of weather. The garden is looking much better, but I'm not outside much, the flies are still a huge issue. We had a long line of white towels out yesterday, looking lovely in the sunshine, I do love white towels and linen, it was perfect drying weather.
My dear hubby has finished the hall book shelves, he did the top coat this morning, so just the skirting boards left, but he is driving this afternoon for a few hours, I would rather he did not paint on driving days, but he does like to get things finished.
Friday I created patterns and cut out 2 reading cushions, with a pocket front, using the ABC offcut I had. Plus a couple plate carriers using some thinner tea towels. I have sorted material for 4 shopping bags. I spent time yesterday on Esty, looking at prices, I need to ensure I am not losing out on these home made items, and at the same time, my sister will want to have her mark up as well.
I was thinking of adding a page to the top of my blog, and put a few items for sale, using the same prices but with free postage in UK, what do you think, would anyone be interested, this is some of what I have made.

Bits and bobs

Grace relaxing

This spider plant is huge

I cut one stem of babies off and potted up, they will go to our local charity shop soon. 

 Air plant loves it in here, growing well. 

 Orchid doing well

I've had this for two weeks now

 Cut flowers from the garden.

Do you remember rain, 

we have not had a drop for a month

 How I long for this view.

Finally, I have loads of seeds, many given free with the garden magazines I purchase, so there are 12 packs here, if you leave a comment on this post, I will pop your name into a hat and choose a winner. Only UK bloggers please, not sure I could post these overseas.

Eat,shoots and leaves.

Yesterday was a perfect day, we spent our time in the garden, firstly we moved this table and chairs down to our decking area, it captures the first of the sunshine. 

 The empty space outside my greenhouse, I filled quickly, I have moved the blackcurrant bush here and have a huge pot for our outside tomato plant, plus a few smaller pots. 

 Our wooden table and chairs are often in the shade through out the day

 Even the cats came out to play

 These are grown from seeds and cutting, on the left is a kiwi, on the right a passion fruit. In the middle I'm not sure, I think it could be a pomegranate, I will have to wait until the leaves to form. 

 Right photo, is my new Clematis, Lovely yellow flowers, middle sweet peas, right is the grass plant, I decided to put it in front off the hedgehog pot,  once it grows it will give cover to the space, this pot was used last year by our local hedgehog. 

Hubby cleaned his motorbike (loads of chrome to polish) and then our car, I just pottered, it was so lovely and warm, I am loving the extra space outside my greenhouse, I will miss having the table to use, but I have a tall stool in the shed I can use. My shed is tidy, and looking good. I have planted out a few stronger plants, the bedding plants won't be ready until next month.
My walnut twig has new shoots and is out side the greenhouse, but both my citrus plants look sad, I am going to keep both in the greenhouse for a bit longer, my olive bush is also still inside the greenhouse.
The area along the front of the greenhouse now has more space, we pushed the huge pot with the rhubarb in the corner by the raised cut flower bed, we had the blackcurrant bush here, but I was worried about harvesting the fruit in such a small space, it won't be a problem with the rhubarb.
We had a late lunch early dinner at 4pm we had our first BBQ of the year, we sat outside until almost 6pm, it's a perfect prelude to summer, and like so many other I can't wait for it to come.
Last night I watched Monty for an whole hour, I love this format, we also watched a Viking York, shown on BBC2, last week it was Roman Chester, these are very interesting to watch, we have visited both cities and could relate to where they were filming.
This morning, we are dull, loads of mist, which should burn off in time the the fore caste rain!

Young snow

First snow is always a great photo

 Will at home with mummy and daddy

 Finn at home, his 1st snowball. 

We don't get photo's of all our grandsons, but it is nice to see the younger ones enjoying their first taste of snow. Finn and Logan had a wonderful trip together on a plastic sledge, daddy pulling them both along, lot's of laughter and fun for them. Will was taken along his street on his sledge, huge grins for all our grand sons. 

Most of the snow here is gone, a small temperature rise and some rain does a good clearance job. 

Both cats have got the all clear from the vet's, Grace blood test came back clear, but at a cost of £211.18 for both, it was not cheap. I am very pleased to know again they are both well, Purdy has lost some weight, which pleased the vet, we will continue watching how much she eats.  

I am almost finished reading ' It's always the husband', I'm at the point where a few people are in the frame, I think the end will have to be really good for me to read another of her books. 

I have done no craft, the last few days I have enjoyed sitting with a blanket over my knee's watching the snow fall and the wild life in our garden, with a book to read, we are also drinking more hot chocolate drinks, I dread to think what is happening to my waist line. 

I am hoping to stay inside this weekend, we require nothing, but not sure how hubby will feel. 

