To this...
Happy Hens basking in the sun!!
Still a long way to go, but it looks like a garden!!
About Me
- Sarah
- I currently live in Birmingham and come from Solihull. I have a love of all things crafty, developed from my mom's love of crafts as I was growing up. I currently work in marketing, but I'm a qualified Aromatherapist, and use to be self employed alongside a day job, might one day return to that. I try to fit in crafts when I can, I wish I had more time and money to spend on it! I enjoy researching my family history and finding out about the past. It can get frustrating, but is really rewarding when you have a break through! I hope to meet people with similar interests as me and swap advice/stories.
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
The Secret Garden
Well, the garden saga continues...it's a real project and having house repairs to do too means just doing a bit here and there. I think it'll be great when all is done, it's just getting there!
Still we have some work to do with the chickens, but they are in a much better condition than they were left in!!!
Next we hope to get a proper roof, we covered them in tarpaulins, which was a great improvement as part of the run wasn't covered and the area is so muddy they were just swamped. Hoping we avoid some wet weather for a while to keep them dry. Next year we hope to get a new coop for them, the current one is a little small for 5 chickens, but if we can keep the run and just mend it where needed as it's large enough for them all. So another on-going project!
Plants
The garden's pretty basic, a lot of hedges, some which will become trees if we're not careful, would like to get some fencing up, but that's a plan for next year. Also we have a large tree right at the bottom corner of the garden and whilst I don't want to chop everything down, we could use some branches being cut just to get more light into the garden, else it'll be a bit dark for the veg patch.
I've got various seeds waiting to be sewn next year and ideas on boarders, but for now it all needs tidying, lot of clearing rubbish and then let it settle over winter ready for spring. I also want to introduce some wildlife areas, I love birds, already have a feeding area, but would like some more areas and a bird bath, though there are lots of cats here - seen at least 4/5 different ones and with the possibility of getting one ourselves it's the dilemma of looking after birds and keeping cats away...not an easy win!
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| We started on the veg patch...dug up some slabs, found hundreds of stones and all sorts of buried rubbish! But there's a load of worms...soil should be good. Still plan to extend the veg patch a bit more, knock down the shed (which is rotten) and have a larger one...lots to do! |
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| The Chickens...as yet unnamed |
Still we have some work to do with the chickens, but they are in a much better condition than they were left in!!!
Next we hope to get a proper roof, we covered them in tarpaulins, which was a great improvement as part of the run wasn't covered and the area is so muddy they were just swamped. Hoping we avoid some wet weather for a while to keep them dry. Next year we hope to get a new coop for them, the current one is a little small for 5 chickens, but if we can keep the run and just mend it where needed as it's large enough for them all. So another on-going project!
Plants
The garden's pretty basic, a lot of hedges, some which will become trees if we're not careful, would like to get some fencing up, but that's a plan for next year. Also we have a large tree right at the bottom corner of the garden and whilst I don't want to chop everything down, we could use some branches being cut just to get more light into the garden, else it'll be a bit dark for the veg patch.
I've got various seeds waiting to be sewn next year and ideas on boarders, but for now it all needs tidying, lot of clearing rubbish and then let it settle over winter ready for spring. I also want to introduce some wildlife areas, I love birds, already have a feeding area, but would like some more areas and a bird bath, though there are lots of cats here - seen at least 4/5 different ones and with the possibility of getting one ourselves it's the dilemma of looking after birds and keeping cats away...not an easy win!
Friday, 25 October 2013
Changes & New Creations
A lot's been going on, new house - bit of a project, work, new crafts, a sewing class and Shakespeare Richard II...so it's all go!
Many things in the house need sorting (not least to say a new kitchen!) All in good time...I keep telling myself, got to watch the ££ it's a busy and costly time of the year!
We 'inherited' some chickens, who desperately needed looking after, that's an ongoing project and the garden seems to have been a dumping ground, so more clearing and sorting there, just want the worst done before the really cold weather sets in!
I have had a little 'me' time in between, so my sister and I attended a lovely sewing class at Guthrie & Ghani in Moseley. See more here.
I also was fortunate enough to get tickets for Stratford to see Richard II with David Tennant- we had excellent seats, so close. The play was very good and had light hearted comedy moments, and parts of the play are relevant to today, so Shakespeare was well ahead of his time, that or the problems of then are still with us today!
I have been crafting I can, which isn't often enough and sometimes I'm too tired to craft- which isn't on! Anyway I have agreed to make a few items for The Donkey Sanctuary, a lovely charity looking after neglected/abandoned Donkeys I hope to make a few items for them, it's just fitting it in around my crafting too!
Crochet - as well as various donkey themed items, I have been working on some cute crochet creations including owls and robins.
Felt - again I have been making donkey items as well as some robins here, which I hope to make into brooches/decorations/hair clips...hopefully in time for Christmas!
I have also got some background projects I have been working on, including some bouquets I hope to finally put together, it's all a bit experimental, but involves crochet, beads, buttons, vintage pearls and various bits and bobs. I would love to get something finished this year, but with robins in need of making and turning to Christmas - hand made decorations...who knows if I'll have time!
