Day 1576 to do list on hold… summer snuck up and surprised us today!

It’s summer in Ayrshire today.

Honestly it is just soooooo beautiful. There is no wind, only blue sky and sunshine. Such a welcome change from the winter of yesterday!!

Ahhhhh…. I’m sitting outside having just had dinner and it’s still hot.

My to do list went out the window as a result.

In Scotland, when the sun shines, we rush outside and everything else just has to wait. We never know when we might see the sunshine again.

I’m being dramatic but it’s absolutely true!

My to do list was completely housework related.

I have still been very productive though.

First of all I cleaned all the white upvc about the French doors in the spare bedroom. They look. amazing, that cleaner really brings out the white in them again.

I then jumped in the shower to scrub all the paint off…. I just found some on my toenail 😆

Gayle came to pick me up and we went to Mocha Jak’s for brunch.

It is a scorcher. We are both dressed in blue jeans, black T-shirts and have our hair tied back. Twinning!

We had a lemon meringue blonde and a double caramel brownie to share. Sooo good.

We are headed to Gayle’s wholesale supplier for some tissue paper.

I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop as I’ve never been to this wholesaler before.

We head back down the road via B&Q as Craig has made me stop for decking screws… which he hasn’t used today, I may add…

It was so lovely to get out and have a good natter!

She dropped me…. And the decking screws off before 1pm!

Craig had already got his new cold dip barrel all set up. He is very lucky to have friends that able to get one for him.

It’s on decking board that he got from another friend.

It has a step to get in but not one to get out. I can’t use it until then. 😆

We also have some more artificial grass that was going spare. It’s second hand, like our other grass, but that’s ok.

We had woodchip/bark down the back of our garden, which used to look lovely.

We had no idea we were just creating mud in the long run. It mulches together and becomes mud, which weeds thrive on.

Did you spot the guy in the orange T-shirt… please with is efforts but sporting a long hairdo?!!

So now we have a patchwork quilt of artificial grass but it’s much safer for the dogs.

None of our grass is the same colour but that is ok. It is also very, very heavy!!

We’ve very kindly been given it all…. For nothing… over the years. We have been so lucky!

Here is Mr proud of his days work.

And quite rightly so… Khaleesi is loving in too

The sun is shining and I’m matching the hydrangeas!

We are knackered but it has been a really good day and we’ve got so much done.

We’ve ended the day in with Claire and Graeme at their fire pit! A lovely end to a lovely day.

The housework will have to wait until tomorrow!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1443 Easter Sunday 2024 and finally some warm sunshine!

Our clocks went back last night. This made me laugh!

I have to say I’ve been neither up nor down about it. It hasn’t bothered me as much as it used to do when I hated my job. I’m looking forward to the very light evening!

Sunshine has been a long time coming. We are finally outside in the garden for the very first time this year. Out of the breeze it feels hot. It’s only 12°C but hey that’s pretty good for us!

Khaleesi is loving the sunshine! About time too, she says.

It’s so lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin after so long. The last time I sat out in the sun was the start of October in Turkey with Gayle. I still remember the last embers of the sun, knowing it would be a while before we felt it again. I was pre-sad to leave!!

Yesterday was lovely but wrap up lovely. Today is sun-trap Sunday in the back garden. I say that as it clouds over, the wind picks up and it goes cool. Did I speak too soon?!?!

I’ve not stopped all day. I’ve weeded and picked up branches and leaves, I’ve swept the decking, I’ve washed all of the dog blankets and now must rinse the washing machine before anything else goes through it. It’s HAIRY!!

It’s a proper spring day. The birds have been chirping all day. There was one in particular this morning, that chirped the introduction to the Game of Thrones theme tune. I’ve been singing that all day! 😂

Since I said it was hot it’s been cloudy and cool but I’m still sitting outside.

I feel so at peace in the fresh air. Sundays aren’t always my best day and yet this one has been calm.

