The morning after

the day before........everything aches after my efforts yesterday to pick DB up and get him indoors.

The weather has turned colder, its really cold 11c again this morning and DB says we have had rain. I did put the electric fire on last nnight just to warm up the room and also the electric blankets an hour before we went to bed, so the bed was warm.

No real plans for today except to sort out some supper and redress DBs head. I might get round to doing some sewing I will see.

I have taken out smoked haddock for supper, will do a poached egg and bread and butter with it, there is chocolate mousse for dessert.

Not again

 Guess who fell in the garden again today........only me here to pick him up!! Just about crackered me. He now has a very large piece of lint taped to his forehead.

The redcard has come into play, I am going to have to ask the gardener if he can do another couple of hours  a week until the autumn. Then everything except the green house is going. I will replace the beds with grass.

I ordered a book fromthe USA last Wednesday, itarrived at lunch time. 500+ pages, projects to get you used to what my new machine can do.

Supper tonight is chicken and rice, not sure about dessert.

Cool morning

there is quite a breeze this morning and its distinctly chilly. The laundry is out on the line, need to keep my eye on the weather, grey clouds keep scudding overhead.

Have started planting up the pots with plants, replaced one small one with one of the big tubs I got from C & C I am going to plant a Cornus in the miccle and surround it with bedding plants. The 72 I potted up recently are now big enough to be potted on, will may be do that tomorrow after I sort out a couple more of the big tubs.

DB keeps stretching his time in the garden, is supposed to do half an hour, this morning he was out for almost an hour. I warned him he will nit get any sympathy if he keeps doing it. I have enough problems with him to cope with. I do wish he would remember that he is almost 90 not 19 or even 29.

I am looking for my next project for the stall, I have found a pattern for a tiny teddy in a bed, all made in the hoop. Will try it and see, it would be ok for a child to carry in a pocket for comfort.

No idea re supper, it might be egg and chips, depends how I feel, I have beef in the freezer, will do a casserole for tomorrow night.

Not so hot

 to day, there is quite a breeze. DB in the greenhouse, message from stepson he is on his way to see us with the little one. He posted a photo yesterday, she is now standing.

I was hoping to get some of the plants potted up, it will have to wait till tomorrow now. I want to finish off the mat this afternoon whilst he has his siesta.

Supper tonight is roast pork with veggies, banana and ice cream for dessert.

Laid back day?

I doubt it. I was very tired this morning so we did not get up until 9am. The sun id busting a gut shining, we are forecast 21c today, so curtains and blinds shut to try and keep the house cooler. I have ditched the trousers for a skirt and no socks.

Our hose pipe is broken and we are having to carry water in cans to water the garden, does not do my hands much good.

I had to restart my sewing yesterday, the hoop came off and I could not line it up again so I started from scratch. Fingers crossed it goes ok today, I would like to get 2 more bits done if I can.

Went to the freezer for chicken for tomorrow..........no chicken, so I have found two rather thin pork steaks, we will have those. I will pull some more rhubarb and freeze it, whilst using some that has been in the freezer since last year. Will make a crumble for tomorrow.

Gardener was here yesterday, we have all the tulip bulbs out, so need to put them in trays to dry off, we will plant them in the front in October. There is a philadelphus in the back garden, its covered in black fly, I need to make up my washing up liquid spry and give it a good spray, will also have to have a look at the lupins that are in the front, black fly likes those as well as roses.

Supper tonight frittata and salad, lemon cheese cake for dessert.

Its Friday

 and its sunny, the forecast is good for the weekend. Its a holiday here on Monday, it usually rains!!

Towels in the wash, yesterdays laundry dried well, so should todays, once its out on the line.

I finished off the Celtic runner yesterday and have started a new mat, its a cut out, something I have never done before.........

The gardener will be here this afternoon, I have quite a bit for him to do the big pots need emptied ready for the bedding plants to go in, I also want to move some pots around the patio. We will have to water tonight as its so dry.

