Day 50 and Colonel Tom's 100th Birthday - Go Tom Go!

Day 44 since my first symptom of covid-19 displayed

Day 38 since official lockdown.

Can you tell it's still raining!!  lol

I have sorted my post today, taken photos of my swaps, thanked folks and, hopefully, caught up to date with most online work.

All my Cardmaking Group have been thanked . . . The cards have only been shown online, we decided not to post as we weren't sure about delivery.


Noobie Swap

Colour Swap - Blue

Style Swap - Male

Technique Swap

Alphabet Swap - D. . . Dancing Pig

then there's my ATC Group.
I would show you the photos but Blogger wants to show them all different poses and I am not prepared to argue the point!!!

I am now about to sort out a list of all my swaps for May.  With the postal workers affected by this awful virus, the swap cards have to be created as quickly as possible in order to allow the longest delivery time . . . .  you understand?  Good!
I shall now go to silent mode . . .

BTW  It's still raining but someone still has to fetch the eggs . . . .










                                                                       

WOYWW #569

My thanks to Julia (see tab at top of page) for hosting another get together of deskers.

I am in the middle of sorting out past post (!)  All my post has been collected into one box and waited patiently for me to sort it.  I have managed to take photos and thank folks but that was it.  Now it needs to be filed . . . . . .
My Desk:

My unsorted post to the left and my sorted post to the right . . . .Just behind the ATCs & Coins box can be seen the last of my Charity kits, I purchase them from Christine and the cost goes to a different Charity each month.. . On the keyboard is a list I am compiling for Glitter and Glue . . . you may get the completed one today Margaret but don't hold your breath!!

I also have this morning's post to do as well . . . . Thank you Postie for carrying on working.

In other news . . . . it's still raining!! 
I am not complaining as it has perked up all the plants I have planted and re-potted over the last few days.

Thank you to all my visitors, over the last few weeks your comments have really cheered me up.  I will try again to visit as many Blogs as I can . . . .

Day 48 of Lockdown - mine

Day 42 since my first symptom of covid-19 displayed . . . . I have been out of the house once, no visitor has come inside.  DDN stands outside, regulation 2 metre distance!

Day 36 since official lockdown.

Just thought you would like a few random facts. . . .

It's raining . . . . did you guess?

So many choices on what to do today . . . . first off I have to find some ATCs sent to me at the end of March, looked everywhere but can't find them sooooo will have to dig deeper . . .

Cleared a load of received emails  . . . . am I the only one who reads and moves on leaving the emails sat in my inbox?  Surely not . . . .

The ATCs are not found but lots of other cards that need acknowledging were found . . . . March certainly knocked me out of kilter!

We're having a 'knockup' meal tonight, I have had a sort through in the freezer in the inside fridge, Liver Stroganoff, Mashed Potato and Mediterranean Vegetables. . . . doesn't sound too bad if you say it quick!!  lol

It will be followed with a bowl of fresh Strawberries and Cream . . . .

Then a binge watch of Thor . . . . . that's one and two I think . . . . late night . . . . .

The corner is cleared.....hurrah!!!!

Today's project is to plant the blue clematis!.  It is going right at the end of the fence which means that the corner will have to be cleared.

I have looked at this corner so many times over the last few years .... it never used to be like this . . . . but when you're ill that's all you can do . . . . look . . .

I waded in and cut back all the mint and other 'stuff', mainly weeds.  I removed the clematis, still in the pot in which it was bought, and disentangled the dratted yellow honeysuckle.  It has self rooted itself in between the house extensions . . . . wonder if I could self root myself . . . in Paris possibly?

Now that I can see wot's wot, I took down a few of the bricks, cleared the back soil and rebuilt the wall, much neater now.  I planted the clematis and spread it over the 'netting', poor thing only had two shoots. . .  it will receive much more love and attention now.
I have back filled the little end wall and round the Euonymus with the soil from a couple of spent tomato pots, they're coming in very useful this year!  The half sack of chicken muck was put under and round the blue pine fir, another plant that has just about survived the lack of attention, all the dead has been trimmed away and it looks much happier.

BTW: while I'm in the back garden, PJ is out in the front garden trying to remove the couch grass.  DDC, PJ and I tackled all this some years back but the central corner was left.
I have tried to get someone to do it  . . . . but to no avail even if I offer to pay.  It's not a lot of area but very hard work which I know I cannot do so PJ made a start. 