I took Calaidh for a walk up the hill and got her to pose next to some daffodils. She’s a good girl…

She’s so pretty!

She’s really thinking let’s get this over with!! We got up to the field at the top of the hill and I freaked as there were two deer 🦌 in the middle of it. I called her and got her on lead but we were up wind of them so she couldn’t smell them thankfully! they didn’t seem that bothered about her either.

She did chase this poor farm cat up a tree on the way home though! Poor wee thing was hanging on for deal like until I got Calaidh on the lead.

I only got a photo as I’m ready for anything when I’m out walking 😂😂😂

So that was the weekend. It’s 5.35pm and I’m sitting outside again. The breeze has picked up and is blowing stuff all over the decking I just swept!

It feels good to have done all that today.

Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend and for those of you who get Bank Holiday Monday, enjoy your lie in. I will be mostly trying to appreciate the empty roads in the morning!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1237 another day gardening and booked next years’ summer holiday!

I slept like a log last night. Isn’t it amazing that I can say that almost every other day. I fell asleep on the couch watching a movie at about 9pm and slept for over an hour.

Then I couldn’t wake up this morning. Actually stayed in bed until after 8am this morning. Check me!

We decided on another day in the garden. We started off talking about next years’ holidays….. decisions, decisions. We both agreed we would love to go back to Iceland 🇮🇸 again. So much still to see and do. I also have a list, the length of my arm, of places that I would like to go and see. We mulled that over, over coffee, sitting in the garden.

It’s another nice day, cooler and cloudier but still nice.

Back to the gardening it is!

All of these are the before….. then after.

Then just some after shots that I didn’t take before!

The ground still looks covered in weeds but it’s amazing compared to what it was before. We also had to shore up the giant hydrangea as it’s been falling down with its own weight.

Also my new favourite path taking shape. Still a long way to go with that.

We haven’t spent any real time in the garden this year. I’ve never felt any desire to do gardening for a few years now. I always wanted to be away in the van. It’s been really nice to tidy it all up these last few days. We’re now sitting outside with a fire pit.

I thought the forecast was meant to be lovely but it’s cloudy and cooler now. The fire is toasty!

I did stop for another healthy salad lunch today.

I’m still loving my mixed salads in the big tub. Today was applewood smoked cheese with wafer thin chicken, olives and feta, sun-dried tomatoes and a cheese filled pepper.

Super tasty!

As we sit by the fire-pit, I got back onto the subject of holidays.

I’ve been using the love holidays app recently and went to look at Croatia. It’s one of the warmer places I fancied due to the Game of Thrones filming locations.

We know that Dubrovnik is one of, if not the most, visited cities, in the world. I found a beautiful 3 star hotel, 40 minutes from Dubrovnik and 15 minutes from the airport, in the town of Cavtat.

I found a great deal, the first place I looked and such a stunning location. We’ve booked a week at the end of September 2024!!!

The holiday was only £615 each for bed and breakfast for 7 nights. I thought that was really good. Weather wise we should be past the worst of the heat and we’re away from the crowds too.

Photos are obviously courtesy of love holidays and I have not just jetted out there to take some photos!! I didn’t look at anything else as this just felt perfect. It has 4.5 stars on trip advisor.

The good thing about booking so far in advance is that you get pay it up. This works out at just over £100 a month which is easily doable. Something to really look forward to!!

So I’ve had another great day. I’m calm. I’m happy. I’m excited as I now have two foreign holidays and a wee trip to Devon to look forward to.

I’ve not had much interest in the van but I think the market is slow. I’m not in any rush to sell, so I won’t just give it away, but I am super excited about travelling abroad now and doing something different. I’ve also looked at going back to Edinburgh to meet Mum again and maybe visit Edinburgh Castle. I no longer want to be stuck in a field looking at the rest of a campsite.