Supper, fish and chips, not sure about a dessert as yet maybe rhubarb.

Shopping

Shopping this morning, did not need an awful lot, but it soon mounted up. Back home DB helped put it away and then went out to the garden.

Last night I threaded up the machine and started off where I left off. After about half an hour the thread broke.........blue air, I spent ages trying to sort it out, then I remembered that Tim had the thread on the machine, I had it on the thread stand so I changed it round, fingers crossed it ok so far. Not sure if its the thread or the 10 reel holder. Will finish what I am doing and then try something else using the thread holder.

I managed to leave two leads to our tablets behind. As usual DB was doing the hassling thing. I rang the hotel, yes they had them but we nèeded to collect them, they were not willing to post them out to us. No way. I tried to see if a friend could get them but she too lived too far away. So DB is paying to replace them.

Supper tonight salmon salad. Chocolate mousse for dessert.

Home again,

We arrived back and were unpacked just after 2pm. After a good nights sleep we breakfasted and then set off for the Ferndale Plant centre, it  was huge. After some deliberation We bought another Acer, this one will stand on the front out of the sun. DB also bougt mixed lettuce, and beetroot. We stopped for a coffee before setting off for Woodseats. Machine working ok and also the arm has now been released so the hoops go in easier. Thank you Tim. Our local postman is a big strongtp boy and he lifted the machine out of the car and onto the sewing room table for me. I just have to turn it round and set it up.

The M1 was very busy, lots of lorries, we made good time to the junction with the A512 That is the slowest part of the journey, to and from the M1 through the country roads.

Needless to say I am shattered. DB decided he had left his wallet behind, had me searching through everything, I found it on the table by his chair. His memory is getting so much worse.

The last 2 days have been really nice, it was quite warm motoring home, thankfully the house is nice and cool.

I now need to catch up on the table runner I was doing before the machine had a hissy fit.......I have arrnaged with Tim that he will send me a box to send the machine up to him when its service is due. I am getting too old to drive these distances. Tootling round the local area is quite stressful enough!!

We are having Ding dinners tonight.

Away day

 We left home at 9.30 having devised a way to move the machine, it worked quite well. Very heavy traffic on the M1, a lot of heavy lorries trundling along. Dropped off the machine and embroidery arm and made our way to the Toby Carvery. A good choice of meat and veg at the Carvery and the cost was ok too.

We were early booking in, the room was not ready, so we sat in the lobby and watched the people coming and going. It is obviouly a hotel thatpeople use for meetings.

I ordered a tray of tea, nice surprise, the cost was very reasonable and it was an excellent cuppa.

I have to ring in the morning to see if they have managed to sort the machine ans eased the arm. We may squeeze a visit to a local garden centre before we collect the machine and journey home.

As we ate at lunchtime, I packed up a picnic for supper tonight.

Wash day

Bed stripped and in the washer. As my cleaner has Covid, DB will have to help me with the quilt cover........Oh joy......Not. I will then whip round with the duster and GTech. I also need to start putting stuff in the case for tomorrow and also put the cook box on to cool down.

Its a dull morning, so I hope we are not in for some rain I would like to get my sheets etc dry. The rest of the washing will not get done until Thursday at the earliest.

I am so hoping that the machine is a quick fix and I will be able to bring it home with me, it will put me a bit behind schedule if it is away for too long.

So no idea about supper will have to look at the menu list and then have a grub through the freezer.

Day of rest

It certainly has been. We had our usual Fruit, crossiant and coffee breakfast. Shower and then went into Morrison in Melton before presenting outselves at The Harbro for Sunday Lunch!! DB had gammon, I had the succulent beef and it was delicious. We called at C & C on the way home to see if they had had any beetroot, but no.... ordered 6 more bags of compost and DB got a courgette, the one he set did not come on.

Once home DB retired to bed for his siesta. I put my feet up and read.

