Planting out

If you are looking for my Jubilee/Olympic Giveaway post it is here . Everyone is welcome so do join in the fun. 

Well it took it's time but finally the good weather arrived and what a wonderful week and weekend it has been. The temperatures have got up into the mid to late 20s, it was 28c in my sheltered back garden. This could only mean one thing for me.......time for planting out! I had beans and tomatoes sewn by my Dad that needed to be potted on . I had also bought my first trays of bedding plants and some fresh potting compost and set aside a sunny afternoon after work to start planting up my pots. 

Billy had been waiting for me to come home from work and I smiled when I saw that he had been dozing in the shade right by the compost. It's a shame he could not have started already...I can just see him with a trowel.

He had been joined by his friend Blackie who often visits. We think this is a stray cat and we think he is a she really but in our house Blackie is a boy. Blackie is very timid and was quite thin and small when he first appeared about a year ago. Lots of our neighbours feed him. He now comes for breakfast every morning and my soft Hb makes sure he gets something nourishing. Billy is quite tolerant of Blackie but will not let him inside and is very protective of his home! Blackie gets fed on our patio steps. 

I got out some of my pots and gave them a good wash and had a think about what was going where. 

I came indoors for a cup of tea and when I went out 10 minutes later I noticed I had 2 helpers.

Inspector Billy 

and his side kick, Sergeant Blackie.

Needless to say they just watched and after a while little Blackie disappeared again. Blackie never walks anywhere,he skips! Sadly he does tend to also roam around the front of our houses and although it is a quiet road I don't like seeing him skipping across. No one knows where he came from but he seems quite happy wandering and is no trouble. 

My little plants eagerly awaiting their yummy fresh soil and big clean pots.

And here are my first ones in place.

And how could I resist this Union Jack!

All in all a very satisfying if rather hot start to my summer garden.

So of course my card challenge just has to be garden related today doesn't it.

It's one of my newest Lili of the Valley stamps, at the moment I cannot remember the name but will come back and edit if I can find out!

I coloured it using my Promarkers and highlighted using my Prismacolor pencils.I used an unusual colour scheme of purple and green and I rather like it.
I found some great backing papers in my stash including the gardening one you can see here. I also added some lovely Marta Stewart hand punched butterflies. I do so love these punches and just wish I lived in the states to buy them as they are so expensive over here.
I completed my card with some ribbon, velum border and a circular LOTV Happy Birthday sentiment.

 I would like to enter my card into the following card challenges;
Squirrel and Fox Best friends #18
Allsorts #156 Happy Birthday to someone special and a blog hop
Pretty Little Ribbons #10 Blossom and butterflies
Totally Gorjuss #133 Something new my new is my LOTV stamp
MIM Linky Party #91


I hope you all enjoyed your weekends too? We enjoyed our trip to Southampton on Saturday  for Milly and I to have our hair and make up practice for The Wedding (61 days to go) and on Sunday went for a lovely long walk with Bear. I suppose it is back to work today for a rest ;0)

Take care, do have a look at my Giveaway...details are at the top of this post. Have a great week ahead.

Bye for now,

Jane x