Birthday flowers

My birthday today, and what a lovely day it was :)  I had some lovely cards and presents to open in the morning - Tim bought me a hedgehog house (squee!), among other things, and my friend Katherine had carved a beautiful little pocket puffin for me, presented in a sweet little pouch expertly knitted by her daughter.  Lots of lovely messages from friends and family all day too - I feel very loved.

After a lovely lazy morning, with a long soak in the bath, we had some lunch, then drove to Barnstaple to go to not one but two garden centres (special treat for my birthday ;) ).  I was after a new blue pot and some suitable flowers to go in it - and after lots of searching (and patient waiting by Tim), I found some beauties. Helenium and salvia in this pot, as well as a 'rescue' osteospermum (reduced to £1 - I couldn't resist), and one of my wallflower seedlings - and (not shown here) a heliopsis and another osteospermum and wallfower in another pot (which we already owned).

I had a happy, but tiring, time planting it all up when we got back.  Tim then cooked us a super fancy dinner (starter and main course), and we sat outside again for a while with a glass or two of wine.  A perfect day (and great weather too - forgot to mention that!)  :)