S came with the bed linen, so I can change the bed tomorrow. No cleaner, she has Covid, I did manage to do the bedroom yesterday. Tomorrow I will do the walls etc in the bathroom and toilet. Then it will be pack up for our visit to Sheffield with the machine.......

No supper tonight, might just have cheese and biscuits and some fruit a bit later, but that will be it.

Ah! woe is me

My cleaner contacted me yesterday to say she and her parents have all got covid!! Brilliant, her parents are both elderly and not in the best of health anyway. Its the second time around for them all. We had our booster injections on Thursday. I guess we will be having them twice a year.

Yesterday was a garden day. I potted up all the plantlets into pots 6 to a pot, once they get a bit bigger they will go in the pots the bulbs are coming out of.

I am a bit out of kilter with my machine being out of action, I will be glad to get it sorted. In the meantime I will have to push the GTec over the carpets and wave the duster at the dust. I keep the bathroom and loo clean, wipe it down every day, the cleaner uses the steam mop to do the kitchen and bathroom floors. The kitchen floor will have to be done, muck gets brought in from the garden. I do wish we had a utility room. There was a big one at the cottage in East Linton, brilliant for coats shoes etc. It also housed the floor standing boiler.

The sun has just appeared, it is to be another nice day.

Tomorrow we are going out for lunch, we decided to make some changes and Sunday lunch out once a month is one of them.

Supper tonight is all day breakfast.

When we moved here 9 years ago, I had one of those Whirly clothes dryers, so decided to use the two metal poles which were for the washing line to grow clematis up. One died the other one has flowered every year since. It is full of bloom just now. The picture will enlarge if you click on it. Every year I have to cut it back to stop it from wandering along the clothes line.

 

Going to be busy

Yesterday afternoon 72 plantlets arrived, they were a cheap offer from one of the plant companys we use from time to time. So my job for the next day or so is to plant them to grow on until they are big enought to go into the pots. I plan to use slightly bigger pots than normal and grow 6 to a pot until they are large enough to be planted out. No way have I got 72 little pots.......wish me luck.

The sun is struggling to get through, it turned cold yesterday evening, but I left the heat off, used a fleece blanket over my legs and feet.

Tonight is fish and chip night. I have a couple of sponge puddings for dessert. 

Thursday

We awakened to really nice sight this morning - not, a dead half chewed pigeon on the front grass, feathers everywhere, not sure if it was a fox or a cat had an alfresco meal!!

Grocery delivery this morning, the heavy stuff I have a job carrying.

Coffee morning went well, we had a new lady come, which was very nice, 2 of the regulars missing so it was a bit quieter than normal. Took the spectacle cases for them to see and sold one of the popper ones......so need to make 2 more to replace them once my machine is back working properly.

Its quite cool this morning, the heat is on just to take the chill off, hopefully the sun will break through at some point.

Sausage and mash tonight, Dessert possibly ice cream.

 

Coffee Morning

I need to go up the garden and pull some more rhubarb, there will not be as much as last tiime, but should get quite a bit.

I took my machine to bits twice yesterday, no luck, so next week we have a mini break. I just cannot drive up and back in the same day any more, so we have booked a night in the hotel we stayed at for the retreat. Going up Tuesday back Wednesday. So no sewing for a few days. Will concentrate on getting the garden sorted whilst the machine is out of action.

Another sunny morning, It turned a lot cooler in the late afternoon. Did not bother to switch the heat on when we got back from our meeting.

Salad for supper tonight, will do a bacon fritatta. Not sure about dessert as yet. Crumble and jelly both finished.

I 

Sun again?

Another bright morning, we did have rain overnight, it still quite cool though, due to get up to about 15 during the day

Load of coloureds in the washer, they will dry on the line.

