Garden centres and plants for the garden!

I have been reading a book that Anya bought me when I was in Peterborough. It is Dominic Brownlow’s first novel and he was in Stamford for a boo signing. I finished it this morning, first book I have actually finished in quite a while, it is called Them Naseby Horses’ and was very descriptive and intriguing. I will leave a review at the small publishing company that printed it.

When I went out early to feed the birds the sky was pretty but not as spectacular as yesterday. The bird bath was frozen but I could remove the layer of ice.

Tina is off today and we had thought about getting out in the garden, but my knees have really flared up and are very painful and Tina has an achy shoulder so we headed off out to Beverley to go to a couple of garden centres that we don’t usually visit.

Tina was amused by the toilet sign, I used that loo!

We had lunch at the first garden centre, really nice and waitress service. The second garden centre has an area that they are developing as an ndoor garden and they intend to have markets and events there. It is still under construction at the moment.

We got quite a few plants at the first centre, hopefully my knees will have settled down by the weekend and I can get them in.

Since we got home one of the church wardens dropped off a lot of primula for us, so plenty to keep me going!

The second garden centre has a craft section, bought a few bits in the sale but no boxes for decorating at the class! One of the bargains was a pad for colouring, supposed to be used with special pencils but we thought it would work with other.

Have had a play this evening and used the lovely pencils I got in America a couple of years ago.

Tina spotted a round vegetable brush for me to use next time I attack the eagle lectern!

Sunrise, eagle cleaning and walled garden antics!

I went out to feed the birds early this morning and  thought that it would be a fabulous sunrise. I took a pictures from the garden.

Lunny was put and about as usual so will put two of her fabulous shots on now.

I went across to the church with Tina before 8.30am and did some more polishing of the lectern, this time just using the Autosol.

That was before I started, I decided to have a go at the eagles breast first.

Then the wings, not properly shiny yet but on the way. Haven’t yet touched its back!

Yesterday I was watching a great tit on the mirror in the walled garden with Tina. By the time I got the camera it was gone. Saw them again this morning and went for the camera, missed the action again so left the camera in the laundry room. Pics would have to be through a small double glazed and not very clean window! Did clean the windows a bit after the first photo!

Out of the corner of my eye I detected a movement and at first was delighted as it was a wren. Then my heart sank as I think it is nesting in the wall. Did manage to catch it on film thought which delighted me.

After lunch I walked up to the cottage hospital as I had a physio appointment. A really lovely lady called Julie gave me some new exercises but thought that I was in pretty good shape ahead of surgery. I walked home as well. My knees have been quite sore today but last night I developed a rash around my knees where I have been using the gel, so now the supports and the gel are off the cards! Julie did suggest ice so have done that once since I got home. I went not the laundry room again when I got back and got another picture of the great tit.

Pandora does a lot of bird watching in the walled garden but today she was on squirrel watch! She is under the chair, not the one the tin man is on, and the squirrel is up on the wall!

Last picture of the day, the squirrel checking her out!

There is a rockery!

Took a couple of pictures of the church this morning when I went out early to feed the birds.

I spent a good while in the garden this morning, firstly roughly finished off tidying up the big bed near the road in the front garden.

Not a perfect job but a lot of stuff removed and a bit more space for the plants we want! Then I thought I would clear round what is supposed to be the rockery!

In believably overgrown. I removed a mountain of weed etc from it!

I caught the bus up to Freeport this afternoon, thought about walking back but the knees were a bit sore and I have done a fair few steps again today, so the bus it was! Nice daffodils where the nativity is in December!

Back to eagle lectern cleaning in the morning!

Busy and varied day

This morning I wanted to go to the post office so set off for a longer walk than I have had in a while. Got there okay and made it up to the sea front, haven’t got there under my own steam for weeks now. Sat and had a cup of tea and took a fairly unusual photo from where I sat.

Took a couple more, lovely sunshine. It had been really frosty first thing but turned into a beautiful day.

When I got home I got out into the garden for a bit, back to that front bed!

Over half the front bed tidied now. The back of the bed is grass which took some removing.

I had some lard and am almost out of coconut feeders so made up a new batch.

I went out into the summer house for a bit this afternoon, did get some bird pictures. The first tow of the blue tit and not very clear as I had the cameras on very long zoom as it was on the distant feeder.

Didn’t zoom quite so much on this one so the starling is clearer!

This next one is a chaffinch, again some distance away, and you will have to take my word for it as it is more of a silhouette.

Two nice ones of a great tit.

A blue tit on a different feeder.

Wasn’t sure what bird this was to start with, wrong beak for a sparrow, decided it was a slim dunnock!

Before going to visit Sarah I started some demonstration pieces for the class on Friday.

I have done more steps than I have since November so that is a good end to a pretty good day.

Some old, same old.....

More crafting and gardening, I made a couple more cards last night.

The sky was attractive when I opened the curtains this morning.

When I went out to feed the birds I took a picture of the cowslips, really going to be delightful this year.

The church and trees looked lovely in the morning light.

Darren took me up to the market, we guessed the boot sale wouldn’t be on and we were right, I imagine the field was waterlogged. We had breakfast rolls and a look round some stalls. I sat for a while when we got back and then went out into the garden. Thought I would carry on with the front bed, it has grass and endless self sown poppies and various other things popping through.

Most of the seedlings had to go, I did rescue some, and didn’t damage too many bulbs in my efforts! I can never remember where I took the picture from so the angle of the after is a bit different.

This afternoon I have carried on using up things I have cut or printed and made then into three more cards. Really enjoy doing them and am pleased with these.

Trying a new detective drama tonight.