Funny how your priorities change. A few people can’t believe I’m selling her, I know this feels right. Camping brought me a whole load of stress, where to book, when to go, what’s the weather looking like, was it dog friendly etc etc. now I can just pack a bag and head off somewhere!! Sounds like a plan!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1236 an unexpectedly warm day spent working in the garden & International Dog Day (who knew?!)

Another great sleep but awake at 5am… on a Saturday dammit. I tried to go back to sleep for 2 hours but it wasn’t happening! I finally got up at 7am.

We sat and had a coffee then I got ready to take the dogs out.

It’s actually a lovely morning. It’s warm and sunny… I didn’t realise.

These cows were watching us! 🐮🐮🐮

Lovely blue sky 💙

Big shadows this morning!

The cow guy was making some noise as we walked towards it! went silent for the photo!

Scary moo coo.

So when I got back I got straight into the gardening. I didn’t plan to do any, and the forecast was for rain all day. Thought I may as well be outside since it was warm and dry.

It was proper back breaking stuff. Trying to take as many roots out of the ground as I could. I even moved some plants around, which I may regret, but, the garden at the bottom was very congested. If the moved plants take up the top then great but if not, you couldn’t see them anyway.

When we first moved in here, the back of the garden was fully overgrown. We paid to have it cleared and then put bark down.

Big mistake.

That’s not fair actually, it served its purpose at the time but bark eventually mulches down and becomes mud. We’ve added layer upon layer of bark in order to dry up the mud, but it keeps mulching down.

We have decided to do away with the bark but it’s slow progress. Hoping for as much free artificial grass as we can get.

I found a path that we covered up and have been digging that back out.

It’s slow progress as I get sore hands and arms…. And I do get bored with it!

I’ve been thinking for a good few weeks that I must get back to exercise. I feel guilty for not doing any and I have sag where I haven’t sagged for years.

I need to remember that the dog walk and a full workout in the garden count too! It was a hard slog.

I had a shower and washed mud out my hair and came back out to sit and let my hair dry.

I am shattered. I am silent. I’m not gonna give you the chat of your life tonight. (Think Craig has sussed this already)

I am beyond calm.

I am thinking of nothing. Maybe a nap would have been a good idea.

This is not the best photo but it shows where I was working today.

Happy International Dog Day from our gang and the Scottish Dog Behaviourist.

Have a lovely Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone 🐶🐶🐶

Day 1215 musta needed it! 😴💤😴💤😴😴🥱🛌

I’ve not had a day like this in a long time.

I’ve been in bed most of the day. I’m not sick I’m just so lethargic.

The Scottish Dog Behaviourist set his alarm for 5am. Today was my only day off without an alarm. I tried to go back to sleep but got up at 5.45am. I’m very quiet, definitely not full of chat.

I headed out with the puppers at 6.30am!!

The forecast is for rain all day again, but it’s dry for now, though much cooler than yesterday. It is, however, only 6.30am 😂 when was the last time I was out in a T-shirt at that time of the morning?!

I didn’t run as much today. More of a flat footed fast walk at times.

It’s what I call a watery sun this morning. Looks like it will rain heavily soon.

I think that shot is pretty impressive when you consider I have 3 excited Border Collies in one hand 😂 desperate to get off on their walk!

Quite liked the wee thistley things, as you can tell as there are two photos.

“Whatcha stopping for now mumma?!? Awwww there are sheep-y-mehs in here!!”

I dragged the 3 of them past the meadow garden, just to see how it’s coming along.

It’s much the same but still very pretty.

It’s very unassuming behind this gate!

Back home and I sat about for a bit. It’s only 7.30am so I headed back to bed until just before 10am. I was woken up but the dogs doing a proper wolf howl after Craig left the house!!

I didn’t know where to put myself. Didn’t have the energy to do anything but couldn’t think of the kind of nothing I wanted to do. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

I came outside for a poo pick and suddenly found myself weeding the very overgrown garden! As you do.

