No Flowers In A Vase Today - Gardening Catch-Up Instead

Hello Everyone,

Unfortunately, there's nothing to cut in the garden and I've not been out foraging either. I've too busy with the Scrap-a-Sketch Rainbow Challenge, not to mention catching up on more domestic stuff that I won't bore you with. I have, however, been giving the front garden much consideration. 

What a mess! That's the result of almost two years of neglect. Time, methinks, to do something. It needs a makeover so I'm looking for a landscape gardener but that's proving to be not as easy as I hoped. In the meantime, I've moved the smaller of the overgrown weed-filled pots to the area I've designated the potting area in the back garden. The plan is to clean them out and repot any plants found worth saving. Any pots that are emptied completely will be cleaned up, filled with lovely new compost and sown with quick growing annuals such as:

nasturtiums 

calendula 

eschscholzia 

malope

All photos and seeds from the Higgeldy Garden.

Hoping for a bit of late summer colour. 

And finally,

However much I despair of my overgrown patch it's clearly providing Silver with the perfect hunting ground!

Thanks for following my blog, reading this post, and for sticking with me this far. I'm trying to post more regularly but it's been a rocky road for so long and I still have days that are a struggle. Listen to me! I don't want you to think that it's all bad. I'm slowly, but surely, adjusting to this new way of life. 

On that note, I'll sign off for today. 

Take care, everyone,

Elizabeth

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 674

Hello WOYWWers, Fellow Crafter's and All,

It's been a long while. I've missed participating in Julia's WOYWW over on The Stamping Ground while I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging . I hope this finds you all well and that you enjoyed all the recent holidays. 

And here's what's on my desk today. 

Not a scrapbook project as you might expect from me but a stamping one instead. I spotted this stamp on Instagram a few weeks ago and just had to have it. It's from The English Stamp Company - not one I'd heard of before. 

I have made seed packets before, years ago, using a Microsoft programme I no longer have since I changed computer. So stamping onto blanks seemed a good alternative. The seed packet template was found online - there's a lot to choose from, some with the design already done for you. Who knew! Not me. There's a lot of very helpful gardeners blogging just this sort of thing. 

It's springtime here in Scotland. Time to be sewing seeds so you might be thinking I'm a tad early with plans to harvest them. Well, not so. Our many aquilegia plants are just about to flower and in a few short weeks will be setting seed. It's never too early to get cutting out and making up more of these wee packets ready for the harvest. I'm thinking they will make lovely gifts. 

And talking of the garden, here's Silver enjoying playing among the weeds. 

And smelling the new leaves of a clematis.

She is enjoying the better weather, as am I. It's so good to get out in the sunshine and Silver likes the company. Saying that, today it's drizzling.

No book this week. It's not that I've not been reading/listening, it's just that I haven't prepared. I'm out of practice. For the same reason, there's no funnies. Note to self: must do better. 

An update on our health issues here. Alan is still struggling. He is in constant pain, source being investigated, and he has a really troublesome cough at night which interrupts his sleep (mine too). As for me, apart from being sleep deprived, I'm doing okay. 

I hope you are all well and enjoying the better weather - I'm so glad winter is finally over. Apologies to those of you down under where winter is on its way. 

Take care and stay safe. 

In A Vase On Monday - Amazing Amaryllis

Hello Everyone,

I don't have a vase to share today ... there's not a lot blooming in the garden at the moment ... so I thought I'd share my amazing Amaryllis instead.

What makes it amazing for me is that it's the first time I've ever saved a bulb from a previous year and it's survived to flower again. 

Not that I did anything special. It's only been stored in the cold frame all the way through spring and summer but it must have provided the bulb just the right conditions to bring it on and bloom again. It's early so I.m thinking it will be over by the time we get to Christmas but I'm happy to enjoy it's beauty right now. And, of course, I will do exactly as I did once flowering is over and pop it back into the cold frame in the hope she will amaze me again next year. 

If my amazing Amaryllis has impressed you do pop over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden to see even more lovely floral offerings. 

In A Vase On Monday - Last Roses

Hello Everyone,

It's been a moment or two since I last joined in with Cathy's meme, In A Vase On Monday but it's also a long time since I spent any time in my poor neglected garden.

Not that there's many flowers in bloom now we're in October. These roses are probably the last of the year, although there's still a few hopeful buds on some of the bushes. 

The cream rose at the back is 'Patricia Kent', next to it is 'L'aiment' and the two to the front are 'Simply the Best'. There's a couple of sprigs of Viburnum 'Eve Price' tucked amongst the roses and foliage which consists of frothy fennel, pineapple sage, berried cotoneaster and a sprig from this little tree, 'Amelanchier Lamarckii

It was only planted a couple of years ago so it's still got a lot of growing to do. You can see how small it is compared with the old rowan growing behind it. The rowans have done incredibly well this year, so much so the branches are drooping with clusters of berries, said to be the sign of a bad winter to come. 

As you can see the garden has gone a bit wild over the last year and a half while we've been unable to look after it. We've had 'gardeners' in, only to see one pulling up prized plants so, for now, it's being left to it;s own devices. Although my husband is no longer able to garden, I'm hoping I will be able to get out there in the spring and sort the mess out. Well, that's the plan. 

