Happy birthday mum

 Tomorrow would have been my mums 97th birthday.

I like this photo of her, it was taken at Oliver's Christening in 2013, she would have been 85 here.

She never did looked her age and always had beautiful skin, never needed to wear any make up.

She had funny sayings that we used to laugh about, and a dry sense of humour and a knack of always being right about things.

Also this coming Monday, 1st September, it will be 38 years since my dad died.  

He died just four days after my mum turned 59, they were away in their caravan for the Bank Holiday weekend at the time, he was only 61, far to young to leave us.

I think about them both often.

-X-

Still no rain here

Its been another warm and sunny day, we certainly can't moan about the British Summer this year but all the heat has taken it's toll on the garden.  My garden soil is mostly clay and there are big cracks all over, It hasn't been the best for weather for hydrangeas either, mine are already quite faded and the leaves are very dry and of course the grass in not green anymore, it's a lovely shade of brown.

We still have some lovely colour though.

The aster seeds I sowed were a couple years out of date but they still produced some lovely flowers

The climbing rose by my back door was attacked by saw fly in June, I thought it was a goner so cut it right back, It survived my hacking and has come back lovely and healthy and is almost as high as the back door again.

Not all things have done well.  I planted three raspberry canes but only one has survived.

I popped to the allotment this afternoon to water, I didn't expect there to be much to bring back but there were loads of runner beans and quite a few tomato's both of which I've given to my sister, also picked the last few courgettes and a few more beetroot which I'll have a go at pickling tomorrow.

I was surprised to see so many peppers on my pepper plants.  I didn't do well with peppers last year so apart from watering I haven't really paid any attention to these.

Joanne is taking the kids on holiday tomorrow so I have a lodger for the week.

Her name is Pickle, she's so cute and really friendly, I don't usually like rodent type pets but I'm ok with hamsters, lol.

It's Bank Holiday tomorrow.  Mark Is still in Scotland so I'm going to have a day sorting through my craft supplies in the hope of being able to clear out some things that I know I won't use, wish me luck on that one, ha ha.

-X-

Anglesey, a few days away

 We live in the middle of England so a jaunt to the seaside is a good two or three hours away but as I was still feeling a bit meh and Mark is away in Scotland for a couple weeks I decided to take myself off to one of my favourite part of Wales for a few days.

I'd made a quick stop at Beaumaris the last time I went away, so I settled on booking a room there for two nights.  I made a pit stop at Menai Bridge on the way to stretch my legs - the original Welsh name of the town standing on the Menai Straits was Porthaethwy, but after the construction of the bridge in 1826 it became common to use the English name.  Standing at 98 feet the views from the bridge across the Menai Strait are stunning.

Beaumaris is such a pretty town, there is a small pier, lots of independent shops and lovely streets with colourful houses.  I'm glad I chose to stay there, it was such a peaceful place, and I could just about see the sea from my window.

Holyhead was 45 minutes drive away so on Tuesday I visited South Stack Lighthouse.

There are 400 steps down to the lighthouse, I have to say that walking down them is much easier than walking back them up, ha ha.

Again the views and the area in general was stunning, so glad I went.

Of course I couldn't come home without a trip to my favourite sea side place, Llandudno, I had to pass right by on my way home anyway so I thought I might as well make the most of my time away and spend the day there.

I'd been lucky with the weather for two days but Wednesday was definitely cooler, you can tell now the change the change in the air.

To round off my few days away I treated myself to fish and chips, they taste so much better when you're by the sea don't they 😁 

I really enjoyed my few days away, a change of scenery can do wonders.

-X-

Money for old rope

 Well not old rope but for things you would put in your household recycling bin.

Did you know that Boots have a recycling app?  I've been using it for just over twelve months and every time I've mentioned it to someone they haven't been aware of it, It's seems like a closely guarded secret but inside Boots there is a recycling bin, and if you take your empties you get rewarded with £5 worth of points on your advantage card.

