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Showing posts from June, 2014

Sundays are for pottering in the garden

Yesterday I decided to teak oil my old table and chairs, last year I never bothered so it was looking  a bit shabby. After a good scrub then a coat of oil I was just getting into it and enjoying some quiet time when I ran out! So I had to wait until this morning to go and get another bottle.   I had a productive afternoon finishing the chairs and pruning and pottering in lovely warm sunshine. My under gardener helped me take things out of the rubbish bags whilst my back was turned, butter wouldn't melt! He is great company and just sits in the shade close by watching me most of the time when he isn't pinching my prunnings! Spaniels are very sociable dogs and like being with their owners as much as possible and now that he's stopped eating all my plants I can enjoy gardening again!      through the gate to the gravel garden Moss my under gardener veg garden alliums about to flower new alpine plant  After scrubbing my

Wordless Wednesday (Front Gardens)

colourful summer bedding my little front garden Ladies Mantle taking over We always give so much attention to back gardens so I thought it would make a change to highlight some front gardens. Some were taken on Sunday morning when I walked into Canterbury town center through a pretty short cut with two rows of pretty terraced houses love the green front door, house in Canterbury, Kent house in Canterbury, Kent front garden in Canterbury, Kent love the twisted bay, Canterbury Kent

Happy Fathers Day

Wishing a very happy Fathers Day to my dad Michael, my father-in-law Derek and my husband Ian. This is the card I had made for Ian with some of my favourite walking snaps including lots of Moss (of course!)

hand-made (lavender bags)

Another lavender bag stack made and ready to post off tomorrow. I haven't made one for ages then this week I received an order. I still love making them and the smell of lavender in the evening in my craft room is lovely and very relaxing. Most evenings this week have been spent watering the garden, hanging baskets and veg patch. We don't have a big garden but it still takes a little while to potter around with the watering can. I've gone mad with geraniums this year, Morrisons had them on offer so I bought some bright pink and red ones. The ones in the pot were bought in Waitrose (Fireworks Scarlet) and I am going to bring them inside for the winter. The flowers are so bright and spiky I just couldn't resist buying two plants and they have been flowering really well. I've also got one in a blue wall planter by the back door. Enjoy the rest of the sunshine. I'll be in the office all day Friday when its going to be a hot one!

tempting cakes, farmers market and lots of strawberries

This weekend in Iwade in was a hive of activity! Saturday saw the WI and local resident Nicola McKenzie's second The Great Iwade Bake Off Sale for Sport Relief. It was a lovely community event, well attended with local residents baking cakes on Friday/Saturday to donate to the sale. I got there when it opened and things were already sold out, including cheese and bacon scones but the mini quiche was delish! The cake auction raised £100 for 6 cakes! There are a lot of talented people in Iwade and baking seems to be top of the list. My favourite cake was the raspberry, very moist with fresh raspberries and icing. I'll try to get the recipe this week and post it for you, nothing better than sharing a good recipe. And I won something in the raffle, a small pack of Hotel Chocolat chocolates :-) guess the weight of the cake (made by local resident Claire Saunders) cute cup cakes strawberry cup cakes a selection of cakes I bought from the cake sale Then on Su

Sophie Conran Garden for Burgon and Ball Ltd

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Harriet   at Sophie Conran who'd read my blog and asked if I'd like to test some of their gardening range. Of course I jumped at the chance, I'd had my eye on the cherry blossom flask and enamel mug for months! Last weekend Ian wasn't working, the weather was beautiful so off we set for lunch on the North Downs and walking in the woods. I've used many flasks over the years and to be honest some offer cold tea by the time we've reached Cobham and the n walked around for an hour or so. I wasn't holding out with this pretty little flask. I wasn't disappointed, quite the opposite - hot tea two hours after making it and still hot when I got home 4+ hours later! Sophie Conran enamel mug in my veg patch If you are looking for a pretty and practical flask for your allotment or walking adventures look no further. It fits in the side of a backback easily and it is lightweight and virtually unbre

Debbie Bliss Amalfi sample jumper

Debbie Bliss Amalfi Chevron Sweater I bagged myself a lovely bargain belated birthday present today over at Stash Fine Yarns . What do you think? I just hope it fits me! I've received an email before but by the time I got round to looking they had all sold, this time I was quick off the mark and I just love this sweater, reminds me of crochet blankets and all knitted. It is much cheaper than buying the yarn (RRP £3.90 a ball) and knitting it myself, which leaves me plenty of free time to get on with my granny squares for another project. Debbie Bliss Amalfi yarn, lovely colours

And the winner is....

Thank you to everyone who took part in my May giveaway. And the winner is Amy at lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk Amy please email me so that I can arrange your prize to be posted. I will announce another giveaway during the summer. Amanda x