I have to take my machine to bits today. My dealer has posted a video showing how to deal with a problem. Yesterday the thread started shreading and breaking.......I could see a rogue piece of thread but could not reach it. Fingers crossed I do not managed to b****r up the machine. All fingers crossed please, I also have found a video to alter the springs that allow the frame to slide in. Mine are very tight, so I will also be taking the embroidery arm off and sorting that once I have the thread out.

We are eating at lunch time today, there is a council meeting tonight, so we will be off there. So egg and chips for lunch, sandwwiches when we get back about 8pm. 

Yes!!

bright sunny late spring morning, yesterday ended up being quite warm until about 4pm, then the temperature went down with a whoomp. Forecast is for it not to  be so warm today, we may have a rain shower about lunch time.

A white wash in the washer, it sould mostly dry on the line, DB says there is a bit of a breeze.

Another glasses case finished yesterday, I have just one more to do.

The lady who is hoping to move into No 8 was here again yesterday with her daughter, she saw the open glasses cases I had made and promptly bought one for her phone!! It fitted just right. So another use for them. I need to start on some of the Christmas stuff now. I think the table runner might be the starting place.

 I guess DB is going to be in the garden this morning. He has misplaced a pair of jogging bottoms he wears in the garden, I searched yesterday and could not find them, no idea where they might be. He is getting worse at remembering things, it getting very trying at times.

Beef stew for supper tonight from the freezer. We will have to have lunch tomorrow as we have a meeting tomorrow night.    

 

Phew

After days of cold winds and rain, it is rather warm this morning, reminicent of the heat in India when the memsab moved up into the hills. Hot and sticky.

Usual Sunday brekkie, DB is out in the garden, have just finished prepping supper, roast pork with all the veggies and a couple of stick of rhubarb and some left over frozen rasps in a crumble, cooking gently in the oven.

I cut out three more spec cases last night to do today. Might get 2 done after lunch.

Still have not got round to taking out the tulips yet, once I have finished the glasses case I will spend a morning lifting all the bulbs and putting them into the small grow house to dry out. Then it will be back to the sewing. I want to start on some of the Christmas stuff, so there will have to be a clear away, for the time being, of  the scrap box.

Right off for a cup of tea..............
 

A very grey morning

 and cold with it, the heating has come on, so it must be cold.

Not a lot to report. I managed to make another type of glasses case yesterday, the tool for the poppers came so will be having a play with that this morning. I have another case cut out.

DB says he will be spending his 'garden time' in the greenhouse out of the cold.

He had a quick visit to the Drs to check his wound yesterday, there is a bit of pus coming out, but no reddening of the skin or heat, so they are happy to see him again if things change. I was also told, I could go into reception and get more dressings for him, do I will be doing that once a week.

There is a bit of left over quiche, so we will have that for supper with some salad and finish off the raspsberries in jelly.

I have never used poppers before, watched a video, took my life in my hands and went for it. Spectacle cases.......but could be used for other things.

The end of the week

comes round so quickly, after Monday, Friday almost seems to be the next day.

I started making these yesterday, have got a bit hooked. They are spectacle cases, but could be used for a small sewing kit, make up brushes or drawing kit. The are a bit adictive, takes longer to cut out the bits than the actual sewing.

I have used up scraps of fabric, have enough to do a few more. I also have a pattern for a fold over case which I am going to try next. Have had to send for a punch for the poppers which shut the flap.

Dull morning, DB tells me it is going to rain later, so maybe the gardener will not come. I want to dig up the tulip bulba and dry them off. We had torential rain yesterday and it has battered them down.

Uausal fish and chips tonight, rasps in jelly for dessert.

Sorry about the type at the top, no idea hoe that happened.

Shopping day

I did not go shopping last week, so have quite a list for today. I need to get it over and done with.

I finished the second mat yesterday, it was not good, so will use it myself as a sample, All due to being stingy with the stabilizer. I use a lot and piece it together to use it again the bit I had stitched together caught in the embroidery foot, and put the stitching off.....grrrrrrrr. Once I had freed it I should have started again.........

