Entertaining!

An answer in yesterday's Times crossword: amusement/hospitality.
Well it was the easy one, just finished.
I've just had to abandon the Code Breaker as I eventually batted a very annoying moth with it.
The problems of bed side lamps!

Anyway, entertaining the family today and for the next two weeks as DK has appointments at hospital.

Yesterday I was in Solihull, shopping and collecting J and Th from school, so the housework had to wait until today, not the best of days as it was very humid and warm with frequent showers.
Unfortunately, I overslept so it was a rush, but enough done, with K's help.
He works at a frantic pace.
All well, all asleep, but me.

Apparently, learning something new has many beneficial effects, one being that it improves memory.
I'll look for an Evening Class for September.
Any ideas?

Ghosts!

Or .......

Trying to protect the red currants until next week so that J and DK can eat them.

Some success.

Two days spent, largely outside, gardening and tidying - how many barrow loads of ivy can you possibly remove from one small piece of wall to prevent total loss of windows and spooky creeping up the roof?

A visit to Jeff at his nursery for the last bedding plants (begonias) and a selection to fill gaps on the rockery and border. Great to have an expert to advise as to what goes where regarding water and sunlight.

Some wonderfully coloured Euph........, look like fantastic lettuces, on the rockery, under the trees.

Rained overnight so all looks good.

Two church services this morning, no organist or warden at Sh so lots of enthusiasm and remember to take the milk and biscuits for coffee.

Just let out the chicks, done the ironing and ready to go back to bed with a cup of tea, yesterday's paper and my sermon to check (death of John the Baptist - you all know that one. Hard work!)

A day to spare.....

Spent, mainly, in the garden.

Chickens do like ice cream on a hot day - sorting out the freezer before MK sees it!

Rockery done, trees pruned, yard swept.

Herbs doing well!

Geraniums from Crofts Garden Centre, Shawbury. Brill.

The hole in my tyre, screw in from the other side???

How the day was spent........away from Wimbledon.

Sake bowls, gilded with images of the lucky gods - should be 7, but lovely.

Me - watching Andy win, even the third set!

A little e baying in the moments between shots.

Royal Doulton Metro wine glass, sadly, last one of a pair. Extortionate, but worth it!

Re-netted the red currants.

Admired the hanging baskets:

all of them!

Admire the greenhouse - floor to be completed, then door, then furnishings, then......winter cabbage?

Yesterday's news.

Guess!

Chicks spent the afternoon sitting on the bench, like two demure ladies.

They flew off when I went out to see them thinking of food.

Come on Andy!

Busy watching Wimbledon.
Does Andy have to have a crisis in every third set?

No blogging as ran out of time - three days in Bicester to pick up T and KP, followed by an open weekend in church, staying open whilst The Griffin (opposite) had its annual Beer Festival.
Lots of baking, two days in church serving teas to very nice, but not too many people.
Up at 4.00am last Monday to drive to Richmond to stay with P and N whilst visiting Wimbledon. AJ and I had seats on Court1 on Monday and saw three very good matches (I did sleep through one set, due to the early morning)
Back to Richmond by 9.00pm for dinner with N (P away)
We pottered around Richmond and Kingston on Tuesday and We'd morning, before I drove home, in time for an Alms Houses Trustee meeting with the residents.
Don't believe that all Alms Houses are occupied by dear old ladies.

Thursday was spent preparing for Friday, The Charles Hanson Valuation
Morning.
Loads of great food, up really early to clean the kitchen in OW Hall and set up, tables scrubbed and floral table cloths all round........
Charles was ill so another director came in his place, about 15 people came, several did not have coffee or refreshments, so no money taken from them.
The takings of £26.70 didn't even cover the cost of the hall, but we did have a good time and I took cake to friends and neighbours in the afternoon.
Today I caught up on housework, mainly cobwebs and flies built up over the last couple of weeks.
K glazed the greenhouse, which looks great.
This afternoon I prepared tomorrow's sermon (Mark 6, 1 - 13) with the TV on mute.
Shame about James Ward and Heather.
Didn't they do well!

Wetherby Antiques Fair - damp but rain didn't stop play!

I now know that Antiques Fairs are hard work but good fun and you meet lots of interesting people.

We had an outdoor pitch, on grass, 25'x25'.

We forgot to take the cover for the second gazebo, so entertained the rest of the field (still in their caravans, staying on site) at 6.00pm on Saturday morning, covering the frame with a tarpaulin, in heavy rain and moderate winds.

We sold well all day on Saturday, Sunday was much quieter, mainly due to grey skies and frequent rain.

We packed  at tea time, ready for the two hour drive home.

We unpacked the hire van at 7.00am this morning and returned it to Hallmark in Coleshill, cleaner than when we collected it, of course.

Lots more space in the factory now, but plenty of stock for the next venture.

The dust sheets and towels are on the line along with the rather elegant lengths of dark blue and dark green velvet, bought as table coverings.

I did buy a Royal Doulton "tapestry" tea service and 3 desert bowls, for £12, but only because I have Grandma's dinner service with no small plates.

Best sales, my wonderful, enormous silver plate Majestic Hotel tureen, Shelley jelly mold, both for £25,

Old washstand for £35!

Chicken finding a quiet corner to lay!

This is the scene the day after:

Does anyone on Earth want Chris's  Capo Di Monte?

I would put it by the gate but fear others would add more.

Next big challenge.......

Eboraceum with AJ, preparing for an early night to cope with tomorrow - the first Antiques Fair, at Wetherby Race Course.
The week has been spent amassing interesting items for sale, everything from furniture to cutlery, from crusts to milk churns.
Yesterday was spent collecting tables and gazebos and, finally, a Boxer van, which we then loaded to the gunnels.
Today we drove to Wetherby, set up the stall, in wonderful sunshine, and were collected by AJ, with more goods, and brought home to stay.
We shall be at the racecourse by 6.00am to set up, then two days of selling, hopefully.
I have a bottle of Proseco ready, if all goes well, i.e. a half empty van to take home on Sunday evening.
Praying for fine weather!