Snowdrops

The first snowdrops are out today. I wasn't sure how these would do as they were planted as bulbs and snowdrops do better planted 'in the green', however they seem to be growing well.

 

January Garden

I'm hoping to show monthly pictures of my garden thoroughout the year.It has been sadly neglected recently due to various reasons but hopefully I'm getting it back on track.

This is the most neglected area, the pool and surroundings.

I've done a little work on this side, mainly clearing a large clump of nettles and planting bulbs.

Flower of the month is Viburnum × bodnantense 'Dawn'. The scent is overwhelming and will fill a whole room.

Charity knitting

I may have been neglecting this blog recently but my charity knitting has continued. These are a couple of jumpers for boys, I feel the bigger children are often forgotten, everyone likes to knit for babies.

and here is a jumper for a little girl.

A jacket and leggings set for a toddler.
Loving Hands, the charity I knit for send clothing to Operation Orphan and also to Syria where warm clothing is much needed during the winter.

Tomatoes 2

The tomatoes are beginning to ripen. This is the largest so far, 200 gms and there are at least two more even larger. I must admit the flavour could be better. The best flavoured tomatoes I had were the year I was ill and they didn't get much watering and feeding. The flavour was superb.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes are continuing to grow to enormous size, notice the pound coin. Unfortunately most are remaining stubbornly green.

The courgettes haven't done so well, this is the first to reach a useful size. I'm just hoping that the good weather we are enjoying at the moment will last for a while longer.

Intruders

Someone got into my garden the other night and managed to break off the top of the fence while climbing over. There were also some plants trampelled down. Luckily nothing was taken and my tomatoes weren't touched, that would have upset me! Talking of tomatoes, the first one is starting to show a blush of red. I began to think that they would stay green for ever.

Knitting

Here are some completed projects which will be given to charity.

First a couple of Elizabeth Zimmermann February baby jackets, the pink one still awaiting buttons. I also used a different lace pattern for this one, slightly less open.

Then two linen stitch scarves using up scraps of DK yarn.

Bird Table

This Bird table has been lying in pieces for quite a while awaiting assembly. I'm afraid that I don't get along with screw drivers, I'm more at home with knitting needles. However I plucked up my courage this morning and got to work with assorted pieces of wood and screws and this is the result, which so far is standing, for how long I wouldn't like to guess. The Buddleia on the right has outgrown its allotted space, so once the butterfly season is over it is going to have to be removed. This, I think, is a job for professionals

Lunch

Out for lunch to a friend's yesterday.Two of the party were celebrating birthdays in the next few days,so of course we had to have a cake.

Ignored

City Photo Blog is still ignoring me. I've managed a photo each day so far on my Wolverhampton Daily Photo Blog and find it very useful for getting out and about.

It has been pouring with rain all day and almost uprooted my tomatoes. However I've managed to rescue and restake them. As you can see the tomatoes are swelling nicely although still very green.

Le Tour

I'm still unable to walk far, or indeed be very active, but thank goodness for Le Tour de France and Wimbledon keeping me entertained. The tour went right past my cousin's house in Hebden Bridge so they had a good view. I've been busy knitting as usual and appropriately a Mailot Jaune, which will go to charity.

I'm doing well with my Wolverhampton Daily Photo blog and so far have managed to post every day. However I haven't managed to get it onto City Photo blog portal as none of the organising team are responding to messages.

Gardening

Most of my gardening is in containers this year as the GP has said no bending because of my back problems. However I may have some tomatoes soon and the courgettes are peeping through.I'm afraid I've had to use the dreaded slug pellets as I would have nothing left if the weather turned wet.

Back again. Spent a few days by the sea in Llandudno, but unable to do much because of a painful back and sciatica. Things have improved after seeing the GP and getting some powerful painkillers. I've still been able to knit and am working on a scrap log cabin blanket to use up odds and ends.

Also, despite the fact that I'm unable to keep up to date with this blog I've started another, Wolverhampton Daily photo. I'm hoping to show that my city isn't such a bad place to live in as some people like to make out.

Back Again

I've been away too long but at last am getting myself organised enough to blog again. In January I had a cataract removed and can now see more clearly than I have for years. My back, which has been troubling me since Steven was in hospital last year, has at last improved enough for me to enjoy a little gardening, much needed as the garden is looking extremely overgrown. Needless to say nothing has stopped me knitting. I've just sent a large box to Lou at Loving Hands

For some reason Blogger doesn't seem to like the third picture which is baby surprise jackets and cardigans. Hope these will be of use to someone.

Sad News

Sadly, Steven didn't improve and passed away on the 31st of January. He did have a few weeks in his new care home and seemed to be brightening up but it was not to be. I now have a funeral to arrange and want to make sure that people who loved and cared for him are the ones to attend. I am in a quandary over his birth family who have had no contact with him for 24 years and don't know him at all. They have been told, but should they be included in the funeral?

Hospital woes

At last I have time to update this blog. It has been a roller coaster of an autumn, and not over yet.

In my last entry I was recovering from an operation, and I'm pleased to say this continued.

Unfortunately things have not gone so well for Steven. He had to be admitted to a nursing home when I was ill and unable to care for him. In September I had a call to say he had managed to pull out his PEG (feeding tube) and was in hospital waiting to have it replaced. The hospital then found he had pressure lesions and would not release him.

Added to all this, he also had repeated chest infections. Temporary tubes were inserted which invariably fell out leading to Steven not being fed adequately. Eventually a permanent PEG was inserted, on the 7 December. He is now on a higher calorie feed and is beginning to regain some strength.

This isn't the full story about his treatment, which I won't go into as the hospital are holding an investigation. The good news is that on Monday, all being well, Steven will be discharged to a
different nursing home where hopefully he will be better cared for as I no longer feel able to meet his needs.

To finish, here's a picture of the lad in happier times and hopefully we will start seeing those smiles once more.

Back home

Back home after a spell in hospital with a perforated appendix. Starting to feel more human now so hopefully on the path to recovery.

Return of the Blogger

Sorry for my absence recently. The past two years have not been the easiest and have left little time for blogging. My mother was getting increasingly frail and eventually moved to an excellent care home. Sadly, she passed away in December. I spent as much time as I could with her which meant the garden got very neglected although I did manage quite a bit of knitting.

I hope to get started blogging more regularly in future. In the meantime I leave you with a glimpse of the garden on a rather chilly, grey June morning.

Bantock Weekend

We had another successful 1940s event at Bantock house this past weekend. I had a stand demonstrating 1940's knitting and displayed various 1940s items, including my mother's wedding dress. The sock knitting fascinates most people.

I included these...........

knitted from a 1940's pattern in this Murray and Koster book.

The original pattern was knitted in silk, but I used a very soft Patons Dreamtime baby wool. Even so, everyone agreed that they wouldn't fancy wearing them!

The highlight of the show was a mockup of a Battle of Britain RAF operations room with alerts every hour or so when every one sprang into action. Sorry, no pics as they are in my phone and my Bluetooth is refusing to work.

Blight

Sadly my tomatoes have succumbed to the dreaded blight, probably due to the damp mild weather we've been having recently. I'm trying to rescue the larger fruit in the hope that they will ripen indoors. They were growing so well too, and had the best of care, watered, fed and supported. Ah well, there is always next year.