It was a tough slog and I felt a bit lightheaded at times. There are still a lot of very tough weeds but I really broke the back of it. There are some plants that ended up going too but Craig really doesn’t like this part of the garden so I did what he wanted me to do rather than what I would have done. It’s easier to clear it all than clear bits of it.

I asked him to bring a KFC Boneless Bucket home. Lethargy craves junk.

As soon as I ate it, I went for a shower then back up to bed for another 2.5 hours!!

I tried to read a book that Evelyn lent me but was out for the count. I haven’t needed this much sleep in ages.

I’m super silent in my head. I’m calm, there is nothing to worry about, nothing I can’t blog about, Craig and I haven’t fallen out, I’m just hiding in silence which I know sounds weird but I must need it for some reason. I maybe need some kind of recovery from the crazy histrionics mid week. Hard work this over analysis! 🫣🥱😂

I’m back out in the garden, jammies on hoping no one from the pub looks over the fence. I have one boob under each arm pit, as you do when your my age and braless. 😂 I could sit here all night.

The rain never came.

Check out our hydrangea bush. I tried to get it all in the photo!

It’s really beautiful.

I’ve had a wee play with the puppers to get some jumping shots!

A couple of them you have to click on the pic to get a full view but I’m sure you get the gist.

So a day of a whole lot of nothing and I could go back to bed and sleep some more. I might just do that.

Getting up some energy from my full day on the PS Waverley tomorrow which I’m super excited about… in a quiet, tired kinda way!

I musta needed it.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1146 a beautiful day outside!!

To be fair, it’s been a beautiful day inside too. Finally we have a day of shorts and vest top…. Out in the garden. You’ve kept us waiting for this, 2023!

I slept really well all night, again. Could not wake up this morning at all. Have been looking forward to some good weather and getting the bedding washed, dried and back on the bed, so,I finally got moving.

The day started with dog jog and very tangled leads 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Nothing is more beautiful than the colours on a sunny day. That sky…. 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

These next two are just the cow parsley at the side of the road! It’s taking over the world!

The buttercups are out in full force too.

The cows are totally checking us out!

So back home and it was straight into doggy bath time…. It’s been a while and when you have 3 dogs, grooming can add up.

Freya was first and I forgot to take photos of her…. I am totally soaked after her!

Then Calaidh who was surprisingly dirty… she hides it well in that black coat of hers.

She who wants to bit the shower spray any chance she gets, is surprisingly traumatised by being washed! Then Bhru… she looks like she’s smiling but I think she thought she could get out the bath via the taps… she’d planned an escape 😂

Here they all are out in the garden, drying very quickly, all fluffy and clean. Note the bedding on the line as well…. It’s definitely washing day in our house!!

All that and 2 loads done and I t’s not even 9.30am!!

Next step was the rockery. Now I think it looks lovely and wild but it is FULL of weeds and someone I live with, is not a fan of a weed…..

I’ve done really well but it’s nowhere near where it needs to be. I hit a wall around 12.30!

So really for the rest of the day I’ve been sitting on a sun lounger and having spurts of weeding energy.

I did open my eyes to this…. At one point!

That’s what happens when you put yourself at their level… 😂

Another spurt…. Before.

…and after!

We’ve had a lovely dinner tonight…. Cooked over the fire!

Spiced venison hotpot. It was amazing!!

Craig did very well for his first South African potjie…. Or as close as we can get to it! The “rules” say it’s not to be stirred but we stirred ours….. ours I have a cheek… I stirred Craig’s 🤦🏻‍♀️😂. There’s lots of seasoning in it that we bought from Amazon. The meat is browned with the onions and them the veg layered on top. He made enough for 6 people. Guess what’s we’re having for the next few days?!?

So all in all, we’ve had a really lovely day. We’ve done lots but also rested lots too.

It got a wee bit chilly an hour or so ago so I gave in and put a T-shirt on… of course now the sun is back out.

The sign of a good day off is when it feel likes it’s been longer than one day and it’s still only 5.15pm!

Stay safe everyone 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙☀️

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31