Party Time!

Very happy birthday to my dear friend Carol, it was her birthday party last night, got home exhausted, must be out of practise.

Well I thought I was getting fitter until I got up this morning, having danced the night away (sober I might add) this morning my legs are aching, my back is hurting more than normal and that's despite doing the Zumba Gold and Fitsteps!! But worse still when I went to the mirror this morning a scarecrow had sneaked in there!!! Will leave that to your imagination. Didn't dare try to comb the hair out last night, so much backcombing and hairspray!

I have been adding things to the Auction list all week and am amazed at the response so far. There is another 'Lot' to add but waiting for written confirmation before I post it. Watch this space.
Poster will be finished soon so I can start getting those out and about and start the ticket selling. Anyone donating an Auction Lot will be entitled to one free ticket so let me know what you would like to donate.

The theme for the Flower Demonstration will be English grown flowers some of which will be picked from my own garden. I will be giving tips on how to treat them to make them last as long as possible as well as demonstrating some beautiful arrangements that you can try at home. So don't forget to book your tickets for 24th June 7 to 9 pm at Keynsham Civic Hall. Numbers are limited so please book early.

Everything's Blooming!!! 


Thought I'd better get some practise in ready for the Flower Demo 24th June. It was my friend's grandson's wedding on Saturday and this ball of flowers is on the gate arch which must be about 20 feet high! It nearly didn't get hung but was worth the effort (and risk to life and limb!) the inside of the church looked fantastic too. Anyway job done so had to stop for a pub lunch on the way home and then at Chew Valley Lake for an ice cream. Spotted the little fella pictured top right, there were several baby Moorhens darting in and out of the reeds at the edge of the lake but they were quite a long way away so it was difficult to get a good picture but soooo cute.

Well what happened to the promised rain today? I didn't think I'd need to do any watering but the pathetic little dibble we had here, no such luck. Took everything out the greenhouse, replaced the bubble wrap with shading 40 degrees inside when the sun did shine! Needed to replaced one of the automatic vents and then potted on lots of plants and planted some more veg seeds.


The garden is looking amazing, very lush and full of colour already, these photos are just a few of my favourites. The garden is all part of my fitness regime!! and it's much more fun the housework!!!!




Started a different class this week call Fitsteps great fun and really felt I had done a workout. Also registered with a Gym, got to book a session with a personal trainer and get a program in place that hopefully won't aggravate my back any more than the gardening does.


Lots of interest for the Flower Demonstration just need people to start booking the tickets but I guess because it's in June no-one will think about it until next week! Also keep getting asked to do one in Bath so looking into that as well.

Auction lots starting to come in Bath Spa Hotel have pledge two day passes for The Spa, Gill at Silverside Glass Studios has promised a Glass workshop at her studios. Dave Rolfe of Rolfe's on Bear Flat has agreed to be the Auctioneer so that will be very entertaining. Don't forget if you know of any businesses that would be willing to donate Auction Lots please let me know.

The Pub Games Challenge was so popular everyone is asking when the next one will be! I think I might simplify it by only having 2 different games instead of 8! Hope to get that booked in for late June before I do my training weekend in July.

Early September there will be another family fun day very similar to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party a GREAT success Exhausted! but very satisfied.

Well the weather was kind to us, a bit windy, but could have been a whole lot worse. A brilliant turnout and great fun had by all. The children had a wail of a time with Rose organising the games. There was face painting, pony rides, chicks hatching, bouncy castle, lucky dip, raffle, everyone went home happy and I think the children enjoyed it too!!!

 



I would have taken a lot more photos but in my rushing around like a headless chicken organising everything I put my camera down somewhere and didn't find it again until it was nearly all over hopefully someone else took some as well!!

A big thank you to all my neighbours and helpers for making it such a great day, I certainly slept well.

Total for the day £320 fantastic!

My garden looking good!

 

 

So I can tick that one off now and start on the next event doing what I do best, Wednesday 24th June, 7 - 9 PM at Keynsham Civic Hall A Spectacular Flower Demonstration, tickets in advance as numbers are limited. 

Charity Auction 12th July waiting for confirmation of some good 'Lots'. to tempt people and then will be up and running. 

 

 

Today was Bill and Angie's Ruby wedding anniversary, big party with all their family and friends an amazing atmosphere and Bill doing really well as he's just finished his 3rd week of treatment. It was really good to catch up with so many people I haven't seen for a long time. 





Fingers Crossed for sunshine next Saturday!

Have struggled all week with the nasty bug that's doing the rounds, soar throat, cough but worst of all no energy, I've felt completely wiped out all week, but it does have it bright side as I was at home most of the week I've been able to slowly, when I did have a bit of energy, to tidy the house and garden ready for next week's Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Have had some help from my friends as well, couldn't have done it without them, A BIG THANKS to you all. Just hope the weather is kind to us and the guests have deep pockets!!

Today was the first day I've felt anywhere near normal so celebrated with a lovely walk with the WRW group at Folly Farm, (near Chew Magna).

 
What a beautiful place, it's maintained with the help of volunteers from the Wildlife Trust and what a great job they do. It is so peaceful and the flora and fauna is well worth a visit. The bluebells where fantastic and many spotted orchids too but you'll have to hurry or you'll miss them. There are also breath-taking views of Chew Valley Lake, there are several walks we did the 3 mile one today, could have done the second part which would have been another 5 miles but really needed to get back to do some more tidying round my garden! Jet washer out great fun!! Lawn mowed might just have to take the tops off the dandelions at the end of the week.

Plants potted and prizes sorted just got to make my 'Mad Hat', blow up balloons, make ice lollies and sandwiches (all rather difficult with my fingers crossed) oh and remember to draw breath!!!! Next weeks photos may include some rather embarrassing shots!!!!!!!!!!

Keynsham Civic Hall now booked for Wednesday 24th June 7 - 9 pm for a Spectacular Flower Demonstration. Hope to see lots of you there.





 
 
 

All systems go!

No wonder I couldn't keep my eyes open last week by Wednesday I had the dreaded soar throat followed by the head aches and now a chesty cough, just when I thought I was going to start catching up with everything!!

Thank goodness for the rain the gardens desperately needed it, typical it would be over the bank holiday weekend!! and brrrrr so flipping cold!! but at least it made me stay in and start tidying the house ready for the 16th, which, anyone who's been to my house recently will know, is no mean feat!! Everything's starting to come together for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, someone's even threatening to bring a pony so we can do pony rides!

I did a bit of experimenting today with lollies, so got some lolly moulds and fresh strawberries and bananas, put the strawberries in the blender and added palm sugar and fizzy water then did the same with the bananas, then put them in the freezer.   Sampled a banana one earlier and I must say it wasn't bad at all, might have to try the strawberry one too. Going to try it with blueberries and mangos next.

I've been bringing on lots of plants in my greenhouse and have been busy potting them on and planting up some hanging baskets as well, so I will have lots to sell, just got to make my Mad Hat now and finish the cleaning and tidying then not much else I can do till the day, apart from pray for sunshine of course!


The blossom this year has been exceptional, this tree is on the Warminster Road but I never get to photograph it normally as there's no where really to stop but the road's closed so made the most of a great opportunity.
And yet another sunset but I can't resist them!!

Anyway back to the serious business, I have booked the new Civic Hall in Keynsham for the Wednesday 24th June from 7 pm for a Flower Demonstration so spread the word and let me know how many tickets you want! The tickets will be £8.50 each, numbers are limited so let me know as soon as possible.