The promise of things to come

Mange-tout - any day now one of these flowers will form a green pod. I'm watching out for it.

The courgette plants have settled in and I will be picking as soon as one is big enough.

It will take a little longer for the broad beans but the tops have been pricked out and there's no sign of black fly.

I shall wade may way through the strawberry patch and some may even make it into the house. Perhaps I should make some jam.

Now I don't know what these are. I sowed a half empty packet which had no name on it. I thought they were lettuce ...

but I think I'm wrong. I'm not going to start eating until I know what they are. Any ideas?

The corn has started to grow after a very cold start. We put them in the ground too early and the weather didn't help them. We had a bumper crop last year. I hope they all make it this year.

Climbing frame number 2 has runner and French beans ready to climb. I sow the seed straight into the ground. If nothing comes up I sow again as I collect the seed from the previous year.

Aha! My grapes. They've had a haircut twice and a little shake of each bunch just to thin them out. They are not heavy enough to hang downwards yet but it promises to be a bumper crop.

Tommyatoes - all set to roll!

We don't eat the asparagus every day so some have started to grow into ferns. There's a nice tender one just waiting to be eaten for tea. No more picking after June.

The onions are starting to thicken at the base ...

and the spring onions are ready.

Now why take a picture of the garden tap? Why the promise of a lovely large poppy which has started to grow at the base. They tend to pop up all over the plot but only a few are allowed to flower. This is one of them.

The promise of things to come plus the delight of watching them all grow now.

xx

Painted Lady

No, not a butterfly. I really shouldn't have worn shorts ...

when painting ...

the fence.

It's all over my legs, hair, arms, T-shirt, shorts, feet, eyes, nose and cheeks. I don't look good. The fence does though.

Bath time, I feel.

xx

Things are looking up

What lovely days we've had for looking up.

Tip: Always stand still when looking up!

It's great when the sun shines.

Not necessarily great when the wind blows aswell!

xx

PS A very warm welcome to my new follower, Tara.

Today's post has been updated.

Not this one.

The other one.

Now I'm done.

Just scroll down.

xx

The List

Part 1 (this post is to be continued this evening)

* walk cat

* tidy up

* do the ironing

* nip to the shops

* plant the courgettes

* find phone

* crochet

* hoover (Hoover? - dyson (Dyson?) - vacuum

* make bread

* call at friends'

* read

* sort out  meals

* clean the loos

* make a note of more to put on the list


Part 2 (this evening)

Puss just preferred to sit in the strawberry patch.

I ironed this lot plus 3 dancing dresses
which were a zillion miles around
the hem.
Note to self:  Don't let the ironing pile up.
Do it when it's been dried.

There's already a courgette on this plant.

It's very windy but I think they'll survive.

I picked some rhubarb for my friends.

I didn't pick my pink poppy though. It's rather large.

* walk cat

* tidy up

* do the ironing

* nip to the shops

* plant the courgettes

* find phone

* crochet

* hoover (Hoover? - dyson (Dyson?) - vacuum - Sorry, can't do everything!

* make bread

* call at friends'

* read

* sort out  meals

* clean the loos

* make a note of more to put on the list - I didn't make a note, I just did it. I baked 2 cakes. It was going to be just one but instead of spooning sugar into the bowl I tipped the bag and twice as much sugar came out so I added more flour. One cake was a mixed spice with mixed fruit and the other was plain. It wasn't very imaginative so I poked in some chocolate sultanas! When cool 3/4 of the cake went into the freezer.

Are you looking at me?

xx

I like ...

* to lick the knife after I've put Marmite on my toast

* to lie back in a hot, bubbly bath

* to take my shoes off

* to smell the growing tomato plants

* 'me' time

* the scent of the lily of the valley as I walk up the path to the back door

* growing and eating veg

* pursuing all my interests

* going 'Ooh' when a comment 'awaits'

* time for a read

* a tidy room (not many about at the moment)

* a vase of real flowers in the house

* seeing Blackpool Tower light up in different colours every night

* the first night of clean sheets

* my baked beans to have a splash of Worcester Sauce

and so on and so forth ………...

xx

Item 2, Stash 2

I thought I"d crochet some mug cosies as little Christmas presents with some more wool from the stash. They are very simple to make. First make a chain long enough to go around the edge of the base of the mug and then work enough rows of half dc (UK) to reach nearly the top edge (must leave room for drinking without getting a mouthful of frizzy yarn). Join with 2 chain to the other edge and work 2 rounds of single crochet (UK) up the side, around the top and down the side to give it a border. On the second time around the edge I crocheted a 15 chain loop which would reach over the handle of the mug and affix to a button on the other side.

I worked about 10 rows of half double crochet.

Speaking of Christmas, do I throw away this yarn cone or keep it? I thought it would do nicely for a crocheted Christmas tree.

:)

xx