Saturday, 30-05-26

Morning again, everyone.  Welcome to the last weekend in May and it promises to be a very pleasant weekend indeed, even if tomorrow is rather more cloudy.

Yesterday was good.  I was pleased with the weigh in results at SW and I won the raffle - strawberries and meringues; I passed the meringues on as I don't want them at present.  The strawberries were - still are - delicious.

After a Morrisons shop where I was very well behaved and then dealing with the aftermath (putting stuff away), the plan pot wheels arrived and ooops - I had made a very silly mistake and they were way too small as the pot is very broad based.  I did try but it was just too unstable.  So I just went ahead  and filled the pot anyway and will just have to drag it slowly, if needed.  I'm sure I will find a use for the castors at some point.

At least the rhubarb should be comfortable enough and now I am looking forward to next year.

The tomatoes are looking happy - most of them have started their first truss of flowers now and it's very exciting.
I say the same every year but it really is.  😊

While on the subject, can we just admire my baby cucumbers for a moment or two.   Cute, aren't they.
And the other one, the one that should produce full sized cucumbers, looks as if its first offering is female too.  I need to do a Google, I think . . .  

no, it does produce both male and female so maybe it's just pot luck that the first one is female.

And a final, rather poor, show off photo for today - while I won't get as many blueberries as I did last year, there's still plenty coming on so no grumbles.  And to think that a few years ago (three or four, maybe) the plant was given its Last Warning.

I will be gardening again this morning but not at home.  Our local Anglican church has a community garden, just a small one, and I'm popping along to help out.  It may be something I would like to commit to longer term, we will see.

I need to feed Bubbles so I can start Lindsey's loaves off this evening.  Half term week is over and things will be back to normal on Monday.  It has been a nice week and I'm glad I didn't have classes in the heat but it is always nice to resume routines again.

Have a lovely day, wherever you are and whatever you have planned.  See you again tomorrow.  xx

Friday, 29-05-26

Good morning, everyone.  Happy Friday to you.

Just a quick one today.

I had lovely times with Chris and then with Val yesterday.  So much catching up and Val enjoyed lunch - she said she always feels she has had a feast when she comes round to mine - such a lovely thing to say.

My last monthly payment went out yesterday so I was able to finish off May's finances and open June's.  I need to go shopping today but I've moved the bit of leftover to June's spreadsheet so June has financially started now - right here it has anyway!

Today it's Slimming World first, then shopping, and then I will wait in for the pot wheels and get the rhubarb in its forever home, fingers crossed.

I'm still feeling very thankful that I can take things easy and hopeful that it will be very comfortable and summery today.  The forecast for next week says some rain is expected.  That will be a blessing too - the garden could do with a good soaking.

Take care, everyone, and have a lovely day.  xx

Thursday, 28-05-26

Morning, all.  How are you today?  The sun is shining and, after a somewhat more moderate day yesterday, I gather the temperatures are due to rise again today.  More excuse not to do all that much - as if I need one nowadays!!

I've been playing with my new toy, still just on automatic.  It seems to do better close ups that the other one.  The first lesson in the YWMC course lands today which, of course, is a busier day so it might have to wait until tomorrow.

Here's some garden photos, lightly disguised as 'playing with my camera'.

First of all, several of the tomatoes now have flowers which is exciting.  I need to side shoot them and take of the lowest leaves, the seed leaves.  They all seem to have taken well and look pretty happy so that's great.

Close up of the basket (yesterday morning, before the sun hit, bit dark, I should learn how to deal with that)

A dahlia I haven't found a place for yet - it might go in a pot this year.  Isn't it pretty.

Finally, very exciting, a baby cucumber.  This is from the mini cucumber which only produces female flowers (quite right too!) so unless this shrivels and drops, this may be my first cucumber of the year.  Yay!!
(I've just noticed there's another at the top of the photo too)

Finally, the yarn did arrive yesterday after all and this is what I got.  I think I have found and sorted the few glitches in the pattern so off we go!  I'm happy to have a project again, even if it is a mini one.

Today, being Thursday, is a Chris and Joy Coffee and Chat Day.  It's here this week and I have the garden room doors wide open to freshen the air and it looks very welcoming.  It's the first time it's felt warm enough to sit out there for our chats and it keeps us in the shade which is good.  

Then I have about an hour to prepare for Val coming over for lunch.  We meet up pretty much once a month and always have loads to catch up on.

I will be all talked out by tea time, won't I?

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Stay cool, drink plenty of water and remember that sun block.  Be safe . . .  xx

Wednesday, 27-05-26

Good morning, everyone.
After a scorcher again yesterday, today has started very much fresher and temperatures are expected to nosedive by around ten degrees (Celsius) into a pleasant, summer day.  Hope so, the sunshine was lovely but it was maybe just a bit too much heat for comfort.  No complaints though, just saying.

My various deliveries arrived all at the same time so I had a fun afternoon unpacking and trying out.

The very nice delivery chap very kindly carried to two bags of soil around to the garden for me which I really appreciated.  He managed them both together where I would struggle with one.
They are now unboxed and stacked against the wall.

I was going to plant the rhubarb straight away but decided to order a couple of plant pot roller thingies.  This will be a heavy pot by the time it is filled and I am not 100% sure where it will eventually go so having it on castors seems to be a good idea - thanks, Sharon.
They're due to arrive on Friday.

However, the rhubarb doesn't seem to mind - it has grown considerably in the last week and it is proving very difficult to do the Right Thing and leave it this first year.
One thing though - those two old yellow leaves - do I just leave them or do I cut them off?  Anyone know?

