Hellebore
I have a couple of these planted up with daffodils and tulips.
I just love the way these pods, pop!
A thank you present – Honeysuckle
It has been two weeks since home became:
‘Then There Were Three’
For a little while at home we acquired an extra teenager. The teenager’s home life had gone a bit array. Mum who has done a fantastic job of being a single mum for 15 years, had just had enough and wasn’t coping very well with the changes of a young child into a teenager. So to give everybody a break, and to let all sorts of feelings become more realistic, Noel and I said we would take the teenager home with us. No time scales, just much needed time ... I gave a listening ear to Mum and teenager in turn and then mediated between the two; so that new, appropriate ground rules, respect and communication values could be addressed.
The first weekend Poppy was at her Godmother's in Southampton, which gave Noel and I some one-to-one time with our guest. On the way back from Southampton we picked up Toby and we all went for dinner at Blubeckers, Noel and I felt that it might do our extra family member some good, talking through being a teenager to a single mum. Toby was excellent and with no prompting from me, he got the jist of the situation very quickly, all in all it was a very positive and enjoyable evening.
It took a couple of weeks, which included tears, shouting, cuddles and chores, we all got there. It has now been two weeks since our lodger went home and I am very pleased to announce that all is well at their home – lots of smiles and laughter.
As a thank you from Mum, something I didn’t expect because just making the family work together again was all I needed, I was bought the lovely Honeysuckle, pot, compost (above picture) and a big tin of Roses for us all to eat.
Poppy struggled a little bit with the extra teenager, as (her words) “I like being the centre of attention and getting all the attention”. I was really proud that she was to tell me very nicely what her feelings were, but also let down that she was being, say; ‘slightly selfish’, however after chatting she decided she was grateful that her mum and dad were actually ‘OK’!!
So all in all it has done both families a lot of good.
Now another reason I knew time was ticking on about posting ...
Valentine’s Day
Just look what my lovely husband bought me; a three month sock yarn club membership from Yarn Yard:
This was my first months parcel:
Lovely colours, since receiving them I have been going through my knitting book (mine is actually 25 years old, so the cover is different!), so that I can decide on a pattern to design my first ever sock pattern. Which is one of my new ambitions ...
And this was my second parcel: I have the parcel’s sent to work, so that I know they get delivered safely and not pushed and shoved through my narrow letter box at home. Therefore what more could a girl want; a lovely cup of tea (and yes I do drink it that weak but I also know that a certain ‘Scottish Lady’ who dyes this beautiful yarn, does to) and a package containing the most fabulous colours I could dream off.
I have just one more parcel to go, so as you may have noted on my wish list I now have Yarn Yard Sock Club (2) ... here’s is hoping ... *big grin*.
An Apology
Last Thursday as I was rushing home at lunch time (2pm) to let the dogs out, this is what I saw coming in the opposite direction. I had my camera on the seat next to me, both lanes were clear of traffic and it was just starting to rain, so I slowed down and quickly took this picture through my windscreen of the car. It was all guys and they all looked wet and tired, including the ponies.
However the guy, who’s face you can see behind the white pony, shouted at me (not horribly, just so that I could hear), "it would have been nice if you had asked", and you know what, it would have been. I felt awful at my bad manners, so while rushing around at home I remembered that I had a home-made fruit cake sitting in the cupboard, so I rung Noel quickly, explained what had happened and would he mind if I gave them the cake, he didn’t mind and understood my reasoning.
So back in the car, up the hill and I managed to catch up with them about a mile away from where I first saw them all. I parked in a lay-by and walked back along the verge to greet them. The dogs came rushing up to me, I wish I had also brought some dog food but I didn’t see the dogs first time round. The guys were a bit hesitant at first, wondering what I was doing. The guy who had spoken to me was now sat on a cart, anyway they all stopped and I said “you were right, I should have asked first and please except this home-made cake as an apology”, I could not have put bigger grins on their faces than if I had kissed them all!!!
I am so pleased I said sorry, and I would like to say thank you to them (not that they will probably ever see it) for this picture;
Safe journey lads ...
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