The Garden is Confused

This cannot be right surely?  I do not remember our rose flowering in December - maybe I am wrong but it took me by surprise this morning to see a small but perfectly formed bud about to open.  I have also noticed some greenfly - these were given short shrift and dealt with immediately.

Bar buying some fresh veggies I think I am just about sorted for next Sunday which is Christmas Day - we have to get through tomorrow (Sunday) when we have been invited to Lilian's for a Christmas dinner with her, mum and Ginge and Sally.  This meant that I had the whole of the weekend off which is amazing.

John was meeting up with his friend John from Arodes before Arodes John is busy with Christmas activities.  They had decided to meet for a pint and something to eat at Kaponas in the village.

I was really looking forward to having most of the day to myself to do exactly what I wanted which meant taking advantage of a glorious Winter's day by doing some gardening.

John was feeling a little better today.  Not 100 percent that is for certain but well enough to meet the other John.  I am dosing him up with SNIP and anti-biotics and, he wont be impressed but I have found some Lemsip jollop for chesty coughs!

Something else which is flowering is the Bird of Paradise plant - again I am not sure I would expect this in the winter but it has two or three blooms at the moment.  I spent a couple of hours just giving the garden a bit of a tidy, picking up leaves and pulling up weeds.  I did a massive cut back previously but maybe that was a bit early as things have recently put on a massive growth spurt!

After doing the gardening that I wanted to get done I did some cleaning and tidying and then spent a while making some new Christmas Cards.  I think I have written and posted or delivered all the cards for this year but I have been looking on tintyweb for some ideas for cards for next year.  

I seem to remember that I had made all my cards by about March this year so didn't have to panic when Christmas was approaching.  I want to be as organised in 2023 although I don't have many blank cards left - I may have to wait until John's Mum comes to replenish my stocks.

I had seen some ideas for creating 'trees' out of Washi tape and I had managed to get a selection from Jumbos so gave them a go.  I like the effect so will make a few of these when I have some spare time.  We have thought about having a 'knit and natter/bitch and stitch' morning once a month on the estate so maybe some of the others might like to give this a go.

As John was eating I was able to sort myself out today.  I think it is the first time I have been home alone in ages.  Normally if he goes out I go off and visit Mum but I have already done that this week so today the world was my oyster so to speak.

Yesterday I had been to see my friend Gillian.  She had a mosaic table for sale.  She had mosaic'd the top herself.  I asked if it would be ok outside and she said that she had not treated the grout for that which didn't matter so today I got John to decant some waterproofing solution and did the job myself.

For the time being the table is going to grace the conservatory and I planted up the buddha head that John gave me with a pothos and I think it looks lovely.

I tidied up and went and picked the John's up at 4.30pm.  At that time we had an eerie rolling mist shrouding Droushia although as I drove over to Arodes the sun was going down like a ball of flame.

John had enjoyed his afternoon but began to feel unwell again as he was sitting in the house so we opted for an early night because he wanted to feel well enough tomorrow to go to Lilian's as we know she will have gone to some trouble.  I have made some Christmas Bags rather than Christmas Crackers as I couldn't find any of those.  They are filled with a joke and a gift and a chocolate - nothing much but it is the thought that counts.  I have to admit I don't feel 100 percent either this evening - I reckon I am getting whatever it is that John has got.  Another Covid test shows that it isn't that thank goodness.