From my seat

Looking down - DH has been planting seeds yet again and yes there's a shoot.

A cutting which grew into this clematis was liberated from a large expanse of white, fragrant, billowing mass of flowers growing along a wall around a car park. The air was overflowing with a beautiful scent.

As I sit here I am surrounded by a sweet fragrance.

One flower does not smell so much but many out together fill the air with a subtle scent.

In front of me is my 'deckchair stripe' cot blanket which is nearly finished. I've just got to do a simple border and back it with some fleece.

To my left is the sun room window with DH's plants basking in the sun.

And ahead of me is the veggie garden still low to the ground but with emerging and tempting food growing in the sunshine.

I've done a full circuit now and am back to where I started. Now shall I get out the patio umbrella?

Or shall I set the table prettily?

Nah, I'll just stay where I am enjoying the warm weather. Someone's got to make sure the garden's growing. I'll keep looking up from my crocheting.

xx

Help received ...

… in the form of encouragement from readers of this blog helping me to keep on track in my quest for losing some weight.

Success - one and a half pounds lost this week and I'm feeling fitter and more importantly - full! I've no craving (well not much) for fattening foods (Pam's biscuits) and I look forward to my steamed veggies each day.

So far I've cut out biscuits, cake, chocolate and alcohol and this week  I'm adding to that by not having as much bread and only having fruit for a snack at supper time. I'm eating healthily and keeping to smaller portions (just).

Go me!

xx

Now

Whilst watching organiser videos I have seen that many people have long term goals. They break them down into smaller chunks and then break them down again into tiny steps that can be achieved. I'd been having difficulty in trying to formulate a long term goal but then I suddenly had a brainwave which made made me smile. It's sorted out all my goals in one fell swoop and re-assured me as to my long or short term future. This goal is only a musing.

This is how my thinking went.

Me: " What is your ultimate long term goal?"

Me: (thinking)

Me: (thinking some more)

Me: (in deep philosophical mode) "My ultimate long term goal is to stay alive."

Me: (expanding) "I'm achieving that now so I have reached my goal and every day that I'm alive I'm still achieving this goal.

Now is the moment.

What a very good reason to celebrate."

xx

:)

PS Welcome, welcome to my new follower.

From my feet

I'm stood in the conservatory admiring this cactus. It's not an Easter one, nor a Christmas one but it has decided to flower now with gorgeous red blooms.

On the couch is some reading material which  is a CS find. They may be going back to the CS as they are heavy and take up too much room. I'll flick through them first though.

It's been sunny this week and this is my hat of choice for this year.

My mag collection is from the car boot sale.

The orchids need regular dunking.

This crown of thorns has flowers of a slightly darker red than the cactus.

On the table is my allium seed head. I have 3 of these scattered about the house. There are still some seeds in there. Perhaps I should try growing some. That's DH's job. Mine is planting, collecting, cooking and eating (the veg plants not the conservatory plants!!)

This mother in law's tongue plant was a neglected specimen that had been taken to the CS. I rescued it and it is now trying to get out of the pot.

Our plants come from various sources - this one is from a car boot.

These grown from seed bought from Ebay.

This pregnant onion plant started out as one little bulb from Ebay.

And this cactus was being thrown out by a friend.

It points every which way.

I've been looking every which way in this relaxing room of plants.

Hope you enjoyed my tour.

xx

I can do that

Great car boot today in the lovely sunshine - I purchased a lot of homes mags and in one was this picture of some votives. "I can do that," I thought.

I went to my baking parafernalia and found these aluminium (I think) bun cases. They were another car boot find many years ago and I've never used them. 

A few tea lights later I had my table decoration.

They look like little flowers now they have a centre.

I can do that!

xx

PS A warm welcome to my new follower.

It's in the bag

The pegs are in a bag. When I'm pegging out I simply sling the bag over my arm and pick up the pegs from by my side.

When I've finished pegging out I peg the peg bag up on the line.

The loaves are in the new bags from I-kee-ya. The cords are colour coded so I've got my wholemeal in one and DH's white in another.

Both bags go --- in the bag.

And the recycling goes in the basket. I am enjoying carrying these around. (Sad, sad!)

xx

Day play

I-kee-ya first and then ...

we fired up the barbie and threw on a couple of beef burgers.

The new baskets brought the gubbins to the table,

cutlery, jug of water and serviettes and ...

our feast of meat was accompanied by a salad and ...

followed by fruit salad. The table was set with a flowery centrepiece and ...

the daily bread sliced ready for the feast!

Not an alcoholic drink in sight.

Hope you've had a lovely day today.

xx