Days 144 to 149

Six more 365 photos:-

Day 144 of 365

I've got the lurgy!  I haven't felt this bad in a long time. :(  I even lost my voice - nice and quiet for my Husband! ;)

Day 145 of 365

The Love Bugs snuggled up together on the floor in a patch of sunlight. :)

Day 146 of 365

Sunday morning I felt so bad, that I went back to bed for a couple of hours sleep - unheard of for me, but it was what my body needed, as I couldn't even follow a knitting pattern in the morning!  My brain started working again after the extra sleep and I learnt how to crochet bullion stitch for the Canny CAL on Ravelry.

Day 147 of 365

Jay's computer was broken so I quote, "While I haven't got anything better to do, I might as well do some dusting."  Bless him he dusted his and his sister's bedrooms and vacuumed most of the house, whilst I was ironing.  He says cleaning is relaxing!  He is such a helpful boy. xXx

Day 148 of 365

This is most unusual for me - I painted my fingernails.  Whilst I always have painted toenails, I only paint my fingernails for special occasions, as I don't like chipped nail polish and I always quickly chip mine!  But we are going out tomorrow and as I have my very own Dobby ;) my nails aren't going to get chipped!

Day 149 of 365

Guess where we went? :) Fay is a great fan of Harry Potter and as a family we have seen all the films at the cinema.  For her birthday treat we had arranged yesterday's trip to The Making of Harry Potter at WB Studio Tour London.  It as a fantastic day out - we all loved it.  I will show you some of the many photos I took in a separate post.

Well, after today's photo I will have completed 5 months of my 365 challenge - this year seems to be speeding by!  Best wishes, Pj x

Wonderful Wisteria

No need for words ... the photos speak for themselves.

Days 138 to 143

A few more photos for my 365 project:-

Shopping on Saturday - My favourite brand of cosmetics is Max Factor.  My Mum has always used their powder and I followed suit when I first started wearing make-up and have stuck with it since.  I prefer their lipstick and mascara to any others.  This is the free gift that came with my purchase.

Sunday - the fence staining debacle!  Me, "I don't like that colour!"  Oops!  Still don't like the second one, but I know when not to push my luck! ;)

My back is slowly getting better and I could finally paint my toe nails.  Experimenting with new colours.

An allium bloom on the kitchen window sill - one of three victims of the fence staining.  Never mind, at least I get to appreciate it up close.  I love the detail of these flowers.

A new clematis for the garden (to cover that fence) Montana Miss Christine.

In the kitchen, keeping dry as it is raining and hailing!  In May!!  Mini quiches for our evening meal.

A Spot of Baking

Having a teenage son in the house that can eat and eat and still look like a bean-pole, just isn't fair!

Recently I have baked:-

a boiled-fruit cake,

a sultana and orange sponge traybake,

spiced treacle sponge traybake,

a coffee and walnut sponge traybake,

an rhubarb crumble slice,

a banana loaf,

peanut butter bars,

a coconut sponge

and some fairy cakes,

(I cheated with the decorations by baking them on)

I also made an ice-cream cake with butterscotch sauce for the week my daughter was home.

And he is still skinny!

Meanwhile, I sadly am not and I'm reduced to eating salad!

Can I have a slice of soda bread ... please?

Days 135 to 137

Three more photos for my 365 photo project:-

Day 135 of 365

Do Not Disturb!  A close-up of Mo sleeping on the sofa.

Day 136 of 365

Vegetable, Lentil and Angel Hair Pasta Soup bubbling on the top of the stove.  I made some soda bread to go with it.

Day 137 of 365

An early morning snap, with my iPhone, of the view from my daughter's bedroom window.  The trees look so fresh in the sunlight dressed in their new leaves.

Introducing ...

May Lilac - my latest scarf.

I have called this square May Lilac because when my daughter was born, there was a row of lilac trees in bloom in the hospital grounds outside my window.  This square reminds me of the tiny lilac flowers.  Unfortunately my lilac tree hasn't got any buds on it this year.

 This is the first granny square that I have designed myself and I am quite pleased with how it has turned out.

 The 15 squares are crocheted in Debbie Bliss Andes on a 3.5mm hook.

It is so soft to wear.  I like to have lots of different scarves to wear, as where I work it can be quite chilly in winter.

I still have a pale pink and a silver grey in this yarn to turn into more scarves and I have been looking on-line for inspiration.

The Bird Garden?

I'm thinking I should have called my blog The Bird Garden, as the garden has been filled with the frenetic activity of birds feeding and collecting nest material - I took all of these photos yesterday.

Having previously said that we don't usually get Starlings in the garden, we now regularly have six of them squabbling over this feeder.

They are quite acrobatic birds, often hanging upside down on the coconut shell.

 The Blackbirds have been busy collecting worms from the lawn

and digging in the mud.

 The Nuthatch frequently swoops in for a meal.

The House Sparrows flock to the seed

 and collect aphids from my roses. :)

 The Blue Tits have been collecting nest material from our door mat,

 whilst the Great Tits seem to prefer the cobwebs on the fence for their nest.

They also check out the wisteria

 and pots for insects.

 We get a few Wood Pigeons too.

 The Robins are often on the feeders or picking up fallen seed on the driveway.

 New to the garden are the Goldfinches.  As yet I have only seen them each day in the front garden.

 Also new to the front garden are a pair of Blackcaps.

Here is one sharing a meal with a female Sparrow.

My Husband also saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker on our fence the other morning!

 But on second thoughts, maybe I'll stick with The Snail Garden.

Luckily for this little Garden Snail there weren't any Song Thrushes around! ;)