So to see even more lovely floral offerings, from well-tended gardens, do pop over to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden.

Scrap Page 02/2021 - Snow Today

 Hello Everyone, 

Thanks for stopping by. Wherever you are I hope you are having a good day. It's not too bad here - the sun's out, it's dry, but it's still very frosty. Spring doesn't seem so far away now so I've given this blog a new, brighter, cheerier header - hopefully a sign of better days to come!

My craft space hasn't seen a lot of action recently but I did manage to make this scrap page using a Spoonful of Scraps challenge from December, #3, for inspiration. 

For this page I've left the Christmas pics behind, I said I would in this post and I have, and moved on to January, winter and the garden. We don't get a lot of snow here on the west coast of Scotland ... it's being so near the sea ... so when we do you might spot me doing a little celebratory dance. Of course, I have to take a pic for the record too. This one is dated 29 Jan 2019. 

Materials used: papers - 'Flannel' from the Heart & Home Collection from PhotoPlay (background), 'Merry Everything' from Pinkfresh's Oh What Fun collection and 'Sweet December' from Crate Paper's Hey Santa collection, and Heidi Swapp's Make Pretty Stuff 'Today' paper for the title. Other materials used - Winsor & Newton's blue watercolour, and sticker embellishments from the earlier mentioned PhotoPlay Collection. All other embellishments, title letters, etc., are from old stash, including enamel dots

That's it from me today. I'm making no promises but I'm hoping to be back tomorrow for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. It's a plan. 

In the meantime, I hope you are all well and wish you happy crafting.

Friday Smiles

Afternoon Everyone,

From a dull but dry Scottish west coast. The sun has popped out now and again but it's not splitting the pavements as it did this time last year. The garden doesn't seem to be suffering though - flowers are still blooming and it's looking lush now that the roses are starting to make an appearance. So, as you might have guessed already, the Friday Smiles photos I'm sharing with Annie this week are all from the garden.

This is the view we get of the garden from our back gate. As you can see the dark purple, almost black, petunias in the wall pots are doing well.

 And the self-seeded foxgloves are now looking their best.

 Another view of the part of the garden that is to the side of the house ... we have what could be described as a wrap around garden, consisting of front, side and back areas ... looking very tidy after the grass has been cut. The building in the background is a converted RC church. Beyond the round bed and in front of the picket fence is the plum tree. Even though the EM planted it three years ago this was the first year we saw it flower so we had high hopes of a plum harvest. 

Not the best shot but this is it. The one solitary plum that has survived. Still, it is one more than last year.

A view of the back garden. The escallonia, near left, is just coming into flower and it's a magnet for bees, as is the hardy geranium and centaura in the foreground.

And finally, my very own favourite rambling rose.

Albertine. Looking absolutely fabulous.

That's it for me this week. Lots to smile about. Hope you have had a very happy week too with much to make you smile. And if you have, do join in with Annie's Friday Smile meme over on A Stitch In Time.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone

Friday again! My how the week flies. It's time to join in with Annie's Friday Smiles over on A Stitch In Time.

We took a trip to the EM's favourite fishing village, Portpatrick, on Sunday. It was a cloudy but dry day so the photos aren't the brightest but here's a few taken there and on the drive down the coast.

On a summer's day this view of from the coastal road, just south of Girvan, looking down on a beautiful bay which is popular with walkers, is simply stunning. 

The following shots are of Portpatrick.

Of course, after such a long drive we found somewhere for a cuppa and bite to eat. We chose the 'Port Pantry' and we had a table in a very cosy wee corner. We had a warming bowl of potato soup with coffee and cake to follow - delicious.

On the wall next to our table I discovered this article written by the Sunday Post's Scone Spy.  Unfortunately my photo is not at all legible so here's a link to the full article.

I borrowed the photo - taken by Jamie Williams, Sunday Post - showing how very welcoming our table was.

The weather has been unseasonably warm this week and we continue to spot unmistakable signs of Spring in our garden.

And finally, unbelievably, we've been spotting bees buzzing about the place.

Here's one I caught on the Skimmia. This one was clearly just basking in the warmth of the sun.

So there you are - I've had a lot to smile about this week and I hope you have had an equally good week too.

Take care and have a lovely week ahead.

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

I'm joining in with Annie's Friday Smiles at A Stitch In Time. Though, in truth, there's not much to show this week. I've not been out and about much and because the winter colds/flu season is in full swing I haven't seen much of the family ... they make a point of avoiding us oldies for fear of passing their germs on. However, a quick trot round the garden ... had to be quick because it's freezing here ... and found a lot that promises spring isn't so far away.

Winter Jasmine

Snowdrops

Cyclamen coming into flower

New growth on the Douglas rose

Daffodils just about to bloom

I also checked out the bug hotel and hedgehog mansion for signs of activity but not a sign of life - much too cold, I expect.

And that leads to a couple of funnies I liked.

Because it's been a warmer than normal winter up until now I have visions of the neighbourhood hedgehog out and about like this. Hopefully, now the temperatures have dropped to near freezing it has found our little shelter and curled up to sleep through the rest of the winter.

Have a wonderful smiley weekend.