All our bags are packed, we're ready to go ....

Whew!  We've made it - bags packed, birthday pressie in post, jacket revamped, painting finished and all children spoken to.  Just the hoover to push round the lounge, the kitchen floor given a quick wash, and the bathroom freshened up in the morning and we're good to go.  My mammoth list is full of ticks and tasks completed and crossed through - I seem to work much better if there's lots to do.  Despite the occasional moment of panic, we've accomplished such a lot in a very short space of time.  

Peas

Beans

N's been busy planting the seedlings in the garden (fingers crossed that it'll be frost-free while we're away) and many other garden-related things.

We have a min/max thermometer in our greenhouse; this was the reading yesterday afternoon.  96.8 degrees Fahrenheit is hot!  It was very pleasantly warm sat out on the decking, but not quite that hot.  

This daffodil makes me happy just looking at it - it's such a lovely golden yellow

The little cupcake wall-hanging I made for my 'almost' DIL is based on a pattern, designed by Maggie Wise, that I found in an old Fabrications quilting magazine I had.  

The finished hanging

It's made entirely from scraps I had, and I'm so pleased with the result.  N says he wants one for our kitchen ;-).  Although the pattern shows the border made from fabric strips sewn and cut into squares, I've 'cheated' and used a scrap of fabric printed with squares - it seemed absolutely ideal, and has worked a treat, especially the pretty pastel colours.  I've done machine and hand quilting, and embellished the cupcakes with embroidery and beads.  It was fun to do, and is a present for someone who rather likes cupcakes, both making them and eating them.  Well, I think these look almost good enough to eat, too.  

The jacket needs a quick press before I take a photo - will try to do that first thing tomorrow.  

And a nod to John Denver, still one of my all-time favourite singers, for the post title.