I've started getting to know the camera.  Now, it really is pretty basic - I'd call it a beginners bridge camera. I didn't want one with too many bells and whistles and think that learning how to use the manual stuff will be more than enough of a challenge.
I said to Eileen that I read good reviews - now, of course, I've seen some not so good ones too but swings and roundabouts, I am no pro so my expectations are lower and I am sure I will learn what I need to learn with it.

I've found the A Year With Your Camera workbook and will find the website again - the link was on my old, dead PC.

The only thing that didn't arrive was some yarn.  Before you shout at me, hear me out.  Chris is expecting to become a granny for the second time in the next little while and I want to make something for the new arrival.  I found a free pattern for a simple cardigan/jacket but, having experience of free patterns, I made it up with some stash yarn and I think I have ironed out all the glitches, one of which was that it makes up way bigger than new born so I've ordered some nice four ply.  
Maybe it will arrive today.  Fingers crossed.

I suspect I will have no excuse to avoid sorting out the front today.  It shouldn't be too hot and it is brown bit collection tomorrow.  And I've neglected the housework these last three days so that also needs sorting out.

So definitely a busier day today but I'm looking forward to it - being idle is nice but can get a bit boring really.  Do you find this too?

Have a great day, everyone.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Tuesday, 26-05-26

Morning, everyone.  I'm a bit late with this but not to worry.  It's gloriously sunny again and it is already pretty hot outside although inside feels cooler with windows open and binds closed.

I am smalling very herby at the moment after pruning back the rosemary and the sage.  I have no idea if it is the right time but there's so much a bit of pruning shouldn't hurt at all.  I need to tackle the oregano too but that also requires some digging up.

I didn't go round to Beth's yesterday, nor did I do any front garden stuff.  And I got a message from Beth to not worry about the bread today either.  So I will slice and freeze it and get it to her as and when.

I have to stay in today as I have some deliveries, including the soil for the rhubarb.  It won't be too tricky to get it then planted out but I need to decide where I want it first because it will end up quite heavy.  I can drag but I'd rather not.
Now I am pondering about getting some of those coaster thingies that large pots can go on . . . does anyone know if they are worth it?

The other think I am expecting today is . . . if you remember, I've been pondering getting a bridge camera, just a basic one, for quite a while now.  I chose the one I fancied that had plenty of good reviews in various places not just Amazon, took a deep breath and ordered.  It is expected to arrive today so I will have fun starting to learn how to use it.  I expect YouTube will be very helpful here and I am sure I still have the 'A Year With My Camera' book somewhere.  I gave up last time because there was so much I couldn't do without a bridge camera; I found it so confusing.

So that's me for today.  Nothing energetic, nice and chilled, and tomorrow is supposed to turn into just a nice, warm UK summer day.  Fingers crossed.  xx

Bank Holiday Monday, 25-05-26

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday.  The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, there's butterflies enjoying the flowers and I have nothing, absolutely nothing, in the diary.  That doesn't mean I'm doing nothing, of course, but I'm not going out anywhere, I'm staying home and enjoying life (apart from one thing)

First, yesterday.
Beth drove me over to a holiday house that our friend, J, has taken for the week, not far outside Kelveden.  I honestly meant to take some photos but it was hot so we stayed in front of a fan and talked and talked and talked . . . and I forgot the photos.  Ooops.
However, it was a really lovely day, one of those times one remembers.

On to today and Beth's loaves are just finishing off in the oven.  Obviously, I couldn't make her bread yesterday.  I will be popping over to hers this afternoon, just to drop them off.

I didn't intend to bore you with garden photos today but . . . 

Eeeeek . . . these were hiding so I hadn't seen them before but I turned the pot round this morning and there they were.  The early  raspberries are starting to ripen.

I've picked three and will have them as part of breakfast.
The first fruits (literally in this case) are always exciting.

And I just had to take a snap of one of the hanging baskets - they're doing very nicely now and at £4.99 each, such a bargain.

After taking Beth's bread round this afternoon, I plan to work on the little front strip.  It will be hot but the front is in shade by then so it really won't be all that bad, I hope.  If it is, the front will just have to wait.

The garden room doors are wide open, the egg chair is ready to use and it all feels so nice and relaxed . . .

And, best of all, NO SCHOOL REPORTS TO WRITE!!  I know I say it every year and this is the tenth time, but it still fills me with joy.

Have a great day - see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday, 24-05-26

Morning, all.  

It's a lovely, bright, fresh morning at the moment after quite a hot day yesterday; I gather today is going to be more of the same so three cheers!

As mentioned yesterday, I put a bit of early time in the garden and now, while it's not amazing, things look pretty respectable.  It's just a case of keeping on top of it now.  All the new stuff has taken well, I've had to tie up the cucumbers a bit more although I'm still concerned that they will collapse like last year's did.  I don't think it was any problem with the soil because the replacement plants did fine but anyway, fingers crossed.  I've just done my first side shooting with the tomatoes - they're growing fast after only a few days really.  That's encouraging.

It was a good drying day - three loads washed, dried and folded or ironed by mid afternoon.  They're still sitting on the chair so I must get them up and away after I've finished this.

What else did I do?  Nothing else very much so I think it was just the usual, mundane, daily stuff that anyone does.

Today will be nice.  A dear friend of Beth and mine is staying in the area and we're going to spend the day with her.  She's a crafter too - knitting, crochet, sewing, etc - so I'm talking something to do and I believe Beth is too and we can sit in her garden and chat as we craft.  Sounds perfect!

That's about it.  A nice, gentle Sunday for me.  How about you?  xx