Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday, hope you are all well.

I've reached the end of my working week, cor blimey it has been a bit full on.

I think I am getting to grips with things.  

This new role is like starting a whole new job but I'm thankful I 

know most of the people, although I only see them virtually.

The plan is that we will need to start going back into the office in September,

perhaps 2-3 days a week. Personally I would love to remain at home.

What I have realised is that...

weekends suddenly feel very precious indeed.

Monday marked the first day of summer, hard to believe with all the rain we've had.
On that day, I took this photo of my soggy rose.

Despite the weather, isn't it the most loveliest pink.

Look at that grey sky and oh yes, that's Darcy our one eyed cat watching

me take photos - she's no help at all.

Do you recall my baby Christmas tree?

It is working so hard on growing.

It may warrant some lights at Christmas.

Crochet:

 I finished my Hello Winter Blanket, don't be fooled into thinking I did this in

one week since finishing Hello Autumn last week!

I had nearly all the squares ready to go, they just needed joining.

I love this colourway, someone on Instagram said it is very Nordic looking,

I agree.

I put it over the end of my bed and thought ...I want to keep this one.

By way of a compromise (depleting the blanket build up)

I have listed another much larger blanket for

sale in my Folksy shop - the Meadow one finished earlier this year.

I am working on my last two WIPs and then I can start something new - hurrah!

Telly:

Not a lot of viewing this week but I did catch a film on Netflix.

Highwaymen

Two former Texas Rangers are tasked with tracking and killing 

the infamous criminals Bonnie and Clyde

Starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson.

Oh it is a far cry from their younger days..

The Bodyguard and Cheers!

They both look aged and haggard but I'm guessing (for their sake) 

some of that is essential to the roles they are playing.

There's a lot of moody southern drawl mumbling going on

but if you can decipher that, it is worth a watch.

Back 

Episodes available on All 4 and Britbox

Comedy starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. 

A son prepares to take over the family business after his dad's death, 

but on the day of the funeral there's an unexpected mourner at the graveside.

This was a pleasant surprise, it's light hearted with great performances.

I wouldn't say laugh out loud but an occasional chuckle.

Perfect viewing whilst cooking dinner.

Other stuff:

Bella is 10! 

We had a lovely barbecue at my parents' home for Father's Day

with Bella's birthday gategrashing that event.

Here she is unwrapping one of her gifts.

And a rather unusual gift which she loves!

This weekend - trip to the tip!

Can I contain the excitement?

It is essential, the surveyor came to look at my conservatory roof

so the emptying of the conservatory is commencing - 

a bit too slowly to be honest.

I also plan to see Elliott, visit my parents and my sister -

a social whirl! 

I hope you all have something nice planned for the weekend.

Take care friends and thank you for stopping by.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

It's the natter catch up day again, hope you are all doing ok?

I've had time off this week and it felt so strange.

I reverted back to my part time hours just for this week as next

week I start a new role with my city job - permanently full time.

I've had a few sleepless nights about this, 

questioning whether I am doing the right thing.

But with the advantage of working the majority of days from home - 

I've chosen to say yes.

Sometimes you just have to take a leap and see.

I'm moving to a new team which has also caused mixed emotions,

I'm going to be working in the legal field of Projects and Construction.

I know, it doesn't quite set the world on fire does it?

 A full time salary will certainly see the VT repaired - I can't believe

I've lived here for 20 years and still haven't got around to decorating

certain rooms.  And...imagine all the yarn purchases! 

(Kidding - I must STOP buying yarn!)

Crochet:

 So yes, talking of yarn.

My Hello Autumn Blanket is finished.

Thanks to spending another long glorious day in my sister's garden

I joined all the squares and the border.

 

It is actually more rich in colour in real life.

I am definitely progressing with my WIP list.

I've had moments where I've nearly buckled and gone to start something

new but I reeled myself in and gave myself a stern talking to.

I am now finishing another Hello Winter blanket, working on squares

is a lot easier in the hot weather than wrestling with a blanket.

My Folksy shop looks replenished so please feel free 

to pop along and have a nose.

Garden:

Quite a bit of garden natter this week.

