Slow start

Wasn’t feeling at my best this morning, I think the pain in the neck is getting me down a bit. Still trying to unblock a particularly resistant toilet didn’t help! I did a few chores and went across to Number Nine and had a cuppa and chat with Sher and Haley, always a boost. I called in at Countdown and bought an old fashioned mop bucket. Whatever gadgets they bring out I would still rather use an old fashioned mop! The bush that hangs over the front wall is looking glorious in the sunshine.

The front garden is getting untidy gain as I have been concentrating on the back. I was going to work on the front bed then I noticed that the bed by one of the gates has an abundance of sticky weed, which brings me out in a rush. So thought I had better get on top of it before it got too big.

That area is clearer now.

It is Darren’s birthday today and he and Tina have spent a couple of days in Beverley. Looks like a very interesting afternoon tea that he was tucking into!

I phone Bel on Thursday evening to check she still wants a visit. No answer this evening which is unusual. I was gong to try again in a bit but couldn’t settle without checking she was okay, so walked round there. All was well, she has had trouble with the phone before.

I have been out with the hose this evening, the rain dance didn’t work!

Out for lunch

Yesterday evening I made a cake as it is Darren’s birthday tomorrow and he and Tina are away for a couple of nights so they have taken it with them. I was going to try and write happy birthday with the little chocs but couldn’t make it fit so just put them all over the top!

I pottered around this morning as was going to Sarah and David’s for 10.45am. Quite a long drive to a farm near the village of South Cave. They took me out for lunch today as they will be away on my birthday. A very nice meal and an interesting shop on site but I resists the temptation to buy! Nic wallpaper in the loo!

Our front door lock is playing up and hit took me a while to get into the house, may take the back door key with me if I go out tomorrow!

I spent a couple of hours in the garden, I got all the plants I had into the beds and some of the bulbs, plus some hoeing to keep on top of the weeds

I put some plants in one of the cleared beds.

I hadn’t realised how many tulips I had put in one of the beds.

Quiet evening now, anyone would think I was retired!

Jigsaw morning

Tina was out this morning and we were expecting a delivery so I spent a while on the jigsaw. It is coming along.

The cats were keeping me company, the had been patting paws before I took the second pic

Tina was taking a service in Sigglesthorne so we went to the garden centre for a quick lunch then she left me to look round and I caught the bus home.

Some great and ridiculously expensive garden statues.

I did buy some bulbs and some socks in the shoe department

After dinner I hosed the garden. My head pain isn’t any better but I am sticking with the exercises.

A right pain in the neck!

The pain in my head was bad last night so I phoned the surgery this morning. Number 26 in the queue but did get an appointment when I evenly talked to the receptionist. The surgery is about half a mile away and walking today has really jarred my head on every step, which is a pain, literally! The doctor did examine me and said that it is muscular and got me to do exercises that I have already been doing and prescribed some ibuprofen gel. I will have to did the exercises more often and endeavour to get on top of it. I walked back along the new path in the park.

I had a walk round the garden and topped up the bird baths. Took a couple of pics, one of brunnera and pink forget me nots and another of a tulip.

The bonsai trees have made it through another year, these are my favourite two.

I will post the pic of the garden that I took yesterday evening.

I walked up to Tesco this afternoon, I had some stuff to put in the food bank collection box and I did a bit of shopping while I was there.

Worked on the jigsaw for a while before walking to the surgery again as I had to have a repeat blood test. When I was told I was pre diabetic a few months ago hat may not have been the case as the machine had beed calibrating the samples wrongly. This time a walk back through a different part of the park.

This green plant in the front garden looks great in the sun.

No gardening or watering this evening, best get exercising!

Very boring

I will warn you now there are garden pictures that look like I haven’t done anything, but I did so will post them anyway, but feel free to give it a miss! We went to the boot sale this morning, quite busy and our usual breakfast place wA open. I got a couple of useful bits, not expensive, a drin unblocked, a hard skin remover and  shoehorn!

I went to the town hall a local businesses had stalls and Sher nd her mum were there.

After lunch I went into the garden for a while and did the edges on three more beds. This photos ft the magnolia, only three flowers on that tree and this on is the worse for wear!

I hosed the garden after dinner and took pics of the ‘elephants ears’ and the first honesty plant to flower.

I did the edges of the new puzzle and Darren found a couple of the pieces I had missed. Still one to find!

