An unexpected gift...

It’s always a special treat when the doorbell rings and there’s an unexpected gift on 

the doorstep.

That’s what happened yesterday!

The gift? 

A pretty, hanging wreath with a primrose, some muscari, little eggs and feathers,

beautifully put together.

  

This came from a lovely customer of mine, whom I’ve known for a number of years, and she always finds   the nicest of gifts. I do happen to know exactly where she bought this as I’ve also used this wonderful lady to send a gift. The link to  ‘Bumble and Iris’ is Here . I’m so very fortunate to live in the delivery area!

Meanwhile...it’s that time of year and we’ve started to have our regular coffee time, ‘get together’ by the pond...

And I’ve been beavering away here...

And here..

Simple pleasures...Violets and Cowslips...

Many years ago, I received this ‘boot planter’ from my sister. It’s been well used! Last year, I planted a Violet in it...and I do love a Violet!

 I always think of William Wordsworth’s poem, ‘ She dwelt among untrodden ways’, 

when I see a patch of Violets. This verse, in particular:

A violet by a mossy stone

Half hidden from the eye!

Fair as a star, when only one

Is shining in the sky.

As well as Violets, I love Cowslips. Last year, I actually saved the seed and was successful in growing my own Cowslips, which are doing very nicely in my greenhouse as I type! And I have many planted in the garden. These, below, are on my potting bench right now...for inspiration! The large one was a  Mothering Sunday gift. By the way, they are really easy to raise from seed. Just wait until the seed heads are very dry and the seeds shake out, easily.

 

So there we have it...two simple pleasures. Happy weekend everyone! 😁

Spring cleaning!

Ten years ago, I was lucky enough to receive a small sum of money. Rather than fritter it away, I decided  to use it to buy a summerhouse. T’was quite exciting really as I’d never owned such a thing!

Anyway...the blog post from 2011, is Here 

Since then, every spring and every autumn, I venture to the bottom of the garden to give the summerhouse a really good clean. It’s a very dry habitat  ...thus the spiders rather like it. Nothing ever gets mouldy as I leave the windows slightly open all through the year. It’s a fab little place to escape to when you feel like some peace as well as some shade. 

I enjoy this task immensely as it means that as well as cleaning it, I can ‘waste time’ ....or shall we say, ‘re-arrange the tat!’

As the years have gone by, I think I’ve added more bits and pieces to the summerhouse simply because I’m a bit of a vintage lover who can’t resist the odd piece of pottery, linen, cotton fabric ...you name it and I’m in like a hawk should I spot a bargain. Thankfully, during the last year, this ‘Avenue of delight’ has been curtailed....but hey ho, I’m sure that time will come again.

So, where was I? Ah yes...the Summerhouse spring clean! Off I went with my Hoover and cleaning cloths and I spruced up this little bit of peaceful paradise....as well as washing the curtains and throws and putting them back in their rightful places within 24 hours. I don’t hang about!

So, here is my summerhouse (and its clutter)....and here’s to the next cleaning session!