Catching up

It's a while since I wrote, and lots has been happening in the yarden. I've been picking strawberries every day, the runner beans have flowers, and the other flowers are all looking good.

 

I'm always on the lookout for jigsaw puzzles, and when I found a whole bundle on our local FB marketplace, I simply couldn't stop myself, and they've now been added to my "to-be-done" pile, along with the Wasgijs I bought last month.

 You might also spot the beginings of a new project on my board, I'm not going to go into too much detail for now, but here's a closer view of my knitting

 This week's herbword

 I've bought myself a new camera. I already have a decent Canon that I bought from my sister, which takes great photos, but is too heavy to carry around for everyday use, and although my phone camera is ok, it's not wonderful. Having already had 2 Lumixes and been very happy with them, each lasting about 5 to 6 years before the lens mechanism packed up, I've gone for another one. They are far and away the best of the point-and-shoot cameras, and light enough to sit in my handbag for instant use.

 I love it.

GM and I have been away, we took a flying visit to Devon last week, and photos from that will be in my next post.

We are currently in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave here in the west of England, today is forecast to possibly reach 40 degrees Celcius, that's rather warm. 

Keep cool out there. 

Gently does it

I've been a little bit over zealous on the yardening front. Except for the floral border at the front of the house, everything I grow is in pots. Pots are heavy. Moving a couple around I've managed to pull a muscle in my back, so I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. 

However, things outside are looking good. I have blackberry flowers

 I have raspberries forming

 and the honeysuckle looks and smells divine

And I've been picking strawberries - I pick them before they are completely ripe and pop them in a bowl on the windowsill, otherwise the birds get them first!

 

 I met up with Jean for a natter and liquid refreshment

 I've had a proper sort through and tidy up of my craft stash

 and started another yarn stash-busting blanket

 Here's another herb-word.

 I have all sorts of dietary books, for all sorts of conditions. I have books for diabetes, for hypothyroid, for gut health, and for arthritis, but until now I haven't thought about trying to cure my acid reflux with diet, although I cannot think why, as I've always subscribed to the "you are what you eat" camp. So I've put that right and bought myself yet another book to add to the collection..

 How's your week been?

Rounding off the month of May

 I almost forgot about the tree, this was the last day of the month

 I almost made target (85 miles) this month - still time to catch up to complete the 1000 miles in 2026

 I did the daily Woodoku puzzle every day 

and completed my cardigan

 Now lets get on with June, and summer!

Photo Hunt for May

Every month Eileen gives us a subject to photograph, May's subject was Cutlery.

Here are mine

 I wonder what June's subject will be?

A record-breaking month

The last week has been mostly incredibly hot, with record-breaking temperatures for most of us down here to the south of the UK.

Indoors on Monday - our thermometer is situated in the coolest area of the house, in the entrance hall, and with plenty of windows and doors open it's pretty breezy, yet the temperature still reached 29C. Later I took it up to my studio on the top floor, and it registered over 30C.

 

In my car on Tuesday morning, admittedly the car had been closed up overnight, and was sitting in the sunshine, but for this early in the morning it's a pretty high reading.

 

However, things are still looking ok in the yarden - I've been out with the hosepipe most evenings, as everything I grow is in pots, which tend to dry out pretty quickly at the best of times!

 Recently I completed a Wasgij puzzle, my first. I was hooked. So much so that when I found someone locally selling five, I couldn't not buy them. These should keep me off the streets for a while, although I probably won't tackle them during the summer months, with so much else to do!

 Another 4 squares have been added to the book cover blanket project

 

Please come back tomorrow to see my collection of pics for Eileen's Photo Challenge for May.

I would dearly love you to comment, but please, please don't comment anonymously. If you don't have a google log-in, please just leave me your fist name or nickname, as I don't publish anonymous comments. Thanks, and have a great weekend. 

Doesn't time fly?

I'm finding that the older I get, the faster time seems to pass. It's 23rd May, which means this month is already 3/4 gone. And what do I have to show for it?

An almost finished cardigan, with just the buttonhole border to complete

 A continuing-to-grow stash-busting blanket

 Various flowers in the yarden

 A completed Wasgij (my first, but not my last)

 A couple of days of childminding with my youngest GD8 (surprisingly asleep)

 And some hot-air balloons

 See you next week, I hope xx

P.S.  If you comment, please leave a name so I know who you are, I don't generally publish anonymous comments, thanks xx 

Bowood Woodland Gardens . . .

 . . . is only open from the end of March through to the beginning of June, when bluebells, azalias and rhododendrons are in flower. As I have a season ticket to visit the entire estate, which runs from end of March to end of November, it makes sense to visit the Woodland Gardens while they are open, so I like to make the trip at least once a month. This time I took my proper camera with me, so be warned, this post is PHOTO HEAVY.

 

If you've got this far, thanks for the indulgence, I hope you vicariously enjoyed my visit.