Flower Rings and Pretty |Boxes

It seems some time since I posted an entry on my latest crafts so here goes.

Most of May was taken up knitting this small blanket. It is not the neatest effort and I can`t seem to get the squares to lie flat despite stretching. I think I need to be a bit more diligent with counting as I crochet round the edge of each square. Despite my self-criticism, I think it has a cosy wrap-around feel especially with the fleecy lining. And I like the soft colours.

I have chosen the recipient. It shall remain secret for now.

The latest Mandalorian and Grogu movie has recently been released. Some of our younger family members have been to see it. With that in mind, I tried some Grogus which I have done before.

Not quite happy with the first efforts and may have to experiment further.

Perhaps with arms.
But I was much happier with the worry worms. Two sold on the craft trolley over the last week.

A camper was very interested in the dried flower rings.She wanted to try some herself. They are made using our own helichrysum flowers glued to a wooden ring and hung by an organza ribbon. She was attracted to the simplicity.

This year we have grown helichrysum, statice and a new one statice "Pink Pokers" in the garden. They have just begun to flower.

These fluffy pompom owls are selling well. I made them by using up the last tapestry wool which I have had for years.

 

Recently I found some very pretty fabric in Jacobs Haberdashery in Hastings. It was only £4 a metre. Yesterday when my gardening plans were thwarted by the weather, I made some lavender bags. 

 

The applique tulip is a motif taken from a set of serviettes which belonged to my aunt. They were a present from her 1940`s wedding. She gave them to me shortly before she died. The set matched a tablecloth with which I made bunting. This will remain in the family. My aunt insisted that I did not tell her what I intended doing with them. I kept that promise but I do hope she approves.

 

The lavender comes from the gardens. I dry it myself

in our garden room in the sunshine and then I store it in this pretty box given to me by my sister.

 

 

It was lovely talking to campers in the week, children and adults alike. I loved to hear and see what and why they had chosen their crafts before they went home. And they were full of what they had bought here before and even had some great ideas for new things.

So, I have been trawling through my old craft photos, on this windy afternoon. I have lots of old ideas to resurrect and I have been inspired with new ones.

Watch this space.

Roses in the Rain

 This is going to be a good year for the roses which is surprising since it has been so dry.

It was very wet today. We did visit the garden to water the polytunnel. I was thankful that all the yurters and campers got such a good week during the half term school holidays because it was pretty miserable.

Anne had put up the bunting which was flapping forlornly in the strong winds. This year I have made it with deck chair fabric which I hope will last longer.

I had to tie in most of the sunflowers as I didn`t want to lose any. I was very glad that we had constructed most of the framework some time ago.

Alstromeria has just started flowering.

 

 I do not understand why these pinks haven`t been eaten by rabbits but here they are.

Incredible perfume.

 

All crops are looking amazing after the rain. I never thought the courgettes would recover.
 

Broad beans

Onions

Courgettes

My goodness there will be some weeds next time.

 

My brother bought us this netting so we have mounted it on an old yurt pole and we hope the cucumbers will climb up it

(and possibly some ipomea)

It was a quick visit. We were wet and a bit cold. All I could think of was my p.j`s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horsehair Clues and Painted Ladies

About two weeks ago we were in 4 layers of clothing and worried about frosts.

This week I am searching my wardrobe to find the coolest things to wear. Visits to the garden are as early as we can. This did not work today, as we had our first sea swim. It was delightful. 

This is Pett Level on Monday.

Today the tide was right in at 10 a.m..

So our visit was in the afternoon. Oh my goodness it was hot. We were dripping. Steve planted some of the last tomatoes  and aubergines. I`m glad he did it!! This was the temperature in the polytunnel.

The tomatoes are loving the heat.
 

At home we have resorted to pegging up fleece for extra shade as well as spraying with whitener. Outside, both my  coldframes and all my plants are shaded with fleece during the day.

Over the last few days, as the sweet rocket reaches its peak, the Painted Lady butterflies are visiting.

As we sat in shade for our teabreak, bluetits were busily feeding their family in the yellow birdbox above our heads.

The first clue was horsehair sticking out of a crack. I think it is wonderful (if not actually surprising) that the birds are using materials from nearby. 

 

Despite sitting right underneath, it did not deter their efforts.

