Gardening time

Big J and I went to the plant nursery this morning and bought some trellises, a salvia called Hot Lips, a Veronica Red Fox and a Clematis, Hagley Hybrid. It looked a pinky peach colour with my sunnies on but is a lovely lilac. We have planted it against a very bare looking bit of fence, behind a ceanothus. With luck it will bush out and spread to cover some very ugly laurel and evergreen bushes.  Currently it is about five thin stalks!
It has been a while since I have dug a hole and shifted plants around - it felt amazing even though the old muscles will not agree tomorrow.

PS This outdoorsy post does not reveal the regular popping in and out of the house that has been going on to catch up with the Olympics throughout the day! How can one not?

Sharing the moment

Loved that so many people were part of it. The forging of the ring, the NHS....long may it survive. The parade of nations, large and small. My proud, proud husband who glowed and whose eyes welled up at various times. My girls who cheered every country that means something to them. Their birth country, the countries that we have all lived, the places that folk we love come from.

Ads shared it with his mates and he and his dad texted back at forth at points that they really enjoyed.

Talk about sharing a moment.

How do you feel about it all?

We'll be

settling down infront of the TV for the Opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic games tonight. I am so rubbish at these things. I get choked up no matter who does it, or where. (Well North Korea is the exception - everything is on an Olympic scale there - tragically, the 'ceremony' as well as the brutish dictatorship.)  I just love to see all the people doing their bit to showcase something they are proud to be part of.

Will you be watching?

Starting the day a little flat

is sad as the sun is shining and it is a perfect summer's day. Big J is not sleeping well, neither am I.
It takes its toll.

The bike ride to work went well yesterday, but my ability to use the roads as a cyclist is bad at best, downright dangerous at worst. We have so many junctions and one way roads and I fear to join the traffic so spend the first part of the trip like a half biker half pedestrian. A new route - longer but safer is called for.

Today I walk to work and believe the sun, green, flowers, birds and folk living their lives that I pass on the way will lift the spirits.

I want to sit on the patio and crochet my new little project. To plant out the new lavender, to harvest some raspberries, to chill. But summer hols are only just around the corner.....

Pleased with progress

Things are looking better, clearer and calmer in various spots around the house. There is still a long way to go, but tonight I will sleep knowing that a good job has been done.

The sunshine and cool temperatures were absolute crochet bliss today. I took the opportunity to start something that has been hankering to be made. Not to distract from Han's blanket, which is being worked on in bed...

Big J is home from a four day trip to Ireland where much fishing and imbibing of Guiness went on. He is looking incredibly chilled.

Rising Tide played at Redfest today. The gigs are getting bigger.

My girlies have been around all weekend and we have had some good laughs. Han has had a migraine though.

Tomorrow I plan to ride the bike to work....

Blue and white porcelain - sayonara

Really should but probably won't post a photo of the conservatory. Just can't bring myself to bear all that exposure.

But today two BIG bags of items went to the charity shop. The dinner is on, it is late afternoon and I am going to pack up my entire collection of blue and white porcelain that I have carried with me around the world, and put it away. It does not work in this house. There may be a place for it one day, but not now.

Later in the evening:
Here it is on the patio table, just before it was packed. The truth is there is more, but it is used regularly for eating off, serving food etc.  It is now in two boxes in the loft.
I spent time unravelling and winding up a huge tangle of yarn. It is all packed neatly in a ziplock bag now.

There is a UFO in there too, a crochet one, and today it struck me that it can be salvaged. Still working on Han's blanket, so not yet, but it lifted my spirits to think that something that had been given up on completely could be finished and used and loved and NOT WASTED.

Little steps

How many times has this blogger moaned about 'stuff' and 'clutter' and having too many things? About getting the house sorted and freeing up space, not just physical space, but emotional space. Things weigh us down.

Well today she came home from work feeling rotten. A powerful headache and a bit queer. A short siesta did little to take the edge off, and rather than sit in front of the TV she took herself off into the conservatory and took those first few steps. I like to think they are the first few. This weekend, Big J is away and it seems kind of nice to use the home time for creating space.

Loads of magazines have gone. Why do I hang on to them? (To be honest - I rarely buy them, too extravagant for me, but I like hand me downs from friends). Sometimes it is one tiny article/picture/idea that appeals in one, but the whole things stays, curling at the edges and fading, eventually becoming so sad looking that it eventually ends up in the recycling along with the 'I could make that' plan that will never come to fruition.

I dream of a more simple home/life. I believe fewer things will mean less stress and maybe less to do (less tidying). I am not a natural at order, but space speaks loud and clear to me. Over the next few days I am going do something about it. Just watch!

I am in deep now!