Tina had a meeting first thing, then, providing the delivery  I was expecting was due in the afternoon we planned to go out and have a late breakfast before she set off to meet up with a friend and go to another friends licencing. She will be back tomorrow morning. I had notification that the mahonia would be delivered between one and two pm, and the Ringtons man was due between one and three, so we were good to go! We went to Irton Garden Centre and had an enjoyable late breakfast. We had a look round, were going to check out greenhouses but they don't stock them at this time of year! Did get a couple of bargains though, both substantially reduced, a tray with pigs on and a hanging plant holder, that will be good at the new place for a dangling plant to keep it away from Blue!

Tina left soon after we returned and I wrote a couple of letters while I waited for the deliveries. I had received a parcel this morning with belated birthday gifts from the twins, Michelle and Julie. Michelle had picked some pretty earrings,

and Julie, who has been trying her hand at glass painting had decorated a jar for me to use as I tea light holder.

I was delighted with both gifts, a lovely surprise. 
The standard mahonia arrived, I was a little disappointed at first as it was smaller that it had appeared in the brochure. But looking closely at the leaves it is in very good condition, and it will grow.

When the Ringtons man had been I set off to walk to the studio. When Tina and I went to the garden centre I had worn my Stretcher trainer type shoes. She had ordered me some extra long laces about a week ago so that I could have them looser and still be able to tie them! It had been very painful using the shoehorn but they hadn't felt too bad. I loosened them up even more, took the support off and walked up to the studio. By the time I had walked home the underneath of my foot was hurting, but the Stretchers are flatter than the sandals I have been wearing. But on the whole it has made me cautiously optimistic that I can work out a solution. I painted the last squirrel, very quickly, and then helped Donna do some clearing away as she had been busy. The photo is not a good  representation because of the light, this squirrel is predominately white!

Walking home at about 5 pm I took some pictures of the sky. the leaf in the first two is weirdly like a bird!

The tea light is still burning. Darren is at his club, and at the moment the cats are out, I have called them a couple of times. So just going to relax with a cuppa now.