Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Another nice day!

I had to go through town for a routine blood test and on the way home wandered into a couple of charity shops and spent £4.50 on some wool and crocheting cotton - a bargain as well as being interestingly vintage. DH and I had a walk through some woodland this afternoon: the bluebells are coming out and there are tiny white anemones and the first leaves on some of the mature trees. the sun was quite warm again.

It was curry for tea then a knock on the door and there were A and H returning some cake tins. We have been swapping photos of the birthday yesterday too. A said how strange it was for them to be sitting out with their friends and talking into the evening: something that used to be normal is now such a massive treat. They are quite tired after all their celebrations then being back at work today, but have offered to help Dh with removing the old carpet from DFiL's flat ready for the new one to be delivered.

Today I'm thankful for a treasure-trove of yarn, delivery of a goodly chunk of birthday cake, sunshine and bird song.

Honeysucklelou2

Being able to meet up, albeit outside, is such a blessing.

Cherryfudge

Another gorgeous day! I spent rather a lot of the morning playing on my phone though I did include some language app time. Eventually I decided to be useful so I've fed and watered all the houseplants and all the tubs in the garden, then realised there are a lot of plant pots where the contents have died (frost or drought ) so I've put six broken ones in recycling and emptied 25 others for possible reuse.

Then I rang the plumber about servicing the boiler (this was odd as it turned out they are working next door!) and repotted my streptocarpus, which is now seven streptocarpuses (streptocarpii?).

Seasidegal58

Your woodland walk sounded lovely Cherry. 🌳

Cherryfudge

Yet another sunny day! Another hour or so spent on tidying the lawn, a tiny bit of weeding, clipping back the holly hedge where I could reach it (the car was in the way) and watering sundry plants. I'm no good at organised gardening but have a natural talent for pottering. The garden still requires me to let DH know what I've done so he can see the progress (AKA politely say it looks good while looking vaguely at something I haven't touched).

I also planted some seeds from a pepper although I think most sensible people would have done this weeks ago. I may not have windowsill space or a greenhouse but I can't let a spring pass without growing something.

I've spent 99p on an e-book (recipes), but am still reading and greatly enjoying another I bought recently. Oh, and I've left my glasses at work so I shall have to go in tomorrow.

Things I'm thankful for: time in the warm sun, time in the garden (and the opportunity to get my hands dirty!), a quiet shift with just enough to do, a good book that I really want to read (even though I will probably promptly reread it as you can't flick back and forth in a kindle so I'm stuck with that maddening thing where I KNOW I've read something that's a clue to the plot but I don't quite remember what).

Cherryfudge

And... another sunny day, though it's cold this evening.

DH was working most of the day and I had a day off so I pulled together a list of errands, starting with 'fetch my glasses from work'. Then I went to Ryman's where they recycle pens and added 23 to the recycling bin! Not all ours: I had some dud ones from work where they get what they pay for and pens seem to last a few days.

After this I braved the High Street which was far too full, but popped into a department store and found they sell Stergene - perfect for washing wool. I have the remnants of a bottle I found at Mum's old house but didn't know it was still available so I'm a happy bunny. I also bought apron string and this evening I've mended a cook's apron from work before anyone thinks it's fit for the bin due to having no strings.

Further along the High Street is the eco shop and for once I had organised myself with a list and containers so I bought some food items there, then on to the supermarket for groceries. I finished up getting takeaway hot drinks for DH and myself as I had a £1 off voucher. All in all quite a good hunting trip.

When DH's work was over he wanted some exercise and I wanted plants for the wall baskets so we walked to the garden centre and spent £15, but as this was a voucher I'd been given, it sort of doesn't count. It was fish and chips for tea, though the fish was supermarket's own not chippie variety. We'll save that treat (and those calories) for another week. We went for a walk this evening too but it didn't last long - the sky is clear and the wind blew cold! There was a blazing sunset and the moon is nearly full but I'm not hanging about to enjoy it as I'd need winter clothes and a lot of them are stacked ready to go in the loft, or hanging up to dry having been washed earlier... which probably makes the coming cold days my fault.  

I have a pan of butterbeans soaking since this afternoon and now boiling ready for tomorrow's casserole and some for the freezer. I'm not sure whether this is good economics but I feel it might be a) healthy and b) good for the planet as well as being something we enjoy. I'm still trying to improve my diet!

