Growing in the garden

On getting out of the car in a store car park the most amazing scent filled the air. It came from a clematis spilling over the walls of the parking area from a house next door. The top of the wall was covered in white blooms. When we had finished shopping a stray cutting of this beautiful plant landed up in one of our bags. That was a couple of years ago. It's not until this year that the cutting has really taken off and our 'rescued' plant is going growth crazy.

Other plants in the garden are growing too. The mange tout came up in 10 days and is heading upwards to its growing frame. The ancient lettuce seed is springing to life and will soon need to be thinned out.

We planted a bench in the strawberry patch and I can pull out weeds while I'm sitting in the sunshine.

The rest of the edible garden is slowly being planted up as the warmer weather sets in. Already planted is beetroot, potatoes, fennel, kale, spring onions and leeks.

The grapevine has had quite a few trims to keep it in check and another vine is growing in from the outside.

I planted some Lidl-iddle lettuce (which had roots) in the greenhouse and they have started to romp away. I just pick a few leaves off them when I need them.

I saved some seed from the corn from last year to plant this year and it's just starting to grow. The cucumbers and courgettes will soon join them.

All is well in the garden.

xx

In the style of

OUTDOOR LIVING MONDAY

Every week I would like to post in the style of one of my Simply Delightful favourite blogs. A sort of homage to the writing and presentation techniques of the bloggers.

Picture courtesy of Mum's iPhone.

This is just wonderful. And so relaxing. I just love to look at the many changing faces of our outside sitting area. Hey, take a look at those hundreds of buds just ready to burst into flower. I can't wait to inhale the heady perfume of those clematis. Can you see all the gardening activity that has been taking place at the table? Such a lot of work to do in the garden but the table will be laid out with a relaxing beer in a moment. Ha!

Enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Please look my Simply Delightful Blogs to find out whose style I've tried to re-create here. :)

xx

If at first you don't succeed ...

I thought I could work a pattern using dcs, chains and trebles but it didn't quite work out with some rows wonky and some aligned wrongly. 

So - 

TRY

I tried again but seemed to have an alignment problem once more.

TRY

Not good.

AND TRY AGAIN! 

GIVE UP!

I'll TRY AGAIN with a different pattern. This one was not to be.

xx

Done and Dusted Ditty

To the tune of - When the roll is called up yonder.

Chorus

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me I'll be there.

Verse

When friends of Darling Son are wed and baby's on the scene,

And the time has come to take a present there.

When said friends admired the blanket made for DG number 1

Then another of the same we'd like to share.

This is my first Tunisian crochet blanket made for DG
(darling grand-daughter).

Here is the one for DS and DD-in-Law's friends.

Chorus

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me,

When a favour's called upon me I'll be there.

xx

Sunny Sunderland Point

A sunny day means out and about and this time it was to Sunderland Point with a friend.

A walk along the river led to the stoney beach. I picked some flowers and grasses along the way.

We had to spot and make smiley stones in this stretch of the walk.

Around the peninsula and the scenery changes yet again. There's plenty of driftwood on the grassy and sandy shore.

More pebbles and stones abound.

Here are the grassy parts with small pools every so often.

A visit to Sambo's grave site is a must.

My small bunch of dead gorse, fallen daffodil and creeping flowers were a gift for Sambo, among the many others left by visitors.

There was jewellery, pebbles, twigs, toys and more flowers for the boy.

Near to the site is a geo-cache with left trinkets inside. We left a gift here also.

A walk back to the beginning of our jaunt along a narrow lane guarded by gorse in all its glory led to further investigation and study of the flora and fauna.

We stopped to admire this wall and ...

also this sculpture on the shore front.

Just type in Sunderland Point in the search box or click on the label below to see more pics and read more information on this peaceful and unusual place.

xx

Grand Day Out

It was more of a Grand Afternoon out with a little group of friends watching all the thrills of the circus at Blackpool Tower Circus.

A wonderful setting ...

and an equally wonderful and thrilling show.

Pics weren't allowed while the circus was on but before it started we could admire the intricately decorated arena with lavish plasterwork and tiling.

The small orchestra provided live music for all of the acts and the circus ended as it always does with a lavish water finale where the circus ring is filled with water and fountains while acrobats performed above.

A Grand Day Afternoon out was had by all.

xx

Not short on ideas

Being a short-**** person of small stature I find it difficult to reach up to the farthest corners of high cupboards. These I-Key-Yah plastic tubs come in handy and make reaching condiments and spices a breeze.

The shelves in my wall cupboards are glass so I can see what's on them from below ...

then I can call a handy volunteer (DH) to reach the larger items down.

xx