Of course there are conditions, firstly you so have to have a Boots Advantage card, you can only deposit five items at one time, (although I think you can deposit a couple times a week, haven't tried so not sure).  Secondly, you have to spend £10 in store to get your £5 in points.  Once you have deposited your empties you get a voucher in your app which you open when you go to the till with whatever you have decided to buy.   In effect if you just spend £10 you are getting £5 back.  Plus if you are over sixty and buy certain boots branded products you still get your eight points for every £1 spent 😁

Boots isn't always the cheapest place to buy toiletries but if you look out for whats on offer or just treat yourself to some nice smellies occasionally then it's a win win, just save your empties until you need something.

As you can see I haven't taken any in for a while, I keep a bag in the pantry and once I've scanned an empty to the app I chuck it in the bag.  They accept a variety of items, the only things that don't seem to scan are shampoo and conditioner, but I know that they accept empty nappy packets and baby wipes packets.  I just try everything to see what if it's accepted.

I believe there is also a separate app where you can recycle your medication blister packs, I don't get many of those so don't use that one but it might be of use to some.

I've been leaving my points add up for a while and have £72 now and really I only buy from Boots when I have some recycling to take in and with Christmas fast approaching that extra will come in handy.

The app is easy to find on you phones app store, it's called Recycle at Boots.

-X-

Is this week over yet?

This week is dragging on and I've felt meh, everything I've tried to do has gone wrong starting on Monday when I popped to the supermarket while the washing was on thinking I would get ahead of myself, only when I pulled on the drive I realised I'd locked myself out!

Luckily my son in law was at home and came up with a spare key, only we couldn't get it in the lock as my key was in the other side.  After trying various pointy things to push the key out on the inside, and failing we borrowed a ladder from a neighbour and he climbed in through the bedroom window. At least it gave me a giggle seeing him hanging half in half out the window.  But, so much for getting ahead of myself.

Tuesday was Bonnies 8th birthday, how can she be eight already! and I got her presents ready to wrap, but I couldn't find the roll of wrapping paper I'd bought the day before, not anywhere in the house, not left it in the car either.  Thinking about it, I couldn't remember bringing It in the house and convinced myself I'd left it on the checkout, so off I went on another trip to Tesco.   I asked on the customer service desk, nothing had been left there so I bought a second roll of wrapping paper.   Walked back in home and there was the first roll I'd bought the day, before standing In the stair basket in the hall staring at me and laughing.  I must have walked past it a dozen times that morning, I swear It wasn't there!!

Bonnie, by the way, had a lovely birthday, they went to Conkers, (an outdoor adventure park) for the day and had a great time.

But my bad week continued.  I was vacuuming on Wednesday and a strand of wool from a little cardigan I'd just finished knitting was hanging out of the basket, you can guess what happened can't you?  

Yes the hover ate it, and now there is a hole 😢

I do have enough yarn to knit the back of the cardigan again so all is not lost, just my time, and I will knit it again when I've stopped sulking.

The knitting woes continued when I discovered that I was going to run out of yarn for the second Salty Air Tee I've been knitting.  I thought I had another ball in the box in the garage but no I don't, the sensible thing would have been to make sure before I started knitting, but apparently I'm not that sensible 🤪 and to make matters worse I've discovered that Hayfield Sundance is now discontinued, you can still buy other colours online in places but the white is nowhere to be found.  I probably need less that 50g to finish it, so annoying, but I have only myself to blame.

Apologies for the creased look, angry with myself I stuffed it in a bag where it will no doubt stay until I can face pulling it all back.

But If there is anyone reading this that happens to have 100g of Hayfield Sundance in White they would be willing to sell me please leave me a comment, I would be most grateful 😘

I tried to rescue my week by making the book pillow that I promised Stevie I would make for her classroom over twelve months ago.  She got her QTS in July so will be going back to work in September as a qualified teacher rather than just being qualified to teach early years.  Honestly that girl works so hard, she was working full time while doing uni work as well as being a part time nail technician, she puts 100% into everything she does.

I'd like to say that there were no mishaps while making this, but I can't.  

I found a tutorial on you tube that had measurements for three sizes of pillows, I already had a pillow in the largest size they gave so I cut out the fabric as per the sizes given, trusting that they were correct, again I should have realised something was off, but I can be too trusting sometimes.

