Onion seeds

As part of our sustainable garden, we let some plants go to seed. Lately it has been a few more than necessary, mainly because we're busy and just haven't had a good day in the garden for some time.

We have had some spring onions go to seed recently and I love their big bauble flowers. I collected a few heads for the seeds and found some lady beetles crawling around in them. What a nice surprise. I love the good bugs in the garden!

A sad day

Yesterday my sweet little Button tragically died after being hit by a car. She was a wonderful cat and will be dearly missed.

Today we will be adding some special plants to our garden to honour our four-legged family member.

Spot the Cavoodle

I was attempting to groom my Cavoolde, Issy, today. When I got half way through, she'd had enough and frankly so had I. Until I get to finish it off, it looks like I'm stuck with a bobble-headed spotty dog wearing fur flairs. Oh dear.

Love in the mist

As a child, when I had dreams of being a florist, I thought Love in the Mist was one of the most beautiful flowers. I have finally grown it in my garden this year!

Mmm... Strawberries

And here they are! The first bowl of strawberries for the season. And the flowers and buds. So many flowers and buds! What ever shall we do with all the berries to come. Eat them in fruit salad and freeze them, probably, but surely there will be a strawberry pie or two to enjoy!

At the home improvement store...

I needed to swing by my local home improvement store this morning and I had the opportunity to do so without my children.  As I drove into a car park that was clearly packed to overflowing, I was happily surprised to get a park with relative ease, as the first aisle I drove down had a car leaving.  It was right up the back of the lot, but without children the wander through the carpark was almost pleasant.  The sun was shining, the smell of the fundraising BBQ wafted through the air and the almost comical scene of people trying to fit their purchases in and on their vehicles when it appeared hardly possible was happening in every aisle that I walked down.

Despite a very busy store, my shopping was efficient and took minimal time with no child-led tangents into different sections of the store or negotiations about the playground or purchase of sausages.  I didn't buy more than I was out to buy and I had enough time and space to consider the correct items to buy. This shopping without children has something going for it!

The shopping trip had been quite nice, until I was actually leaving the car park.  I pulled out of my space and I could see the exit, just one carpark intersection away.  This is when the full effect of the busy home improvement centre took place.  I sat at that intersection for 10 minutes waiting for a break so I could cross.  I was chaotic!  There were cars and people everywhere and it seemed that they were all going across my path.  When there was a break in the flow of cars, a stream of people were  crossing on the pedestrian crossing instead.   It was like watching ants funneling in and out of an anthill, and all I could do was sit and wait my turn.  It was kind of eye opening watching the constant stream, looking at so many people and cars.  So many projects were happening in peoples' homes and it is the perfect time of year to get started.

November is strawberry month

November is strawberry month at our house. Our strawberry patch usually provides us with a healthy crop of berries. With the flowers in full blossom and some little fruits appearing, I'm already planning how we'll consume the sweet strawberries. That is, of course, assuming that they make it inside at all and don't get eaten straight from the plants!