Tuesday morning Pitch and Stitch - 10.00am to 1.00pm

Tuesday morning Pitch and Stitch - 10.00am to 1.00pm
This hanging from Annie Downs' Hatched and Patched book should be in every caravan as a cushion or decoration!

Thursday 4 June 2015

Gardening and tweed

We were so inspired by all the beautiful gardens in France (because it was warmer there they were about 3 weeks ahead of us) that since we got back we have been working like Trojans outside.

I have planted up all my pots outside the kitchen with seedlings from the greenhouse - Cosmos, Snapdragons and Nicotiana - all lovely old fashioned plants with lovely scents
can't wait for them to really get going.

So the greenhouse is pretty empty now with just the cucumbers and tomatoes which are coming along really nicely

We (mostly Jonathan) dug over the beds and the veg is in as well as my dried flower seedlings (Statice and strawflowers)

I hope they grow well.  I like to replace the bunches I have hanging in my kitchen every year but last year was such a disaster I couldn't.

I am pleased with my herb garden although Jonathan says it's a mess

There is Sage, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, mint, Oregano, Tarragon and Nasturtium.

We missed the peonies at their best

but my Iris and Lily of the Valley have looked lovely


Fingers crossed all our hard work will show results.  Unfortunately it is a constant battle to protect everything.  Besides the crows, rabbits and pigeons which do their best to destroy everything, we also have Reuben to contend with.  Yesterday he kindly opened the gate so my 7 lambs ran amok and ate two of my bean plants before I managed to get them back in their run.

When we went to the Malvern Quilt show I was really inspired by the  Donegal Tweed stand.  Margaret  Lee was there and she'd made a quilt of Tweed and cotton.  I'd never Considered mixing the two fabrics but thought the quilt was beautiful.  She showed me the pattern in the February Patchwork and Quilting magazine (and then gave me her copy when I couldn't buy one)  and I bought some tweed off her stand - www.fabricaffair.co.uk and then came home and started making it!

I love the colours and the mix of textures - it's going to be such a cosy quilt.  This is the magazine article

Better get outside now but am very happy to see our swallows have returned and are renovating their nests in our back porch.

 





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5 comments:

  1. Carolynpage.slt4 June 2015 at 04:36

    You certainly have to contend with extreme interference in your garden. I love the lily of the valley.
    I wait to see the quilt with tweed...
    Glad to see the swallow's nest.

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    Replies
    1. Lorne Hill Farm Craft workshops4 June 2015 at 10:00

      Re the swallows: last year they didn't nest although they had in previous years. I wondered if it was because I hung the owl wind chimes you gave me in the porch. Well, last weekend I took them down and hung them by my beans and - the swallows returned!

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    2. Carolynpage.slt9 June 2015 at 02:27

      I think you are right. The beady eyes of the owl frightened them off.

      Delete
  2. Jen Grist4 June 2015 at 14:18

    Do any of you remember Granny Magan`s lily of the valley in her garden? I, too love it. Toby and Amanda have just given me a huge piece from their Ascot garden. Now all I have to do is find a space for it!!! Lovely post and enjoyed looking round your garden again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolynpage.slt9 June 2015 at 02:28

      Yes I remember Lily of the Valley in Granny's garden. And I remember it was always hot and sunny.

      Delete

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