Friday 14 August 2020

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Sticky, hot and humid! 
We are all suffering this week I'm sure, here in the South East
the promised thunderstorms have still not arrived.
My rain dancing is clearly not working.

Apologies no recipe this week, I could not bear to put the oven on.
We have been having 'hob dinners' and sandwiches to avoid a hot
kitchen and a takeaway or two. 
Normal recipe service will resume next week.


Here in the Emberson VT (Victorian Terrace) we've done a bit of celebrating 
this week, 9 years ago we brought home a pup - Bella.
Her colouring has completely changed.




And a very important celebration, my Dad's 80th.
We marked the occasion with a BBQ in my sister's garden,
Dad received help opening his gifts! 


Mum was able to join us and thoroughly enjoyed being out.
It was a wonderful afternoon, very special memories.
(And that gift Dad is opening is from Bella, 
a frame photo of herself - she insisted!) 

Garden:

I'm still slightly stressing over my tree, I've resisted watering Arthur,
inspecting the leaves a few times a day, seeing some new growth.
He has a plaque, I'm pretty sure that will not assist growth but made me feel happier.


My freebie Hydrangea from Freecycle is very happy
and blooming.


And my new whiskey barrel water butt is now installed.
The aroma of whiskey is still strong, I'm not complaining!
It connects to the drainpipe via a converter, installing that was not without
issue, bless Mitchell he accidentally cut 3 inches out of the pipe instead of 3cm!
The pump was from a previous water butt owned by my parents and 
Dad has restored it for me, it works perfectly and there is something very 
satisfying about collecting the water - come on rain! 


Crochet:

The heat has hampered crochet somewhat this week, 
truly not the weather to have a blanket on your lap.
Saying that, I have managed to join squares to my Harmony Blanket,
14 more to go and then the border.


I am doing the same blanket in different colours, a bright colourwash
 - Summer Harmony, that may be finalised in Winter.

Telly:

I've managed to flop in front of the telly of an evening.
I'm still watching a few box sets, Poirot - well there are 70 episodes!

 I viewed Enid this week available on Britbox.


Helena Bonham-Carter playing the part of Enid Blyton.
The film starts with a disclaimer:
"some scenes have been invented and events conflated for the purposes of the narrative".
It isn't easy viewing if, like me, you have fond memories of her books
and envisioned the writer to me motherly and sweet.
The film explores how those orderly, reassuring clear words of her books
are in stark contrast to the complexity of her personal life. 
Still worth a viewing if you have BritBox or available to rent on Amazon Prime.

And that's my week so far, again no great plans for the weekend
but next week I am visiting a work friend over in Essex.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing her and sitting in her garden,
she is a brilliant gardener so I hope to pick up some tips.

Take care friends, have a lovely weekend,
may it be cool and safe where you are.


8 comments:

hazel young said...

We have had no thunderstorms either. There was some lightening the other night but that was it. Good to hear you all had a lovely time for you dad and Bella's birthdays. Glad your mum was able to participate as well. Love your water butt its gorgeous. Gorgeous blanket Christine, well done. Have a great week, I'm sure after your friends visit you may own some new plants xx Hazel

CraftyCoffey said...

Great to hear you Dad & Bella enjoyed their birthdays and even better that your Mum was able to join in the celebrations.
Good to hear about your other news & hoping you get some rain soon.

Michele

Anonymous said...

Great to hear that you all had a wonderful time celebrating a milestone birthday. Love your hydrangea - mine haven't flowered as I did not cut them back in the spring according to those who know. You should be very proud of all you've achieved during these difficult times. Rained here during the night a few nights ago but we've lost the heat and it's very cloudy and cool (benefits and minus's of being in the north).WakeyL

karenlotty said...

Love the chat I am so pleased you were able to celebrate your dad’s birthday and that your mum was able to be there too You can’t beat celebrating a birthday with family
Bella looks adorable and boy she’s really changed
The crochet looks great That’s the one thing I have enjoyed doing in this heat but I only do small things I am forever washing my hands in cool water and rubbing them especially the right hand with a little talc I have just started a Lost Souls Skull shawl in 4ply as a break from amigurami animals Let’s see how long that lasts the bigger it gets in this heat!
Take care Hopefully it’ll start to cool down soon

kittyedavies47@gmail.com said...

Morning Christine.
Thank you a lovely chat. We have had a bit of rain yesterday, more forecast for today.
I am so glad you all had a lovely Birthday weekend and that your Mum had a nice time too.
Yes it is too warm for cooking and crocheting.
Take care stay safe and have fun Kitty.

Carolyn said...

I think we have had your share of storms and rain .we had one storm that lasted about five hours , it was great to watch, but the rain was torrential . As your tree is in a pot I would keep it watered .Have good week and stay safe xxx

Littlelamb said...

I love Fridays when I can read your chatty blog but Friday seems to come around very quickly. Glad you were able to celebrate your dad’s birthday with your mum as well. Yes Bella’s colouring has changed a lot. Loving your blanket. It will look gorgeous when finished. Look forward to seeing the colours of the next one. Been much too hot to do my blanket but I will get back to it. We have had several days of thunderstorms and last night a thunderstorm that finished about 2am and heavy rain. Couldn’t get to sleep after that until about 4.30 then phone woke me at 8am so that was that. Feeling rubbish today. Don’t blame you not doing much cooking. Has been much too hot. I have been having salads. Enjoy your weekend whatever you do.

Patricia Howarth said...

Hi Christine, So glad you all enjoyed your Dad's birthday, it would have been lovely for your Mum to be there and enjoying being out, and Bella certainly knows how to help with the gifts.
You are lucky not to have had the thunderstorms, we have had them here in the North West, we were wakened the first night with the horrendous thunder and then the torrential rain that followed, we jumped out of bed and went to see if our new conservatory roof had been refitted properly this time, touch wood it is fine up to now.
Bella looked gorgeous 9 years ago and is gorgeous now 9 years later, and she is loving you for being her Mummy.
I don't blame you not putting the oven on, we have been having meals that don't require a long time in the oven either.
I enjoy the sunshine but this has been awful, I will be glad when it cools off and I can have a good night's sleep.
Your blanket is gorgeous.
Have a lovely time with your friend.
Take care, stay safe, stay well.
Lots of love from Patricia xx

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