"Free" is the magic number

What a fantastic couple of days I've had!

Today, we went to see my lovely sister in law and her family. They have recently moved from their flat into a 3-bed house. It was quite the mess when they found it but they have worked around the clock (with a little help from family) to make it a lovely, fresh, warm and inviting home. Today was the first time I had seen it finished.

They now have a garden which is a lovely dream come true for them. Again, like the house it is in quite a state and they are starting to get to grips with sorting it out for their two boys to play in safely.

It would appear that at some point, the previous owners were quite keen gardeners, as buried in the over-grown bushes and hedges were many garden ornaments. My sis in law had them bagged up to be thrown away, but after asking her if I could rehome them, she was more than willing to let me save her a job!
I also uncovered a couple more..and promptly bagged them all up to take home!

Yes, they look a bit odd all clumped together like this, but after having a good bath from my garden hose, they are now placed around my garden, waiting for plants to grow around them so they can poke through!

This may sound silly, but my lovely Grandma always had garden ornaments in her large rockery and as children, my cousins and I always had the job of finding the new ones she has hid in it every time we visited her! Its a fond childhood memory I would like to continue with my children and grandchildren!

On top of this, I also unearthed an awful lot of plastic pots for growing, which again, I was more then welcome to take away with me...

Once again, with a good washing, they are as good as new!!

Then the real bonus came!

I came across a plant so delicate and beautiful it almost took my breath away....I asked if I could take just one to pot up and eventually put into my own garden, and once again, my sister in law was so accommodating, as she said they would all be covered by decking in a years time anyway...so I scooped them up too and now have them planted in pots in the lean-to. Then with thanks to a very knowledgeable Aunt, I found out their name...

Aren't they just wildly inviting?! They are just bursting with colour!
It was a great way to finish off a great couple of days.

And what was so great about the first day, you may ask?!.....

.....My beautiful sister Laura, got hitched!!!
It was a beautiful, emotional and happiest day! Huge congratulations to Laura and her lovely new hubby Greg! x

Thats all for now. Until next time, you take care now x

Very Humble Beginings

This last week I have been desperate to get out into the garden and do some much needed tidying and sorting. I've also felt a big drive to get a greenhouse of sorts and start growing my own flowers to put in the garden.

Unfortunately, the heat has dictated that I do nothing of the sort and instead I've taken to just staring at the garden thinking "When it gets cooler......."

But today I bit the bullet and made a start. Its not the messiest garden by a long shot and it is small (but perfectly formed, if you ask me!)

This is my version of  a panoramic view. Forgive me.

I've only managed to get as far the the picture on the far right, and that took a couple of hours! Turning over the hard and clay-like soil with only a children's spade and an old trowel that I found in our lean-to is not the quickest of jobs!

During the digging, I came across these interesting things..

One a carnation and the other a rose. I can only hope that somewhere in the earth are the roots of these beautiful flowers that were once planted there and maybe one day with will grow again and join my little patch?!

I decided to also set up a mini greenhouse in our Lean-to as its fairly warm and consistent in there and will protect from the bugs and slugs that love to eat anything I try and grow!

Its is in its very humble beginnings but I'm proud of it and its cost me absolutely nothing (so far!). Ive only potted up some small bulbs that were given to me for my birthday and a couple of Sun Flower seeds. I will let you know how it goes!

And even though this is just the beginning, I have very big plans for my little garden! Watch this space!

That's all for now. Until next time, you take care now x x

Time on my hands: Finished Cardi

Its late as i type this, so forgive me!

I have finished Little Lady's cardi and although there are many mistakes that I (and other knitters) can spot, it is finished and I'm thrilled to say, Little Lady loves it and has worn it with pride at every opportunity (despite the heat!) over the last 2 days!

My best friend has been on holiday for the last week and this is why I'm convinced I've had the time to start and complete an entire cardigan!!!.....Obviously we spend too much time nattering day-to-day!

That is why I have informed her that I intend to make her a Knitter!!!

Anyway, here it is....

Now i guess thee are no more excuses to not finished my "Boyfriend Cardigan" !?!

Thats all for now. Until next time, you take care now x