It's been too long since I last did a post.

How are you all?

I've spent the last couple of days just reading blogs, trying to catch up with everyone.

Life has whizzed by at an incredible pace.  For the next couple of weeks, (I mean this week, even though it's Friday already and next week), I have more time at home.  The weather has been much better this week and yesterday we had a glorious day so I got out in the garden, trying to catch up with some jobs that needed doing or things that I should have done weeks ago.  Here's some of the more colourful bits in the garden.

The nasturtiums behind these poppies have gone berserk and are now covering the whole path. The cabbage white butterflies have been busy too so I'm expecting an abundance of caterpillars in the next weeks. 

This gorgeous rose had got very leggy and last year the flowers weren't very good.  I cut it right back at the beginning of the spring, I had no idea if that was the right thing to do but it doesn't seem to have done it any harm. 

Plenty of flowers, no beans yet.

I bought a packet of lilies from Morrisons, they were supposed to be a mix of colours.  Mine have turned out to be yellow.  They certainly stand out.

I have a wall of wild sweet peas (I think that's what they are).  They have no scent and are all pink. 

I haven't been doing any sewing for the last couple of weeks and I'm getting fidgety to get back to my sewing machine.  I have been doing a bit of crochet though, which I'll post about later.

Hope you all have a good day,

Lesley

x

Cupcakes and Potatoes

Where does the time go to?  I seem to have neglected my blog for too long.  I've just been busy doing everything, nothing, bit of hooky, gardening and trying my hand at applique. (Oh and all the other really rather boring stuff too).

I decided to make a cushion, 60 x 60 cm.

My cup cakes didn't lie quite as flat as I hoped.  I used vilene on the back to help strengthen the lilac checked fabric but it still puckered around the edges.  Does anyone know how I stop that happening?  I think the tension on my machine was ok.  If anyone can help, I'd be really grateful.

I made four of them.

Then put some sashing on, in purple and then the border.

This is the finished top piece, just need to do the rest now.

These are the first potatoes from the garden.  I cooked them with some mint, really yummy!

Until next time........

Lesley

x

Oh My Goodness, I've Got A Big Birthday On Sunday

Hello everyone,

Today we had the whole family together, a rare sight indeed.  For tomorrow is a very big birthday for me.  Much to my surprise, The Col excelled himself, along with LM and his girlfriend by keeping my party a surprise.  I had no idea the entire family were going to arrive.  The last time we were all together was 2006.  I had a great day and I think there's more to come tomorrow but I haven't got a clue what's going on.

I'll have to let you know........

It's all been a bit hectic here for the last couple of weeks as The Col has had an operation on his wrist and cannot do too much.  In fact, he's been told not to drive for another 3 weeks, therefore he can't get to work, (it's a 50 minute drive) which means, lovely ladies I'm having to deal with a very grumpy Col not only because he can't drive but he can't butter his toast or tie his shoe laces.  

Last weekend I went to a school reunion.  What a fantastic day that turned out to be.  I hadn't seen some of the people for 34 years!  We all chatted like it had only been last month since we last spoke, absolutely amazing.

Have yourselves a good weekend and enjoy the good weather.

Lesley 

x

No Sun Today......

 but here are some flowers I snapped this morning .......

Life's been a bit hectic of late, hence the lack of blogs but I'm hoping to do a bit of catch up over the weekend.  

Just one quick update, remember back in May, The Col and I were going to see We Will Rock You?  Well, we got to the theatre, bought a programme, a bag of sweets, (you know, the very noisy bags but we figured it didn't matter, we were after all about to be deafened listening to the live music of Queen) and took our seats.  The five minute bell sounded, the lights went down and, stayed down!!!!!

After sitting in the dark for thirty minutes a couple of chaps arrived on the stage to announce that they had to cancel the show.

The Mayflower theatre, Southampton had a massive power failure to the entire building and  Apparently it was the first time in twenty five years it had happened!


What a disappointment, we and the rest of the audience couldn't believe it.  Of course, there was no chance of putting on an extra show on another date.  The show was moving on a few days later and tickets that were left were for standing room only and during the week, not possible for us to get back.  People are strange though, there were one or two who were clearly very annoyed, demanding their money back etc etc etc, tiresome people.  We and the majority of people just accepted that these things happen every now and again, even if it is once in twenty five years.

The theatre refunded our tickets within three days and we have yet to see We Will Rock You.  


One other update.  I have eighteen followers, hello to all my new followers, lovely to have you along.  My eighteenth follower turns out to be my son, LM (stands for Lofty Maximus and is just the best, like Christmas, sliced bread and candy floss all rolled into one).  Who'd have thought it, he likes my blog!

Have a great Friday.

Lesley

x

Fuzzy Little Badgers

Just had to share a couple of photos with you this evening.  

The female badger turned up in broad daylight, about 9pm,

which is slightly unusual. 

As the light faded I noticed lots of movement in the garden.  The security light came on and look what was there....

I apologise for the fuzzy photo but it's difficult to get a badger to pose, let alone get four of them to keep still.

This is the first time we've seen these two badger cubs in the garden.  They happily munched away at the peanuts for ages, giving me some time to take a better shot.

and then they came a little closer.....

and closer still, followed closely by dad....

Yes, that is the window frame, and the door is open.  What a privilege to get this close and they're sooooo cute!

I've got some more photos but I just wanted to share these few with you before I head up to bed.  

Bye for now.

Lesley 

x

Another Lovely Walk and Badgers

Hello again,

The sun was shining again yesterday and Tilly and I had a lovely walk in the woods. 

This is the badger track across the field.  You can just make out that it disappears into the undergrowth on the other side of the field. 

One of the entrances to the set.  Badgers use grass as bedding.  I think this pile of grass had been used and pushed back outside.

One of the other entrances to the set.  This is a really good one, it sits in a steep slope, about 2 metres up, not the easiest to get to, (I had to stand on a tree stump and hold the camera above my head to get this).  It's approximately 80cm across.  You can see the claw marks around the top.

Not the best photo of the badgers but these three turn up regularly for peanuts.

These are some fascinating tree roots that are in the side of the slope.

And the sunset.

The Col and I are off to the theatre tomorrow to see We Will Rock You.  Can't wait!

Now, I've realised I haven't posted about anything I've made recently.  I have been sewing, crocheting and quilting and will do a post entirely dedicated to all things crafty next week.  Including those crochet squares made with the bargain tapestry wool.

Until then.....

Lesley

x