Friday

Morning, everyone!  It's one of those stupid o'clock days but I don't really mind.  I can just get started earlier and maybe do a bit more decluttering.
It's too early to tell the weather except that it's not raining.  Yesterday was very warm, the warmest this month, I would say, and very sunny too.  Sitting out in my little arbour with coffee and my knitting was really lovely and long may it continue.

I had a nice swim early yesterday.  There are people in the pool (or heading for the pool) as soon as the place opens, but not too many and all fairly intent on swimming rather than chatting which suited me fine.

AFter that I went home for breakfast and then set off for one of the smaller retail parks  - well, I say smaller but it's not tiny, it has just two shops, B&Q and Wyvale, both of which are large with lots of outdoor space for plants, pots, etc.
I tackled B&Q first:  I bought a nemesia and a lupin.  Both are perennial although I think lupins are hardier.  They will fill a few spaces in my middle bed and, together with the delphinium, I rather think that's my middle bed sorted, especially once the runners germinate and take the space up at each end.
I also got a cordeline for a container.
When it came to the last container, I decided to go for some carrots so bought a pack of seeds and will sow the first sowing today.
I also picked up (just - they're heavy, even the smaller ones) a bag of general potting stuff for the bush tomato pots, when they arrive.
Then I went to Wyvale where they have a big pet area and got some straw which is now under the strawberries to protect them from the damp earth.
See . . .

I left the tomato soil un-strawed but I think I will put some there too - it'll protect any tomatoes that fall off.

After a spot of gardening and some lunch, I did yesterday's bit of decluittering by going through all the folders of pupils, past and present, shredding all the old stuff before getting it out for the bin men, just in time for collection.  I'm glad I got that done!

Pottery was, as always, good.  Three coasters are now finished and home, although I don't like the one on the right and will look for a better leaf shape to replace it, I think.  The fourth one is now all smoothed off and ready for firing - in fact, by the time the class was over, it was in and the kiln was on.  Then I worked on the bowl and the individual leaves (I call them leaves but they look more like flames to me!) are now wrapped in cling film to keep them soft until the next session which insn't for a fortnight as next week is half term.

So that was yesterday!
Today, after such an early waking, I think I will do a spot of decluttering before breakfast.  I intend catching the earliest bus I can use my pass on to pop into town where  I need to get some curtain lining fabric and tape and I also want to pop into Lakeland to get some of these.

They're net bags for food storage in the fridge, especially vegetables.
I anticipate getting good use from them, especially at this time of year.

(thank you, Sue, for mentioning them)










Once home again, maybe I will declutter a bit more and I have the weekend meal plans to do, hopefully using what I have in as I really don't fancy more shopping.

No swimming today but I think I will be very active, all the same.  It should be a good day - I hope yours is too.  xx


Edited to add - thanks for all the lovely comments about Beth's cushions.  The customer was so pleased, they ordered two more asap and some more for Beth to make next month.  I guess if anyone is interested, please do get in touch with me and I can pass you on.