ATCs, Gardening, Summer's Come to Ireland

Phew it's hot! Come on, this is Ireland, it doesn't do this hot. Ah well, we'll make the most of it. First it's ATC (artist trading card) time.

Received


This gorgeous one from lolo is R is for Rabbit and Radish! Her whole theme is blue this time and I just love this cute fellow. It came in this pretty organza bag:


and was accompanied by this lovely card:


This is called 'Molly and the Night Toads' and is from the 'Purrmaids' series by Lolo. Isn't it just great?


Lynn is doing the Hebrew alphabet and this is the 18th letter meaning Ninety! She explains on the reverse:


Accompanying this was a cute little card and I think Lynn must be psychic:


Lynn must know that I still haven't finished the curtains for the sun room - ok ok, I'll get a move on Lynn!

To be Sent or Swapped

Firstly, my S for Snake in the Grass. This is going to Lolo!


I hope you like it Lolo.

The following 2 cards are to swap if anyone would like one of them - or both of course:


'Harmony'.


'Funky Fish'

I love ATCs!

Pets


It's all too hot for Buster.


An interloper? The Labrador is Max and he belongs to a couple who live over the back from us. He pops up over the field and meadow and comes to play with Buster! They do get a bit robust at times but it certainly gives Buster some exercise!


Of course he knows which side his bread's buttered. Jim and Buster having a love-in.


Something caught BlackJack's attention! the 2 on the right look the same! Oh well.

Garden News

The arboretum lawn is progressing slowly. Jim has seeded the dark section. It's much bigger than it looks and took some levelling on his part.


The stones that you can see are edging a new bed I made. It was a small bed with just a few plants in it, so it has in face been extended. It looks much better. The 'grey' area will remain 'road' or hard surface. It'll be lovely when the new grass grows.

Do you remember my Judas Tree? Last year it produced blossom for the first time but, because of the awful weather, it all fell off before it came out. Not so this year. Hurrah:


The blossom comes from the bare branches, which looks most odd! The tree was barely a foot high when we moved here so it has certainly grown:


Here it is in situ on the larger arboretum bed.

Jim grew some aquilegia from seed and planted them last year. They are absolutely beautiful:




This is a black one called Guinness! The flowers are a bit smaller than the others but still very pretty. Below is the front.



Do enlarge any of the photos if you have the time.


These aquilegia are from other parts of the garden but are still very pretty.


I love the way the sun has caught the petals.

Finally, I cleaned up our porch, which gets used as a general dumping ground!


Tidy boots and coats.


Our recycling bins!


Tidy shelves! It's good to get it clean once in a while. Jim's just laughed at my putting these photos up! It'll remind me of all the work I did that day!

I think that's enough excitement for one day. I have had a rotten cold, brought back from Kitty and Jack. The sunshine helps though.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Jack's 5th Birthday, Camera Chaos

Jack, aged 5 years with a Ben 10 video.

I went to Suffolk in the very early hours of last Thursday morning and Sam picked me up, with Kitty of course. We did a bit of shopping before heading home.

Jack is now at school, so we went there at 3.30pm and he had football practice after school. The setting is just beautiful. The school building itself is lovely, they have a wooden play area and a gorgeous field for games. They are very lucky children.

We watched the ball games, which were highly amusing. The coaches didn't seem to realise that 5 year olds find instructions quite difficult. The children were numbered 1 to 9 on 2 teams but many of them hadn't a clue what number they were!! I'm sure they'll soon learn but it was great fun to watch and a beautiful day.


Sam and me with Kitty making a break for it!


All in a line defending the 'goal'! Jack is 5th from the right in black shorts and red t shirt.

These 2 photos were taken with Jason's phone so rather small. I borrowed Jim's camera as it's quite small and it behaved very badly. It worked sporadically and the photos I took at the football disappeared! AAAH! Please forgive the quality of my photos on this entry. Many of them are blurred! Ah well, I did manage to get some good little clips of video.



Here Jack was listening to his card from his Grandad Ken (Jason's Dad), which was a Scooby Doo one.

Friday 14th was Jack's actual birthday and he took cakes to school for his class and teacher. Sam made them and they were gorgeous. I had to test one for quality control!

After school, Jack opened his family presents and cards which had arrived through the post. He loves Lego, so it featured highly in his presents.

After dinner, he had a little cake - the main one being for the party on Sunday:


Sam with Jack's cake. Note the photo on the wall of Jason and Jack - one of mine!

On Saturday, we all went out in the morning and headed for 'Toys r Us' so that Jack could spend his birthday money. Wow, what a place that is. Jason took this one of me:


Me riding into Toys r Us - that little girl looked surprised!

Jason and I drove back home to watch the Chelsea v Portsmouth football match. Jason has long been a Chelsea fan. It was a rather tense affair but luckily Chelsea won and therefore won the 'double'. They came top of the premiership league and won the FA Cup. Quite an achievement.

Sunday was the big party day. We seemed to be preparing for it all day! Sam worked like a maniac and went and collected the 'bouncy castle' to take to the village hall, where the party was held. Grandad Ivor and Nanny Maureen came too. I made sure Jack and Kitty were clean and dressed for the party. Here is Jack in his 'Buzz Lightyear' outfit. The theme was super heroes:


I did my best to catch one of Kitty - this is the best I managed:


Isn't she growing?


I rather like this cheeky one of Jack.

The party was a great success. The Bouncy Castle was much used, the food enjoyed and the children well behaved - on the whole! No tears from Jack, which was excellent. Kitty watched the proceedings from the safety of her pushchair.


Jason sorting out 'pass the parcel'.

The children whacked the life out of a pinata and jumped all over it when it finally fell to the floor. Talk about 'Animal Farm'.

A few random shots:


A really cute little girl called Maya.


Smiling dribbling Kitty!



Finally, a short video clip of the children. The noise is deafening!

I had to leave very early on Monday morning. Many flights had been cancelled because of the ash cloud but luckily mine was still running and on time too, so it was back to Shannon to be met by Jim - after a tiring but fun break.

Tulips, Tulips, Tulips!

I do love our tulips, so here is an unashamed heap of tulip photos from the garden!

A tulip on the Fairy Hill


Also on the Fairy Hill


My black tulips never fail to impress.



2 Raggy tulips. Last year there was one - next year?

I just love the glossy petals on these - new this year.

The same from above.



Red and yellow - striking.


A delicate white, blushed with pink.


Ice cream pink.


Like a crown with those pointed petals


Also new this year - I love these, the insides look as though they've been painted.


A close up of the pattern inside. You can even see the pollen on the right hand side.


These are in the arboretum bed.

I have more, but the upload is very slow tonight and I'm flying to the UK at 6.30am so I must get some sleep.

Off to see Jack for his 5th birthday which is on the 14th May. I am back next Monday. Have a good few days everyone.