It has an envelope back and everything went ok (if you don't count me having to stop to clean out all the accumulated fluff underneath the bobbin because apparently that was what was affecting the stitch tension and making it loose, who knew!).  So as instructed I laid the two back pieces on top of the front piece, making sure everything was the right way up, and the back pieces were not as wide as the front piece by a good two inches.  I double checked that I'd cut them to the size it said, and yes I had, I sat the pillow on top and as luck would have it it would still fit the pillow width ways only it was way too long!

So after a bit of jiggery pokery I sorted it out, good job it was too big and not too small else I would have given up crafting as a bad job 🤣

The tutorial I used on you tube was Sew Often, I've checked again since and I definitely wrote down and cut out the measurements she put up, so If you are thinking of making one I'd avoid that one.

I'm happy with how it came out and Stevie loves it.  If I were to make another one I wouldn't make the book pocket as deep, but as it's going in the reading corner of the classroom I suppose two or three books can be put in there. 

It's only Thursday, I wonder what other joys the week has instore for me 🙃

-X-

This and that

 It's been quite hot and humid here today although not really sunny, rain threatened this evening but then passed us by, again.  I know that other parts of the UK have experienced heavy rain and thunder storms, but here in my part Midlands we haven't had significant rain in quite a while.

I was out in the garden watering this morning and thought I take a few photos.

The dahlias are just starting to flower, those copper scouring pads seem to have deterred the slugs and snails, of course it has also helped that we have had such a dry Summer so there haven't been so many of them around.

I have fuchsias in the kitchen window boxes and two long planters, all are still doing ok with lots of flowers and buds.

I had to do a rescue job on them when I came back from holiday, Mark was supposed to water as he was here for part of that week, lets just say he didn't do a very good job!  But, they recovered well.

The sunflowers on the left are what I planted on the allotment, tall and strong, just what you expect from a sunflower, the ones on the right are in my garden, obviously they don't like the clay soil.

And the mind-your-own-business I bought in the Spring is growing better in one pot than the other, might have to put something else in the grumpy face.

I do like to have the doors open in the Summer and we have been having a visitor.

She, (i think), has been making herself comfortable, I found her curled up on the sofa in the back room the other day too, she never stays long, comes for a fuss and a sit down and then she's off again.  She has a collar on so I'm assuming she has a home somewhere nearby.  Sometimes she will appear several times a day, other times I don't see her for a few days.  I'm wondering if her owners are out at work and perhaps she can't get in and that's why she comes for a comfy seat.  I don't mind, I don't want to encourage her but at the same time I'm happy for her to come in and take a seat sometimes.

Yesterday was another stitching day retreat.  I haven't worked on any stitching for about a month and I thought It might kick start my stitching bug again but by just after lunchtime I gave up and got some knitting out.  It was a lovely day though, nice to get out the house and to catch up with people I haven't seen for a while.  I have to say though that I found it a little noisy, I'm not sure if it was that noisy or it's just the fact that I'm in the quiet on my own for most of the time, perhaps that's a sign that I should get out more 😂

I had my steroid injection last Wednesday, I had heard that it could be painful in the hip but It was just the same as having a jab in your arm.  I had to take it easy for a few days but I'm happy to say that it seems to have worked, now I just have to start up the exercises again to get the area stronger so it's less likely to return.

-X-

What growing on the allotment

Another good harvest from the allotment this week.  The courgettes are still putting out, I picked another four yesterday, although I think after this week that may be our lot.  

I have been eating a lot of courgettes😂, good job I like them, and now I know that I much prefer the yellow variety to the green ones.

This year rather than trying to grow everything we just planted what we know we eat, so lots and lots of onions went in, I picked a fair amount again this week but we still have two more sections of onions planted up.  That should keep us going for a while, I'll chop most of these up and freeze them. 

  I pulled a couple carrots to see how they were doing and they aren't a bad size, but could do with a little longer in the ground, again we have quite a lot and I sowed some more yesterday which will be ready around Christmas time.

