Green fingers

Han-solo is loving her work experience and has been offered real work! I visited her today to see her pushing a wheel barrow stacked with banana plants to put out on display. I was told that they love her there and that she is fantastic. How proud can a mum get? She has just thrown herself into the work, loves being active and has suddenly started sprouting plant names!

As it is a nursery, plants tend to be cheaper and I found some lily and nerine bowdenii bulbs going for 50p a bag in a trolley at the door. I also saw and fell in love with a blue tortoise. I have always wanted a tortoise and we seriously considered taking one on a few years ago, but decided against it. This gorgeous thing was on a shelf looking abandoned, boxless, but working.

He will live beside my bed and glow at night. I am not sure how BJ will feel, but he does get the tortoise/frog thing.

Here he is, off

and on, although I am sure a picture taken in the dark would be a lot better!

Thanks to Han-solo, I got the bulbs for nothing as well, so it has been a very nice morning.

On my way home I saw all the kids from school on the playing fields, today is Sports Day. Parents are welcome, but it seems not many go and Em declined my offer to come and bring her some lunch. It is blustery and threatening rain, but by the sound of the cheering and yelling, it looks as if they are having a good day.

Butterflies, bulbs, berries and baking

This lovely was on the uninhabited bird box on the fence this morning, opening and folding its wings in the warm air. Both Em and I got shots before it flew away over the butterfly bush. It was a Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta

Time in the garden this afternoon to plant some herbs that travelled back with me from Ellignies to be here. A discovery of a dozen tulip bulbs in a pot given to me by a friend was very pleasing. They are now beneath the cherry tree. Some irises have been moved and some lifted to go to the gardens of people at work. Love them as I do, they love the soil here and have more than flourished.

Then time was spent searching for a recipe for the gorgeous red currents that also made the Channel crossing with me.

They were turned into this

and the comments are 'yum'!

Back from Belgium

We talked, walked, ate, crocheted, cooked and had a lovely time. It was restful and nice to see friends of old. BJ did a wonderful job here with the girls and Adam. Great to be back and feeling quite mellow.

A day off

started with fresh plunger coffee and a haircut on the patio. Then a quick trip to town for Euros and other goods. Han solo is doing her work experience at Dove's Barn Nursery so we rode there on the bikes to see how long her 'commute' will take. Tough going for me. The saddle was so low I could barely peddle, so we popped into the bike shop to have it lifted. MUCH BETTER. It is a flat 2 miles to the nursery along a busy road and down hill all the way. Admittedly the gradient is tiny, but the return trip was a bit hard. Still, this old bird puffed and panted all the way up our road with no stops and felt very fit and light at the top!!
But really happy news is that today Em moved to the UPPER SCHOOL, a new campus, new subjects (for GCSEs) and new friends to meet and make. She and her sister are on the same campus now...we are very proud.

Close to home

Continuing to have a low key weekend. Lots of laundry out in the sun, some ironing done and some sewing in of ends. Feel a bit apprehensive that the baby's blanket will not be ready before the baby is....More than half the squares are done, but only a few blocked.

Em has done the colour layout for me and I love it. This will make the job easier.
I am off work this week, and the thought is bliss. Tomorrow is time at home and some pampering and then on Tuesday I am off to BELGIUM to stay with Francoise for the rest of the week. A good place to relax and to crochet, so maybe the worries are premature.

Slow days

BJ asked me what I wanted to do this weekend. The answer is as little as possible. To potter around the garden and the house. To hang out with the girls and him and Adam, when he is around. So after a very lazy start this Saturday morning, I am in my swiss spotted cotton pajamas on the patio drinking freshly plunged espresso and blogging.
I note with glee that a pot of mimulus

has gone to seed, which provides a fab excuse to remove it and add something bright in its place. The baby celariac is ready for potting on and when that is done, I will scoot (slowly) to Gill's and give her her promised share.
The only other thing I would like is for the girls to start planning the layout for the baby granny squares so that I can start sewing as I go. I am a little daunted by the prospect of sewing more than 100 together at the end of the project and their numbers are growing fast.
Enjoy your day.

Wedding Bells

(Photo courtesy of not on the high street)
Brother has just called to tell us he and his lovely fiance are going to tie the knot just before baby arrives. It is wonderful news, two family events to take place very soon and which we can be part of. After years and years of living in a different country to all of my family, I find real joy in being able to pick up the phone and chat to my brother, or meet him in London for a drink or meal. His fiance is a bit like a daughter to me....and a sister to my girls, who adore her. I am very happy.