Weekend Wildlife

During the summer months we tend to force ourselves on Christine for our monthly Quirky Quilters meetings - Christine has the most amazing outdoor space.  Space for six of us to sew/hook outside - but remain dry should the rain start - and the most amazing garden.

I have sadly missed the last two meeting held at Christine's with one thing and another so this month I went armed with my sewing AND my macro lens in the hope I could run around her garden (and pretend I knew what I was doing).....

Not to be disappointed there was much activity, but none would stay still long enough me me to focus!!

This is what I got....

Just not able to get close enough with the 50mm lens - thus not good focus - did consider for one second climbing into said pond to get a bit closer!

Loads of butterfly's, just would not stay still!!

Not bad.....

Again, not bad.....

Lessons learnt from today  - take all lenses with me when planning to photograph - you have no idea where the insects may land - my 300mm would have been much better!  Also plan to photograph all day and let the insects come to you - don't chase them - it only makes you and them very excited!!! :)

And this could have been one of favourites of the day but I completely messed  up the focus and chopped his tail off.  I tried to manual focus above me - and it just didn't work. BUT I love the detail in the wings - well  - on the bit I did manage to focus on!! lol

Next time, I'll get the buggers....

Time, too little....

I cannot express in words what an awful week I have had, computer problems at work have gone from bad to worse.  My time has not been my own.  A small blessing, it has been a short week because of the extra long bank holiday we had last week.  I have had several late nights at work, and so the house have been very neglected these last few days (and of course we were away last weekend enjoying ourselves so it was neglected then too!).

Friday night I arrived home after 9.30pm - ate some toast and went straight to bed.  The computers are all fixed now and I knew when my head hit that pillow I did not have to rush out Saturday morning and try and fix anymore problems.

In fact when I woke Saturday morning, the sun was shining.  Most unexpected.  I had made the decision last night that I needed a full weekend here to 'get on top of things'.  My list was all in door stuff but because the sun was shining I took full advantage to get out onto the garden....

I have been having trouble with slugs and snails - I have always had a bit of bother from these little guests but this year they are eating everything in sight.... the last of my sunflowers.

Last week during the QQ meet - CD suggested copper tape....well worth a go...

One reel later and two massive cuts on my finger and Ta Dah....

I'll keep you posted on the success.  Just a small note - these are two of the little b***er's I found clinging onto one of the pots - I held them down firmly on the tape I popped them onto the tape to see what would happen - hoping for instant explosion of the snails  hoping for them to go to sleep without pain and go happily to snail heaven.  But nooooooo.....can you see them escaping. I have to say I'm not holding out much hope!

The roses are going great guns this year, so pleased.  

          

The afternoon was spent inside, ironing, cleaning, tidying, washing ..... I'm not sure why I bother some weeks - as I only have to repeat the process next weekend!!

Oh the sunshine....

My last post wished whole heartily for sunshine.... and boy have we got some!  It has gone from wet, cold and downright miserable to dry, hot, and wonderful .... in what seems like 24 hours. 

Did I mention it was hot!!

Saturday we had our monthly meet for QQ and we could not have booked our venue better if we had tried.  CD has volunteered to host this month - CD has the most amazing garden - it would be like our own private Chelsea Flower Show.  And an added bonus CD's husband does the best food - our very own Catering Manager for the day! 

I had several jobs that needed completing this morning before heading out and enjoying myself,  but with Heart radio playing tribute music to Donna Summer and Robin Gibbs, real old time disco music,  I found myself dancing and signing along, and not really doing what I should be.....if only I could find my hairbrush and those pink leg warmers!

Car to be washed...

Cakes to be finished....

Water the garden......

Next doors bush/tree has given me another job to add to my list!!  As pretty as it is ....



It does leave a nice purple carpet....

Mid morning I headed off to QQ, and this is the garden that greeted me!

Please note the complete difference with my pond and CD's pond!!!!  I must try harder!!

Please note the complete difference with my garden and CD's garden!!!!  I must try harder!!

An excellent day, as always, we were missing EL, as she was unwell, otherwise all the girls were in fine spirits.  We had two belated birthdays to celebrate,  AB's 50th - we had attended A's 50th party back in February but had held off presenting her with her gifts .... mainly as we only started it 3 days before the party!!!  We had each made a hand quilted cushion in A's favourite colour... with the sixth one being a joint effort!

They all looked wonderful and were such a joy to produce....I have a feeling that a couple more sets may be produced for other birthdays!!  Luckily we have plenty of time to plan before the next big one!!

HS also celebrated her birthday a little while ago and gifts were presented...

The Quilting Grandma bag (given by AB) went down a storm.  I know HS was pleased we had reminded her that she was a Grandma!!

As always a wonderful day.....off home, and decision time on what's happening this evening and tomorrow!

A strange yellow thing......

I woke this morning to sunshine. Something we haven't seen in a verrrrry long time!!!

No thought of indoor chores this morning, it had to be outside. First of all washing on the line. It feels like weeks since I did that (in fact it was).  Then straight to the veg patch ..... which has been patiently waiting for me for the same number of weeks!!!

Carrots, parsnips, salad onions, french beans, lettuce and rocket salad!! I'm not sure what will grow but we are giving it a go!!

Tomatoes are in,

Seed potatoes are in, early and seconds,

I have very limited space in my small garden so containers are a must. I have converted some old containers that I no longer use. An old washing up bowl for rocket and an old glass recycling bin for my tomatoes. Well they have added a bit of colour to the garden if nothing else!

More SUNSHINE on Sunday - goodness I didn't know what to do with myself - the excitement!!

Yes - well - I did know what to do  - washing on line - well it would be a waste of the sunshine not to put it out!

Cut the grass....

Make up the beds for friends staying next week - with their family..

While D has a snooze in the sun, I made the most of a free couple of hours and finished the quilting on my whole cloth quilt.

And then the part I had been dreading - cutting the boarder, I did actually feel slightly faint..



Ok I couldn't do it - I only cut a small section - I need to be sure I can do what I need to do before cutting the whole thing - need to tuck and sew but will need to play this week to get the best finish!

Have a good week everyone!



Pond Life

A great start to the weekend - I made Friday night a quilting night.

Managed to sew most of the hearts onto my boarder, with just two corners to complete.  I feel so much better in myself now I can find a bit more time to 'craft'.

The weekend weather was suppose to be wet and cold, so I had planned a part spring clean in our bedroom should Saturday be a wash out, or continuation of the garden should the sun be out to play.  Guess which one it was...

Well to be fair I got to do both.  The afternoon weather was much better than the weatherman has predicted - good old weatherman!.  Bedroom spring clean in the morning and afternoon in the garden - sorting out the pond.

I can state a fact here, I absolutely  hate cleaning the fish filters - thank goodness I generally only have to complete this task once every few months.  With new filters with easy reach....

The filter was opened ..... with a great deal of grunting and groaning .. and eventually a kitchen knife to prise it open!

Pile after pile of blanket weed removed....



A surprising amount of pond life came away with the blanket weed this year...

This little site here, tells you about my little friends above.  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/

Sunday was far nicer than expected so another day in the garden - finishing the pond and some more work on the veg patch.

Pond plants, cut back, cleaned out and put back....

A check on the other plants....

              

     

I have to say I'm a dab hand at growing those yellow ones!!!

I have, however,  discovered a problem ... someones been munching on my sunflowers.  If I ever catch the little tike there is going to be trouble.