He had cleared about a yard square then I received the phone call. . . he was not quite prone but close, his left leg had given way and he was sat on the ground. 
We managed to get him upright, (that's the time one could do with a neighbour) and through the house to sit in the back garden.  Cup of coffee and a book called for methinks!  lol
We sat watching the chickens, talking things over as one does . . . coffee and cake definitely helps!

I potted up some Aeoniums that I have, I overwinter them inside normally but some how the poor little green one had stayed outside. 
I found the pot with two rosettes and a load of weeds when I cleared the corner.  I fetched my black ones outside and potted them both up, they will sit on my theatre along with their 'friends' through the summer. 

Something to make me smile first thing in a morning!!


The really small pot contains some Ferns, minute ones which were growing in a wall when we were on holiday. . . . I don't know what it is called but it is tiny, black/green and really pretty.  I am pleased that it survived the winter, I was worried.

Tomorrow I hope to continue along the blue garden towards the pond.  Did you notice the blue fairies and the blue 'egg'?  They are just a few of the blue ornaments that we have acquired over the years. . . .

 

Garden day again....

Spending as much time in the garden as the weather allows and my body doesn't call time!!!
Managed to finish painting the fence and then dig over round the remaining plants.  I added some spent compost from last year's tomato pots and planted the new clematis.  One more to plant, supposedly a double blue, but I mulched with chicken muck so this will be a dirty job.
.

We had the pigeons messing around at the top of the garden, one was quite aggressive so we now have a pigeon with what looks like a broken wing.  He settled into the forsythia bush for the night, well hidden.
He came out this morning and flew/hopped into the chicken ranch.  He managed to sit on top of the hutch so I nipped in and left him some food and water, chasing the hens out  ha! ha!

He seems to be quite happy in there now so we presume tonight we will have seven chickens and a pigeon on the perch!!!  lol

I've pruned an old vicious blackberry back today, what a difference it has made to the garden, opened up some more of the shrubbery.

We managed to plant Olive into a pot so she might be a bit more happy, I don't think she enjoyed being in the corner by the Blueberries....time will tell.

The chickens loved checking to make sure she had all moved over and there were no worms or grubs left behind!!


The bushes round the perimeter of the garden come out in different coloured flowers as the Spring turns into summer.  The Forsythia is the first to show it's yellow flowers, quickly followed by the Ribes of which we have the red one, I hope to get a cutting of the pale pink one soon, both of these have now 'gone over' and waiting to be pruned.

The Lilac has pride of place at the top of the garden but is quickly being outshone by the Yellow Lilac which I am 'looking after' for a friend.


I noticed that the Wegalia is coming into flower, such a  pretty bush.

Another day or two over, lots of jobs done and really just one more to do - planting the blue clematis - but there is rain forecast ..... boo!hoo!  I shall have to go back to crafting I suppose!  lol

First day out ....Shopping

Today the project is to go to the warehouse and stock up again.  DDN came and fetched me and off we set. . . . masks and all!  Walter the Walker came with us as we didn't think I would be strong enough to walk round in one go.  I was so pleased he did as I used the seat part quite often.

On our way there we had to wait for a police van to go past, flashing lights etc. and noticed that there was quite a gathering of police cars and vans as we went past the large shopping centre at the Swan Island.  Thank goodness DDN was not shopping there today!!

When we arrived the queue was back to the underground car park - a long way believe me.  They wouldn't let us in so I sat on the walker and DDN went to join the queue . . . . way back out of sight.  Eventually I was called forward and then . . .  someone had to go to fetch DDN so that we could be let in next! 

Inside there was plenty of room to walk round without 'touching' anyone so we managed to get the trolley filled and to the checkouts quite quickly. . . .  The walker was invaluable as I sat quite often while DDN fetched what I wanted. 
At the checkouts we still had to wait so I sat on the walker again . . . .
We came out into blazing sunshine which was a shock as it was quite cool and overcast when we arrived.  We drove back home quite easily, no police rushing about and, after unloading the car, had fish & chips for lunch.  Another good day but I am certainly tired out so time to sit and sew!!   Tomorrow I must sort out the 'blue' garden's plants, the Clematis really need to be planted so that we can appreciate their blooms.