I was looking up an old blog post to locate this picture below. 
These were plants I bought last July from Secret Gardening Club.
It was an offer - 15 perennials plants for £20 inclusive of postage.

I thought it would be interesting to see how many I didn't manage to kill and 

how they are fairing now.

Spikey one is Festuca - Elijah Blue.
Yellow is Heuchera - Ginger Ale.

Pink flower one - I don't know what that is,

I'm not certain it came with this plant haul and yet I don't know where

else I could have obtained it - perhaps a rock rose?

Here's a close up.

Another two.

Rubus - Betty Ashburn - that really covers ground.
Coreopsis - Sunshine Superman - yet to burst into yellow bloom. 

This one is Luzula Sylvatica (Great Wood Rush).

The Lavender is just about doing fine it its own pot, a very slow start.

Some of the grasses didn't make it due to a certain pooch who liked to eat them!
Because we have artificial grass I've grown real grass in a pot for Bella -

"grass/pot" - yes the jokes have been made!

And taking top prize is Verbena - Bonariensis, it's now about 5 feet tall.

So all in all I think I managed to keep just over half of my plant haul.

And this week a robin landed in my garden, a first.
Sadly I wasn't quick enough to get a photo.
And, I may be oversharing the foxgloves but the bees are loving them too.

Hazel's advice - using soluble aspirin on tomato plants - 

sounds great, thank you - I'm doing it! 

Right let's move on - I am rather garden consumed.

Telly:

Britbox - Professor T

Cambridge University Criminologist with OCD becomes an 

adviser to the police.

Starring Ben Miller as Professor Jasper Tempest,

Frances de la Tour plays his overbearing mother.

Based on an imported Belgian format - I can't help but wonder

if the Belgians got it right because we got a lot wrong! 

It could be good, the veteran actors are not at fault,

unfortunately I struggled with the supporting roles - just not convincing.

And I'm no expert on OCD but there were glaring errors.

Having said (bemoaned) all that I did watch the entire first series,

it is acceptable crochet watching.

This week I have done hardly any cooking, we have been 

getting through salads like a colony of rabbits!

Our air fryer has been worth its weight in gold,

not having to switch the full oven on and heat the kitchen up, 

instead using the air fryer for 20 minutes to bake a jacket potato.

I swear I should be on commission, I cannot praise it highly enough.

This weekend we are celebrating Father's Day with a barbecue.

I think the weather is about to turn so it will be a barbecue with brollies.

It is also Bella's birthday beginning of next week so she's 

having her gifts (edible and toy) at the barbecue - she is going to be 10!

I'm trying not to think about her getting old. 

She gets so excited opening gifts, at Christmas it is mayhem as she 

wants to open ALL the gifts.

And that wraps up my week.

As always thank you for stopping by.

I was startled to see that some of my posts are viewed by 200+ people,

that's an awful lot of natter you're reading - big heartfelt thanks!

Take care friends - 

have a perfectly wonderful weekend. 

Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday!
Let's just say I truly appreciate a Friday now more than ever,
my work brain is a little frazzled by Friday afternoon.

Garden:

Thank you for naming my Foxgloves last week.

They continue to flower in all their glory, the slugs/snails continue to feast!

As you all proved so adept in plant naming here's a new challenge.

This isn't in my garden, it is a crop growing in the field behind my parents' home.

It is normally seeded with  barley or rape, 

one year we had linseed which was beautiful with blue flowers.

This year it is this...

It has a rather pretty spotted flower.

Possibly some sort of bean?

And back in my garden my favourite - Clematis is showing off.

This variety is Sally - I bought this especially because it is my Mum's name.

Snow Queen is doing well (reminds me of Narnia).

Although once the flowers finish they look rather tatty,

not sure if I should be cutting those off.

My next purchase will be the Darcy variety - because it is one of my cat's names! 

All is equal in love - human and furry!

 My tomato plants are in and for the first time I am growing them at the front of 

my house, it is a real suntrap.  I'm sure they won't be offended by being placed 

by the wheelie bins! 

Crochet:

 I have been joining the squares to my Hello Autumn blanket in hot sunshine,

seasonally I'm all over the place.