Its a fine morning, we had a shed load of rain last night, I will have to take the tulips out, the rain had battered them down. A job for tomorrow when the gardener is here.

Quiche and salad tonight for supper, might get round to doing rasps in jelly when I get back from the shops. 

The ouch lady cometh

The chiropodist came early this morning to 'do our feet'. We were away just before 10am for DB to get his wax removed from his ears at the local hospital. They only managed to clear one, He has to put oil in the one ear for 2 weeks and then they will try again.

We came home via C & C he forgot his beetroot plants yesterday, they have not come in yet so we have to go back next week to collect them.

The sun was out when we went out, but rain is forecast. I did not have time to hang out the laundry before we went out, the sky sky is very grey, so its in the dryer. I have another load of heay coloureds to do tomorrow.

Spag bol for supper tonight. Doubt we will have a dessert, other than a small scoop of ice cream.

Larger star mat, when brilliant until the last fan........not my best effort so it will be a sample. I ran out of thread when doing the edge of the centre. I has a really small amount left, just enough to finish it on another reel!! The carpet looks grey in fact its green.

Its getting to be a habit

Its been a busy day one way or another. I had an appointment to get my hearing aids checked. I have had them since 2019 according to the records. so they really needed looking at.

I then went to savers to see if I could get more of the toilet paper I got from there, no such luck so came away with a bottle of shower gel and a packet of washing soda, then 2 QD for chicken manure for the garden. From there we travelled to C & C's cafe for a bacon butty and a pot of tea. Of course I did not come away with out some plants. geraniums, lobelia and fuchsias, I will be going back for some more in a couple of weeks.

Back home, I collected a parcel from out neighbour, she had been good enough to take it in for me.......a set of bed linen, I need to wash it and get it ironed.

I also managed to do 3 more bits of the second mat, hopefully I will finish it tomorrow.

The window cleaner came, he told me his next visit would be his last as he is retiring. We will still see him though, he goes to the coffee mornings at the chapel.

Supper tonight, mince and mash......ice crem for dessert.

Late again

Azalea, I would loved to have bought this home.

Grey and white/silver star mat.

its becoming a habit. However I have been other wise engaged in housewifely things.

I have managed to finish the centre of the mat I was making, pleased with it, it is different. I am about to start a second one with different grey fabric.

Cleaner has been so we have a clean house again. The forecast was for rain, so the sheets have gone in the dryer rather than on the line.

So tomorrow life is back to ?normal. We did watch the concert last night, George and Charlotte seemed to enjoy most of it, I guess they were allowed to go as today is a Bank Holiday, so no school.

Supper tonight is egg, sausage and chips. If I get a chance I will pull a couple sticks of rhubarb and gently cook it, we can have ice cream with it.

Late today

My goodness a lovely day, dull start but late morning the sun came out and its HOT!!!

We went on a jolly to a garden open after I called in to get DB yogurt, we had run out. Ended up a Burrough Hall nr Somerby.

Very large parkland, some bluebells in the trees. The main part of the garden was quite small. Tea in the stable yard where there were two magnificent white azaleas in pots.....fabulous, pity I could not bring one home with me. 

We treated ourselves to tea and cake, sat talking to a nice couple from Uppingham.

Supper tonight will be paoched eggs on toast.......

 

So thats it

all over now, the King and Queen have been crowned and Louis behaved himself.

It was a spectacle which the British are so good, at and the reason that other countries envy us.

I had to smile when they came out on the Balcony, the kings crown was definately off kilter..... tilted to one side, gave him rather a rakish air.

Ture to form it rained, but there was no Queen Salote of Tonga or Winston Churchil to wave to the crowds from their carridges as there were when I watched the past Queens coronation on a Great Uncles TV. I was just 10 years old. There was a film made in technicolour which they showed to schoolchildren at the cinema.......

So DB was glued to the TV from 9am until I made him put it off safter the second balcony appearance.

