Scrabble Tiles

Imogen went back to school today after the summer holidays. It's her last official school year (she hasn't decided yet if she'll stay on for 6th form or go to college). I like to take a photo of her in her uniform before she leaves on the first day of term. Here's the photo from her first day at 'big school'. She hasn't grown much taller, perhaps an inch or two, but is definitely much more grown up.

Here's my baby now, as always it's passing far too quickly.

I've made quite a few things for our new grandson, most of them crochet or knitted before he was born (little Zackary has been here for 4 weeks now). I thought it would be nice to make something that would include everyone, something with everybody's name on it to tie them all together.

I have some shadow picture frames that I'd picked up a while ago when Hobbycraft reduced them, just the right thing to make a scrabble tile crossword in. I chose white as it goes with most things.

I think the hardest part was looking through the papers I already have to choose one as a background. I love this design, I must have been influenced by the approach of Autumn.

Lots of wooden scrabble tiles, I knew I was going to need 3 Z's and luckily this bag had a good selection.

Then to simply arrange the tiles so they all interlink like a crossword, I also added a few novelty buttons to make it a bit more interesting.

It turned out really well, Adam and Holly were very pleased and I'm thrilled to say they have hung it in their hallway.

Only one of our 2 Hydrangea bushes flowered this year, though the one that did was covered in big, beautiful, pink blooms all summer. I snipped this pretty one so I could admire it from indoors too. Most of the ones outside now have a sepia tinge to them as though they have been soaked in tea, quite stunning.

Take care
xxx

Split Tooth

Thank you for all the lovely comments about my bunting and supportive ones about my tooth. I don't know how, but I was complaining about the wrong tooth! It wasn't my baby tooth at all, or even the one next to it, but the one next to that. It broke in half, vertically... I didn't like it! I managed to get through Imogen's performance, Chicago (which was rather fabulous) then took to my bed for an early night. Luckily the emergency dentist fitted me in at 1 the next day, it was very busy there. The dentist was lovely, he said it needed extracting, gave me the necessary injections and pulled out the first (broken) half of my tooth. He then spent a while examining it and decided to give me a temporary filling to tide me over and a prescription for some antibiotics if it starts to get more painful (I haven't needed to take them). As the nerve wasn't exposed, the dentist said we may be able to save the tooth. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with my own dentist to have a proper filling, so fingers crossed all will be well.

After the grey skies in my last post, it's back to blue skies and sunshine again. Andy harvested some carrots... not looking forward to peeling the twisty ones.

Our kitchen has been hotter than the conservatory today. I've had a gammon joint roasting away, phew. I'd already taken it out of the freezer yesterday to have for tea today, we had it with boiled potatoes and salad from the garden, so that was rather lovely.

I thought as I showed you it last year, I'd take a photo our lovely Hydrangea bush, it's covered in glorious bright pink blooms and I love it.

The heat isn't bothering the cats. Mitzi has been spending her time curled up asleep on cosy throws and cushions, doesn't she look sweet and oh so very relaxed.

Take care
xxx

A Tiny Garden

Our garden is rather on the small side, I find myself looking at pictures of nice, big gardens with a shade of envy. Then I remember how lucky I am to even have a garden, some people have only a yard and some have nothing at all. It may be a tiny plot, but it's our tiny plot, I suppose our little piece of England if you will and we work hard to get as much from it as possible.

I love the garden in July, the flowers are really coming into their own, outside is a riot of colour that just cannot fail to bring a smile to my face.

 I know that was a lot of pictures, but I think they're all so beautiful.

It hasn't been plain sailing, we had quite a nasty invasion of black fly on the Dahlias. It seems to be under control now and my beautiful yellow Dahlia appears to have won the war against the black fly and the nasty slugs and snails that had feasted it almost into oblivion...

 We've had a little rearrangement, moved some of the plants from pots into one of the raised beds, including the Heuchera and Delphinium that were thankfully identified by you lovely people in a previous post.

The Hosta at the front has just started to flower.

Delphinium getting ready to bloom

 Are you flowered out yet? This planter is next to the raised garden we use for growing veg at the back

 Honey is looking up expectedly... wondering if there're any treats on the table

Right at the back Andy's just erected a small gazebo. It's for a barbecue, but is just the right size for a small garden. We've wrapped lots of twinkling lights around it and have some lanterns so it's a perfect retreat in a summers evening. I will get round to to taking an evening photo, it looks so pretty.

 Before I go, an update on the Hydrangea we have at the front of the house. It really has come back with a vengeance, beautiful...

 So lovely, we bought it a friend...

Take care
xxx

Hydrangea Wishes...

I think Hydrangeas are such lovely flowers, big blooms made up of so many delicate small flowers. Gorgeous colours from bright pink to a muted mauve, just as beautiful dried as fresh.

So why can't I have one??

I think we've bought Hydrangea plants 3 times now, and I've ruined 2 1/2 of them. The half is because I believe there's a chance that my last one is trying hard to stay with us...

We bought this little one last year near the end of the season. It sits at the front of the house and spends more time in shade than sun. I've left it alone, not removed a dead head, absolutely nothing, kept my very 'not green fingers' away from it.

I was so thrilled when I saw the new growth coming through, beautiful strong green leaves.

I wasn't sure what I should do... just leave it alone with last years dead flower heads, or get out the pruning scissors...

So, as with most things nowadays, I googled it. It didn't really help, I was reading about fresh growth from new shoots and some varieties grow their shoots on old wood, it all felt quite confusing!

I decided to be brave and follow the advice that recommended removing the old flowers after winter so the new growth 'knows' it needs to flower and produce more seeds.

Was this the right thing to do? Any advice is very welcome. Will she survive and give me more flowers?

Even though it's looking very small, I can see the future flower heads beginning to form.

What favourite flowers grow in your gardens, am I the only one who doesn't have a very green thumb?

Will my dreams and wishes come true.....

Take care
xxx