Chipping Champions

Another glorious January day.

Steve and I had just started trundling through the two farmyards with our shovels and barrows to  the collect and spread the chipped bark, when Tim came along on the workmax. He was on his way to fix the bucket to the tractor and bring the lot to the garden gate. Oh it saved us a lot of walking.

Anne joined us with the sweet new puppy, Buddy. We all did amazingly well in the lovely sunshine.

 

There are a couple more paths to do but we had a very satisfying morning.

So thank you Anne for running down the lane to acquire this load from the workmen putting in new telegraph poles.

And thank you Tim for moving it and saving us a lot of walking.

Glittery Petticoats and Frozen Frogs

Its dull today but by comparison, life is not dull. Plenty of jobs to keep us busy. Lots of crafts on the go and we are decorating our bedroom.

The dashing pirate scarecrow is complete bar some jewellery.

And here is the fairy with a new face, hair and a glittery petticoat.

 

In the garden today we have lifted the old fibrous rooted rhubarb crowns. It hasn`t been done since they were planted. They have a new position on the raised bed with old roots cut away. Steve even managed to find some manure.

 

Very excited to spot this pile in the farm`s yard. We heard later from Anne that it is for the garden. Can`t wait to get dug in to that. Just what I needed.

I spotted these two near the pond, a little sluggish but seemingly ok. Not like the one I had to fish out hanging upside down in the water. Whatever is going on? Far too early.

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Anne has salvaged this lovely frame. We have plans.

Watch this space.

 

 At home I have been using up scrap wool for pompom tortoises and hedgehogs.

 

And yesterday I had nearly 200 knitted squares delivered to my door. It is the next village project. They are to be made into blankets for refugees.

 

Oh and there is the small question of an 18th century soldier`s uniform for my nephew. (More later)

 

 

 

 

Scarecrow Hospital

The polytunnel has been turned into a scarecrow hospital, with body parts scattered left, right and centre.

Today I felt that I was doing open-heart surgery when I decided that Mabel`s clothes were too tatty to warrant the new head I was giving her. As I cut into the wasted layers it was clear that she hadn`t had a complete make-over for a good few years.

 

Now I am searching for new "old" clothes. I have nearly run out of my own things from the loft and have since raided Steve`s side of the wardrobe for the pirate.

I worked on him whilst Steve screwed on Mabel`s new head. I found a very nice M and S shirt for £1.75 in a charity shop in Rye. And then I added ruffles.

When I am choosing fabrics for scarecrows I tend to go for synthetic materials as they last longer outdoors.

Our scarecrows can last quite a while if they are brought in for the winter. Most will manage two seasons with nothing needing doing. If they last three that is a bonus.

After that they will need new heads or hands or clothes as they fade quickly in sunlight. This year has been heavy on renovations. But it is a great excuse to stay in the warm polytunnel.

The hardest job was threading a thick wire round the brim of the witch`s hat so that it stays out. She looks a bit stiff and stern.

Tonight I am replacing the fairy`s head. I never liked it, especially when my brother said it looked like a potato. I am going for a more refined look and perhaps a bit of extra glitter in her clothing. And that is only after I have pinned the latest silk bunting to its tape .... all 70 flags!!!

Here are all the scarecrows enjoying the glorious sunshine. 

 

Still some work to go, only held up by lack of clothing.

Garden Hints and Tips for January

 Today was honestly the first time I felt like doing any jobs in our own garden, bar checking the greenhouses every few days.

So here are my top tips for the start of January.

1. Check your sedums and succulents 

This year I have the majority of my rooted cuttings inside a warm greenhouse but some of the more established pots are in a coldframe with the lights open. I noticed a few rosettes had fallen from the pots and thought, aha I know what that means. I was a bit cross as I had watered them with a special mix in the autumn. Its called Bugclear for vine weevils.

I decided to investigate the pots and sure enough there they were nestled in the soil in larval form.

I discarded the soil. I cleaned up the base of the pieces trying to leave a stalk and then I repotted them in trays with inserts.

2. Check over your geranium cuttings

I have many geranium cuttings this year. I keep them very dry but even so the old flowers and some leaves are mildewed. Remove these carefully trying to reduce the spores you
spread.

3. Water greenhouses sparingly 

Be very careful with your watering. Try not to get water on foliage if you really have to do it. I noticed the sedums were looking a little sorry for themselves so I gave them a small amount.

4 Clear leaves from clumps of snowdrops

I am certain that snowdrops would make their way through but I like to clear the dead stuff.

Other ideas to try

Put up a bat roosting box in your garden. This was a Christmas present from my nephew. I am excited to see what happens. It is fastened to the side of our garden room 2m up.

 

 

This one is from

www.wildlifeworld.co.uk 

 

Tiny Teddy Pattern and Insect Hotel

Happy New Year

We made our first visit of the year to the garden today. The sun was shining. There was real heat in the rays as we sat outside for our teabreak. I wanted a job that was in the very welcome sunshine so I made a start on the insect hotel area. This hotel has held out very well. Although I will disturb nothing already there, I will be thinking about stuffing a few more things in such as a bundle of more pine cones or some coconut fibre rolled into tubes. There were lots of nettles growing into the area from the field and they were still stinging!! As I moved the huge sawn trunks, the wood was falling apart revealing many snails and other insects. I left them lightly covered, after all it is an insect friendly place.

I need to make a new sign for this area and we are desperately in need of some wood chippings for several places.

As I wandered slowly round the whole garden I was astonished to see two toads basking in the sun. I think they should hide away again quite soon as its going to get cold. I don`t think I have ever seen toads in January. I think they are confused and quite rightly so.

 

At home I have begun my stash-busting endeavours. I try to go through all my craft boxes getting rid of things I am unlikely to use. The first thing I binned was a lot of Fimo. This is a modelling clay I used a lot in the past. It is VERY old and very hard. So out it went.

I also get a lot of ideas as I sort through. This afternoon it was wet so I have cut out two lots of bunting .... one from recycled curtain fabric and one from tweed samples. I have more silk ones planned as well.

 I had a lot of lovely babygro fabric so I decided to use a very old pattern which I have adapted over the years for a tiny teddy. Here it is.

On double fabric I draw round the template, made from card. I sew round on the machine using a ball point needle, leaving a gap at the gusset. I trim round, turn rightside out and stuff lightly. Jersey is very forgiving and it is easy to manipulate the shape. They usually need a few stitches here and there. I use ladder stitch to sew up the gap and then add the ears. There is a small muzzle. Bead eyes, felt nose and embroidered mouth, a little bow and the tiny teddies are complete.

I am building up the stock for the craft trolley.

 

Steve got the chance to use his new present from Paula today. It is a collapsible basket for carrying veg. It is very convenient and a clever idea.

 

 

 

Wishing everyone good health and good gardening.

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