Today has been a bit of a washout

 An extremely bad night with Missy last night she would not settle and was continuously crying.  It was difficult establishing just what the problem was.  We had the fan on, window open, plenty of water and tea for her to drink and she had been fed.  Just could not put our finger on what the trouble was.  In the end as she still felt too warm to me I ended up going downstairs and getting a bowl of water to wipe her down with.  She then settled and went to sleep that was about 6;00am!  I had planned on doing quite a bit today but that is now put off to another day as I just crashed and went to sleep.  It was late when I actually got up and I felt wobbly to say the least.

Last night I did get the chance to sort out one of my seed boxes and also found some of the missing seeds.  These have been put to one side downstairs so that I can start sowing a few at a time in the next few days.  I have enough compost for sowing seeds just not enough for potting on.

Then I was taken shopping as I had hoped to Home Bargains.  Had a look at the plants and there were some that I would quite like, but will probably go back another time for some of them. There were two different sets of pre-prepared hanging baskets which I was quite hanging my nose over.  The larger ones were £25 each but they were a very large hanging basket.  The second ones were in a cone shaped hanging basket and they were £15 apiece.  I am still thinking about these.  They had some nice plants but not the options I was looking for. I am looking for more like trays of specific items or individual plants, like Viola's, Pansies, Bacopia, Surfinia's, Trailing Fuschia's, Trailing Geraniums, Ivy, Trailing Verbena, Lobelia, Brachycome, Hedera, different coloured trailing Petunias.  All are good to work with for Hanging Baskets.  A different selection though for planters although some could be the same. 

I did however get my Nasturtium seeds and Sweet Pea seeds that I had been looking for, for a very good price of 99p per packet.  Three packets of each were bought.  I currently have the Sweet Peas which are a Spencer Mix soaking before potting into seed trays tomorrow.  The Nasturtiums Tom Thumb variety will be sown direct into trays tomorrow as well.  I am pleased about finding both of these. If I go back I may grab some more as I am thinking of growing certain plants as companion plants for some veggies.

We have used Iceland Warehouse a lot as they had quite a load of good bargains on and were extremely competitive on prices. I was a bit disappointed today though.  I need to go back here to look at tinned stuff as well as buy more sugar. The prices in Home Bargains though today were a lot cheaper on several items and we all know that saving the pennies makes them up into new pounds.  Today though I only bought a few items from Iceland.  Prices seem to be creeping a bit again.  Even more of a reason to get the veggie garden really going.  Hopefully will be into gear with the sowing in the next few days or so.  Sorting the boxes and seed packets out last night has really helped.  Hopefully next year I will be more in gear than I am at the present and will have all my Hanging basket plants ordered well in advance as well as seed.

One of the things I want to do next year is to have a proper cutting garden.  Yet again will order Tubers and plants/seeds in advance where I can.  My Nan always had a full on cutting garden.  The Church St Clements in Fiskerton was where I was christened and to all intents and purposes the family Church, where my Uncle and my Dad were choir boys, and where my grandparents are buried. Where we attended Sunday school and where My nan regularly used to supply flowers and decorate the Church.  There were always plants in the house, in the conservatory and definitely in the garden.  Perhaps the greatest gift my Grandparents gave us all was they taught us how to grow from scratch and provide for ourselves.  I love flowers in the house, but this house is too dark to sustain many plants inside. That to my mind is a great pity., I do very occasionally buy a bunch of flowers however would love to provide for myself in this way too. Flowers by colour alone lift your spirits and bring so much joy.

I have done some cleaning today in the little room.  I am part way through it and I will finish cleaning it out tomorrow.  There are some items in here that need to go upstairs into the back bedroom into boxes.  The floor needs washing and then that will be that one sorted.

I have more washing to do tomorrow - the backlog, plus a little fresh stuff so the washer will be on again tomorrow.  I am also hoping to get some of the decorative objects sorted from the bathroom and also taken upstairs.  

G is fishing with his mate again tomorrow and I will be on my own with the animals.  I am hopeful Missy will sleep a little so that I can get on with getting some of these items out of the way which will slowly help clear the main part of the bathroom for deep cleaning, decorating and new flooring being laid.  I am sort of working my way out from the outside corner of the house inwards. Once done - the kitchen is next.  Get this bit done first though.

In the expectation therefore that Missy will be "needy" I am planning initially to work in the back bedroom re-packaging boxes and updating an Inventory, taking photos and re-arranging some boxes as well as getting items which are downstairs upstairs.  Missy will be in the Study/Craft Room/Computer room which is literally just through a door from where I will be working.  I will get stuck in as best as I can and do as much as I can whilst he is out of the way.  To tell you the truth, it gives me a little breathing space, which is something I need on a regular basis.  Just the way I am built.

We shall therefore see how tomorrow pans out.  I have things to do in the garden as well.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

x