Spending:
Donation 75p (Apron string for work apron!)
Housekeeping £27.22
Entertainment (takeaway drinks) £4.50

So, the things I'm thankful for: all sorts really. I'm thankful it was a sunny day and I've had a reasonable amount of exercise as well as time chatting with DH, I've got some jobs done and have plants for around the front step. I'm thankful for chip shop chips and The Repair Shop (perfect escapism ) to watch while we eat them. I'm also thankful for all the winter clothes that have made a big difference to my comfort and wellbeing... and for the space to pack them away ready for mext winter!

in_need_of_direction

I’m in awe of how well you use your time.

Cherryfudge

Thank you @in_need_of_direction. I actually feel I'm not someone who gets much done, which is probably why I write it down - to prove to myself that I've achieved something! It's easy to lose track of what one actually gets done and just focus on what's still on the list or what others seem to do.
 
Anyway... on Sunday morning - two days ago - I took a hay fever tablet and by 8.30 that evening was incredibly sleepy. All we'd done that day was church (online), sausage casserole for dinner then a walk out at a beauty spot. It was (yet another) lovely day and a bit breezy so we spent some of it watching gliders. We had intended to meet DS2 but apparently he hasn't enough petrol and won't take a loan from us till payday, so we've rearranged for a couple of weeks' time.


Yesterday - Monday - was a work day. I'd planned to pick up some groceries but we worked out we didn't actually need them till today so that activity's been moved up. Following the early sleep on Sunday, however, I woke up early (for me: twenty past six) and felt I got quite a lot done though I can't now think what. At work we were all very surprised a couple of times: firstly, there was a shower of rain, the first in many weeks and, according to the forecast, the beginning of a rainy spell. Secondly, there are rumours that a former colleague is considering coming back as relief. I texted him and it's true though of course he's got to persuade the powers that be. It would be great if he does come back, not only because he's good with clients but also because he's genuinely nice and a lot of fun to work with. I had forgotten till our conversation what dreadful puns we used to indulge in! There's a lot to be said for a workplace with a shared sense of humour.

Today I woke up about the same time as yesterday and have darned two pairs of DH's thick socks so I really do have something to show for early rising. The blossom is falling from the cherry tree and the sky is cloudy, so it's not the glorious weather of recent weeks. However I might ask DH for a lift to the garden centre today or tomorrow (when we are also taking the innards of the grandfather clock for repair) so I can buy the special compost for tubs and hanging baskets. I think my wall baskets will benefit. I'm also trying to catch up on fluid intake as I was several drinks short of the eight cups/glasses yesterday and I'm thirsty today - and I know that doesn't do me any good.

So here goes with the day.

Cherryfudge

There isn't a huge amount to report for the rest of the day. It's rained - proper showers, quite heavy at times. I dropped a hint to DH that the water barrels need to be reconnected to the downpipe off the roof. They would have filled at least half full today but I've no idea how to attach them.

I went out for the shopping and tired myself out carrying it even though I tried to be sensible. £6.99 was the May edition of G@rdeners' World, the one which has 2 for 1 entry to certain gardens and half a dozen packets of seeds. Every year I buy it and every year I just fail to cover the price of it as we go to various gardens but not always the ones in the scheme! Other than that I bought groceries (£14.04). I had containers all ready for the eco shop but forgot it's closed on a Tuesday.

This evening was my video call with my friends but I've had to give my apologies for next week's as we're over to Mum's old house to take the rest of my sister's boxes up to Scotland now that it's 'open' again.

And this evening I'm thankful for progress towards emptying the old house, another early start, rain after all this time and time with my friends this evening - finally plotting how to organise a get together for us all once it's permitted.

Cherryfudge

DH bought himself a basic fitness tracker the other day as he's doing a sponsored 300,000 steps in May for charity. I think it cost about £17 and does nearly everything my 'posher' one does (though I can't vouch for aftercare or longevity yet).

It's like when he got a smart phone after resisting for ages and he kept telling me how great it was. Serves me right, I suppose, for nagging him about how good mine is when he complained about his old phone. Now I get to hear how many steps he's done whenever he comes in the door! Of course having had one a few years, the novelty has worn off a bit for me, though it made a big difference as a motivator.

At the moment I'm supposed to be looking for my library card, last used in about December. This has involved clearing out the bags where it might be and the 'hall box' set up according to my employer's instructions a year ago to dump bag, coat and shoes when I come in from work in case I bring Covid into the house. Various ancient receipts are going into the spreadsheet then into the recycling, a coffee shop sugar packet has been opened and eaten and used stamps are in a bag waiting till they can go to charity. I found my purple pen, three bottles of hand gel and my emergency nail scissors, several sticking plasters, two lip balms, some train tickets, one battered plastic glove in case I need to perform CPR (one-handed, presumably), a couple of shopping lists yes, just a couple), two packs of tissues, assorted 'might come in useful' plastic bags... no library card.

Where have I put it?