We've just started picking runner beans, again these have been put in the freezer for future use.  These were a slow start and for some reason they are growing better on one side than the other and you do have to play hunt the bean as they are hard to spot!

I'm really happy with how the beetroot is looking.  I'll have another go at pickling this year, I didn't sweeten it enough last time I tried.  

If you have any tried and tested recipes then do let me know, I just used one I found online last year.

No idea what variety of squash we planted, they were from the plug plant party on the allotment, they seem to be doing ok though, as do the pumpkins.  We grew those from seed, so the kids will have their own homegrown pumpkin to carve this year 😁

I picked up a butternut squash plant by mistake when I got the yellow courgettes, Joanne got one too so hopefully this isn't the only one we'll get.

The tomato's are doing ok, not a lot of red ones yet but hopefully that will happen soon, I'm starting to think that tomato's are not my thing, I've never had a lot of luck with them.

I didn't realise when I sowed swede that I'ts classed as a brassica so should be covered.  It looked like something was eating it a while ago but now it seems to have picked up and the leaves look alright again.  We shall see if they are a success or failure in due course, It's all a learning curve isn't it?

One thing I won't be planting next year are peas, we never had enough to put on a plate, only had enough for the kids to pick and eat while they were there, they did taste nice though.

Strawberries are putting out their runners so I have lots of pots around colleting new plants, I bought I few home yesterday that had rooted and I'm considering planting up one of my raised beds at home with strawberries next year. 

My strawberries at home are in a tall salad planter and have really outgrown their space now, and it's easier to pick them at home rather than make a trip to the allotment every day.  I would have to put some netting over them though otherwise the squirrels would have a feast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have Bonnie and Jacob tomorrow and Tuesday and my steroid injection on Wednesday, eeek.

Fingers crossed it works.

-X-

A Week in Woolacombe

 Last week was the first week of the school holidays, Joanne was taking the kids to Woolacombe and asked if I wanted to go too.  We stayed at a holiday park where there was kids entertainment and lots of things for them to do, they enjoyed the children's games and disco, swimming and pottery painting, bowling and of course the arcade where countless 2p coins were put through slots in the hope of winning a keyring.

It's been quite a few years since I've been to Woolacombe, the best thing about it is the lovely long sandy beach.  We spent some time there twice during the week, the first time it was quite chilly, the second time the weather was perfect, warm but not too hot, the kids had a great time building sand castles and playing in the sea, Jacob especially enjoyed playing in the waves.  We bought a kite to take with us, only a cheap one from the site shop, and I was impressed with myself when I actually managed to get it up in the air and keep it there, first time I've ever managed to do that!

We got out and about and did something different every day, visiting the aquarium in Ilfracombe one day.

 it's always fascinating to see what lives in the water, but we all agreed the rays were our favourite, and they are just as cute on the underside too.

We had a day at Clovelly, a privately owned harbour village on a very steep incline, no cars are allowed, it would be impossible with the steep cobbled street.  Years ago donkeys were used to transport any shopping or goods to the houses, now they use a type of sled, we saw quite a few locals transporting their Amazon parcels or shopping down the hill while we were there.

All those cobbles are quite a workout for the feet!

A few of the pretty cottages at Clovelly

We spent a lovely few hours there, the kids enjoyed a paddle in the harbour but then or course we had to walk back up that very steep hill, but we fortified ourselves with a cream tea for the climb, and it wasn't too bad if you took it slowly.

Another day was spent at Watermouth Castle, another place which is a workout for the legs!  But we did have a lovely day.

Then on our last day we visited Lynton & Lynmouth.  

Lynton is at the top, Lynmouth is 500 feet below, the two towns are connected by a water powered funicular railway.  Lynton is a lovely little town with shops, restaurants and cafe's while Lynmouth is a harbour town.  We opted to save our legs this time and take the cliff railway both ways.

Pretty street in Lynton

Lynmouth, the harbour town

We packed a lot into the week, did a lot of walking, mostly up and down hills! Visited some beautiful places and made some lovey memories.

If you reached the end of this long post, thank you, I know it was a long one 😁

-X-