Bluetit babies need 100 grubs or caterpillars per day. So I was in two minds about the latest infestation of Ermine moth webs 

(we had it last year)

I read up about it. They will not kill the tree. The worst webs are on the little apple tree which I feel is quite vulnerable so Steve did clear them. I don`t think any bird could get through the web anyway, which is a clever deterent. 

I spent my time removing plastic water bottle guards from sunflowers. Soon it will be difficult to get them past the incredible growth. Some needed tying in and some needed stakes.

Here is the first sunflower bud. 

Incidentally, at home I still have 45 sunflower plants to go in!!

The foxgloves are at their best.

 

The weather has been glorious but new planting has to be shaded and watched carefully.

Some rain is coming.

It will be welcome.

 

 

 

A Golden Hop and Pimms

I would not choose to be anywhere else other than here at this time ..... walking across the field for a glass of wine with my sister in the last of the sunshine ..... casting off four layers for a sundress .... seeing whats new every morning .... the poppies unfurling ....... gardening with my brother ..... and visiting the garden to check on everything.

And my goodness, yurters and campers are in for a treat this weekend. Its going to be hot. The garden and farm is a truly peaceful place to be. 

Magical evenings by a campfire, watching the moon come up, the birdsong, the cuckoo, no traffic noise.

(thank you to a very pleasant exchange with a camper in the week for the sentiments in this paragraph)
 

The only thing I planted was a golden hop. It wasn`t easy.

I want it to clamber up the fence which is edged with rabbit wire and carpet so I had to cut through that first. I built up a mini wall around it. Fingers crossed because it its startlingly beautiful.

I did take bedding but it was far too hot to put it in. Steve did put in runner beans  but shaded by fleece from direct sun.

I watered all the new plantings including sweetpeas.

The tomatoes in the polytunnel were droopy .... the temperature was 48 degrees. They got a double amount of watering time on the automatic system.

The first poppies have been opening.

Alongside the outside of the polytunnel, the scatter seeds are just germinating. These are poppies.

Two new cardoon pieces have established well. I removed them from our own front bank. They were always being blown around. In this position they have more shelter.

 

  

Anne purchased this fabulous shower curtain which will soon be a backdrop for the new dinosaur garden,

 

 

 

Such a lovely day so it was home for Pimms.

 

Delightful.
  

 

 

 

 

And through the round window

Many years ago ..... 1970`s ..... we used to watch Playaway on BBC t.v. We both loved Brian Cant who appealed to children and adults alike. There was always a section where we looked through a round window to see real film of animals or the countryside. When I looked at this photo taken today it reminded me of the program.

We were in two minds as to whether to go today as the weather was a bit iffy. But we are glad that we did.

I managed to plant two huge pots of irises and seven dahlias. It is getting very hard to find space now.

In the polytunnel the droopy cucumber has made a miraculous recovery. Maybe the netting has helped. That was put over the new planting because of a rabbit invasion.

 

Another recent idea was to purchase a roll of fine mesh wire and create tubes to protect our new plants. Last night I cut them into lengths, cutters and protective gloves provided, and formed them into tubes held together with wire ties.

Primarily they are to keep rabbits away. They are burrowing right under the beds and we don`t know how to keep them out. Its a bit of a continuing headache.

Some campers spotted a deer at the weekend so I am trying to keep the bottom gate closed. Each year there comes a moment when some plants are eaten by a creature that can reach over the low netting fences .... and its not rabbits. In some years the tops of sunflowers have disappeared.

I took the rotting net curtains off the sweetpea row, weeding and tying in at the same time.

Anne has purchased new rabbit wire and posts so that is a future job. We think the veggie beds have been fenced off for 10 years now but its rusting up and breaking away. I wish we didn`t need it. Its a complete nuisance to weed round it and to always be sure to leave no gaps underneath.

 

The guinea pigs were chomping on their fresh lettuce.

The cuckoo was calling, far away.

Nick brought us celeriac seedlings.

Our teabreak was in the polytunnel due to rain threatening.

I weeded a few paths. Steve bottled up our latest comfrey tea.

The watering was done indoors. Tonight we are due for another downpour. And then we are due for a heatwave in time for the bank holiday. I will believe it when I see it.

And finally .... a rare butterfly here in the UK .... the Wood White, yet to be confirmed. The antennae are distinctive with their white tips.

Definitely a bonus morning.