Walled Garden

The project of the day was  to 'build' the wall at the top of the garden.  I have several plants that have white flowers so the idea is that they all transfer to the top of the garden and lighten the area . . . . if they like shaded areas of course!

PJ has already carried most of the required house bricks up to the top, and they wait patiently for me to arrive with spade, fork  . . . . and trowel of course.

It took most of the afternoon to lay them all out as I wanted them. 
I had to work round one of the bird feeders as it has a patch of bluebells at its base. 
These bricks are a lot lighter in colour than my usual housebricks but I am sure I will get used to them . . . . and as PJ says I did want to lighten the top of the garden!  lol  By the time some of the 'mindyourownbusiness' and small ferns are growing in the gaps, they will look a lot darker.

Border round the fish pond

Border round the 'blue' garden

I have several of these 'walls' round my garden, some hide the black border round the pond, some hold back the soil, some edge the slabs.


All looking good, especially when the paved area is swept clear!!

Bordering the slabs

We 'collect' them from various houses/gardens, the builder/owner always seems quite happy for us to take as many as we need, so the 'stock' has built up over the years.  We use them and then think of something else we could use some bricks for!!
We are redesigning the garden this year, the chickens seem settled so the garden is being organised round the 'ranch'.  We don't have enough bricks at the moment, we never do (!!), but we want to clear round the other pond and then work our way up to the top.

WOYWW #568

A Big Thank You to Julia , who monitors this Blog meet up each week, and gives us such good friends . . . . the ones who keep us sane and thankful in these trying times.  Thank you.

I am being very busy this week, in between rests, you know the routine . . . . one hour's work - two hours' sit down . . .
I am managing to get things done, I have one project a day to do.  Yes, that's right . . . . one project.

Sometimes it runs into two or more but only enough NOT to wear me out (which is easily done!)

My desk is a bit bare, the laptop takes pride of place!  To the left is a great card from Julia (Thank you, lovely surprise)  which really brightened my day so it now sits on my desk with my small cushion (think this was from Annie, correct me if I'm wrong) received at the last Crop (hiding behind my water bottle).  To the right I see the Funeral paperwork has appeared again. . . . won't get sorted today as I am working outside.

Today I am about to transfer White Bluebells to the top of the garden (or if your PJ - the bottom!), I will take photos don't worry . . . . oh! . . .  you weren't . . . . .


I managed to make some face masks yesterday, just wondered if I could do them being as how I found my sewing machine! 
I made three from some material left from when we visited Nigeria, lengths of material were gifted to me so I made skirts, bags, dresses and saved all the left overs. 
I hope to go out on Friday, sshhh!  first time since beginning of March, need to be careful!

Naturally other things happened . . . .

One of the first skirts I made needed repairing, nasty tear where it had caught on the roses, managed to match up the left over material and 'had a go' . . . .

Needlework Teacher would turn in her grave!  I know it's not the correct way to do the repair but it will do for the time being . . . .

I will stitch all the ends in tonight as last night I was busy sorting stamp sets.
Bit of a long story there . . . .



I was looking for a stamp to make up the postage....the only one of the correct price was in my collection . . . . you know how this goes . . . .  I ended updating the loose packets . . . .

Another evening gone . . . .



So today I start out in the garden and see what develops . . . .
I hope that the sun is shining where you are and you can take advantage of it . . . . Stay safe, keep crafting . . . . .

Another day ....

Monday.....must remember that.....

Today I have coloured hair....mine that is!  In actual fact I multi-tasked all day and while waiting for the colour to set.... forgot and was doing something else!  Then the news came on the radio.... the news?!?!  Oops!
Great colour....

The facial expression comes from waiting for PJ to click the button!  Using my camera, which he doesn't use, takes some getting used to.

Good colour though, ought to chase ANY germs and viruses away!!  *cracking up with laughter as she sees the colour again*

I have also been boiling and mashing and packing again, another eight bags settled into the freezer....

I did happen to notice that outside the sun was shining and the 'ladies' were taking it easy .....
basking in a dust hole in the warmth of the sun ...mmmm

I have also printed off some posters for the window, I thought Little Soldier might enjoy the idea.... he loved the rainbows.  I coloured one for my own Postie...
 
I have added some teddies to the window today, I tried to get a photo but the sun was causing too much reflection ....not that I'm complaining, no, not me...

Tomorrow I am thinking of making some face masks ... I have found the sewing machine!

