making progress

At the cost of housework, other things have been getting some attention round here. Who wants to do housework anyway?

So some weeding and planting, two golden courgette plants are now planning to reduce the weeding just here.





while this Graham Thomas rose has decided to play nicely.













And this yellow flag is giving it's share of joy

 near to this allium. I love those clean stars on the heads.


















and, I promised a photo of this 'multiblue' clematis, yesterday


but, just to demonstrate that there is work aplenty left, here is a fine crop of stinging nettles, which grace my front garden!

That is right- they are in the front... Nuff said.





 And the rest of the  day? Tote number two is taking shape. Slowly!







this is one side - finishing touches still to be sorted..

 The other side

and straps..














I am now sorting linings. will I be done tonight? I hope so, but am not confident.
it looks quite purple to me in the photos, butIpromise you, it is a bright blue!

I  am trying to link up to the lovely Lucy. Anyone who doesn't know Lucy- go see her! She is lovely, and great fun.She has asked that instead of a name,we put in either a favourite font, or a letter. So, I have done that!

 Someone reminded me, it is only 5 weeks until the retreat. And I have swaps to make!

Foolishly or otherwise, I have volunteered myself for totes!
I think a tote will be useful, as there may well be bits and pieces to be taken to and from the venue- they are promising a 'quilt market' in the evening of the Saturday, and if I manage to make any sneaky purchases, a tote would be a help. So, possibly, other folk may also appreciate a tote.

So, totes it is.

I have been making tote number one. Shades of yellow, with some free embroidery leaves and stems on the one side, modelled here by my long suffering son, he is good to his Mum....

and on the other side, double aster from Quilters cache, done in shades of yellow. Now, I made a mistake on this one as I started it. So it is all made in reverse, as it were. This is the laevo version- as opposed to the  dextro version. yes, I am just trying to dress it up nicely... I got it wrong, okay? and didn't want to get out the seam ripper... so that is that!

A couple of pockets, but I forgot the D ring.... I shall maybe have to forget the D ring in the others too...

One down, two to go!

Sorry for the quality of the pictures, but daylight has gone, and they are not the best. Ah well. 

And for the daughters, again, some garden shots. And I will let you look too if you like!

Here is 'Penny Lane', my first rose this summer ( summer? what summer-  Oh that three days of warmth and sunshine? THAT summer!)

When the sun shines, she smells heavenly. When it is cold and damp. she smells of nothing. Come back summer, you didn't spend long enough here!

 This is the first year this clematis has really shown it's mettle, yes we have had a few flowers the past couple of years, but this year- we are showing our stuff! This one is growing up the same trellis as Penny Lane, and may intertwine with her in years to come, I hope.


















 and quietly lurking is this beauty.


A rich purple specimen is just coming out, too but I will have to wait for daylight to take the next photograph.








 These poppies are doing their bit for the garden. I love their frilly edges.

see little one- the cocoa shell mulch is down!

and alliums are self propagating behind the garden geraniums here.

So the garden is progressing!

I just need a little more weeding...