A bit of baking

This morning I went to the shop to get some extra ingredients before going to see Bel. On the way to see Bel I went to have a look at Bettisons Folly as I haven’t bothered for a while. I really like the folly, very unusual,

Bel was okay although I think she is feeling a bit more lethargic these days but hardly surprising. I helped her with the jigsaw for a while.

When I got home I got on with the baking as I had been asked to make something for a coffee morning. Made two sponges as thought I had  better make one for Darren as well and also made some cheese scones. The kitchen looked like a bomb had dropped!

I spent a while in the front garden with the strimmer and with the new secateurs to cut back the large thistles that obstruct the front garden tap. Had a veggie delivery which was good, I had washing on the line first thing and it was pretty much dry this evening, will just have to put it on the airers overnight.

I have buttered the scones so they are ready to go to the parish hall in the morning,

Feeling quite pooped gain this evening,

What a day!

As I still have quite a bit of trouble with my aching calves, especially in the morning I thought I would see if I could get an appointment with Emma, the physio at the surgery. Got through amazingly quickly and offered an appointment at 11am. I did a few chores and saw the Ringtons man the set off with plenty of time. Took a couple of pics in the front garden when I was taking the food caddies up to the garden bin. Think the first one is a camellia and the first foxgloves beginning to open.

Got in to see Emma, the physio before time and had a really long time with her. Thorough examination of my legs and she was not totally happy with the operated leg and thought I should go to the DVT clinic and have a scan, today. Walked back home via the sea.

The appointment would mean going to Hull, and not in the town centre. I knew Tina wasn’t available for a lift and phoned a couple of friends but they were unable to help today. The appointment was for 2.50pm so I checked bus times and decided to get a taxi from the bus station, I now definitely know that the bus is killer for the leg! I was a bit early but again went in very promptly. A really lovely nurse and  lot of questions and form filling. Bloods taken, blood pressure spot on amazingly. and then another very through examination. She decided it could be a blood clot so went me for the scan. ThT was clear but the nurse, like the physio was not happy with the colour or feel of my leg so wants me to go back again for another scan next week! I cuGht the bus in at one,  and was back home just before six, and not really my the wiser about the aching calves! Had tea with Darren and then went out to feed the birds. A pigeon was pleased!

And the sky was pretty.

Quite exhausting day, so another quiet evening.

Fused glass workshop

This morning I made a cottage pie early as I was off to visit Sarah and David this morning and was gong to a craft workshop this afternoon. Sarah and David were fine, they had spent a couple of night in Hull for a change as they were going to a show. Apparently that was not a success, the production stopped due to an actor collapsing. They enjoyed some shopping though which is definitely Sarah’s favourite pastime.

Tina was supposed to be coming to the workshop with me but isn’t too well so stayed at home. The instructor had brought lots of different things that could be used to make the coasters. We could make four and then she takes them aware to go in the kiln and fuse. I took photos of the first two then one of the four together. I used paint and beds and tiny glass pieces on the first and copper foil on the second. That apparently will change colour and it will be a surprise! Then one I used pieces tiny of very thin glass and one noodles and beads! It was really interesting.  

The instructor had got a box of what we needed together for each person so let me bring Tina’s kit home for her to try at home as I have had the instruction now,

I had a walk in the town to get some money out at the bank and collect my prescription and I did a bit of strimming in the front garden and some clearing.

Dinner was tasty and taking it easy for a while now, getting to be a habit.

Walking and clay play!

I walked up to Freeport, it did spit with rain briefly but sadly that came to nothing all day. When I got to the pottery studio I was just in time to catch an evacuation drill! So had to walk a very long way through two car parks with all the staff from the stores to the meeting place. That actually set my leg off a bit but it has been okay since, just a bit of a twinge. I found out to late that ai needn’t have got to the meeting point, could have stayed at the entrance, it was intended for the staff. Caroline had said she hoped to be up today but we weren’t sure when so I started a couple of tiny ‘add ons’.

The sample gecko I painted was up on the wall, quite high, so not a very close photo.

