What I did yesterday in the garden...

Ok so here is the garden so far...this is the area in the back which is our grave yard for old pets...

This was over-run with weeds and needed the gravel leveling out. I also put the fence post back up in front.

Yes I'm waiting for Darren to cut our jungle, I mean lawn!!

Carnations and ivy...

I pulled out weeds and moss from most of the flags stones and scrubbed them down but I couldn't get the ones in front of the garage...stubborn things!! Darren I need you!!!

2 clematus just waiting to climb!!

Sorry about the wierd angle, my neighbour came to her window and I didn't want her to think I was taking her photo!!!

As soon as Charlie saw me coming....

....he posed!!!

I had to scrape out loads of moss and weeds from the round flags and from the gravel, still more to do but I could barely move by this point!!

I'd like another hanging basket frame putting on the other side of the door.

The front looks much more welcoming now!

I've decided we need big plant pots along the fence and one in the top corner, I want the small planters along the drive and the wall, these blend in too much.

I'm chuffed with the look so far but I need more plants...in pots and hanging baskets. Darren likes what I've done so far and I think it has inspired him to help me finish it.

Thanks everyone for your advice - it really motivated me to get started!!

Gardening help needed...

Ok this is our badly neglected garden. We have a semi with a lawn/patio/decking area at the back.

Possible rockery area? It's partially gravelled not grassed in this corner...has a few pets buried here so I don't want to dig down!!

There is a gap between the lawn and neighbours fence on the right which is gravelled...just needs the grass trimming back! Could possibly be re soiled and put plants here...

A flagged ares in front of the garage where the rabbit and guinea pig live...

That's our back door....and the gate to the front ....

Daren's sculpting studio (garage)...

Down the side of the house it is gravelled but needs either more to top it up or a new drive way (I think we'll top up as it'll be cheaper!)

The front...2 conifers which need trimming (no idea what to do really) and the plants are wild poppies which are taking over! Plus a few weeds....

OK so I need help...any advice is greatly appreciated. I want a low budget low maintenence garden but I want plants. Was thinking of a feature pot in the middle of the front centre flags. Some nice pots around the front fence area and it front of the house...maybe either side of front door. Hanging baskets. Pots in the back. Rockery area?

Which plants are the best? I have a lavender and conifer plant in the back which are just about still alive but everything else has died of taken over by weeds.

Pansies always seem to die fast...thoughts anyone???

Stash confessional

Over on the Let's Knit magazine forum, we've been discussing our stash. I posted some pics of mine, so I thought I'd put them on my blog too...

Ok so here are the quick photo versions of my main stash. I also have about a dozen balls downstairs for my blanket and charity knitting.

The 5 balls are the baby wool I have left.

So I didn't have to take the packs out of the big bag (my last Kemps order) I've also put on the invoice so you can see what is in it!! There's 186 balls in there still, I've only used the Sirdar Bonus Chunky black.

Darren will think I've cheated as it doesn't make my stash look as bad this way! Each stacker box is packed full.

I also have 4 stacker boxes of FO's (children's clothes, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, bags) and 2 extra large boxes of toys - these are for my craft fairs.

Our tickets have come!!

I now have the 9 tickets to go see Walking with Dinosaurs http://www.dinosaurlive.com/about-the-show/ on 31.7.09. Even though the money has gone from my account this makes me feel like we're really going!!

I'm so giddy about it!!!


P.S I rang the vets yesterday and birdie is eating and drinking, just needs time to heal.

Lola - from Lionbrand

Bird update 2

I've just got back from our vets, I took the bird in. Hopefully it'll be ok. Lady and Charlie have been very protective of it! But I was starting to worry about food for it...I'm not prepared to dig up worms!! Just got to break the news to Darren...he was looking forward to seeing it when he finished work!

Bird update

Morning! It's a hot one here. Just gonna cosy up with my knitting watching 'Angel' and on the computer until I start work at 3pm.

The bird is still in our garden. I put a box out for it last night in case it rained...soft aren't I! I woke up at about 5.30 to my fella looking out of the window, a cat was in our garden stalking the bird. Lady (our dog) was growling at the cat, Darren went down and scared the cat away. Then this morning he was out holding the water bowl to it to drink from! At least I'm not the only softie!!

In fact Charlie (the bird killing cat) lay about a foot away from it yesterday sun bathing and just ignoring the bird!We think it might be a young pigeon....

Patchwork Blanket WIP

So this is it so far...bad lighting I'm afraid so it doesn't do the colours justice but you can get a feel for what it looks like. I'll decide where all the patches go on the final layout.

Fly away bird

I'm melting...I'm sure we're due a storm as it's quite dark but roasting outside. Just needs to wait til my duvet cover is dry.

For the last few days I've noticed a scratty looking black bird in our front garden. Doesn't seem to fly. Today my cat (who is renowned for bringing baby birds in), was prowling near it. He did get close enough to attack but just watched as bird backed off. Luckily i've brought Charlie now, just in case. He keeps popping behind my conifer but not flying. Cos of the heat I put out a make shift bird bath...which it started to get into. No sooner had I done that and a magpie came at it. So bird went behind conifer again. I put a 2nd bath out and that made magpie go...left them both out though. Think bird is too scared to come out now.

I hope it's ok and flies away safely.....

July already?

Another month has flown by....my last OU essay is due in by midnight tonight (gulp!!) Then I've until Sept to get my ECA (dissertation) done...then I can do guilt free knitting until it starts again end of next Jan. My final year......I'll be busier too as I'm doing it full time not part time.

Also realised that I've got until the 18th July to send off my contributions to the current Loving Hands Challenge. I'll sort everything out at the weekend. I haven't done as much as I would like to have done but everything counts....must buy stuffing as I need it for Buffalo's teddy and some Teddies for Tragedy.

On the 24th July Darren and I start our 2 week hols. Not going away...determined to get house done. Last 2 summers I've been off with my back...so this makes a nice change! We'll also have days out. We've already booked our tickets to go see Walking with Dinosaurs http://www.dinosaurlive.com/about-the-show/ on 31.7.09 with the family, so it should be a great evening out!! Can't wait!! Check out the site...amazing!!!! We've seen clips on You-tube also...absolutely breath taking. We're off cos it's our neice and nephew's 7th bday in July and he is MAD about dinosaurs...isn't everyone! :)