Good For The Soul

So The Chelsea flower show has come to an end for this year. Maybe next year I will get to see it again.  I love to see the big show gardens and see how they use plants to create these beautiful areas which I think look stunning at Chelsea, but  my favourites are the small artisan gardens.  They are little areas of pure magic that give an idea of what you could do no matter what  size your garden, whether you have just a small courtyard or a little area in your large garden that you want to change. I find them  an inspiration and keep looking at my garden wondering where I could be that creative (maybe).

I love my garden.

It is a place I can be , nurturing, energetic, creative or contemplative depending

on how I feel.

I love to wander around with a cup of coffee deciding what I want to do, choosing which plants to move,which to propagate  or just admiring the wonderful variety that Mother Nature comes up with. Although quite often  I end up going indoors with dirty hands.

A garden is ever changing, a flower that wasn't there yesterday has suddenly sprung forth over night or a bud has appeared on that new plant you put in  recently. 

You find visitors that you didn't invite but who have decided this is a nice place to make their home. Some are very welcome but of course some most definitely are not.

  

  We even have a resident hedgehog we call Russell who we see occasionally.

My garden has helped me get through   bouts of depression and get my head back together again  on more than one occasion.   It has seen my 3 children grow up, birthday parties,family reunions, water fights, fireworks and BBQ's. It has changed dramatically over the years from a playground and race track for the children, to what it is today,--something  which I think looks beautiful and which I am proud of.    

    Etoile de Hollande Climbing rose

    Gertrude Jekyll

    Moss Rose originally from my Grandfathers garden.

Bay Tree

It also holds so many memories,  many of the plants have a special meaning. Theres the Bay tree my mother gave me nearly 20 years ago as a tiny little thing( one of dozens of plants she gave me all of which remind me of her), the beautiful white rose ( silver celebration) we got as a silver wedding present, the rose called Patricia I bought in memory of my Mother in Law and the wonderful Clematis 'Marjorie'  I planted in memory of my Mum and which scrambles through our apple tree.  

Clematis  Montana Marjorie

We also have all sorts of other things hiding out there such as the bird bath my little one made me buy when she was 4 years old and the industrial drill bit my husbands oldest friend gave him one day ( it's  a boy thing) and even some stone carving done by my own fair hands.

A north facing bed plus drill bit.

Herbs by the back door

 Gardening is something that both my husband and I love doing and brings us closer together, he does the veggies and I do the flowers.  Everytime we consider down sizing to a smaller house it's the garden that makes us think twice.

Gillxx

  

One Ends and Another Begins

Well my quilt is finished.

This is the one I have been doing in 

my Patchwork group since january.

The colours were specifically chosen for this spare room

but I think I should have added another couple of rows

 so it covered the whole top of the bed.

Never mind I will just have to make another one

to fit better but for the time being this one looks alright.

So work has started on this terms quilt

and I have decided to go brighter with

my colours this time although

I'm now wondering if they are going

to be a bit too 'in your face'.

I don't have a specific place or purpose for this one

so I suppose it doesn't matter really.

It's another sample style quilt with 6x12" blocks 

set on points. The spaces will probably be white to 

keep it light and airy.

So watch this space.

My other W.I.P at the moment is some more

baby named bunting, this time for a friends

little Granddaughter called Erin.

Pretty name.

I've been asked for pastel shades and this is what I've come up with.

I was going to do the letters in white but they don't look right

so have to try something else.

Since writing the above I've finished  the bunting and 

it has gone off to it's new home.

Now what's next on my list?

Gillxx

Birthday Treats.

 Aren't friends wonderful!

I just had to show you the birthday tea

my lovely friend Chris bought for me on Tuesday.

We went to Folly's tea rooms in Holt 

which has been in a couple of magazines recently

including Country Living.

It is tucked away in a little courtyard

with pretty gardens.

I absolutely love the mix of colours with these Tulips.

But of course it was raining when we went

so we sat in the new orangery extension

and looked out at the garden from the dry.

Everything is served on nice old china

and as it was a Birthday treat I got a candle

and a rendition of Happy Birthday which 

made me feel very special.

It's the little things like that which  really matter

sometimes, isn't it.

You even get a fresh rose on the plate of scones.

 After our tea we had a nice wander around the shops 

and spent a bit of money just to round things off.

I had a Wonderful morning

so thank you so much Chris.

 And Thank You to another friend, Carol,

for this fabulous Azalea which makes me smile everytime

I open the back door.

Yes friends are wonderful things.

Gillxx

Tilly's New Venture

Now this is something I don't usually do 

but today I'm making an exception.

What am I doing? 

Well I'm doing a promotion…

a very special one for my lovely friend

and fellow blogger 

TILLY ROSE

I met Tilly a few years ago at  bloggers meet up

in Peterborough and we hit it off straight away.

She has a wonderful enthusiasm for all things vintage

and her handcrafted items are beautiful as well as inspirational.

Well Tilly has now put all her creative flair and enthusiasm into

creating a new on line magazine.

It has some lovely pictures in among interesting

articles from guest bloggers, recipes and tutorials

It's called

Tillys Vintage & Handmade Magazine

So if vintage is your thing then click above for a preview

and I wish her all luck in the world with her new venture.

Gillxx

P.S

Just want to add a big Thank You for all
the Good wishes for my Birthday and Anniversary.
xx

Aprils Scavenger Hunt

It's the 1st of the month 

Which means it's

time for my photos for this months Scavenger Hunt

Once again my thanks to Green Thumb at Made with Love

for organising this every month.

1. 11am

Taken from the car on the A47

as we were travelling home after our few days away.

2. Truck

or at least the front of one.

3.Smooth

We have had the Elephant trail in Norwich

This shows just how smooth and shiny they are.

Heres another one with a beautiful

stained glass window painted on it.

4. Scrap

Pile of scrap wood on some waste ground.

Not a very good photo I'm afraid 

as it was a last minute find.

5. Carry

Another Elephant, this one painted by our

friend Martin Wall, with a nice sentiment.

Here it is from the front.

and although not Scavenger Hunt photos

here are a few of our favourites

This one is my husbands

And this one is mine even with the lights

shining on it.

The Elephants are apparently touring the UK

over the Summer

so if you get the chance to see them they are well worth it.

Back to the Scavenger Hunt

6. A is for…

Abbey. Newstead Abbey.

7. Scale

I was struck by the different sizes of the windows

in the Abbey ruins, Maybe not exactly scale but I struggled with this one.

8. Match

Matching flower beds.

9. Layers

Some very clever Topiary.

10. Logo

 The Bin it logo. 

11. Paths

These go through the estate of Thoresby Hall.

12.Tile

I love these floor tiles .

So that's my contribution for this month.

A month when I've been very quite haven't I but

with various bits and pieces it has been a bit trying

Still,  today is my 32nd Wedding anniversary and

Saturday is my Birthday so time to

look forward and have some fun maybe.