Summing up Sunday

I have been busy in the garden today, achieving almost all I wanted to achieve with the exception of planting my two newest roses as we are still slightly undecided as to where they are going.

I have cleaned out the wildlife pond, refilled it and planted a load of alpine plants round it and the Portulaca.  Difficult to see in these photos, but hopefully they will establish themselves.

The wheelbarrow is looking good.

I planted the rest of the bedding type plants in pots and planters in the front garden.

The wall planter is looking good as well.

Some more rose photos - just because they are so beautiful.

'Oranges and Lemons'

On my needles...

The first of a pair of socks.  I have been knitting this on a circular needle instead of four needles and so far it is working out well.

Currently on our minds....

Should we?

Shouldn't we?

Add a new family member to our family?

There is a lot to consider...

Would it be okay with Percy?

I was planning on spending some months with my Mum and Dad to help out...this will have to be shelved and I just go for my usual 5 - 6 weeks next year

From our windows....

Looking through our bedroom windows in the morning...this is what we see

Some mornings the scent wafts in from the open windows as well which is just delightful

From the outside

My lavender bush was damaged last year when we had the house decorated, and looks rather straggly now.

I am thinking I might dig it out and try and transplant it elsewhere once the flowering season is over and plant a rose there instead.  It is a shame as it was a really beautiful bush, but now just looks all branchy and twiggy (can't see too well in this photo) and generally untidy.

With the changeable weather we have been having, from scorching hot to rain, the weeds have been flourishing

So I must get out in the garden this weekend and get some weeding done.

We have also bought some edging for either side of the pathway that runs between the 'two' rose gardens.

I also have some new plants to pot and a couple of new roses.

These will brighten some pots.

The roses will probably go in the back garden.

A Birthday Tea

I was up early this morning baking.  I had prepared the ingredients for another Fruit Bran Loaf (of which I have been enjoying a slice for breakfast each morning since I made the two loaf earlier in the week) and also a Fruit Tea Loaf.  I also made some cupcakes.

My friend was coming round for lunch and I was preparing a surprise birthday 'tea' lunch.

Fruit Tea Loaf.

6 oz currants
5 oz raisins
5 oz sultanas
1 teacup brown sugar
1 teacup cold tea
2 teacups self raising flour
1 beaten egg.

Make the tea and allow to go cold.
Mix fruit, sugar and tea and leave overnight.
Add flour and eggs and mix thoroughly
Bake at 180 C/360 F/ Gas Mark 4 for 1 1/2 hours

I made some little cucumber and cheese sandwiches and some egg sandwiches.

We had a lovely time eating and drinking tea!

Thankful Thursday

Today we were thankful that the weather stayed dry while we visited the Garden of the Rose in St Albans...it has been lightly drizzling with rain on and off most of the day, but we decided to brave it anyway as the gardens are only open for another week.

We had some lovely sandwiches and a piece of cake for lunch.

The flowers were as spectacular as ever

Trying to get Percy to pose and look at the camera is always an act!

Did he get his treat?  How could we possibly refuse that little face?

The water lilies looked wonderful

I managed to get a shot of three of the Koi in the pond.

This is was so striking.

Another very vibrant and pretty rose.

This one had a gorgeous scent.

A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.