Fairies, Gnomes and Flumpies

Things have been hotting up, as the first yurters are due at the weekend. Tim and Anne are trundling round the campsite getting everything shipshape. We have been trying to neaten things in the garden. 

I did a bit of strimming. The log seats are in situ. The fairy garden is done. The gnome home is done. I have added some new bunting and some gnome heads.

I have also been creating some new gnomes for the stumpery. They will peep out from hollow logs and in between ferns. This afternoon I have just given them a bit of waterproofing spray which I hope may make them last a bit longer outdoors.

Next to the gnome home where they store their treasure in a log cave, there is a fairy cave of larger proportions.

I have created some new sitting fairies to go in there.

Some of them have got such funny little faces but they will all be happy in their new home. They too have been waterproofed for longer life. The fairy cave will be my next job.

The middle flower bed is done .... hooray. Steve had to break up the matted roots for me with a spade. They now have well rotted manure spread around. One more flowerbed to go. They have been very hard work.

The split plum branch is smothered in blossom. How can I prune it off. I am thinking of sealing the crack with duct tape.

We harvested our first rhubarb. Goodness me it was lovely.

I have been turning the huge soft pompoms into all kinds of creatures.

Flumpies

Hedgehogs
 

Still 6 to go so watch this space.

HAPPY EASTER to everyone.

 

The Return of Gandalf

 Gandalf has returned. Hooray.

It is so nice to have him back again. He suits our garden down to the ground.

I was very excited as we loaded the components into the car. It was such a lovely day that we were able to assemble him outside the polytunnel.

Now this scarecrow has had several incarnatons. This will be the third.

(Once he was Doctor Who. Once he was a pirate.)

It was a bonus that we did not have to construct a new body.

I had to dress him before the head went on. The arms are jointed so dressing is easier. I still struggled.

At this stage he was ready for his head. Steve screwed it on after adjusting slightly.
 

After this, I decided that the arms were out of proportion, so Steve was able to elongate them at the wrist.

I padded out the chest and shoulders with old stuffing from sofa cushions, to balance out the whole look.

Anne bought a beautiful Celtic brooch which I attached to the bag. It was a perfect touch.

Finally I sewed on a cloak across his shoulders and trimmed his beard just a tad.

Now he is ready to grace us with his presence in the garden but for now he will guard the polytunnel for us.

 

Welcome back Mr Gandalf.

Fluffy Flowers and Hippie Scarecrows

Seed sowing has begun in earnest and Steve has managed to get some onions in today despite the previous wet weather. 

So far in the flower department, we have sown sweetpeas, calendula, cornflowers, cosmos and ageratum. In the veggie department we have sown lettuce, spinach, sprouts, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Today I have done quite a bit of rearranging in both greenhouses at home to make more space .

It was lovely in the garden today. The birdsong was amazing. We dismantled the pirate scarecrow as he is going to become Gandalf. He needs a new head. His lower regions have drooped so we hope to hoist his trousers up a bit higher. Once Gandalf`s long grey gown is on, they won`t be seen.

Then Paula and I weeded the tiny fairy garden, recreated the path with sand, glitter and glass pebbles and covered a few bare areas with moss.

 

I have been checking all the fairy garden components. Most are fine for another year.

The hippie scarecrow got a new waistcoat.

 

The wooden toadstools have had a lick of red paint.

 

See what you can spot in this picture. It must be getting warmer.

I woke up a few days ago with lots of crafty ideas. I have three boxes of fluffy wool in the loft and I had been puzzling over what to make. It is not easy to knit up or crochet with.

Someone gave me this huge pompom maker so I made massive pompoms. They may be future hedgehogs or a furbie type of creature. They are soft and cuddly.

 

I`ve also had a flower loom for some time and I`ve never used it. I tried some fluffy flowers, was pleased with the results and ended up making 45. I shall be stringing them together with leaves or decorating bags.

 

Here is the flower loom. Up until now this craft has never appealed to me. But once I began I could not stop.

I`m glad I did not throw it away.
 

 

Happy Spring days to everyone.