Semi Finished Project (and an Ooops!)

Amy came but did she have anywhere to sleep?

If she'd come just a month earlier the answer would have been a resounding NO!!!  That was definitely A Project.

By the time she came I'd used a rich mix of decluttering, dash-and-stash and disguising stuff and she was met with 

But I have to be honest, dash-and-stash had been quite important so quite a bit had to go back so it now looks like this.

There's still a lot of stuff but each of those boxes contains a single UnFinished Object so I can now finish a few and maybe have the room looking a bit more like when Amy came than how it looked before she said she was coming.

My apologies if you have also read this post on my other blog. I put it there by mistake but it is really proper to this blog.  

Gunby Hall

Gunby Hall

I've had a lovely staycation for Amy's visit and it's made a great start to Jam in June.  Usually May is a jam month but I was too busy so I'm Embracing Jam in June.  (Hover here for what a Jam Month is.)

Amy and I both enjoy visiting gardens and we're both members of the National Trust so off we went to Gunby Hall, the nearest National Trust property to me.  I've never visited it before, I'm ashamed to say, but this first visit won't be my last.  I couldn't go into the house as it's not very accessible, but Amy said it was lovely.  Instead I went around the gardens without too much difficulty. 

I love looking at garden views which invite one in.  Open gates, paths with an unseen destination or paths with overhanging branches which create arches all do this for me and Gunby has them in abundance.  

The flowers are traditional English garden plants with a wonderful balance of colour with muted shades and bright, zingy highlights.

And I came away wanting to know more.  Can someone tell me the name of this plant?

Joyfully into June

I'm looking forward to June but before it starts there's May to be wrapped up,

It's been a busy month.  No funerals - but two baptisms, I conducted services on each Sunday and two  Sundays I took two services.  This is unusual for me and I don't really like doing it but needs must.

It's been a great month for meeting up with friends for coffee and/or lunch.

I've increased my step count to its highest daily average (over the course of one month) ever.

I've been doing a lot in both the garden and the house.

So what does June hold?

Well yesterday I took my final service in The Kelsey Group before their new vicar starts on Thursday.  Apart from a wedding and one weekday service (no sermon needed) I have no bookings this month and I'm rather looking forward to sitting in a pew on Sundays.

I have a friend coming to stay for a few days and I will treat that time as a staycation for me as well.

My garden is calling loudly not just to be worked in but to be enjoyed.

I've got several lunches, picnics, and board games sessions organised.

Brilliant!

A Man of Many Talents

Next week my dear friend Amy is coming for a few days so once again I am planning a Staycation for me.

There's something about having visitors which makes me look anew at my home and decided to amend things I have put up with too long.  Things like the broken chain for the plug in the bathroom sink, and also the rather elderly plug.  Or the shower head which has seen better days.  Little things which maybe, one day, some time, I'll get around to replacing.  But somehow I never do.

And that's where the wonderful Jack comes in.  You may remember that Jack does a lot of the work in the garden (see what I wrote about him here.)  He also helps me other things including the plug and  chain for the bathroom, not to mention a replacement bathroom shelf.  Before that he had set up the new phone in my bedroom and turned my mattress, set up the small fountain in my garden and weeded everywhere, and right now he's planting potatoes for me.

Have I made you jealous?