A bit of a mixed bag today and no gardening! Well, I did do some but didn't take any photos. I started by moving a big pile of cut willow down to the house for firewood. Then I did a bit more tidying up of the 'war zone', it's looking better now, still has bomb holes though. I then moved down to the new bed at the side of the arboretum and finished the edging off. It didn't take long and looks so much better. We have a medlar tree and underneath that is some willow. We prune it every spring but it's in the way of the medlar and the mower. So I decided I'd have a go at digging it out! Easier said than done. I dug a trench round it and cut through all the roots I uncovered with secateurs. No sign of any movement in the willows. I gave up at that point as my arms were aching and went inside.
Ali and Poppy came to visit Jim in Worthing
Jim emailed me these 3 fabulous photos of Poppy.
How cute is she? Great hairstyle. She's 5 months old now
Almost sitting up alone
Smiling Poppy with a bit of Mum Ali!
I've no doubt Jim will bring a lot more back with him. Isn't she adorable?
ATCs
Here area couple of ATCs I've made:
Nellie the Elephant
Sheep Dreams
Amazing Patchwork Book
As I've been making this patchwork wall hanging, I was looking to see whether I had any books on the subject. Well, I found this wonderful 1970s 'Golden Hands' Special. 'All About Patchwork'. I keep laughing at the illustrations. To be fair, the information is pretty good and some of the bedspreads and quilts are lovely. But the clothes. OH the clothes!! Feast your eyes:
The Front Cover
Sorry, some flash in most of the photos as it's a glossy book. Look at that pinafore dress!
A long waistcoat! The hairstyle was from the 'Miss World' of the day if I remember rightly. Somebody Green?
I quite like this work, I have to say
A 'trendy' skirt. Poor girl
Even worse is what the poor boy has to wear!
I think he's trying to make a getaway
Now this has to be the very best of all. I'm sure you'd all like to make one for your husbands/boyfriends! I'm going to have this blown up and printed for my wall:
Isn't it just the bees knees?
I'm sure my son Jason would love one (not....)
Alphabet MEME
I picked up a meme today to do with the alphabet. It came from soulbrush and I have replaced her answers with my own:
A - Age: 60
B - Bed: I love love my bed and never want to get out of it in the morning
C- Chore you hate: dusting
D - Dog: Buster
E - Essential to start your day item(s):tea, tea and maybe a bit of tea
F - Favorite color(s): purple
G -Gold or Silver: gold
H - Height: 5' 7" (maybe a bit less now)!!
I - I've come to learn: people often let you down
J - Job: banking
K-Kite: phew, last flew one with my daughter and family in Worthing
L - Living: for a long time I hope - currently in Ireland
M-Mood: a bit fed up cos my shoulder's giving me pain
N - Nicknames: Whizzer (from my Father), BT!
O-Owl or Eagle: Owl
P-Pet Peeve: apostrophes in the wrong place. 'less instead of fewer'.
Q - Quote : ' It's part of my charm' Grandson aged 3 (almost 4) when his Dad accused him of making a mess!
R-Right or left handed: right
S -Siblings: 1 sister, 1 brother
T-Touch: yes please, I'm very tactile, hug, touch
U - Umbrella: I hate them, they just get in the way.
V-Vegetable favourite: corn on the cob with butter or jacket potato (with butter)!
W - Want: to be settled in what might be my 'final' house
X - XXX: lots of kisses for you all in bloggyland ha ha, I'll go with that soulbrush
Y - Yo-Yo: my life's very much so. Depression does this.
Z - zebra: Joke. Zebras standing in a group, Daddy zebra saying to young zebra, 'you can support Newcastle like everyone else' (they play in black and white for those not in the UK).
You are all tagged, I want to know more about you. Do let me know if you do it.
So, a bit of a different blog from me today. I hope you've enjoyed it.
Spotted Orchid
Oh all right then, just one flower photo!
This spotted orchid comes up in our meadow each year. In fact, last year we had two. This one always has loads of flower heads.
