Where did April go??

I feel as though I blinked and there flashed by April ..... I don't know about you but I think we were rather blessed with some fine weather after such a long and wet winter.  The garden is waking up with splashes of colour here and there  and I've tasted the first crop of rhubarb .... Delia's Rhubarb Brulee recipe highly recommended

I have no idea what this is called because the label has long since blown away but at this time of year it blooms with these clusters of yellow bell type flowers

Grape Hyacinths

Pieris Forest Flame

my early Clematis just waiting to pop

and on my visit to Barton Watermill this week I spotted a lovely plant growing outside and was delighted to find one for sale in the garden centre ..... a blue Clematis called Blue Dancer

Bleeding Hearts

Aqualiega

and in anticipation of a glorious warm summer this little lady went to the salon for her first groom .... she was so well behaved and looks gorgeous

I've had a brief respite from childcare for a few hours this afternoon and managed to finish another patchwork quilt ... this one is a mix of Laura Ashley polkadot and gingham with a splash of Cath Kidston classic rose ... I have some more squares already cut and hope to make some cushion covers over the coming couple of days.  The grands are on sleepover tonight so we're going to snuggle down soon with BGT and I'll get my crochet hook out.

Hope you all have a lovely Bank Holiday whatever you are doing x

Making aprons and puppy socialising

The day started somewhat grey and dreary but we decided to trot along to the car boot in the next town which is held partially under cover in the market area.  We usually take Molly the labrador with us and today thought it would be a good socialisation exercise for Ruby puppy.  For a little scrap who has only ventured into the outside world three times she behaved impeccably .... just trotted beside me and sat whenever I stopped to browse a stall.  It is amazing how many total strangers will stop to chat when you have a puppy.  Sadly no bargains to be had today and even M & S had been ransacked in their £10 meal deal section. 

When we came home I prepared this evening's dinner and then knuckled down to some sewing ..... the yellow Laura Ashley Sweet Pea apron backed with blue gingham (it is totally reversible) is a commission that was requested earlier on in the week and once I got going I thought that some of the embroidered table cloths picked up at car boot sales earlier on in the year would be perfect for re-cycling or up-cycling which seems to be the fashionable wording at the moment.  Here are the results ..... I have backed the vintage fabric with a pale peach polycotton to compliment the shades of peach and orange thread.

The

I don't think I can handle another evening of the X-Factor so am settled down with a glass of wine, Emma on the TV, puppy on my feet and the PC to my side to catch up on some blogs.  Perfect Sunday evening!

Been a bit of a lazy blogger but have a good excuse ..

On Saturday we awoke to brilliant sunshine and just look at the blue sky. This was the setting for the wedding of my number two son .... Putteridge Bury House ..... a history of this lovely old building can be found here

http://www.beds.ac.uk/knowledgehub/events/putteridgebury/history
Here is the happy couple

OOps no sorry that's Ellie's dolls ... her auntie Lala found the wedding suits in the Baby Born section of Toys R Us and we just had to have them for the big day.

This is the real happy couple

This is the before shot of a very nervous groom and best man ...... my boys (well they are still boys to me!)

The other happy couple in my life .... the grandchildren

The sun was so bright we had to improvise with Jack's headgear ..... I can't believe he is 7 weeks old today already

The princesses

My two lovely daughters and SIL

We moved onto the bride's home village for the reception .... everything ran like clockwork and we had a brilliant day. Her dad had secretly arranged for a firework display and we all lit chinese lanterns and watched them float into the night sky later in the evening.

I want to know now who turned summer off .... since Sunday evening it has been dull, damp and windy and here I sit at 7.15 pm and it's getting dark ..... I hate the dark nights and mornings and start to go into hibernation mode. I do however have a lovely new form of foot warmer in the shape of a little black bundle of furry mischief called Ruby .... a cocker spaniel .... we collected her on Sunday afternoon and she has made herself right at home already as you can see .... Molly has taken to her and has no choice in sharing her bed as the cheeky little madam just jumps in and gets comfy. She is booked for her first vaccinations tomorrow.

When Molly met Ruby

We have had another busy day at Lala Towers ..... this morning the newest member of our family came for a visit ..... Molly was very curious and after the customary sniffing ceremony wanted to play with her new friend. Binks the cat looked on as if to say oh no not another bloody dog!!! and spent the rest of the day sulking in Molly's bed. Ruby made herself right at home and after the introductions to all the family and the minded children and neighbours and anyone else really who passes through this madhouse, she curled up under the coffee table and went to sleep. Ellie was delighted
Jack was totally overcome

The little lady posing in the garden ... she is five weeks old on Friday and will be moving in permanently in two weeks time

Well that is the last Monday of the summer holidays done and dusted and in amongst the usual chaos the children had a treasure hunt this morning ..... I then had to spend a few hours at the hospital with husband this afternoon for him to have a scan to confirm whether or not he had a DVT ..... a big sigh of relief it was just a lot of internal bruising causing the pain and swelling so no more visits for the time being ..... the hospital at home nursing team are looking after him now and I must say do a terrific job. I've just caught up with Jam & Jerusalem on the TV as I missed it last night because my friend popped in and we ended up nattering as you do. The people who back onto our house kindly put a note through the letterbox on Saturday to say that they were having a christening party yesterday and it would go on until late and there would be a lot of people there. How thoughtful ...... or was it ..... the music was great (they are from Jamaica so lots of reggae and carnival type music which I love) but very loud and they had some idiot MC who continally talked and shouted down a mike the whole time. During the evening this was bearable and we were down the garden jigging around with the chooks but by half three this morning I'd had enough ..... having an early night tonight to catch up on the lost shut eye and hope that the noise of the children in the garden this morning put paid to their hungover lie-in .... I always say don't get mad get even ;-)

On a cheerier note .....

I'm having a good start to the weekend thank goodness, just drifting about and doing what I want when I want. Just received a photo of the soon to be new member of our ever expanding family or menagerie whichever way you want to look at it ;-)

This is Ruby who will be joining us in a couple of weeks when she is ready to leave her mama .... she is a Cocker Spaniel and is the image of the first dog I ever had except he was a boy (obviously) called Jasper. I am sure she will settle in just fine and be a great pal for our choc lab Molly.