More Reading sat in God's Pocket

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The weather here in Yorkshire is absolutely wonderful. After a couple of days with some much needed rain, the sunshine has returned in all it's glory. It's the school half term so we have our lovely Imogen at home for the week (not that I feel we've seen much of her) and it's been lovely to have her come and join me in the garden so we could sit in the beautiful sun and read our books together.

I've read a couple of books and enjoyed them both.The first was The Escape by C. L. Taylor

 I've read a couple by C. L. Taylor before and enjoyed them, perhaps a little more than this one, but I still enjoyed it. The book is about Jo and her young daughter Elise. A stranger turns up professing to know more about Jo's husband and daughter than she should. It's full of twists and turns, sometimes told from the point of anxious Jo and at other times from her frantic husband, Max's view.

I also read The Couple Next Door this week by Shari Lapena.

 A well written book, this was my first experience with this author and I shall definitely be reading her again. It's every parents greatest fear, the couples 6 month baby disappears from her cot. The story takes you through the emotions, doubts and fears the couple experience and how far people will go when pushed to their limits.

I did most of this reading in the garden (I like to read when I go to bed too, though I do suffer from the 'just one more page' syndrome and have to try to discipline myself). I love our little garden so much, it makes me so happy, I feel like I must be sitting in God's pocket! I've taken photos that show how much things have grown since my last lot of pictures... even the fish are growing.

This is our rambling rose, I'm not sure if I should move it to go against a wall rather than try and tame it up the pergola. This was the first time I've bought a rose so I didn't really know which would be the best.

This is the rose on the other side of the pergola, this one is a climber, I think I should have purchased two of these really. Also, it seems to be thornless whereas the rambler is very thorny. The aphids aren't fussy though and both have been covered in greenfly until we sprayed them. I'm hoping we may get some ladybirds to come and gobble them up.

I wasn't sure if we would get any roses this year, but look... lots of buds appearing.

 I so enjoy sitting by our new pond feeding the fish. They must see my shadow appear and they race around coming to the surface to eat their breakfast. The plants in the pond are starting to fill out more now too.

 The alliums have had their moment, perhaps past their best

though I think they look just as stunning as seed heads without their petals still towering above everything else.

I've put a few hanging baskets out, one is full of strawberries so I'm looking forward to some juicy fruit. Some pretty petunias in this one.

You can see the suns' rays shining through from behind the greenhouse.

Carrots and sprouts in one, lettuces and cauliflowers in the other.

Tonights radishes were picked, you can see how big this one is compared to Andy's hand - so delicious too.

I hope you're all able to enjoy some of the lovely weather we've had.

Take care
xxx

Sunny Afternoon, Good Books and some Good Food.

Hasn't the weather taken a wonderful change for the better. After those biting north easterly winds and buckets full of rain, we now have calm beautiful blue skies and bright sunshine. We've been very busy the last few days so it was good to escape into the garden for a few hours of sunshine this afternoon. I had a good book to finish reading and took some crochet out with me too.

I love reading and like many different genres of book, but I think my favourite has to be a good crime or thriller novel. I really enjoy reading Linwood Barclay, I like the twists and turns and that many of his books are set in Promise Falls with characters overlapping in different stories. I've just finished a trilogy, Far From True, Broken Promise and The Twenty-Three. I'm glad I didn't start them until they were all out in paperback as it meant I could go straight from reading one to the next.

The first one set the scene, introduced the characters and raised questions. The second book wasn't as exciting as the first, but helped bring many of the different strands together.

The third book was a page turner, I felt invested in the outcome and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout the book.

All three books have been popped in a bag with some other bits and pieces ready to take to one of the local charity shops, I hope someone else gets as much enjoyment from reading them as I have.

While I was in the garden I picked a couple of radishes to have with some side salad for our tea this evening. The vegetables planted in our vegtrugs are growing at quite a rate this year.

To go with the salad I made some chicken and pasta, it was too hot to spend too much time over the cooker today. Just stripped some chicken off some chicken thighs from the fridge.

Covered them with some passata and thickly chopped tomatoes

I tore up some mozzarella and stirred it through with some cottage cheese (I'd started stirring before I realised I hadn't taken a picture).

Sprinkled some cheese over the top and popped into the oven and left it to do it's thing for about 30 minutes (make sure the chicken is properly cooked through).

So simple, but extremely tasty with some pasta and salad on the side.

Take care
xxx

Teddy Bear Car Seat Cosy

What a miserable day it's been, raining constantly all day. Yesterday was wet too, but at least we had a let up now and then. I suppose it's good for the plants though and perfect weather for staying in catching up with jobs and of course crafting.

This is the  teddy bear car seat cosy I've made for my much anticipated grandson.

I found the pattern on ravelry, one of M J off the hooks designs. I hadn't realised it was crocheted in super chunky so had to treat myself to some new yarn as I didn't have any in my yarn stash.

I used Bernat baby blanket super chunky yarn in sandy and it made up quite quickly with a size 10 hook in an evening. Really soft to the touch so should be nice and snug, just need a baby to pop in it now, only 2 1/2 months to go.

Take care
xxx

Garden Life

I've been spending a lot of time in the garden the last couple of weeks. It's been blissful out there with the birds singing and the pond trickling away. Today has been lovely and sunny, but even on chilly days with the rather horrible north easterly wind we've had battering us over the last couple of weeks, I've still been out there with a blanket round me, reading my book and hugging a hot cup of tea.

As it's been nicer weather today I took the opportunity to take some photos... I'm also hoping you may be able to identify a rather lovely flower for me.

These are so pretty, a lovely delicate pink colour

We've replaced our lavender this year as the old bushes were getting a bit woody.

There are sunflowers against the fence, I'm hoping they'll grow nice and tall.

We bought 2 roses, a climber and a rambler, one pink one peach and both scented.

Lots of Alliums were planted in the autumn, I absolutely adore them

I don't know what this beautiful little flower is. it's growing quite tall and I love it's small compact blooms, I'd love to know what it's called?

Lots of carrots...

Potatoes...

 Brussel sprouts...

Cauliflowers, radishes, shallots and lettuces...

Some more lavender

Nearly time for tea

3 little dogs, exhausted from lying in the sun all afternoon

The forecast isn't sounding to good for the weekend so I don't think I'll be venturing out as much except to feed fish and water plants.

Hope it's warm where you are

Take care
xxx