We are having ding dinners tonight, afraid I just cannot be bothered to cook.

Hair cut day

Phoned the hairdresser yesterday, she had a cancellation for this morning, so we are getting a haircut for the coronation!! Not.

We appear to have had some rain last night. Yesterday I managed to tidy part of the patio at the back, will try and do a bit more today, the gardener is due this afternoon. Not a lot for him to do but he does not mind just doing an hour.

Sun is struggling to come through, but it is quite mild, the heating is off, usually put it back on about 4pm till we go to bed. The evenings tend to be chilly.

I did 4 bits of the table mat yesterday, might get a bit more done today, will have to see how we go.

 We are planning a garden visit on Sunday, a fairly local to us garden is open, not too big, just about enough for us to manage at a slow walking rate.

Supper tonight is fish and chips, I have 2 small chocolate sponges to use up.

 

Wash day

DB commented that we had quite a breeze this morning, so the towels went in the washer and are now on the line blowing in a bit more than the breeze. I also managed to sort out some of the pots and sweep part of the patio before my back told me I was headding for trouble if I carried on. I need to get the flame thrower on the grass and weeds that have come up between the slabs, Its impossible to pull them out.

We have some sun, but mostly wind. Hopefully we will not get any rain.

I started a mat yesterday, its different, but so far looks ok. Decided to do a small one to start with, see how it came out. Like all of the others I have made its joined up in the hoop.

Supper tonight chicken and pilu rice, we have a couple of desserts in the fridge.

 

Coffee morning

Bright sunny morning, there is a slight chill in the air, but guess that will go as the morning progresses.

I have to go and pull some rhubarb to take to the coffee morning, its going mad again at the top of the garden. I will freeze some, but I need to use up the raspberries in the outside freezer. DB is having to take flowers off the strawberries whilst there is still the threat of a frost.

Trying to make up  my mind what to tackle next in the sewing room, table mats or a runner.........I wanted to do a slightly larger runner but I have not got enough material, so it might well be a table mat. I have the pattern and fabrics for the nutcracker drummer boy, I may decide to have a go at that. I also want to make another Santa and Mrs Claus. Key rings are on the drawing board as well.

 I pulled and trimmed 30 stalks of rhubarb, plenty more to come

Supper tonight, fritatta and salad, we have a banana to finish as well, so guess that will be dessert. 

Yesterday

was a bit of a grey day, although it lightened up in the evening.

I went out this morning to go to the post office and put or script in to the Drs. The rear brakes had locked on, had to get J from the garage to come and give them a swift bash with the hammer to get them to release. So now I am having to park the car in gear and not put the hand brake on.....apparently its a common thing with the Fabia if it is left to stand for more than a day or two.

Eventually I left, went to the PO, as I came to the next village the road was closed, so I had to do a detour to get to the surgery 10 miles all told.

The wind has changed, its a bit cooler. I have cooked casserole steak for supper tonight, there should be enough for another meal.

Trying to decide what to tackle next for the fair, I have a new pattern for a mat I might try......tomorrow is the coffee morning at the chapel. I need to have a look at the little room that has been cleared out, I have 2 friends who want to come for a 2 day quilting class. It would be a deccent place to do it.

So supper tonight is beef casserole with veg and the last of the rhubarb crumble. I need to pull rhubarb to take to the coffee morning, we are inundated with it. All the rain has sent it daft.

May Day

 The first of May, my step father always called it Labour Day. No magical change of weather!! The sun comes and goes. DB tells me the wind has swung back to the north, so it chilly.

Load of laundry in, should get it dry on the line. 

I finshed the book cover yesterday and it fits, so quite pleased with it, I also washed the sabilizer out of 10 large gold stars. 5 of them are in gold mettalic thread and 5 in ordinary gold thread., they need a quick press and can then be slipped into a packeage and sealed.

Supper tonight, cold chicken and salad. I will put the carcus into the Ninja and make stock for soup.