Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Friday 16 February 2024

A little knitting, a little stitching and a bit more.

I've been meaning to make a blog post for the past couple of weeks but to be honest there's not been a lot going on around here lately, we've both not been feeling to good, me with a bad back and Tony with a swollen eye and then he lost his hearing in his left ear. He's partially deaf in his right one so conversation has been a little comical at times. He was sent to the hospital within a week of seeing the doctor and he's got to go again to see the consultant in six to eight weeks or whenever he gets an appointment through. He's actually a lot better now but it will put his mind at rest if he can speak to someone again.
I'm still plodding along with this pair of socks that I started before Christmas, just the heel to turn on the second sock and then the foot to do so it shouldn't take me long if I get my finger out. The wool is Christmas wrapping paper by Rosie's moments and it's been lovely to knit with.



I've also put a few more stitches into Sunflower Susan by Lesley Teare, I wanted to get this finished for last Autumn but it wasn't to be, maybe this year I can finish it.



I finally finished my little quilt that I started last year, it only needed quilting and the binding to put on. I tried doing free motion quilting but my machine wasn't up to it, I think I need a bigger one! I've had my machine for years and it's been such a good one, it's served me well over the years and I don't think it would be worth paying out for something bigger as I can't see me making many more quilts even though I loved making it. It's not perfect by any means but I had a go so I'm happy with it.




I don't know why but I can't get going so far this year, maybe it's with us both feeling below par, usually Tony's got some project or another going on in his workshop but he's hardly been doing anything lately. I can't wait for Spring to arrive, I know we shouldn't be wishing our lives away but I think we'll both feel better once we can get out in the garden. The hellebores are about the only thing that are flowering and always make a nice show but there are hardly any daffodils or tulips coming through in the garden though I did find a couple of pots behind the greenhouse with some sign of life so that was a nice surprise.




Granddaughter number one, Lily, had her 16th birthday last week, she's been taking her mock GCSEs which should have been at the beginning of the year but the school was closed down just before Christmas due to it being in need of some serious repairs so in the mean time the pupils have been to different schools until something was sorted. A temporary school is being built until a new one can be sorted but it shouldn't have been left to get so bad in the first place.

Granddaughter number 2, Becky has been in some dance competitions two so far this year. The first one the group came second and then last week they came first. They were doing a dance to Cabaret and if I could find a photo I'd show you but whenever I download photos from my camera or phone although I can see them in my albums I can't get to put them on here. That's a job for another day.

The three grandsons are doing well, two of them are football mad and the eldest just likes his computer although saying that he can do a lot on it that I'd never be able to do, maybe I should ask him to sort my photo problem out. 

Well I've waffled on enough now and I can't think of any more exciting news so I'll press publish and see if that works for me.

Take care all,

Sue xx




Monday 6 November 2023

I've been trying to get a few things finished off before the end of the year, there's quite a few UFOs in my basket that have been there for way too long so as DH says I'd better get on with it! The first picture is of the exchange stitching that I've done for my partner for our twice a year exchange. I really enjoyed stitching this.



Prairie Schooler

Next is a stitch that has been on my list to finish for ages, it only needed the backstitching done  and there was quite a bit of it and now it's waiting for DH to frame so it's given us both something to do. We are trying to fill in the days now that we can't get out in the garden at the moment as it is so wet, I'm just hoping that he doesn't decide to start decorating again, I think I've done enough painting for this year.


Fancy teapots from a Readers Digest cross stitch book

The next finish is a freebie from Instagram, a lovely little Christmas stocking that will be ready to hang by the fireplace when Santa comes.


J B W design freebie

I've only bought a couple of presents up to now as the grandchildren tend to change their mind so much so I usually wait until as close to Christmas as I can get before I buy them something.


Some kind soul had decided to spend all my Nectar points that I'd saved on my Sainsbury's shop, thankfully they have been refunded so the Christmas shopping will be a little bit cheaper but how can someone in London use my details when I live in Derbyshire.


Another funeral to attend this week, DHs brother in law this time, I hope this will be the last one that we have to go to this year, it's getting too sad saying goodbye to loved ones.


No recent photos of the garden to show as it's been too wet, but the colours are gorgeous out there so even though it's been too cold it's been nice viewing them through the window in the warm.

These were taken a few weeks ago before all the wet and windy weather blew a lot of the leaves off.







A shopping day today and then back to some stitching or knitting this afternoon, it's so nice to be retired.

