Random sunflower & building work starts - Yay!

A few weeks ago we planted three sunflowers Although they have grown a little they really haven't taken off as such, LOL! Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I noticed a random sunflower growing in the back garden, on the new piece of land! I was quite chuffed to discover it! When I mowed the grass last week I took great care not to disturb it and today I noticed that it has bloomed! The builder is starting work in the garden tomorrow so i've also taken some 'before' photos. (you can see on them just how random the sunflower is, LOL!!)
So the plan in the back garden is we're having the concrete divide completely removed, we're replacing all the fencing with a solid wall which will be about 8 ft high and totally private. this wall will continue along the side of our driveway, stepping down near to where I park on the drive and then there will be a new wall to divide the drive and back garden, making the garden nice and secure for the children to play in :D In the bottom corner we're hoping to dig a hole deep enough to sink the trampoline into, there was an old tree near to there and we're hoping the roots won't prevent us from this, only time will tell!! Finally, and for me the best bit ;D we're having an extension built off the back of the garage which will be my new craft room!♥

Rhino-Mania

We had a little adventure over the weekend! We went Rhino hunting, LOL!! Chester is hosting Rhino-Mania and we spent a few hours tracking them down! They were mostly in the town centre, we found them all over including inside the cathedral!! We then had a little drive out and found one at the football ground, one at the racecourse and one at the BIG storage place! We knew there were four also at the Cheshire Oaks outlet place and we were going there anyway so hunted for them too! The nice thing is that the local schools also got involved and we found several miniature ones in shop windows!

Charity was my favourite rhino!

Half way!!

It's strange isn't it how thoughts enter your mind!! I was watching football this afternoon with Mark and Charlie (which was quite a boring game I might add) when I thought, 'oh, Mark and I have been married for 12 1/2 years, that means we're halfway to our silver wedding anniversary!! Then I spookily realised the date, today is the 7th which means we're EXACTLY half way there!! (we married on the 7th February 1998) It was very much a random thought but i'm pleased I thought it, LOL!!

My Little Bowling Boy.

How cute are those shoes!

This morning Charlie went Ten Pin Bowling with his friends! I wasn't sure if he'd be a little young but my friends and I have 8 children between us and such a large age range (1-10 years) in our children that it's hard to think of things for them all to do. Usually we go to the park or the Battery play area which suits them all but this morning it was raining heavily so bowling was suggested. Well I needn't have worried, Charlie LOVED it!! He couldn't wait for his turn to come around again! He played all 10 rounds and scored a very respectable 78 points! (which may have been the lowest but he was the youngest playing! Bless!)

15.5 miles

We had a lovely day for our bike ride today! I suggested today's route as we haven't cycled to Carnforth for a while! We rode to the promenade from my parent in law's house and took that up to Hest Bank, climbed Hest Bank hill which i'm pleased to say I can now seem to do with ease! That hill used to be the bain of my cycling and quite often I would end up walking up it, LOL! Now I can cycle it without even changing gears!! We got onto the canal and cycled to Carnforth where we saw the cygnets, they've grown so much!! I have seen them in between times from my last post about them but I was so surprised today! It seemed odd that their dad (i'm presuming it's dad, of course it could be mum!!) is still protecting them!! He was scarily big when he stood up and stretched his neck, LOL!! When walking past I kept my bike that side of him!!
I decided it would be too short to just cycle back so we continued on the canal to Lancaster, we got off at Barleycop Lane and rode right around Ryelands Park before getting onto the cycle path at Carlisle bridge back to Sylvia and Hughie's.
This evening I have cut the grass too so i'm hoping i'll have burned off a few calories!!

MLH August

I can't believe how fast this year is going! So it's the beginning of August which means it was time to stitch another My Little Heart panel. They were so cruel to us this month and gave us two gorgeous options! There was a beehive on one and the sunflower on the other. I did try combining the two designs and it kind of worked but I felt it looked a bit crowded compared to the other months. In the end I decided to stitch the Sunflower. I love how vibrant it is and think it really lifts the whole cross stitch. I totally adore how this project is coming together. Two rows are now complete! :D

19.1 miles

Yay!! i've finally been able to go out on my bike! I planned cycling twice this week and both times it was windy and raining!
I set off from home and cycled along the prom to the Midland Hotel, I took the cycle path from there all the way to Bull Beck. I then cycled back to my parents in law's house to leave my bike there ready for tomorrow.