Prosperous and Creative Soul Year 5

skint_spice

Garden looks a nice place to relax.

jwil

Lovely pictures!

savingholmes

Thanks Skint, Jwil, KK, Beanie, TG, WD and GlassHalfFull

It's my birthday next week - and a load of plants kinds of felt into my trolley. A tall orange azalea, another standard red robin, an acid loving evergreen shrub with red flowers - I need to check the name of, an annual that is like a multi stemmed sunflower - that I've forgotten the name of already. (Not planted yet). Plus a smoke bush that I hope to grow as a standard. I'm hoping to use the red robin and the smoke bush to become mini shelters - like parasols… You get a standard tree (all the early side shoots cut off) - that has leaves / branches in a lollipop type shape - and then potentially use bamboo to train it into the desired shape… I did look at buying fully ready done ones but walked away at the prices - especially once delivery got added on. I'm debating doing the same kind of thing with the wisteria I bought - after it finishes flowering… YT seems to suggest it is possible. Might be easier than trying to train it up the house - although if I can get the arch to go where I want it - I might train it up that near my new bench.

The wind is likely to take out parasols here - it has already killed off one - and although I replaced it with a cheaper one - my long term aim is use plants to achieve the same thing like they do at some posh gardens - like the Salford one… Similar to what I created by accident at my last home.

It poured it down with rain all day today pretty much - so although I also topped up with compost and a cheap metal arch - not done more than that towards changing things yet.

I returned £60 of stuff to another shop - and have as much to return again to other shops so I'm hoping that will offset some of my spends. I'm also hoping my Mum will contribute.

The starlings/fledglings are now mostly feeding themselves - with some parental supervision. I went out and got a huge tub of mealworms but I think the peak feeding period may start tailing off soon.

savingholmes

I had a beautiful, sunny day out with a friend yesterday - although it was raining cats and dogs when I left here. The weather is weird.

NT above

savingholmes

I've just booked an overnight stay and a visit to a sculpture park for my birthday. Pretty pleased - as both of those came to £69 including breakfast - so just a couple of meals to find on top probably… I'd allowed £200 for a birthday treat - so the lowish cost trip will help offset the gardening spends today.

I just investigated a lower cost sim - but I'd losing 20GB when roaming so that doesn't seem as good an option as it first appeared… so sticking with my current provider for now.

Also spoke to my Mum about our Italy holiday. She is wondering whether we cancel one night at our Lakes and Mountains hotel and have an extra night near the airport instead. I'm not sure I want to do that… So will sleep on it. It could cost £100 each less though even after paying for a new hotel as we'd use public transport rather than a private taxi - even if we can't get a reduced cost for our main stay. Another option could be to get a taxi part way the night before - and then a train and still eat at our main hotel in the evening before leaving. I love it there… I also don't want to mess our hotelier around as he did me a deal…

I still need to sort out a cattery. One option is on my way which I may go for just for simplicity if they have space although I doubt they are the cheapest.

jwil

Have a lovely birthday.

Merlin's_Beard

I think with things like catteries I would definitely be tempted to spend a little more for ease/happiness with the place/recommendations!

WelshmansDaughter

I am on my way to a garden centre this morning let's hope I can demonstrate restraint 🤣

SandyShores

Lovely garden photos.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, Merlin, WD and Sandy

I had a lovely time at the sculpture park on my birthday. The place I stayed was good. I went to the dentist next day for a tooth infection affecting my bridge. I started on antibiotics a day or so later which eased the issue. I may see if I can get some antibiotics to take to Italy just in case.

I booked a cat sitter again for my Italy trip. Hoping this one works out £110 for the week.

I am over-spending on my day to day - such as the garden and towards my holiday. But I'm loving my new plants. My bright orange azalea is still in flower, I have bright red geraniums and some yellow false sunflowers all in my eyeline. I've also planted out some busy lizzies and petunias and lobelia. Plus I already had my more naturalistic aquilegia, buttercups, pink geraniums etc. I've put the azalea near my patio door so that gives me a layered view out. I still need to plant my smoke bush - it's current in flower and looks gorgeous with its reddish-purple leaves and yellow bracts of tiny flowers.

The birds are happy dining out on a seemingly bottomless supply of mealworms… I keep replenishing their buffet tray. The starlings have so much character as they posture and push etc. Great for mindfulness so for the time being I am mostly working downstairs. I have lots of other bird visitors too magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow, blackcap, thrush, sparrows, dunnock, robin, blue tits, great tits and black cap etc.

Looking forward to our Italy trip although starting to get nervous about taking my Mum with me. Still need to make a decision on whether we'll head back towards the airport city early or maximise our stay at the Lakes and pay for a transfer. It would be cheaper to book a hotel and return early but I feel it would cut everything short and we'd lose some of the benefit… But I also haven't booked the transfer yet - which feels a bit scary.

Spoke to DS the other night. He had an interview for a job - so here's hoping he gets it - or something better soon. I'm hopefully seeing DD this weekend. We may go for a swim and then finalise and print her PIP form so she can send it off.