Take care all,

Sue xx

Monday 11 September 2023

September sunshine

Well the sun has certainly been shining for the past week which has been a little too hot for me but we've had a quick shower of rain this morning which has cooled things down and made it a bit more pleasant to get outside. The garden has again been taking up a lot of time mainly freezing the wonderful crop of vegetables that we've had this year. We've had so many that even the girls are getting fed up with them. I've made pickles and jam though one batch of jam refused to set even though I boiled it again and added extra pectin but thankfully we'd got so many blackberries that I made more and still had some for the freezer. At least we won't starve this winter.

As well as the garden Tony decided to decorate the kitchen and then when he'd finished that he moved on to the bathroom which he is still finishing so it's been a busy couple of months but it will be worth the effort when it's finished. I don't think he can settle since he's retired he never seems to stop. Sometimes I miss the days when I'd be on my own and read a book or do a bit of stitching or knitting whenever the mood took me but it is nice to have him around more so I'll just have to find him jobs that will keep him in his shed.

We also celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary in August and the girls bought us flowers, chocolates and garden vouchers which were very much appreciated and a lovely flower ornament with a sapphire coloured stone in the centre. I can't believe how quickly those 45 years have gone but we've had three wonderful daughters and five beautiful grandchildren to keep us busy along the way.

I also had to go for an eye test again, I changed opticians this time as I thought my regular one wasn't as good as usual last time I went, just seeming to have a quick look and not listen to what I wanted to ask. The new optician was really lovely, he took time to listen and explained things clearly. My new glasses should be here for the weekend and after my daughters telling me that I never change the style of my glasses I've gone for something a bit different so I hope I still like them when they arrive.

Not a lot of stitching has been happening here in Derbyshire but I have pulled a few projects out so I'm ready for when I feel the urge.

I managed to finish the socks I started last month but that's about all on the craft front but now things have calmed down a bit outside I shall be able to concentrate more on my stitching, I hope so as I have another exchange coming up.




I'll finish with a few pictures of the garden though everything is going over now but there's still plenty of colour to look at each day and now Autumn is on the way it won't be long before the trees will provide the wonderful jewelled colours to keep the garden going.


















I've been having problems with blogger again not letting me comment on some blogs and I've had a couple of comments come through to my email but not on my blog. Perhaps I've pressed a wrong button again, I very often do so I'll have to ask my daughter when she next comes or one of the grandchildren who can magically press a key and everything comes right.

Hopefully I'll have more to show you next time but I'm terrible at remembering to take a photo of what I've been doing, Take care all, love Sue x

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Time flies

I didn't realise that it had been so long since I last posted, goodness knows where the time has gone.

A lot of it has been spent out in the garden, it keeps me going and keeps the stress at bay.

We've been busy redoing the veg plot at the bottom of the garden, it's been getting too much for both of us, DH doesn't have the time and I don't seem to have the energy these days. We'd put some fruit trees in last year but we've added a few more and completely grassed it all over. I've still got room to grow a few veg and we've got lots of big tubs to use too.




Lily and Callum enjoying the new swing that Granddad has made.


The strawberries growing in hanging baskets in the greenhouse.


The tulip tree flowered for the first time this year, only about four or five blooms but it was so nice to see them at last.

Time has been spent stitching and knitting and I've got things together to try my hand at quilting when all the outside work is done.

DH treated me to an overlocker so I've been putting that to good use making some holiday clothes for GD Lily, only little skirts and shirred top dresses but every little helps and Lily's happy with my efforts.

Once again I joined in with the Gift of Friendship exchange. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of what I sent and I don't think that a gallery has been put up yet.

This is what I received from my partner Rachel.


She said it was her first go at making a needlecase and it's so pretty.

I'm still stitching on Celtic Noel and I started stitching Cherry Hill by CCN but to be honest I think my stitchy bug is on vacation but I'm sure it will come back soon.

Well, that's about all my news, not much to show for a couple of months but I have kept busy and I'm sure once I post this I will think of something else to say.

Bye for now,

Tuesday 11 August 2015

A busy couple of weeks

It's been a bit hectic over the past couple of weeks because I've had DH at home with me and it's been so nice to have company during the day. He's not one for going away on holiday but he has been a great help in the garden helping with the things I can no longer do, just a shame that he had to go back to work. He's had to change his hours too from being on permanent night shift for most of our married life to an afternoon shift which is working out so much better for both of us.

There hasn't been a lot of stitching going on but I have put a few hours into Celtic Noel



and I've been in the parlour with the ladies from Needlecraft Haven stitching on Snow Love by LHN



Now that he's back at work I'm hoping to find a little more time to catch up on some other stitching and knitting and as he always likes to take cake to work I made a frosted lemon coconut cake. It's supposed to get better for keeping but it never lasts long enough in this house.