Sunny Saturday

A lovely day today but still a chilly wind here by the sea. Did the usual shop this morning that took it easy as was feeling quite weary today. I did go along to see Sher before lunch and booked a place in a pottery workshop. 

After lunch I did go into the garden and decided to to start edging the flower beds. I was hoeing some weeds out as I went. I didn’t do every bed but three long lengths.

I filled the watering cans to water the bonsai trees later, I gave the hose moss this evening.

I sorted out the edge pieces of the new jigsaw, may get it started tomorrow. 

Tina bought some candle moulds when we went to Hobbycraft and she has started making candles and they look great.

There was a craft fair in the parish hall today and Tina got me a very silly door stop.

Probably boot sale tomorrow and maybe some gardening.

Visit day

I didn’t behave a great night as the pain in my head was irritating and I was feeling sick! Still toying with gong to the doctors. I went down to the local shop to get some more salad ingredients for lunch. Had a sit down before going to Bels and took a picture of my pretty companion.

Bel was okay but still has a sore wrist so I was on tea making duties again. I had take some money with me as the new craft shop run by a husband and wife who do glass work and pottery. They had some pottery poppy heads on stakes for just £8 each and I wanted to get three. I have them in the garden now.

After lunch I set off for Jeans, returning a package for Tina on the way. Did take a picture of the magnolia, not exactly a wonderful specimen just yet. Jean was in quite good spirits today which wa good, sha had an encouraging phone call from someone at the hospital this week. Terry gave me a lift home again.

Sadly my grocery order didn’t arrive today, I imagine it was perhaps a new delivery man who couldn’t find us. But an unexpected package was my next jigsaw.

Another lovely picture which should be fun to do.

I have pulled the hose out this evening and watered the very dry flower beds.

No gardening!

I went for a bit of a walk this morning so have reached me step target today, don’t reach it when I spend the day in the garden. I did a crossword for a while when I got back and then went out for lunch with Tina. She had to make a visit on the way so I sat in the car, took a couple of photos, the bush was pretty and the sky was blue!

Then off for a local lunch….maybe. The mere cafe opens tomorrow.

Then the cafe at Mappleton was closed!

The sea was misty but it doesn’t really appear in the photo.

We went a bit further to a pub we hadn’t been to before and had a nice lunch there.

For the first time in these gardens I have a lily of the valley flowering. I have tried to take photos three times but cannot bend low enough and hold the phone steady. So today I had to the phone upside down and rested it on the ground, then I could reach the button!

Been playing with the coloured pencils this evening,

No gardening today and probably not tomorrow as it is visit day .

More gardening

I sit in bed when I have fed the cats and do several puzzles on the iPad. I have a Davenport, haven’t had it that long and sadly had to make a cover for it as both the cats use it as a viewing point for the garden! Pandora is the usual occupant but Blue goes on there as well. Today Pandora was there and Blue jumped up next to her and I got ready for fireworks as they don’t get on! But, after a minute they both decided to take in the view.

I wanted some bits at the shop before heading into the garden and that turned into a bit of a saga. I took some cash and as I was at the self service checkout got out my loyalty card and then realised I hadn’t brought enough cash. Asked a shop assistant to hang onto the basket while I nipped home. On the way I realised I had left my loyalty card on the checkout! When I was back at the shop the assistant had noticed my card, so got the shopping at the second attempt!

The out into the garden, the area and pavers neat rhe summer house this time.

I worked for a while before lunch and again afterwards, working my was round!

I should have taken a before shot of the apple tree as there were nettles and ground elder around the base and under the roots. Took quite a while to get it this clear.

I did do a bit more work on one of the other beds and then read for a while before getting dinner.

I had filled some watering cans and did a bit of watering after dinner.

Have been booking trains for a trip this evening nd did nother sketch of daffodils s I have lots to choose from!

Garden day

Not a lot to say today, I haven’t been out except for the garden and I have spent several hours out there. I decided to try and finish the bed where the bird table is, which hasn’t been dug for years. I had to move the bird table and the recycled pavers in the bed.

The job wasn’t helped by the fact that I was battling the tree roots whilst removing all the others.

I levelled the bed off before I came in for dinner.

I had also removed the wooden frames at the back. I have stored them away for now while I decide where to put th em.

After dinner I went out and used about six watering cans to revive the plants that are flagging because of the lack of rain.

Will try and make the blog more interesting tomorrow!