Three, Two, One

Three

While we settled down with coffee and the papers the dogs played musical beds.

Two

One

It's a lazy bank holiday weekend for us all, humans and dogs alike.   Whatever you have on the cards I hope it's enjoyable and relaxing.

Have fun.

Sue xx

Re-potting in the Garden

Someone who had given up their caravan had left three stone planters behind, I spotted them in the 'caravan graveyard' one day when we were walking the dogs.  It's the place were anything useful ... including caravans goes to languish before being tipped, burnt or asked for.  I asked for them, and they were mine.

Up to now I have just planted up the middle one as I couldn't find the Red Cordylines that I fancied for the other two locally but I managed to get a pair at Wyevales when I was there for lunch with Mum and the dogs on Wednesday.  I'll get them in over the weekend.  It's sod's law because I spotted two on the plant stall at the street market in Garstang yesterday!  

The rest of the garden is waking up nicely.

These Pansies are adding a real pop of colour. 

This corner bed now seems to be little Bella's toilet area,  she hates wet grass but doesn't mind wet chippings.  Each time she comes out from behind the plants she brings me a piece of bark chip ... as if to say 'Sorry I've just  pooped on your flowerbed, but here's a little present'.

I'll make sure I wear gloves when working in this area ... and only pick high level herbs 😉

The Chives are healthy,  and as you saw in yesterday's post are being used regularly.

I've done my usual trick in the Tin Bath and planted out a tray of Living Lettuces bought from Booths last week for just one pound. You can't go wrong with eight lettuces for that price can you.  They should last me a while.  I'm going to put in a French Bean plant at the back to make use of the trellis.

And I'll most likely add my free Tomato plant from Wyevale that Mum had a coupon for.  Seemingly it's National Gardening Week this week, hence the freebie.

After taking these photos and loading them ready for posting yesterday I went to Aldi for some fresh milk for Alan this weekend, and guess what, this week the centre aisles ...  those amazing but dreaded centre aisles ... were packed to capacity with garden goodies of every description.  

I may have bought a planter or three and a couple of rolls of twig style edging to help me puppy proof the Smaller Garden ... she fits through the tiniest of openings.  But I wasn't tempted in the slightest to buy a chainsaw!!  I see a lot of accidents happening this week if folk buy a chainsaw along with their weekly food shop and then go mad in the garden trimming trees and bushes with no expertise, training or safety equipment.

A and E staff you have been warned!

Sue xx

Two Eggs, Two Buns

I had two eggs that really needed using up, as shop dates would go they would have been a month out of date, but as home laid ones I trusted they would be fine ... can I say trusted when I did the float test just in case 🤣🙃🙂

But yes they were, so they both got hard boiled, of course it made sense to cook them together even though I would be eating them at different meals.

Egg number one was going to make me an open egg bun for my lunch, with a sachet of mayonnaise from the Stash Tin.

Once it was mashed up it didn't look like much, so I decided to slice egg number two up and use the all white ends to bulk out egg number one. 

A quick nip into my Smaller Garden and I had a few stems from the chives bowl to add colour, flavour and a smidge of goodness to my lunch.

Egg and bun number one - an open egg bun for my lunch on day one.

Egg number two was placed, covered into the fridge ready to make my tea last night.  A quick rummage through the salad drawer and I had lettuce, red onion and cucumber to join the egg slices and another sachet of mayonnaise to 'butter' my bun with.

So tea last night was an egg salad bun, two meals made with the same base ingredients and tasting totally different.

Two eggs, two buns - used up.  Simple food, simple ingredients. 

I haven't shopped all week it's a good feeling 🙂

Anyone else like me, in that you can't sit down and enjoy a snack or meal until all the prep pots are washed?  It drives Alan mad, he's always telling me to leave the pots until after or that he'll do them later, nope I  like to sit down with a clear sink ...

... and a clear, clean work area.

Sue xx

A Simple Week

It's been a simple week up to now. 

A bit of gardening, some sitting in the sun ... little Bella knows how to relax that's for sure and I've spent far too long sitting watching her, either while she snoozes or while she chases flies, attacks bark chippings or annoys Suky with her puppy kisses and mock attacks.  

There have been lots of doggy walks in the sunshine, but no shopping up to now so no money spent.  I'm thinking it's time for a Challenge over on the other blog ... it's been far too long since the last one. 

Today's main task was going to be a re-jig of the largest of the kitchen base cupboards.   It has only two big shelves and being a corner cupboard is pretty hard to reach into for things.  I trawled Amazon looking for some freestanding shelves that I could use inside them to make more logical use of the space, and finally found some that I hope will be okay.  Now all I have to do is assemble them!

  But anyway, somehow I ended up re-jigging pots in the garden instead, I guess it makes sense to potter outdoors while the weather is good and save jobs like kitchen cupboards for wetter days.

The sounds of the river and the birdsong this morning were so lovely I tried to record it while we stood on the bridge, but the river totally drowned out the birdsong.  Here's my little clip anyway,  sorry for the abrupt ending but a fellow dog Walker suddenly appeared in shot 🙃

Sue xx

Walking by the River

Walking by the river each morning is lovely, not so much in the evening at the moment as swarms of midges are around.  But first thing every morning ... well after a coffee or two ... it really is the place to be.

After we cross the bridge dogs are allowed off their leads, so each day I am giving little Bella a few minutes of freedom, she loves it.

Although Suky is not so pleased with all the puppy kisses when Bella catches up.

It must seem a long road ahead when you're only a few inches high.

But she's remarkably brave and up for anything.

Back over the river and time to head for home.

Where a cosy bed in the sunshine filled livingroom is waiting.

Sue xx

A Weekend in Pictures

Shopping for useful bits.

Lots of good food.

Relaxing and television watching.

Feeling safe and snoozing.

And lots and lots of doggy walks 🙂


Sue xx

Bargains ♥️

The weather has changed dramatically after the glorious weather of the Bank Holiday weekend,  so yesterday after a doggy walk taken quickly between showers,  I nipped out to the shops to get a few food supplies and have a little mooch around the charity shops in Garstang.

 I was lucky in one shop and managed to pick up this teeny, tiny wooden candlestick for £2 and a lovely set of drawers that I had first spotted on Amazon when I was looking for a support for the kitchen shelf arrangement that I designed for the worktop here at the Van.  There it was priced at £14.99, at the charity shop it was just £3 ... bargain!

I paid for my little wooden goodies and then turned to leave the shop, and that's when I spotted the 'All Skirts and Trousers Just £1' sale rail.  I managed to get myself two pairs of M&S jeans.  The darker ones are more trouser style and are in 'as new' condition, the others a pair are Per Una and are a bit more worn but are still good enough to wear out and about.

When I got home the dogs were fine, and as usual favouring the littlest dog bed, which they returned to as soon as I had had my rapturous welcome home.  Dogs are brilliant for making you feel loved and wanted ... and the most important person in their world ♥️

Other dog beds are available .....

Sue xx