Snug and warm

Thursday morning

 Thursday afternoon

 This morning

Our cats have been out

 Warm and cosy now

Library books 

Yesterday morning was a dull clear time, the small amount of snow from the night before was frozen on the ground.
Yesterday afternoon, the skies went white and snow fell, no where near the amounts seen on TV from around the UK, but for us it was the most we have seen since 2013.
We had no snow over night, but storm Emma is due, we have no reason to go out, all of our young families are safe, all spread around UK and southern Ireland.
We live in a good community, already on facebook people with 4x4 vehicles are asking who requires help, and our local page is collecting people to do shopping trips, ect for local elderly, we are not going to add our names, best we stay inside unless really required. 
Our cats did manage to go out, they did their business and came back in, I am pleased I was thinking of getting some cat litter, but prefer not to have it in the house.
Grace went for her checkup and injections, she is now 14 years old, the vet is pleased with her, Grace has always been a tiny cat, so we keep an close eye on her health, she has had a blood test, just checking.  Purdy will be taken to the vets tonight for her injection and check up. The vet is just around the corner, so we can walk there.
I have finished reading Friend Request, 1st book by Laura Marshall, I enjoyed the story line and the believable plot, I would read the next book once it is out.
Nothing planned for today, had my lovely porridge for breakfast, we have home made soup and bread for lunch, tonight I am making Paella with chicken for tea. 
Hope you are all safe and warm inside, it's not a day for outside.

Busy Bee

I would love to show you lots of lovely things I have been making or reading, but as the bugs have not completely gone away, I have done no craft and as yet I have not picked a book to  read.

 I am not completely lazy, following on from my last post I have been cleaning. In our dining room we have four display units, I have emptied three and cleaned them and the contents, just one to do today. It was rewarding to do the unit with all our glasses in, they sparkle now.

I have also cleaned both the light fittings in the dining and sitting room, today I have more to do, I want to clean the dining room table and chairs, it's crazy where the dust gets into, part of the problem with an open plan house. The last task is to steam clean my wooden floors, which are not to bad, I steam them most weeks, having two cats and a baby grandson makes clean floors a must.
Tomorrow if it is dry I will clean all the windows inside and out, and do the downstairs bath room. Our office and spare bedroom are both clean and tidy, so I don't need to do extra in there. I will do a deep clean of the kitchen next week.
Our master bedroom and shower room are next on our decoration list hubby is looking for a new shower doors to go on existing base, and he's looking at boards to replace the tiles, like you see in hotels, both of us like the idea of no tiles in our shower cubicle.

Will was over for a while yesterday, we had loads of fun, he can now move the stool to in front of a chair and climb on the chair, which is OK if he sit's down. He also plays a great game with our cat Purdy, Purdy will walk all around the walls in our sitting room  with Will following him, she allows him a quick pat and then moves on, Will loves this game and shouts 'AT' after her. Grace stays in her basket sleeping, once Purdy has had enough she goes in her basket. Both the cat's baskets are where Will can get to, but as he gets close we say they are sleeping and almost every time he will leave them alone.
We popped to Garson's garden center on Sunday, they sell over the Christmas period Butlers hot drinking chocolate, so I got a couple of packs to keep us going. I did look around the sale both Christmas and garden, there was nothing I wanted in each section, I did get two small fake wax candles at half price, a total of £2.50, hubby was amazed and I was rather pleased with myself.

My favorite things

Jo at Through the keyhole is posting about her favorite things, it's the second time she has done a post on this topic, Rain drops on Roses, 

so here is my December list. 

Will with his Christmas jumper on, he is here to represent all our lovely grandsons, we do not see our boys often enough, distance and busy lives get in the way.

My Christmas tree, I love Christmas, the joy of families being together, warm, snug with loads of traditional features. I show my tree, because it's full of happy memories, I'm not one to theme a tree, just loads of decorations, purchased and made through out the years we have been together. Yesterday afternoon I watched It's a Wonderful Life, the best ever Christmas Movie. The best music for Christmas is the songs from The Gremlins, I love the big wall of sound from these American hits.

This drink is the taste of Christmas for me, the spices are festive, no alcohol, just pure enjoyment. I only drink it in December/January, drinking it hot, it does not work in other months of the year. The second taste is mince pies, hubby made our first batch last night, again we only eat them in December.

My garden is bare, but still I love the view, these cold dull days are all about the wildlife visiting the feeders at the bottom of the garden. A walk around my garden is like a bust of sunshine to me.

Books, I have been a bookworm all my life, but now I really do have time to read, and I am finding new authors all the time. 

Our girls, they always have a welcome when we get home, this time of years they are mostly in these baskets or on our laps. 

Cross stitch. I'm not stitching at this time, I have been sewing on my machine again. I never worry my stitching will come back it always does.

None of the above should be a surprise to my followers, family and my hubby are key to me, but it's a happy post on a dull Sunday morning.
We have had a quiet week, Will Slept over on Friday night so mummy and daddy could have a lovely late and lazy morning on Saturday.
Hubby and I had a small party night together last night, watching the Strictly final, pleased Joe won, but felt they all have become wonderful dancers.
Today we have nothing to do, how wonderful.