Review Part 2 2019

Here is part 2 of our review of

Freshwinds Garden blog.

By JULY the garden was flourishing. We had a great weekend in the Woodland Yurt.

 

In AUGUST there were strong winds which knocked over quite a few sunflowers before they reached their best. The willow arch suffered as well. The baby goats arrived.

 

 

By SEPTEMBER damson jam making was well under way.

Harvesting reached its zenith and Janet bought us a new seat.

In OCTOBER we were still picking armfuls of dahlias.

We were given 10 huge pieces of fencing by my nephew.

There was a lot of preparation before we could start.

By NOVEMBER the new fence was well underway with the help of William and Rachel. The scarecrows were indoors seemingly having a good time. Tomatoes were still ripening.  By the end of the month the fence was completed.

 

 

In DECEMBER there was so much rain that on any dry days, we were to be found in our own garden demolishing a wall and putting up a new fence. We did a successful wreath making session at the coffee morning but I missed the Carols in the Barn due to a sickness bug.

I was very disappointed. My only other visit was to collect vegetables for Christmas dinner.

 

We look forward to the new year with great enthusiasm. 

We are hoping to see all our new visitors and of course the 

well-known faces once again. 

We would like to thank all those who have helped us in any way .... with freebies, garden gifts, garden jobs etc.

Particular thanks to William and Rachel for help with the fencing.

 It was a great year and we have many new projects and new ideas in mind for 2020.

 

Review Part 1 2019

Here we are on the last day of 2019 and here is the first part of our review. It has been yet another great year with lots going on at Freshwinds Garden.

JANUARY found petunias still flowering in the polytunnel.

FEBRUARY found the pond full to the brim. Apart from the summer months it has been pretty full for most of the year due to the heavy rainfall.

One of the donkeys joined us for a tea break. 

(They can`t put their heads round this corner any more.)

MARCH saw an overhaul of the honeysuckle bed and the demise of the old two seater. It was a freebie. One of the scarecrows had a make-over.

In APRIL the robin nested in a black plastic sack in the cob shed. In 2020 they will have a proper nesting box. Later in the month they hatched out. The apple blossom was glorious.

 

By MAY many crops were on the go. The fairy yurt went up and the mini-nursery was set up.

Butterflies were released in the garden.

By JUNE poppies were flourishing in every corner. Miranda arrived. And Paula spotted this snakeskin in the polytunnel.

And so comes to an end the first half of the year.

A Short Visit on the Shortest Day

Well I never did get to Carols in the Barn, as I wasn`t well enough to go. I had the sickness bug. 

I was very sorry to have missed it because it is part of our Christmas tradition now.

I missed our trip to Brighton as well. 

Luckily I was well enough to spend a very lovely Christmas in Leicester with my nephew and his family.

Before we went I did make a very short visit to collect sprouts, leeks and parsnip.

The grass was squelching under my boots. The donkeys were under cover. The buzzards were calling.

The sprouts were quite small but very tasty.

The donkeys were expecting a Christmas treat but I had forgotten.

 

There was some weak sunshine but I felt no compunction to stay for long, despite the tasks that needed doing. 

The fence looked great. I have a lot of ideas for this fence for the new year. It is so neat.

 It is very clear where the new cobbing needs to go.

This needs doing soon. And I have some new robin nesting boxes to prevent the birds nesting in a plastic bag in 2020.

The bunnies were busy cuddling with the sun on their backs.

 

And one of my most unusual Christmas presents .....

..... beautiful.

 

My next blog entry will be the review of the year, believe it or not.

 

 

 

Jingle Bells and Rainbow Bears

Christmas is coming up quickly.

Preparations are in hand for Carols in the Barn, always a lovely occasion. Let`s hope it doesn`t rain this year.

Friday 20th December at 6.30.

I am busy making last minute home-made gifts.

Robin Hood cowls.

Cookery aprons.

Crochet fairies.

Steve is busy making wooden things .... a hedgehog house and a wooden teething horse for my newest great-nephew. 

(no pictures yet)

These jingle bells are designed to be worn on the ankles or wrists.

I`ve made them for lots of our little ones.

These two teddies have been made for two new Christmas babies.

The wool is lovely and changes colour quickly.

I`ve crocheted these teddies whilst watching silly Christmas films on rainy afternoons.

 

On 7th. December I had a craft stall at the village hall for

the Craft Fair. 

It was a 5 hour stint which was rather a long time, especially as I had left Steve loading a trailer with hardcore and I`d much rather have been helping him.

Thank goodness for friends and family who came and helped pass the time away.

I sold quite a bit.

 

The rain has seemingly been never-ending but the autumn jobs in our own garden have come to a good resting place for Christmas. 

The wall is demolished and the hardcore carted away (thanks Tim), the new fencing is up, the rest of the birch is down (thanks Andy) and the new greenhouse has arrived. 

Steve has been splitting the logs which we are now burning.

Looking ahead to the new year, there will be plenty to think about when the festivities are over.

At the next coffee morning we hope to be giving people a few ideas on how to recycle their Christmas cards with some crafty projects.

Here`s one idea.

The cards are cut to shape, stuck back to back, punched and sewn together. I like to fill them with sweets.

A very retro craft.

Hope to see some of you in the barn tomorrow.