Today I dragged hubby to see Christopher Robin at the cinema. I have been counting down the days till this was released. I’ve watched the trailers on YouTube umpteen times, I’ve entered competitions to win tickets to the premiere at Leicester Square (no luck) and I’ve checked daily to see if any cinemas were having early releases (nope) but finally it was released.

We were planning to go to the 3pm showing, but I was little Miss Impatient so we went to the 11.45am one instead. Imagine much grinning and clapping of hands (not while I was driving …. alright: only once or twice, maybe!) I decided to treat myself to some snacks as it was such a special occasion and I settled on these ….

Mmmmmm …….. scrummy! Raspberry yoghurt coated popcorn.

I impatiently tapped my foot through the adverts and trailers (although I did take a sharp intake of breath and let out a little squeal of excitement when the Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald trailer came on – love love love Harry Potter). Eventually it started. Don’t you just get goosebumps when you see this and hear that iconic music?

Or is it just me?

I had a momentary wobble at this point! What if it wasn’t all I was hoping for and expecting? Sometimes trailers are really misleading, they take the only six good scenes of a film and trick you into watching the rest. I needn’t have worried for a second. It was absolutely amazing. It was funny and sad. Sweet and even slightly dark (in a heffalumps and woozels way – it is only a PG). Nostalgic yet completely of the moment. I think I smiled for the entire one hour and forty three minutes!

The whole film was quintessentially ‘Pooh’. He did his stoutness exercises, Pooh sticks was played, hunny was eaten. All his friends were there, Eeyore was fabulously grumpy, Tigger bounced, Piglet cowered, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo were, as ever, happy with their supporting roles.

I’m absolutely sure you could analyse the film to the nth degree and come up with endless metaphors and lessons, but I prefer to keep it simple and just enjoy it for its simpleness, its innocence and its pure ‘Poohishness’. I will just point out that personally I think we could all take instruction from Pooh and his Hundred Acre pals occasionally through life.

I won’t explain the title of this entry because I don’t want to drop any spoilers, but suffice it to say that it’s a theme of the film. I think it’s a fabulous notion, especially when taken literally.

I’ve been lucky enough this past week to receive several things for nothing – zilch, nada, rien – and I intend to make something out of them.

First I noticed this fern in the garden. It just appeared, all of a sudden, and it definitely hasn’t been there in previous years so it must have wafted in (from paradise? – am I showing my age there?) It wasn’t in the most aesthetically pleasing position, so I dug it up and moved it.

Then, I was gifted not one, not two, not even three but four plants this week! Lucky lucky girl!

The two on the left are houseplants and were from a special friend who shares my love of all things horticultural. She took these babies from her own parent plants and potted them up for me. The one on the left (the one that’s so tiny and delicate that you can barely see it) is a Ceropegia Woodii, otherwise known as Chain of hearts. If I manage to nurture it well it will have masses of trailing heart shaped leaves. The one on the right is a Pilea Peperomioides or Chinese Money plant, and it will grow up to have voluminous waxy leaves.

The two on the right were given to me by our lovely cleaner at work who’s heard the aforementioned friend and I chatting about all things planty. She took them from her own garden. The top one is a Hosta. These thrive in shade or semi shade so I know the perfect spot for it once I’ve got it a bit more established in its pot. At the bottom is an Alchemilla or Lady’s Mantle. This one will apparently spread like wild fire.

My final ‘nothing’ I found growing between work and my haven (aka Notcutts).

Teasels! I’ve never seen these growing wild before, much less where I actually found them. I’m deducing that the hot weather must’ve enticed them. They’re currently hanging up in a bag so they can fully dry out and then I’ll be getting creative with them. More to come on that!

See I really will be doing my very very best to make my best somethings out of all these nothings.

Just quickly before I let you go, I have a Blue Peteresque (is that also showing my age?) ‘here’s one I made earlier’ to show you where I certainly made something from nothing.

I got this wheelbarrow with a flat tyre for free from freecycle with an idea in mind that was inspired by Notcutts’ displays, and now it looks like this …..

Nice huh?

TTFN.

Happy belated granny square day! I really wanted to write this entry yesterday, but by the time I’d gone to work, done my body combat class (didn’t forget my kit this week), cooked and eaten dinner (chicken stir fry) and made my granny square to share on instagram for granny square day it was past my bedtime and I was in danger of turning into a pumpkin!

