If you are reading this on the 16th April, I am in hospital at the moment, having a biopsy. I will be in all day, but I have written a few posts to automatically publish today and tomorrow. I have a tumour or "mass" as the doctor described it that needs investigation. I am hoping for a good result. You may send good thoughts my way - or say a prayer or two. I'll tell you all about it when I'm up and about tomorrow. Thanks.
I put a notice on our local freecycle site - asking if any kind soul had plant pots they don't need. Well...a lovely young family wanted to get rid of these !! I cannot imagine why.
But...thanks to their kindness, I am the lucky recipient. Aren't they wonderful. I am so happy and so grateful. Of course, the minute we got them home this afternoon, I was quick to break out the potting soil.
Pretty geranium - New Century "Violet"
Delicious lemon thyme - and friend lobelia
Little Rosemary - she'll grow !
Now...of course...I need to buy more plants to fill the rest of them ! Oh dear.
The tiny raised bed in the back left corner - all planted up.
(I will get to painting that fence this week !)
We have had the most marvellous day today. The weather is just glorious ! In fact, it's hot !! We worked in the garden, went to church, worked in the garden, had a birthday tea for our youngest granddaughter, worked in the garden...and we are going to continue working in the garden till nightfall. Wouldn't you call that a marvellous day ?
Allow me to introduce you to the beautiful Marguerite. Isn't she grand ?
The rubbish continues - bagged and dumped !
Isn't this a wonderful pot pourri mix ? I just love it. I have a few bowls with pot pourri here and there around the house. The mix is so inexpensive to buy, or you can make your own. I find the bowls in our charity shops. This is a large ceramic bowl, very shallow. It lives on the lime-washed coffee table in the sitting room. I sprinkle the pot pourri with an essential oil now and again. One of my favourites is jasmine. It makes the room smell wonderful and fresh.
One of my favourite foods is eggs. They are so very useful ! Marvellous on sandwiches, great for baking, snacks and garnishing, and so delicious soft-boiled with lovely toast soldiers. I go through more than 3 dozen a week. I just couldn't do without them. Here is a favourite recipe of mine using hard-boiled eggs. It's a variation of Devilled Eggs - the grandchildren love this recipe.
6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise
3 to 4 tablespoons Light Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
1 tablespoon sweet red pepper - very finely chopped
1 tablespoon green onion or scallions - finely chopped
1 tablespoon celery - very finely chopped
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Paprika for garnish
Pop out (remove) the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add the mayonnaise, red pepper, onion, celery, mustard, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white shells with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day before serving.
My hubby is just wonderful. Look at this lovely bird feeder he came home with !!! I am thrilled. I couldn't be happier if he brought me diamonds. Uh...well..okay...who am kidding ? I would be happier with diamonds. But I'll take the bird feeder for now !!
It is about 5 feet tall. I'll take a proper photo of it in situ. I just love the thatch on the little roof. It reminds me of Africa. Did I mention that I grew up there ? I lived all over Africa for 47 years. In fact, I have only been back in the UK for the last 5 years. A big change !! So, when I feel homesick, I can look at my little bird feeder and feel very happy.
This little bird holds a very special meaning to me. He has a partner - he was one of a pair, and I have had him for years. I bought the pair in Zimbabwe where I lived for most of my life. They are made of clay. I called them my Bluebirds of Happiness.
When my daughter got married, 15 years ago, as she was leaving our home, she picked the other little bird up and asked if she could have it. She said that we would each have one, and we could always think of each other, and our love for each other, every time we looked at our birds. And it's worked - I always do think of her each time I look at him. He is such a sweet reminder of my beautiful girl. Over the years, we were seperated by oceans, but she was always close to my heart, especially when my eyes rested on the bluebird. She said the same thing happened to her. She felt me closer every time her little bird smiled at her.
We only live a few streets away from each other now, and our birds are still apart - mine on a shelf in the kitchen, and her's next to her computer. I still smile and think of her every time I look at it !
When you look after grandchildren every day, you always seem to be tripping over their playthings !! I had my last baby 25 years ago in 1982. But...the house is still full of toys ! Here are just a few of the babies. This is a chair in a corner that is never really sat on, so the babies stay here all week. On Friday evenings, I wander around our little house, and pick up all the toys. They are packed away, in a plastic tub, for the weekend.
Of course, if the kids come to visit over weekend...they are all hauled out again. I can't win !!
At the moment, I am helping a friend with some crochet work. She is very elderly, and I think she has taken on a project that is far too much for her. She promised her daughter-in-law that she would crochet a double bed cover for her !!! When she was younger, she could have done this without any problem. But she is really struggling to the point that she crochets one square -incorrectly- and rips it back, all day long. It's a very simple pattern - the most basic really, just groups of 3 trebles - but she can't seem to get her head round it. I don't have the heart to tell her to give up. Oh dear.
Anyway, I have finished one square which she is coming to fetch later so that she can copy it. I will then just continue with the squares when I have time on my hands. I really don't feel as though I have enough time to make the whole thing, and I don't really want to. I have enough work of my own to be getting on with. So...what do I do ??
I have been very busy all morning, digging and planting. So enjoyable - I was born to be a gardener. It is the most satisfying thing I do (and the most energetic - I have aches in muscles that I didn't know existed). It's coming together very quickly - well, it would, wouldn't it, in such a small space ? But...as small as it is, it's been a lot of hard work. I have had to replace so much soil with good compost. I could actually start a pottery with the pile of clay thrown in the corner. It has to be bagged and dumped ! Thankfully, the weather has been wonderful all week - and looks set to continue for another week. Wonderful.
There is more to do. The filler between the pavers is almost dry. I need to sweep and wash them all off tomorrow. I am still working on the shade side of the garden - digging to quite a depth and removing half the soil I turn over. I am really tempted to go with acid-lovers on this side . I'll give it some thought over the next day or two. I also need to finishe painting the fence !! Blast. As you can see from the photos, I have been planting. Of course, with such bare ground, the temptation is to overplant - not allowing enough space between each seedling. I am trying to contain myself ! Mind you, I could always dig out when things get overcrowded.
The garden is going to be a hotch-potch of flowers and veg !! Lovely. I've always wanted an English country garden - who knew I was going to achieve it in just a few feet square !
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