I'll leave you with a few photos of the garden, I hope you enjoy them.

We took down the little picket fence that we put up to keep DD's dog safe when he was a puppy but as they are both no longer living here it made sense to remove it and open up the garden.

DH treated himself to a tree fern, I just hope it doesn't die on me.


Two new roses were purchased, the top one is Noble Antony


and this one is called Othello and they both smell gorgeous.


Another new addition is this sweet delphinium named Bolero.




Lots of apples on the Bramley....


and plent of blackcurrants to go with them.


That's about it for now

love and hugs

Monday 13 July 2009

Rainy days and Mondays

I've had that song going through my head for the past couple of hours, especially the first line ...."talking to myself and feeling old", probably because that's how I've been today but rainy days don't get me down, in fact I love the rain on my face (as long as it's not cold rain) and since I've retired, Monday is just another day to do as I please, within reason.
Last week when we did have some sunshine, me and Lily made the most of it and got the paddling pool and play mat out and went for a splash.
She really enjoyed getting me and her mum wet! I can't wait for her to get her first words out, she is trying so hard to tell us something and she "talks" for ages in her own little way. She is so comical. Last weekend was my sister's 70th birthday party and it was the first time that Lily had been on a dance floor. She kept trying to catch the flashing lights that were on the floor and she just went round and round in circles until she was dizzy She didn't want to give in though and she got quite upset when it was time to go, but with kisses from everyone and a balloon to see her on her way she was smiling by the time she left.
On the stitching front I have finally finished LHN Natures Beauty, I say finally because when I'd put the last stitch in and sat back to admire my work I noticed that I'd stitched the flowers on the left of the verse half a stitch lower than the other side. Tony said that it wasn't noticeable but I knew it was there so I had to rip it out and start again.
I started another LHN called Starlight Sampler and I've also put a few more stitches into my Beatrix SAL so I'm happy to say that I'm feeling good about my stitching.
The garden at the moment has a mind of its own, some things are growing and some are definitely heading for the compost bin.
These are my first tomatoes of the season, followed by a sweet pepper or two.This is how the garden looked a couple of years ago; last year we decided to get rid of the drive down to the shed so that we'd have more lawn. Tony has decided to get rid of his old kit car that lives in the shed so we won't need the driveway down there any more once it's gone.And this is how it looks now, it's looking a bit bare but we intend to put some more shrubs in when we get round to it. The borders are filling up nicely thanks to all the seeds that Chris sent me, even the seedlings that she sent through the post survived and grew.Some days I wonder what I've done with my time but when I look back at these photos I know where my time went and I'm quite pleased with the results. Some days it's been hard work but I love being out there, it's so peaceful.
And finally, this is my old Persian cat Chester; he's twelve years old now and this is how he spends most of his day. Wouldn't it be nice to be so relaxed.

Hugs,

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Another sunny day

It's been another glorious day in the garden and me and Lily have made the most of it though most of the time she's been picking up stones and putting them on Granddads bench and I've been taking them off again, still it keeps me fit.
I'm hoping that the weather holds out for a little longer as I want to get some planting done while Lily is at home with her Mum as there's not much chance of getting anything done while she's about.
She comes with me most days to check on the progress in the greenhouse and to see if any more seeds have sprouted overnight. The sunflowers are ready for potting on though a lot of the other seeds that I planted are still on the small side.
The vegetable plot is looking bare since we dug it over two weeks ago but it won't be long before it's filled up again with some lovely home grown veg.One thing that never fails us is our rhubarb patch and we always have far too much of it even to freeze so we tend to get lots of rhubarb loving friends calling round for a handful. This is only one little bit of it, it gets huge in full growth.

And finally, this is what I found in a little corner where I keep old plants that I thought were dead, I'm so glad that I didn't throw it out.


hugs,

Saturday 7 March 2009

Saturday in the garden

Saturday again and what a glorious day it has been. The sun has been shining for most of the day and I've spent nearly all of it either pottering in the garden or the greenhouse. It's been lovely finding flowers that I thought we'd pulled out when we altered the garden last year.

The crocuses were found hiding beneath the twisted willow tree; there are about six that have managed to survive all the digging out from last year, the others were all put in pots. The primroses were nestling underneath the yew tree, don't they look pretty, all ready for some spring sunshine.Last year Chris, sent me packets of seeds that she had collected from her garden and I have been sorting through them all and sowing them in the greenhouse so if all goes well, I should have a garden full of flowers this year if they all grow. I've still loads more to put in but I'd left the compost outside and it was too wet to sow any more so I'll have to wait until it's dried out a bit. Actually feeling as though spring might just be round the corner.......

hugs,