From debt to freedom...

Willowtree222

They're beautiful. I love it when flowers start to come alive. 

savingholmes

The camelia sounds lovely - I had no idea they bloomed for so long. I have some Christmas hellebore in flower in white/lime and a pink and some crocuses have arrived.

dawnybabes

We’ve a persistent pale hellebore that insists on growing through a tiny seam between the block paving and a stone step.  We keep trying to get rid of it but it’s invincible and keeps reappearing ! 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you dawnybabes, Cherryfudge, SH, Janb5 and Willowtree222.

Dawnybabes- I  had no idea that hellebores were so tough. 

SH- the colours of your hellebores sound a lovely mix.

I love this time of year when Spring feels unstoppable.  Seeds that were sown a couple of weeks ago are now all up. I’ve started potting on the cornflower seedlings. I’m trying to get an early flowering of cornflowers by  starting them  off inside.

The last couple of days have been lovely, despite battling a horrible cough bug. Yesterday it was beautifully sunny so SO took us all to the nearest beach. The tide was just starting to come in so there was an expanse of beach to walk across. The surf was quite messy but that didn’t deter some from being out on their boards. It was just a joy to walk and appreciate the crashing waves and relative warmth from the sun.

The previous day, the children (at home ) and I took a trip to see DD2. She lives in the next county but it is doable in a day. We had a relaxing day with her - it’s reassuring to see where she lives and explore that part of the world. I’ve been able to catch up with all of my children this week, which has made it a precious week. One day has been spent at the allotment too, trying to sort out the brambles that are quick to try and take over. DD3 is very keen to put in a pond and add some ducks to the allotment. We need to plan it carefully as past fox issues would mean the need for some sort of fencing to ensure a good level of protection for any ducks. Much to ponder…

Spendless

Glad you've been enjoying half term despite the horrible cough - hope that's gone soon. Lovely that you've managed to see all your children this week.  Don't think I realised DD2 now lives further away, guessing this means she no longer lives with your ex and it's just the 2 older boys still there? If so I'm really pleased for her becoming more independent in her own life. It's lovely to hear of your older ones flourishing. 

Fingers crossed you find a way to do the duck pond if you  decide to go ahead. Daughter lives in an area of the country where she has a daily visit from a fox in her garden and you see them just running down the street, whereas where I live I've only even seen them on the edge of countryside. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless. DD2 lives half in one place and half in the other- a bit of a split existence. The only one with the ex now is DS1.

Had chance to have a lovely day today with SO, his mum and some of our combined children. We managed a walk across the beach which was wonderfully refreshing. I could really feel heat from the sun on my face!

Payday was on Friday…money has been moved to various pots to allow for direct debits leaving tomorrow. I’m trying to save as much as possible towards wedding costs. This week we met with a vicar and set the date, so know how much the service will be. I’m keen to grow as many flowers as possible so have sown sweet peas, cornflowers and Nigella thus far.  One thing that DD1’s wedding taught me was how flower costs can be minimised and still look good.

Cherryfudge

How lovely to be growing the flowers for your own wedding. It's so personal - and you can have scented ones should you choose to.

The beach walk sounds lovely too.

dawnybabes

Love that you’re growing the flowers, money saving and much more personable 

Spendless

Fab news that you've set a date. Love that you're growing your own flowers, I remember that your eldest DD did that for her wedding and thought wow what a great idea at the time. 

I totally agree that flower costs can look good even on a budget (not by me though, it's fortunate if I remember to water my 2 house plants!) A few years back I took my (late) Nan some supermarket flowers for her bday. She had dementia and it was minimal what you could buy her. The care worker took them away to put in vase and returned with such a lovely looking display. When I complimented her on how lovely they looked she told me she'd done a short course on flower arranging, paid for by the care home, which I thought was a great idea. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless, dawnybabes and Cherryfudge.

Had a lovely day yesterday when I managed to see all of my children at some point through the day. This doesn’t happen often so all the more precious when it does! I was so happy making a huge dinner for those that were here! 

Payday was 10 days ago so direct debits have gone out. The mortgage is now is the £138k bracket so rejoicing that the figures are coming down bit by bit. Had a bit of a blip  this month as a school trip needed paying for, for youngest DD, so the spare month for council tax ended up being used for that.

The porch is resembling a nursery at the moment with seedlings everywhere! The peas have come through as have the lettuces. I have sunflower and calendula seeds to sow this week to add to the seedling collection!! SO has a friend with a mini digger so is hoping to get some of the brambles flattened at the allotment which will be  wonderful as I spend more time there chopping overgrown brambles down as I do actually gardening.

I’m trying to add to my savings for the wedding bit  by bit. We have to see the vicar today to show passports etc to get the banns bit sorted out. 

DD4 is busy studying for her exams…am very conscious that as soon as wedding costs have been met, I need to start saving hard for her starting uni. Just the practicalities of transporting her to wherever she ends up as well as ensuring she has the basic essentials are the costs I need to meet. Seems a long time now  since DD1 went to uni! 

Have a good Sunday everyone!