Dad's Birthday....

Today is my Father's Birthday, he would have been 115 years old.  He was taken too soon by cancer.... wonder what he would of made of all this..... housebound by request of the government..... not that I went out much anyhow!!

Today we have peeled potatoes.... ones with long skinny white shoots....
We bought a sack of potatoes when we went shopping back in March ... the beginning of March before all this hit in.... when we didn't know that we would be bedbound for what seems a long time by covid19!!!  Today we both felt a lot better (hurrah!!). 
The potatoes are now shooting so we have peeled half of the bag this morning.... well DH did!  I have boiled them, mashed them with plenty of butter, locked them into plastic bags and packed them into the freezer.... 8 servings so far....

DH has removed a rather large unwanted honeysuckle, the yellow invasive one, centre back in the photo..
He has also removed a rather large unwanted fuchsia, the plain old fashioned kind (don't panic...we took cuttings earlier in the year!) so we will have a nice patch to start replanting. 

I have quite a large selection of Heuchara on my plant theatre, so I am hoping to fill the bed with them.

In between I have been crosstitching, plod, plod, plod...

The week ahead looks far more interesting, cakes to bake, fence panels to paint, garden to mulch, new floor to lay in the chicken ranch, a  sortof wall to build ..... busy busy.
I just pray that the weather holds and our health is good too.

WOYWW #567

Not a lot to show on the desk this week.... empty chocolate egg boxes ready to be cut up for ATCs and ATCoins.... plus the usual detritus.

I didn't complete the cards I had intended to make last week, the papers are being flattened under my stamp file.  I have had a couple of bad days over the week, sore throat returned with a vengeance and I very nearly went to the Doctor's but I just felt too poorly... rest and stitch while sitting outside watching stupid chickens!!!  lol 
I consider myself very blessed that I have a garden to sit in, overgrown it may be but the chooks appreciate the occasional weed and the birds just love the bushes.

May 2019

April 2020

The crosstitch is now into the final stages, individual stitches that have been missed with a couple of patches where I don't have any thread of that colour left.  The patches can wait till we are out of solitary....


I am not looking forward to all the outlining but, heigh ho!  I am determined to finish this!

Well, the sun is shining and the said crosstitch is waiting .....

# WOYWW 566

Catching up on all that has been 'not done' since the beginning of March.  Taking a long time as I feel I need to rest often, cross stitching the old Angel is a good excuse!!
Started a new idea for cards, saw this digital on Elizabeth Dulemba's site, and the idea was born....

I sorted out all my small cards (most of them haven't seen daylight for years!), and hope to complete them sometime this week.
Thank you for all your good wishes in the comments last week, as most of you know viruses have a habit of returning at a later date, so I was resting an awful lot of the time.  Stairs are not good for me at the mo so I tend to stay on one floor, not necessarily the one with the laptop!!!  I hope to do better at visiting this week.

I must say that I am grateful for the NHS Leaflet coming through everyone's door .... I think the folks over the road have finally got the message, no daughter and grandchildren visited yesterday.  When I see them arriving I find it very upsetting, not having seen mine since beginning of March, but I was spared the pain yesterday!!!  Shout out to the Government.

I hope to catch up on all my Blog posts, you know...... the ones I didn't do!!.... over the coming days so watch this space blog.....

WOYWW #565

HELLO

Hope you weren't worrying too much, I've been rather busy and ...... sick.......
Thought this was an appropriate date to make my return ..... albeit late in the day!!

As you can see, nothing much going on ..... I do sit here and read the social media ....that's about it......

Thank you to everyone who have been posting, especially ShazandDoug for their funnies, loved all the updates, shared work, and the funnies..... the funnies were real good medicine!

I am just praising God for bring me through this, it has been very bad, much worse than the Asian Flu of the 60's (and I measure everything by that!).  But God is Good.... all the time ....

I am on the mend (again) and able to start creating..... lots of ideas in my head, now I need to translate them into creations.

Fortunately for us, our week for shopping came round at the start of the month so fridges, freezers and pantry were filled before I went down really ill (doctor says'suspected covid-19 as there are no tests available to confirm' which was great!).  But that is behind me now, forever I hope, and I have a lot to catch up on.  lol


Hopefully you are all well and warm, please stay that way.  Better to be healthy and alone then sick and social .....