Butterflies & Bees & Apple Trees

Who would have guessed they are not allowed to give paracetamol to a patient with an oncoming migraine/headache at the Pain Clinic?!

So most of my plans for this afternoon were indeed scuppered - will have to work extra hard tomorrow to get things done that I had hoped to do today.

Making the most of what was left of my afternoon....

My patience was rewarded today by the sight of the first butterfly of one of two buddleia I have planted

A beautiful small tortoiseshell

The apples on the tree are looking good - looking forward to those apple crumbles, apple cakes and everything else yummy you can make with apples!

Bumble Bees and Busy Bees, and a little jive!

We went out for lunch today - yes third time this week - so much for my dieting!  Anyway I took my little compact Sony DSC-HX9V with me this time.  We were wondering around the garden centre afterwards and I saw the bumble bees and just had to see if I could try to capture them on film.

I was really quite pleased with the results.

Just love the sprinklings of pollen.

Earlier this week I started trying to clear and tidy my sewing studio - whilst it is still a long way from finished, things are in boxes and a couple of bags to sort through and my sewing table is finally cleared and I can actually sit at it and sew!  I am not sure quite how many months it has been since I have been able to do that (I have been sewing on the dining room table) and was it a pleasure to be in my own space again listening to some wonderful music by the greats...Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Satchmo, Glen Miller, etc....  just perfect!  I will continue to slowly work on clearing it and sorting through the boxes as I want to reorganise the actual sewing area so I can have two sewing machines and the overlocker set up.  I currently can't get the ironing board up in there which is silly, I really need that up and operational all the time if I am going to use the space efficiently.  It might be time to say goodbye to some of my lovely vintage machines....but then maybe not....we will see.  

Yesterday I went into London to the Pain Clinic for the first of my 'Hands Off Physiotherapy' session and I can actually say I found it a positive experience.  I really liked the therapist and got good vibes from her and feel like I will be able to work with her.  I have some 'homework' and will be seeing her again next Friday.  I know she won't be able to cure me...I have worked that out finally!  But I think she will be able to help me refine my coping mechanisms and give me some ways of dealing with the pain when it is at its worst.  There is a gym that can be used with physiotherapists on hand to give advice, so all good stuff.  Will see how it goes anyway.

Daily Dooldes & the Garden

So it is obvious I need to work a bit more on my doodles...

Mark and I popped into our two local garden centres today.  Two buddleia/buddleja to attract the butterflies came home with us, one white, one violet.  Two pots to plant them in, two roses and a magnolia.

David Austin Rose 'Summer Song'

David Austin 'Spirit of Freedom'

I'm not sure where these two new roses are going to go as I thought I had finished planting my rose garden in the front garden, but these were just so lovely and very fragrant that they just had to come home with us.

The other roses in our garden are continuing to bloom beautifully.

My latest bumble bee shot.

Raindrops on leaves.

The rain is now pouring down so I didn't get as much done in the garden as I would have liked. Hopefully tomorrow.