A Bit Of Garden Chat

 You just can't beat salad picked fresh from your own garden, I don't do it on a grand scale but what I've planted this year is keeping me going nicely. My favourite salad leaf is rocket but it seems to bolt very quickly, spinach is another all year round favourite. I am growing baby beets and have picked one today for the first time, still too small really but I just couldn't resist.

My parsley is finished but I have more to plant out, it has been growing for over a year so I can't complain and I love lots of different types of mints just a couple of leaves makes all the difference to a salad along with a sprinkle of fresh chives.

I'm really happy with my little raised bed that I erected earlier in the year and I'm already planning what I can overwinter in it, Spring cabbage springs to mind along with some broccoli perhaps and I have leeks growing away nicely, it's amazing how much you can pack into such a small space.

I have also planted cosmos in my raised bed, I was hoping I could use these as cut flowers but the stems are very short so I am just putting a few into a rose vase. 

I had the same idea for the dahlia's they are just coming into flower now but the earwigs are loving them! I have started using upturned plant pots filled with straw and they work, I always find a few earwigs sleeping in the top.

I am a massive fan of Hydrangeas but have never had much luck with them until this year! At least some of them, one of my plants hasn't flowered at all and theres no sign of the tiniest bud, I may have been overly generous with the fertilizer and fed the leaves to the detriment of the flowers but just look at these....

I'm awe struck I can't believe that I have actually grown such beautiful plants after all these years the pink one is from a cutting which I took three years ago from my sons garden, his plant is blue, mine is pink obviously my soil is more alkaline. I can't tell you how much pleasure it gives me to gaze upon these beauties.  

The roses are gathering their strength for their next flush of flowers after giving me these lovely displays

The garden is giving me so much pleasure now as one perennial fades and goes to sleep for another year another wakes up and takes its place or I slot in a little pot of bedding plants to fill the gap, I do wish Summer would last just a bit longer but I know it's days are numbered a few more short weeks and it will all be over but no more sad thoughts, here is something that put a huge smile on my face the other day in fact I had to do a double take I wasn't quite sure if I was seeing things....

I have never seen the like in my little town before haha

Along with the garden I am enjoying the Flora's Fauna Cal so much, I am behind but that doesn't matter in the least, the hedgehogs are done as are the acorns ....

 Squirrels are almost done so it's moving along nicely 😊

I must dash as I have a bus to catch to Newcastle I'm going to see my little grandson Mikey he hasn't been well so I haven't see him for a while, he graduated from Nursery last week bless him so it will be big school for him in September.

Have a great Sunday 😘😘

A Visit To RHS Harlow Carr

 Our u3a Garden Group have visited three different venues so far this year and each have been lovely, the weather could have been better but although we had intermittent showers it didn't spoil our enjoyment.

We visited RHS Harlow Carr earlier month I hope that you enjoy the photos, it is well worth a visit if you are able to go. 😊 

Looking around the gardens is tiring work so it's an added bonus that there happens to be a Betty's tea rooms on the site. 

Have a great Sunday and stay cool in this heat. 😘😘

The Waiting Game

 It feels like I'm in a bit of a limbo at the moment just drifting from day to day but not doing that much.  Gone are the days of decisiveness of writing a list the day before so when I woke up I knew exactly what I was doing and what I needed to do. I think it's because I'm waiting for things to happen...

I'm waiting for the bathroom and kitchen fitter to phone and let me know when he will be starting work on my bathroom/kitchen.

I'm waiting to order the things I need for the bathroom/kitchen but I can't do that until I have a starting date and I know exactly what I need to order and I can't do that until kitchen/bathroom fitter tells me.

I'm waiting for a friend to call as she has asked me to go with her to help her choose tiles for her bathroom floor but she is waiting for the decorator to come to finish painting her walls and for a delivery of furniture.

I'm waiting since March for someone to come and fit my garage door, phone calls have gone back and forth for months and I'm still waiting, time to draw a line under this particular waiting game and find another company I think.

I'm waiting for someone to do something about my faded composite door, again phone calls have gone back and forth, photos have been taken and sent to manufacturer and then nothing, we await a response, perhaps until the guarantee runs out and that will put them in the clear, hmm.

I'm waiting to hear if family are coming this weekend so that I can plan and buy the food that would be needed or indeed plan something else if she they aren't coming.

I'm waiting for the u3a Garden Group Leader to approve an information leaflet I have written so that I can send it to those who are going to the next garden outing. 

I'm waiting for the rain to stop so that I can get out into the garden and do some work in there.

You know I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the gist, what are you waiting for? I would love to see your list, I'm sure that I'm not alone.

Have a great sunshiny weekend. 😘😘

Little Things

 It's reassuring when something so simple gives you a warm feeling and thankfully so many little things have the power to do that for me.

My lovely friend Babs always passes on her Woman's Weekly magazines once she has finished reading them and look what I have found in the 30th May issue....

I know I said that I wouldn't be doing anymore cross stitch after completing the the Twelve Days Of Christmas Sampler as I found it a huge strain on my eyes but as always never say never because when I saw this my heart gave a little lurch and I just knew that I would have to make it. No pressure or time scale, I'll work on it when I can, I can't wait to create my own little Summer Seaside Paradise.

Another thing I love about the Woman's Weekly is the Book Club page, they write some great book reviews and I nearly always find at least one that I fancy, I like light hearted easy reads something to escape the doom and gloom and awful things that are happening right now, I'm looking at Summer Fever by Kate Riordan. I will go to the online library for my area and reserve it if it's available, it may take a few weeks to get to my local branch but that doesn't matter at all. I like the fact that it always introduces you to new authors and if I enjoy the book I usually go on to read more of what they have written.

Another thing that made my heart lurch this week was this free cardigan pattern from Underground Crafter here

A little bit different and very cute don't you think. As I mentioned before NHAP are asking for colourful cardigans age one to teens so this will definitely fit the bill but I won't start it until I've finished the one I'm working on. I have just the sleeves to finish and then I will reveal. 🙂

Flora's Fauna blanket is coming along slowly, the snails are done and the hedgehogs are emerging, the next part of the the pattern is out but it will be a while before I get there there's no rush.

Trying to finish those hedgehogs will be my priority today.

The garden is beautiful at this time of the year but still the weather disappoints, I have been wanting to paint my decking since last year and I started this week, I got just less than half done and it has rained on and off since, showers weren't predicted today but we have just had one anyway, I'm glad I didn't put my washing out. 

The Lily's are in full bloom right now aren't they beautiful...

I hope that the little things are putting a smile on your face this weekend, take care until next time. 😘😘

Linking with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday