Weather For The Ducks........

 
It's mostly been a sorting week. Trying not to just put everything back into our bedroom without thinking if we still need it or if it still fits etc. One big bag went out for charity collection so far. 

Between all the showers Hubby has done a bit more towards the new water feature. Those rocks and dish are large and incredibly heavy and he did so well to move them from the other side of the garden. 

Easter takes on a new focus now the grandchildren are too old for egg hunts (have been for years), everyone prefers a healthier diet too so no longer want chocolate eggs..... apart from Hubby that is! 

So this year I decided to celebrate spring and Hubby and I bought a collection of plants to give the family instead. 

They can choose a plant each and any left over will go to start off our water feature rockery garden. 

Lovely lunch meet up with dear friendsR&S. We went to The Ship Inn at Levington and it was really busy but the staff were all super efficient and all the food yummy.

I hope you all enjoy this Easter weekend and the two Bank Holidays (although that doesn't really benefit us retired folk hahaha).

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Sweet Dreams.......

 
Still talking about our bedroom and now onto our very large headboard. I'd rescued it once by adding this stripped fabric but that's looking scruffy now. 

I had an image in my head of a quilted vinyl/faux leather that would be comfortable for Hubby who sits up every night for a short while watching TV and would also be easy to wipe over....... but couldn't find anywhere local that sold it and I really wanted to feel it first so reluctant to buy it online.  

I settled on these two fabrics because I couldn't decide which would work best and they were cheap enough to be temporary as I'm sure I'll keep looking for what I really want. I made it as a slip cover so not wipeable but can come off to throw in the washing machine. 

Daughter came over and with Hubby they gave her car a complete valet inside and out. She needs to find a newer replacement before this one completely dies and hoped this may give it a slight chance of some part exchange value. 

These two boxes are in my craft room and were originally part of our bedroom suit in the previous house but not needed in our bedroom here. They make great storage and one is our laundry box, ideal as it's directly opposite the bathroom. As there's time before the new carpet is done and it's too wet for gardening Hubby has revarnished the tops and did a base coat on the rest. While we were thinking about what colour to paint them I thought as they are in my craft room I should try and do something a bit arty. 

It will be sometime after our bedroom is done and all the stuff is out of here and put back so watch this space as I'll share success or failure when they are done. 

Thursday and the carpet was fitted

Then we moved the bed and side tables in first. I was pleased with the covered headboard that matched in really well with the curtains. Bed made and ready for sleeping in. 

Hubby moved in the rest of the furniture but I'll take a bit longer bringing everything else back as it's the ideal opportunity to sort and not bring back anything we no longer need. 

A really good night's sleep was had by us both (especially me).

Lovely to report a successful week. Hope yours has been too.

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Achieving.......

 
Work in our bedroom is in full swing but I'll not bore you with each detail, hopefully there will be plenty to update you with by the end of the week. Meanwhile I'd like to share our beautiful camellia now in full bloom. 

And the beautifully scented hyacinths. 

A long time ago I'd found a crochet pattern for a more modern looking granny square that's tiny, so I thought I'd give it a go to help improve my very basic crochet skills. I'd made seven semi-successfully but found them quite tricky so was reluctant to do lots more to make into anything substantial, so the project got put aside. 

Recently I saw a small bag using squares and decided that I only needed to make three more pansy squares and three plain squares and all together they made this little summer bag. 

For the handles I made a cord from old jeans-seams to cover with the crochet which gave them structure. I'm always pleased not to have past efforts wasted. 

Lovely Mother's Day. Daughter came over with R and she'd bought me this great jug that's a really useful size. A friend of her's has opened her new pottery shop so Daughter and M had supported her by buying a mug and a jug.

Son and fiancé arrived soon after with my gift of shower gel and the Pandora heart charm. They also brought a vegan chocolate cake for us all to share. Later the four of us shared a yummy Chinese takeaway.  

Thursday Daughter's dog was here while she was working and she kept me company when Hubby met the guys for some snooker. Daughter finished work a little earlier than expected so she had time to fit in her run and then stay here for a cuppa and chat before taking the dog home. 

Bedroom update....

All the cracks have been filled, all the emulsion on ceiling and walls done twice each. All the gloss done on skirting, door frame and built in wardrobe frames. Almost odour free, then a quick sand down on the window sill and that coat of varnish was a nasty pong that filled the whole house and lasted for days! Curtain pole back up and the curtains too after they'd been through the washing machine and thankfully a dry sunny day so they went out on the line. We had a quick shopping trip and bought a new duvet cover and fitted sheet, 

but couldn't get a bed valance or ceiling light shade I liked or the coasters to go under the casters. I was also looking for some padded quilted vinyl to recover the headboard with but was disappointed there too. Hubby found the coasters at our local Wickes but I'm still looking for the rest. 

Nothing more we need to do in there until the carpet is fitted next Thursday. 

Enjoy your weekend.

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Total House Upheaval......

 
We had talked about it for some time, but as Saturday was raining yet again and Hubby couldn't do the gardening he had planned, he decided that it was the perfect time to remove everything from our bedroom so it can be redecorated and recarpeted.

This was just before

and I'm guessing the end result won't look much different as Hubby couldn't decide on another colour so bought paint the same (I was really pleased), but there are a lot of wall cracks that need filling. It will save him repainting the radiator and furniture that are matching gloss. I do want to recover the headboard as I like the size but looking really scruffy, I'll look for fabric once we have chosen carpet. 

First he had to dismantle the two single beds in the 'girl's room' so furniture from our room could go in there and still be accessible. 

I stripped our bed and put the duvet and pillows along with lots of boxes for all the loose stuff covering the double bed in the 'what room'.

Thankfully we have a double sofa bed in the office and been told by R and Son it's really comfy. We will find out tonight and for however long this takes. 

Sunday morning 4:21am and I'm in the lounge leaving Hubby sleeping (sounds like Bug Brother). I found the mattress really uncomfortable! So now we have taken the thin mattress and topper from the sofa bed in my craft room and added that on top of the mattress in the bed downstairs. Hopefully we won't feel every spring poking all night. 

Monday morning and can report a much better night's sleep. 

Tuesday was Doggy Day Care, although for Son's dog I do very little little as she definitely prefers Hubby. 

Wednesday between first and second coat of ceiling painting we went out to choose carpet. This is the one we went for (it's a little lighter in reality than this photo). But you know me, of course there's a story going with this. 

There are two carpet shops side by side. 

     We went into Carpetright first and saw one we liked in their cheaper range (it's only a bedroom and about half of it will be covered by a king size bed and other furniture). Then next door into SCS where we found a carpet very similar colour for the same price with the offer of free fitting. We asked the salesman for a quote, he added underlay and calculated. I half jokingly said we'd bought another carpet from there not that long ago (remember the craft room refurbishment?) So do we get loyalty discount. He said no as it already has an offer. I asked about delivery, he said five weeks!!!! We are sleeping on the sofa bed and five weeks scared me. 

     Saying no doubt we would be back, we went back into Carpetright. Asked the chap there to quote for the one we'd seen first. Carpet, underlay and paying for fitting came out almost the same as their rival shop and delivery was five weeks too! However the salesman here then became totally proactive and found us another carpet in a more expensive range that was very similar in colour but actually felt more luxurious and he told us it was on 50% sale so slighter cheaper than our first choice and it was in stock so only two weeks wait, decision made. While he was completing the paperwork and booking the fitter I joked that next door should have given me the discount. This guy then said well as you compared and came back here I will give you a discount! Hubby and I left feeling very pleased. 

Wednesday evening out as usual and this week we wished safe journey to friendsH&H as they are heading back to the US for some months. 

Friday evening Daughter and Son took Hubby out for an Indian meal which was part of his promised birthday present. I don't like Indian food so it's a rare treat for him and having his children to himself. They stayed here for a cuppa and chat afterwards too.

Bedroom progress is ceiling and walls all painted, just some gloss to do on door frames and skirting. Most of the carpet has gone to the tip but old underlay still down. Fitted wardrobes have had doors removed and they are now standing with the room door in the what room. The wardrobe contents have been emptied and all our hanging clothes are now piled high on the craft room sofa leaving just enough space for the clothes horse so I can still get washing dry. I would have taken more photos but you can't get in these rooms any more to take them hahaha. 

Still a lot to do but I'm making sure Hubby doesn't work too hard. 

You'll get another update next week of course. 

Have a good weekend.

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Ending With A March........

With all the spring flowers popping up it's easy to forget we are still in February, however Saturday's early morning frost and Sunday getting up at 6am to a thick fog was a reminder. 

Lovely visit from Daughter and O with the dog of course. O wanted to come over to raid our vinyl singles as E had left her record player when she moved out. E had already taken the few albums we had and now O has taken the shoe box of singles many from the 60s and 70s. Love that he has such a mixed appreciation of all music. 

Had to share this as it amused us both. 

There was a car we didn't recognise drive onto our drive that turned around then the driver got out looking puzzled. Hubby went out saying "are you lost?" He was deliveroo with hot food and couldn't find 69 Leicester Close, Ipswich (we are the final house top of the Close number 28). His English wasn't brilliant so Hubby helped out in the call back to the person that ordered..... turns out it should have been 69 Ipswich Close in Leicester, 140 miles away! 😂😂😂

Wednesday evening we ate Turkish, it was friendHS's birthday and his choice. So much food three of us asked for boxes to bring some home. 

He actually baked his own birthday cake to bring along and it was delicious.

Leap year day has a special memory for me. 1972 was a leap year. I met Hubby on the 14th February on the first day at my new job, yes his birthday although he was very hung over from the night before! By the 29th we were definitely a couple and I jokingly proposed. His reply was to wait and see and maybe by the next leap year day I could try again. Actually by then we'd been married just over two years!

Those tv weather experts said it had been the warmest but wettest February in East Anglia on record!  Then all of a sudden it was March!

Keeping everything crossed it gets dryer for a while.

Take care.

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