Waiting...

It is coming... there are clues if you look hard enough for them.

Everywhere you look, nature is slowly getting ready...

Good things come to those who wait...

Becky x

Emma - thanks for waiting! Next post, I promise ;)

Sad Times

Every now and then things happen that make you question the meaning of life. Three weeks ago my neighbour collapsed in the road from a bleed on the brain. She died 24 hours later. She was only 69, fitter than me and ate all the right things. Her husband has an enlarged heart and has not been well for many years and, in truth, we all thought he would go first.

Her funeral was last Monday. The night before her husband was in a very distressed state and my husband went in to try and calm him. We had a leaky washer in our toilet cystern and, as we are on a meter, I decided to fix it. When I went to turn the stop cock off water gushed out everywhere. This was shortly followed by a phone call from my Dad who was unable to get hold of my Grandad. It was one of those times when I felt completely out of control and wasn't sure which problem to deal with first. To make things worse, I couldn't get hold of my Mum to look after the children and in the past my lovely neighbour would have done this. 

After contacting Grandad's neighbour we found out he had fallen and been lying on the floor for 24 hours. He is 91. He was taken to A&E where they found he was dehydrated and confused. I somehow managed to fix the stop cock with some PFT tape, tracked down my Mum and we arrived at A&E at the same time as the ambulance.

We've been on an emotional roller coaster all week. Some days he has been a little better, others worse. Yesterday he seemed much better and we have asked him if he would like to come and live with us now which he has agreed to. For 91 he is amazingly healthy, we just need to make sure he drinks lots so he doesn't get dehydated again.

So, that's why I've been so quiet recently. I haven't lost my blogging mojo, I really miss it, and I will be popping in and out to see you all, but now I have a house to clear and a Grandad to move in so my visits may remain infrequent!

I hope the bank holiday finds you all well and brings you a little sunshine.

Becky x

PS. I included a few photos of the flowers in the garden, that I have been meaning to share with you a while, to try and brighten this post a little. x

Inject Some Colour!

My garden has entered its 'green' phase. This happens every year despite my best efforts to add more summer flowering plants. So, last week I went to my local garden centre, B & Q (!) and a large car boot sale to buy some colourful plants! I did really well, loads of bargains at the car boot. I like buying plants this way because firstly it's cheaper and secondly the person has the parent plant and knows how best to care for it. On the other hand, if you catch it right at B and Q you can get some good sized plants for great prices (if they have remembered to water them of course!).
I was going to show you lots of photos I have taken of my bargains but I have been inspired by Gillyflower to get to grips with photoshop and produce a collage of my pics...

What do you think? I found a great tutorial for doing this online and I'm really pleased with the result.
I must confess that the white carnation and sambucus were already in the garden, but the others are new.
A few more...

Again, the welsh poppy was already in the garden but the rest are new. As soon as I have the energy to plant them all I'll take some photos of them in their new homes!

Still off work with this horrible cough. Sitting still is the only thing that doesn't cause a coughing fit, but I hate being off work, I always feel so guilty. Do you feel like this?
Becky x

Garden Makeover

I couldn't have asked for a more sunny, relaxing and productive Easter. I have certainly refreshed my batteries and feel ready for all the tasks this term will throw at me (annual reports being the hightlight of the term!).

So, to the garden... before - the hedge and arch I planted 12 years ago looking up the garden from the pond.

Looking a little overgrown with my husband squeezed into the gap!

This was the view from the other side...

When I planted it I wanted to create corners in my large garden. I hadn't thought about the time it would take to keep it neatly trimmed or the amount of shade it would cast.

Anyway, a day of lopping and ...

I can't believe how much it has opened it up and how much lighter everything is.

We fenced around the pond when Lulu began to walk 4 years ago. Now the hedge has gone we have continued the fence between the patio and pea gravel patch to keep the children safe. They have their own play area at the bottom of the garden.

I bought this carved man last summer and he has lived in my garage (rent free!) since then. But now he has a new home. I think he likes it!

Here's Little Mannie throwing gravel into the pond from the slate bridge. I still can't bring myself to chop off those curls! It will happen soon as my husband is fed up with people (usually old ladies) saying 'what a pretty little girl'!

Lots more plants are now flowering since my last garden post.

This peony looks beautiful resting gently on my granite seat.

The snowball bush is covered in blossom.

My husband bought me this azalea last year, I think it's called 'Percy Wiseman'. I took this Wednesday when it was just ready to burst into flower. Today it looked amazing in full bloom, I'll try and remember to take another photo of it.

erysimum - perennial wallflower

wisteria - ready to flower

aquilegia

lilly of the valley

gunnera mannicata

cornflower

iris

fragrant deciduous azalea

the strawberry patch!

osteospernum

London pride

another perennial wallflower

Of course, my girls have been enjoying the sun too!

There was a little crafting last weekend which will have to keep for next post.

Hope you have been enjoying some flowers too.

Becky x

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I love looking at fellow bloggers gardens, often I'm a little green with envy, but mostly I simply love plants.

montana rubens

When I bought my bungalow, nearly 13 years ago, it was all lawn. It is one of three built in the 1960s on a small meadow backing onto woodland.

Very little had been done to my garden over the years, whereas the neighbour's gardens were quite beautiful. Anyway, I saw it as a clean palette, ripped out the few disappointing shrubs and a hedgerow, got my uncle to level over much of it (we're on a gentle slope) and started to design. I will dig out some old photos as it has to be seen to be believed.

The crab apple in front of the bungalow is in full bloom (the only plant I inherited from the former owners that I love) and it's just stunning. All I could hear as I took these photographs was the gentle hum of all the bees.

primula 'gold lace'

cornflower

marsh marigolds

ajuga reptens purpureum

alpine phlox

helebore

euphorbia 'fireglow'

tulip (don't know variety)

skimmia japonica?

cowslip

alpine (no idea what!)

peony bud



Welsh poppy and purple leaved violet

contorted hazel (hoping to cut some of this for an easter tree)

vinca minor

veronica (bit blurry - chicken pecked me!)

Apologies if I have got any of the plant names wrong. It was lovely taking time to appreciate my plants. I hope you have enjoyed them too!

Becky x