Caroline arrived and we set up to make some clay plant markers to be used at the flower pot workshop we are doing together.

With left over clay I made a postcard using another mould.

We spent a couple of enjoyable hours and it is good practice for helping the folk at the workshop. I caught the bus home a bit later than usual.

The tamarix in the front garden is looking lovely.

Fed the birds and did some watering but no actual gardening today, had plenty of exercise though!

Tina and Darren have gone to a formal council meeting so a pic of them ready to go.

I did change the bedding, so a bit more exercise even though I use the burrito method, it still takes a while! Very nice new bedding set.

I will get a bit of prep done in a bit for tomorrows dinner as I am seeing David and Sarah in the morning and Tina and I are doing a craft workshop in the afternoon.

Bell Mills garden centre

This morning I mowed the corner lawn in the front garden, no photo but I did take one of the larger lawn I mowed yesterday.

I did some strimming in the front garden and cleared a lot of weed. We have trouble with multiplying Spanish bluebells and grape hyacinths. I pulled these to bulbs of grape hyacinths up and was amazed how many babies they had! No wonder they multiply at a rate of knots!

Tina has a busy week, including Thursday so she managed to get a bit of time off today. We went to Bell Mills garden centre and cafe, lunch first and then into the garden centre. I bought some new tools but more of that in a bit. We also bought duck food as it is a very pretty setting there.

We called in a Hornsea garden centre on the way home for a coffee and Tina got me a new set of bedding, maybe a photo when it is on the bed.

Not back to the tools, two of which I tried out when we were home. 

We both tried the spiral weed remover, not with the greatest success, but we will get the knack with practice! Then I used the one a bit like an arrowhead.

There are massive weeks with thick stems on the patio, the tool did well but you need a bit of elbow grease!

The other buy at the garden centre was this little otter who was sitting on the counter and cost a pound.

This evening I went to theMayor Making as Caroline’s guest, as Elaine, Sher’s mum was becoming deputy mayor. It wasn’t a long meeting but there were refreshments afterwards.

So quite a busy day in the end, and now relaxing before retiring.

Bargains and garden

We went to the boot sale as usual, I bought some fibre pots in readiness for next years seed planting and a lovely little bird bath for £2.

It was £2 day as I also got this brilliant, new phone case.

I managed to walk all round with Darren today which was good. The cafe we usually go to was closed and we fancied a drink so went to the front and ended up having an ice cream!

I put the little bird bath out with the others, refreshed the rest while I was at it. I am hoping the wood pigeons will not be able to fit into is as they sit in the others and sometimes poo in there!

This afternoon and evening I have worked in the gardens. This afternoon in the back using the strimmer again and did the edges. I put the shells round the hosta yesterday and hope it will flourish now.

Having a rest on the swing decided to take a photo of the trees as the copper beech his in leaf, not so many and must up high, but it seems happy after its major pruning!

This evening I mowed the larger lawn in the front garden, took me over an hour again so good exercise-maybe! Then did a few cans of watering.

Enjoying The Piano now.

Great photos from Darren

Last night Darren and Tina went up to Mappleton to see if they could see the Northern Lights. They did look in on me but I had gone to sleep. I am usually very tired when I go to bed and go off deeply for a while before I become restless trying to get comfortable. But Darren really did get some good shots, better than when they went to Finland!

That one was from the front garden.

This morning I went to the shop quite early as usual and then got ready to catch the bus up to Freeport. I called into the pottery studio briefly to leave a birthday card for Caroline and then went up to Pavers as I wanted to get some sandals. I bought a couple of pairs Nd then walked home calling it a at Botany Boutique to buy some broken shells to put round one of the hostas which was being eaten. Went along Polly’s Path on the way, very green nd no longer rutted and muddy!

I spent over two hours this afternoon strimming and clearing the ever growing undergrowth behind the beds in the back garden. The garden bin is now full! There are two tamarix trees in the front garden one is full of blossom and the other had just a couple of patches, the one with less blossom has flowered ahead of the other one. I do love it when they are in flower,

After tea I just did some essential watering and now relaxing ready for Eurovision!