Just a few more rows and I can start the border.

I took this photo in my sister's garden which is enormous.

She has a breeze hut/summer house and I sat here all day last Saturday

gazing out on an orchard, squirrels - ahh it was so peaceful and just 

the tonic I needed after a working week.  

Very grateful that I am able to visit.  

Telly:

Netflix - Fargo

A unique set of characters deal with a plethora of crimes in different time periods. 

The only thing they share in common is their connection to the Midwest, USA.

Our super talented Martin Freeman stars in Season 1.

It's a little odd and I did struggle with the first half hour of the first episode

but then it takes off.  

They have a lot of snow in Minnesota! 

Quite a few seasons ahead with some big star names.

Gardeners' World

BBCiPlayer

I've mentioned Gardeners' World before - I do love it.

I'm especially pleased that they have repeated a segment from last year,

visiting this lady who is addicted to growing Clematis.

Episode 8 at 21 minutes into the programme.

Her garden is my dream.

Charity Kit:

Another lovely response to this month's kit.

There's just one left - one little lonely kit! 

If you missed it, please visit the blog post here. 

Apologies to those who received the email and noticed I

had mistyped the price, it was because I duplicated last month's

email and hadn't had my first cup of tea! 

This weekend Mitchell and I are visiting my sister,

she has wi-fi problems so Mitchell is installing a new router.

I plan to wait in her gorgeous garden and do a little bit of crochet.

Not much progress with the conservatory at the moment,

I'm beginning to empty it and confess I hadn't realised how much

stuff I had squirreled away in the cupboards.

I'm wondering if we really need 20+ dinner plates?

No recipe!

Time and heat are against me in the kitchen,

I will get back to it soon.

Enjoy the wonderful sunshine and have a brilliant weekend everyone.

Take care.

Charity Kit Day - June 2021

  Hello friends

Happy Charity Kit Day.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look at this month's kit. 

Each month a donation is made to a different charity and this month it is 

Fibromyalgia Action UK whose mission it is to improve the lives of 

people with Fibromyalgia.

To keep track of charities there is a tab at the top of my blog here.  

It details the 2021 chosen charities, clickable links and 

there's general kit info over there too

And here is this month's kit:

Double the creativity as it is two mini cards.

The first mini card is ivory, a cute little envelope with a pouring of hearts

and the sentiment 'Sending you LOVE'

The second mini card is kraft, stamped (distressed) background,

layers of tags, hearts and flowers and with a 'thinking of you' sentiment.

Included in your kit:

Ivory square mini card blank

Kraft Mini square card blank

Ivory envelope

Kraft envelope

Die cuts - Tags x 2, patterned hearts x 3, flowers x 4,

mini envelope, red hearts x 4, twine

Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesives, foam pads, pearls/gemstone)

The kits are packed in recyclable paper bags and sent in a 'do not bend' 

envelope so they arrive in pristine condition. 

To make up the kits you just need a basic craft kit, all pieces are pre-cut.

Also, the die cuts are packaged with each mini card so no sorting required.

The kit cost this month is £6.00

that's the total payment - inclusive of postage and packing.

If you have arrived here from my Mailchimp email - apologies -

I quoted the wrong price, I was typing it early!

Payment is via the PayPal link below.

If you wish to purchase but would prefer not to use PayPal, please email me:

hope-chances@live.co.uk

I'm happy to help with alternative payment arrangements.

It is possible to purchase multiple kits,

there's an option with PayPal for that too.

If you would like to support the kits but do not need one right now,

there is a 'Ko-fi' button', at the top of the blog, it's not really for coffee...

all donations enable me to purchase card blanks, envelopes, the paper bags,

sticky labels etc used each month.

It is truly a great help each month with Ko-fi donations,

so lots of thanks to those who donate.

As a reminder there are a few previous kits left at reduced prices:

April's Charity Kit is now £3.25

Please visit the link here.

January's Charity Kit is now £3.50

(the one with the tea bags inside!)

Please visit the link here.

Take care friends, as always - huge thanks for your support

and have a wonderful Sunday.