Struggling along

I'm getting very fed up with anything and everything at the moment. The news, social media, my own family and today I even cussed at a packet of microwave popcorn that dared to fall out of my kitchen cupboard on me. I'd of made a sailor blush 🙊.

Hubby suggested I take a little waddle over to Home Bargains for some fresh air. I was pleased to see they had some plants in stock for the first time in a while. These Begonias were only £1.29 so I treated myself.

I've used them to fill the gaps in the dinosaur safari tower. I'd lost a few pansy and a single geranium in the hot weather. There was a single Begonia left so I've popped into a terracotta pot for my bedroom window. 

Over the past few days my husband has been helping to clear his late grandfathers house. He's been very well behaved considering his hoarding tendencies and double checking if I'd like things before arriving home with lots of bits. We've inherited some bits of garden furniture and useful things like planters and hanging baskets.

He also grabbed some flower vases for me to look through. I've kept 3 of the 5 and offered the remaining two on a local freebie facebook page.

We've also inherited a few plants and shrubs. One of which was a large planter of House Leeks. I've split them into single heads and replanted the extra ones to offer tk friends and family. They are one of those lovely succulents that rapidly spread to fill whatever container they are in so there is more than enough to go around. 

We've been trying to get the children out regularly for exercise though it's mostly me slowing everyone down now. I've got just enough waddle power to get us to the local newsagent for a ice cold slushie 😋 Baby bump is dropping now though so those days could be over shortly as things get more uncomfortable. I'm 34weeks and change so hopefully the end is in sight.

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Yesterday's adventures

Yesterday's Silver screen movie was King Kong. I really enjoyed it.

I potted up 2 Basil plants for my windowsill. The two tubs contain Parsley seeds. I also started a tub of rainbow chard, radish and beetroot. 

 I seam ripped 2 old curtains from a bag of mixed fabrics I was gifted. Then my dad kindly printed me out a free pattern I found on Pinterest. I've cut out all the pieces for one bag to sew up this afternoon. I'm hoping if all goes well to make several and use them for Christmas gifts.

The children spent most of the day hopping in and out of the paddling pool. The sun was pretty fierce so we switched swim suits for cotton dresses to cover more skin. 

Ì also potted up about 20 basil plants over the course of the day and gifted them to friends, neighbours and the members of a plant exchange page on Facebook. I asked for yoghurt pots in return so i can continue to grow and gift plants for the future. Most people have been happy to leave a little bag of containers.

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Yesterdays shenanigans

The heat completely beat me yesterday we walked into town to buy some food supplies but by the i got back I was hot, cross and puffy. 

I did finish off DD2s Flippens though.

While watching Citizen Kane and laying on the bed under the cool breeze of our biggest and strongest fan.

And drinking an ice cold bottle of Frobishers. These bottles are 39p each in Home Bargains so I've bought one of each flavour to try out. This one was nice but very acidic which I regretted soon after 🙄

I didn't get as far as the garden but i did tend my windowsill plants. I have three tiny cucumbers starting out which I'm pretty proud off.

The rest of the windowsill is looking good, if a little overheated. I have a cucumber, corriander, chilli and Tulsi aka Holy Basil.

I'm hoping to build up a collection of herbs on here over time. 

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Today I have been...

... starting a pair of ombre flippens for DD2. She choose the yarn on a recent trip to Poundland. I'm not quite sure why she wants Flippens in June but it gives me something to do 😂

 

...baking Lasagna bites. A huge success with everyone in the house. A little bit of a fuss to make but whenever I've cooked lasagna in the past I've always found theres that one layer of pasta which just refuses to cook through and spoils it all. Doing them this way avoided that scenario.

...reading my new issue of Grow your own. The seeds that came with it are a nice mix of the classic and the more unusual. I've not tried growing chicory before.

...buying some fresh compost supplies to plant the seeds above. I messaged my Dad to say the magazine had arrived and he offered to take me to the local garden centre. 75 litres of compost for £3.95 was such a bargain we grabbed two.

...finishing the elderflower cordial. I made it yesterday and left it over night to infuse, the kitchen smelled heavenly this morning when I woke. There are now 3 jam jars of cordial in the fridge to enjoy and some frozen into ice cubes in the freezer. 

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Day 2 of isolation

We started off the day lazy by waking up by ourselves, followed by cereal or toast for breakfast. 

While the older ones were waking up, Baby W

and I turned yesterdays leftover veggies into a quick soup for lunch.

We watched Cincinnati Zoo's talk about their Hippos on YouTube (highly recommend you watch it) and then busted out some paper people and felt pens. I challenged the children to create their own zoo keepers and it kept them occupied for a happy ten minutes of colouring and designing.

I think they did a great job. 

After all the concentrating we played out in the garden for a little while to build up an appetite for lunch. It was a touch on the chilly side but they were zooming about like crazy so I don't think they noticed.

I'm so grateful for a good sized garden to let them run off steam in. I've no idea how parents in flats are going to cope without one.

We ended up eating our soup in the garden as a mini picnic which was quite fun, folowed by a few hours of quiet time. The eldest opting for watching kindles in bed and I had a nap with the smallest two. 

Dinner was Chicken Mac and Cheese using yesterdays chicken leftovers. Apart from a single portion of veg soup everything is used up nicely. 

Ive had a brief visit from my parents to pop in DD1's birthday cake and the gifts we'd stashed in their house. My Dad even wrapped everything for us, which was so thoughtful. 

One of the childrens teachers dropped off some home learning packs for them to, again very thoughtful.

This afternoon will be the usual family movie, baths and bedtime.  Then Hubby and I will scurry about the house to set up for DD1'S birthday tomo 

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Day of quarentine

Sooooo thanks to BoJo changing the rules suddenly we are now officially detained in our house for a while. 

I appreciate its for the greater good but at the same time I wasnt quite ready, mentally, for it.

Anyhoo, its happened now so lets just make the best of it.

Day 1 has been pretty unstructured to let everyone settle into the idea of being home.

The children played in the garden for a while and then indoors with their cardboard boxes.

Lunch was the pack lunches I'd prepared for school, we didn't find out we couldn't go until we'd walked half way there.

Dinner was roast chicken, boiled veg and tatties. There's lost of veg and chicken left over for tomorrow's lunch and dinner. I'm desperate not to waste any food while its hard to source any.

In the late afternoon we watched a family movie followed by our usual bath and bedtime.

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Frugal entertainment

Poor DH is one of the infected 😞 No idea if its a heavy cold or the dreaded COVID but he's quarentined to home for 7 days.

He's normally one of those struggle through it types so it must be significant for him to admit defeat. I am of course mothering him to an annoying level 😂

So seeing as we're staying close to home we've been crafting.

Yesterday we made some toilet roll bunnies with scrapbook papers and today we are painting boxes for them to live in. 

I think I may be one of the few mums looking forward to having her children home from school for months.

So many crafts  so little time 😂

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