I’ll explain granny square day. It was started back in 2014 on Instagram by suregal27 and the basic premise is to put a close up pic of your favourite granny square on Instagram with the hashtag #grannysquareday2018 and then when you search the hashtag you get a beautiful explosion of colour in the virtual granny square blanket that appears.

I was going to make a traditional granny square because I do so love the repetitive rhythm of going round and round, the softness of the yarn slipping through my fingers, not having to think at all, stopping only to change colours, but then I decided I’d try something a bit more complicated, so I consulted my granny square bible.

This dahlia really cheered me up when I saw it on Tuesday so I had to make this one.

 

 Look! Already beginning to look like a dahlia …. 

Round and round, delicious popcorn stitches making the dahlia petals …..

Drumroll ……

I really enjoyed making this and couldn’t wait to upload it to Instagram to see it in my on-screen blanket. This is such an amazing idea!!

Look!!

That’s the virtual blanket with my square at the centre.

Here’s a few more from throughout the day ……

 

This has inspired me to pick up my hook more often. What to make? I have a baby niece on the way and what better excuse to make a cuddly toy (like I need an excuse for that, there are far more cuddly toys in this house than is normal for a 40 year old, but I care not a jot!) Winter is also on the way and winter means snuggly blankets and scarves and (dare I mention it?) Christmas goodies to give. Hmmmm, I’ll have to write a list.

It’s high time I told you about my slight obsession with poorly plants. I mentioned my bargain Gazania to you the other day. I’m going to show you it again just because it’s so beautiful.

This was from Notcutts and despite being resigned to the sale table because it had a couple of brown leaves, it’s now thriving in my little bistro area. All its original sunflower-like blooms have faded but it’s a determined little life, it demands very little in the way of attention other than being deadheaded as each flower wilts, it doesn’t even like to be watered too often being from the hot climes of Southern Africa, yet it sends up new buds full of promise and life which quickly open out into more beautiful flowers. Gazanias are light sensitive and the petals close up tight at night or in low light. Very sensible the Gazania! If I could curl up and refuse to play when there’s not enough sunshine I would too!

Anyhoo, I digress slightly! I wanted to tell you about poorly plants. I have discovered that most, if not all, garden centres have a sale section where all the slightly poorly plants are to be found. Notcutts has an excellent sale table.

This is where you’ll find me most lunchtimes, scouring the table for plants to save. You see, I’m a sucker for the underdog and the next stop for these plants is surely (don’t say it to loud in case they hear) the dustbin and I can’t bear the thought of them not fulfilling their planty, floral dreams of growing in someone’s garden or on a patio or balcony. Look how green they are. Sure, some of them, even I have to admit, are beyond redemption, but most just need a bit of TLC.

I couldn’t wait to get in there today having not been in all last week because of not being at work. I could’ve trotted over straight away at noon, but I extended the anticipation and stayed at my desk for another half an hour before giving in to the temptation.

I drooled over the houseplants first. There was a minuscule succulent on sale but I dragged myself away from that. Six succulents is probably enough for our house (although I now realise I could’ve got it for my desk at work – hmmmmmm!)

Then I hurried off to the sale table wondering what joys I’d find after a week, and look ………

I’m drawn to grasses or grass-like plants. This one (on the left) is a Hemerocallis and it’ll have big pink flowers. Ooh ooh ooh and another Hebe! This is my fifth one now and all but one have come from the sale table. This one was very apt given the events of last week because it’s called Celebration. That’s what swung it for me. It’s not perfect, but that’s actually perfectly apt given that my Dad gave this reading as part of the wedding ceremony. I’ll give it a little bit of a tidy up and a drink and it’ll be good as new.

My first Hebe is called Purple Pixie and it was in a bit of a sorry state when I saved it but it’s now planted in our border and it’s growing well, looking very healthy and attracting pollinators. I wish I had a before photo, but here it is now in all its purple pixieness.

I just love it, and just think, if I hadn’t rescued it, that could’ve been the end of its story, but now it’ll hopefully have many years of fulfilling its destiny and bringing a smile to my face.

I’m going to love you and leave you today with two images of an Aster that I rescued for 75p from B&M Bargains (even they have a sale section). The first is as it was when I brought it home and the second is after I’d tidied it up. Hopefully I’ll be able to show you photos of it thriving in the future. Fingers and toes crossed!