spring is in the air.....................

My garden is suddenly looking less like muddy marshland and it's beginning to burst into life. A few early blooms are appearing and an abundance of new shoots and buds are in evidence. Mr. R has repaired the broken windows in our shed, the mangled trellis and fixed the other casualties caused by the high winds.

I took a little trip around the garden yesterday, and captured a few images to share with you. Reading that last sentence back has made me smile, it sounds like we have a country estate, our garden is a very modest size but it was nice to have a little potter round and I took great pleasure seeing all the new growth and the early signs of spring.

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sorry about the photo overload but I could have gone on and on - such lovely colours after all the dreary greyness - although as you know I do love grey!

hope you all have a wonderful day, talk soon x

my garden - a quick update.......................

I promised to show you how my plants looked after I had potted them out into the borders and tubs.
I think they look happy and the recent rain has helped them to get established, I have also added a few photos of my favourite plants that have inhabited the borders for many years.........................

I hope the sun returns so that I can spend some time sitting out and enjoying my garden - fingers crossed as warm summer evenings sipping chilled wine has a nice ring to it...................

talk soon x

Sunday pottering.................

I had a very easy day yesterday as I was feeling quite weary. I started with a leisurely breakfast sitting in the garden which was a treat in itself. Mid morning Laura called to see if I wanted to go to the garden centre with her and help choose some plants for her garden. I needed some extra plants for my tubs and hanging baskets, so it was a nice treat to go together..

We went to Mockridges a small independent nursery about ten miles from where we live - they have lovely plants and it’s always worth a trip. The nursery was busy and we only just managed to find a parking space, it was a bit tricky to get around with our wonky trolley but we managed to buy an array of beautiful vibrant plants. Laura was pleased with the flowers she had chosen and I had found plenty to supplement my borders and fill the hanging baskets and tubs. In fact the car was overflowing it's a good job the prices are very reasonable!

By the time I got home I was pretty tired so plants have been put at the bottom of the garden to wait to be potted up -  hopefully an energised me will be ready to plant up tubs and hanging baskets tomorrow (lucky for me Mr R does all the heavy digging work)

Thought I would share some shots of my new plants before they reach their final destination.

 just a few more.....................

Talk soon x

slow living ........

Another month has flown by -  life is hectic but fun and fulfilling. Hope you have all had a productive month, using Christine's nine heading's I have given you a flavour of what's been happening in my life.

NOURISH:

lots of cooking and experimenting with recipes, not sure it's always nourishing as quite a few sweet bakes this month.

carrot and lentil soup

stir fry vegetables in a tomato sauce

cupcake batch bake

lemon drizzle loaf cake

tomato pasta

Oreo dipped lolly pops ............

PREPARE:
As usual lots of cooking from scratch, batch cooking and a few new recipes.

REDUCE:
Same as last time really, home fuel bills and petrol costs still showing savings.

GREEN:

Continuing to compost waste and limit use of pesticides and chemicals.
 

GROW:

Herb garden thriving, bay and rosemary look lovely, strawberries in pots and hanging baskets are looking good.

hanging basket strawberry plants

bay and rosemary

CREATE:

Even more crochet, and a few more unusual projects ..............

knitted lamp

little wooden people

DISCOVER:
Still discovering that I do have will power, I have now lost 2 stone - I am so thrilled.

ENHANCE:
Time spent with my wonderful grandchildren - they enhance my life enormously

ENJOY:
 A fabulous time in London sharing in Kate's wedding planning, dress fitting and more

I hope you have all had a good month sorry my post is a little late - I  look forward to catching up with all the "slow living posts" over at  Christine's - I am sure yet again you will have all put me to shame.

talk soon x

I am back up and running ....................

I feel like I have been away for ages - so much has happened in the last two weeks. I have been down to London again as Kate needed help with moving house, and unfortunately was without Internet access which put a stop to any blogging. As well as no Internet we had no TV - it's amazing how we get used to all of these distractions and it was lovely to experience a  renewed interest in the art of conversation - although to be honest Kate and I are never short of something to say.
On my journey home I was involved in a car crash - someone ran into the back of my car on the motorway - which was a very scary experience. Luckily apart from some back pain and whiplash I am ok and the other driver escaped injury. My car has been towed to the garage and I have my fingers crossed it can be repaired - I love my car. It was all such a shock it has left me very jittery but I am so lucky as it could have been lots worse.

Also, my lap top had to go away for repair so today is my first day with my repaired laptop and Internet access - yeah.

In my last post I talked about a mini  "give away" the closing date to enter was last Friday, so I am very pleased to anounce that the winner is  Barbara Good, Barbara left a lovely comment on my post and I will be sending her a special little package as soon as I can get to the post office,

It's so nice to be home and as usual I have been having a little wander around my garden which I miss when I am away, I have taken a few photos to share with you.

Lillie's in bloom

Water Lily peeping out

first baking apple on my  new tree - not sure it will make a pie

hanging baskets are full of colour

Asters about to open 

                                                                           Clematis climbing up the brickwork

The garden is looking lovely and vibrant and as the weather has improved I have been able to spend some time pottering in it over the last few days.

 

I have had a restful evening after a busy day looking after two of my grandson's, it's been lovely having the opportunity to catch up with my favourite blogs - although I've still got lots of catching up to do as they have all been very busy .

Talk soon x

my garden ..................

I'm going back to London again tomorrow so I am catching up with jobs around the house. I've
just looked out of my kitchen window and the garden looks lovely - felt I deserved a five minute wander. I thought I would take a few snaps and share some of my favourite flowers and plants with you.

   

                                                                       

     

I love my garden - but back indoors now finishing kitchen chores. I have a nice afternoon planned, Pam is coming over and we are giving our knitting and crochet needles a rest, as we both fancy starting a patchwork project. I will post some photos later.

Talk soon
Sue x