I'm also considering a craft swap...may be join one or organise myself? I'd like to, but it all boils down to time - if only we had more of it!!
Many things in the house need sorting (not least to say a new kitchen!) All in good time...I keep telling myself, got to watch the ££ it's a busy and costly time of the year!
We 'inherited' some chickens, who desperately needed looking after, that's an ongoing project and the garden seems to have been a dumping ground, so more clearing and sorting there, just want the worst done before the really cold weather sets in!
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| Potential for a decent garden - just get rid of the 'dump' at the bottom, sort the chicken's pen, sort the hedges and tree, get some more light in, get up the paving slabs, demolish old shed, build new larger shed, get a veg patch in, flowers etc...this may take a while! |
I have had a little 'me' time in between, so my sister and I attended a lovely sewing class at Guthrie & Ghani in Moseley. See more here.
I also was fortunate enough to get tickets for Stratford to see Richard II with David Tennant- we had excellent seats, so close. The play was very good and had light hearted comedy moments, and parts of the play are relevant to today, so Shakespeare was well ahead of his time, that or the problems of then are still with us today!
I have been crafting I can, which isn't often enough and sometimes I'm too tired to craft- which isn't on! Anyway I have agreed to make a few items for The Donkey Sanctuary, a lovely charity looking after neglected/abandoned Donkeys I hope to make a few items for them, it's just fitting it in around my crafting too!
Crochet - as well as various donkey themed items, I have been working on some cute crochet creations including owls and robins.
Felt - again I have been making donkey items as well as some robins here, which I hope to make into brooches/decorations/hair clips...hopefully in time for Christmas!
 |
| Lavender scented donkey sachets - typically my felt robins have gone walkies, I can't remember where I put them! |
I have also got some background projects I have been working on, including some bouquets I hope to finally put together, it's all a bit experimental, but involves crochet, beads, buttons, vintage pearls and various bits and bobs. I would love to get something finished this year, but with robins in need of making and turning to Christmas - hand made decorations...who knows if I'll have time!
I'm also considering a craft swap...may be join one or organise myself? I'd like to, but it all boils down to time - if only we had more of it!!
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| Crochet Flowers |
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| Vintage bead earrings |
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| Shells - making into Angel Wings & Butterflies |
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| Headband - button centre |
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Days in Photographs
Days seem to be going by quite fast- almost June now! So thought I'd update a few days I've had out and about in photographs.
Malvern Garden Show- Dr Who themed garden!
The Darleks!!
Roses! Some lovely displays and aromas - especially liked the vintage feel with the roses planted and displayed in various containers including tea cups and cake cases!
Bonsai - very precise skills needed!
Me! Out on a walk in the woods, and in the tree tops! I'm wearing my 1950s dress which I picked up at a vintage fair.
The Darleks!!
Roses! Some lovely displays and aromas - especially liked the vintage feel with the roses planted and displayed in various containers including tea cups and cake cases!
Bonsai - very precise skills needed!
The Malvern Hills - should really try walking in the Malverns...one day!
Me! Out on a walk in the woods, and in the tree tops! I'm wearing my 1950s dress which I picked up at a vintage fair.Thursday, 28 June 2012
How does your garden grow?
I was lucky to grow up with a large garden at home, plenty of room to have adventures, explore and build dens, also played football and tennis...although often remember being told off for the football hitting the window, the flower beds, going in the pond...and next door!
My parents are mad on plants and they are everywhere, but now I'm getting into gardening, I don't think I'll ever has as a big a garden (1. it's a lot of work and 2, you rarely have houses with that size garden these days.)
Even though I'm in a flat we have plants growing, despite the small space and I thought I'd show you what we have.
The kitchen window sill - basil and lemon verbena. The basil is in a decoupaged flower pot, vintage feel black, gold and white floral pattern with a hand painted black rim.
(There is myrtle plant there too, but it some how fell out the window of a top floor flat and it's not looking too good now so I avoided photographing that!)
What about you? Are you green fingered?
My parents are mad on plants and they are everywhere, but now I'm getting into gardening, I don't think I'll ever has as a big a garden (1. it's a lot of work and 2, you rarely have houses with that size garden these days.)
Even though I'm in a flat we have plants growing, despite the small space and I thought I'd show you what we have.
(There is myrtle plant there too, but it some how fell out the window of a top floor flat and it's not looking too good now so I avoided photographing that!)
The juilet balcony with a selcetion of plants including:
Thyme, tomato plants, rosemary, lavender, lettuce and radish
We also have
a basket holding sweet williams, chives and a small white flower, the name now eludes me...something about snow!
a basket holding sweet williams, chives and a small white flower, the name now eludes me...something about snow!
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| The Sweet Williams are flowering! |
So, as you can see, even tiny spaces can produce healthy plant life! We even have a bird feeder on the window and have a lot of visitors, although since the starlings discovered us the robin and others haven't been around much (or at least not when I've been in!)
Hopefully my next move will allow me to have a herb garden, fruit and vegtables, a small pond and mini wild garden and some beautiful flowers!! Alongside space to sit and enjoy it! (Here's hoping)
What about you? Are you green fingered?
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