While most of the audience enjoyed the warm-up act at the Elbow concert last night, Dick (our designated driver) decided that a short nap would be a good idea! Rock concerts were not like this when I used to go to them in the 70's/80's! I had been looking forward to seeing Elbow for months, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Luckily for us, we knew several people who were there, both friends and family. We had such a good time. I even enjoyed the journey home. Our friends Fran & Doug were with us, and although we were stuck in traffic trying to get out of the forest, we had such a laugh, I was still giggling this morning.
​I spent this morning out in the garden, I love growing plants from seed and today I was pricking out the wallflowers and pansies for later in the year. Dick has been artistic in the garden, and has put a spare mirror out in the hedge. Poor Otto was a very put out when he first saw it as he thought we had trespassers and it took a while before he accepted it as "normal".! I hope he doesn't spend too long admiring himself in it. 
​It has been a very busy week on the jewellery front, I even posted my first parcel to France - I honestly didn't think that would ever happen. There are many new items on the website this week, with more to come. Why not have a look on www.maryslittlegems.com
​ps Don't forget the 25% coupon, use code BLOG at the checkout, offer lasts until 6th July. Only valid for orders over £10.

Just to give you an idea of the conversations we sometimes have:-
Dick - Your Anaglyptas are coming out
​Mary - Pardon?
Dick - One of your Anaglyptas is in bud!
​Mary - Anaglypta is a type of wallpaper
Dick - Oh, is it?  That blue flower round the corner
​In the end it became clear that my Agapanthus is doing quite well!! I'm sure we're not the only people who get in a muddle!
​This week I've decided to reward you lovely people who read this blog, I'm very grateful to you all and am constantly surprised how many of you keep coming back for more. So here is the coupon code which will give you 25% off if you spend over £10 on my online shop. The code is BLOG, make sure you enter this code in the "Add a coupon code" section before you pay. This offer ends on 6th July 2017. 

Every morning on our amble round the meadows Dick stops for a lean on the gate to take the world in, he tried it without the gate this morning & looked a proper fool, nothing new there then!! (Sorry Dick, I don't really mean it). The gate was open because the hay has been cut, I'm always a little bit sad about it, but we have been left some lovely refuge areas, so we still  have plenty of flowers and butterflies. The hay smells absolutely gorgeous too, almost good enough to eat. The cattle will enjoy it when the time comes.
​Our two lovely little chicks are doing well, Hazel is being a great mum. More to come next week from Bertha. Strangely enough there seems to be a fashion for being broody, as Pearl is sitting on a clutch now. As we're three laying hens short at the moment egg production is a bit slower than usual.
​I'm having a visitor this afternoon, so have been baking again,, I cooked enough sponges over the cricket week, so have made flapjack for a change. Hope she likes it, if not Dick will be in luck.
​As usual there are new items on the website this week, including  memory wire bracelets, and also some necklaces. I have been asked to source some sterling silver toe rings, they should be arriving soon. Watch this space.

We're very lucky to live in St Margaret South Elmham, among many other events we have an annual Cricket Festival. This year we have been "invited" to volunteer, and I have to say it's been a pleasure to help with the catering. Dick has been spending a lot of time running the BBQ - I have helped a bit and I've also made a few cakes. The event continues with Cricket this evening, followed by Inter-Village Rounders tomorrow afternoon (10 June), and Inter-Village Cricket on Sunday pm. It's well worth a visit, entry is free and there is plenty of food available at reasonable prices. The pitch is beautifully located between the Church and the Old Rectory, which lends itself to this quintessentially British event. Even if you're not into sport it is a good place to be. It's reminiscent of Midsomer, but without the murders! 
​On the home front we have new chicks - and we still get excited about it, and we're expecting some more in a couple of weeks. Otto had a stay-over at our friends house while Dick & I were on election duty, and he had a great time making new friends in Harleston. As usual, I have been making new items to put on the website, so please have a look. 

The area around (and in) our greenhouse is looking quite like a Garden Centre at the moment, I seem to be growing things more quickly than I can plant them out.  I did get a bit carried away with my seed ordering this year, and now I'm paying for it! Still, I'm hoping that it will be worth all the effort when they all come into flower/fruit later in the Summer. I have to say that Dick's vegetable garden is looking great, so I need to catch up with the flower side of things.
​For the first time in our Chicken keeping career we have two broody hens sitting on clutches of eggs. Bertha is in the main coop, she's an experienced Mum and has raised lots of chicks for us in the past. On the other hand, Hazel is a first time Mum to be and is a bit uppity, so she's in a separate coop away from the main one. We're hoping to see the first chicks in a week or two. 
​I have included a photo of myself in this season's "de rigueur" gardening/dog walking outfit of a crumpled linen dress coupled with Hunter wellingtons. Mark my words, this could catch on! 
​As always, new beads arriving and new items being made.