Clover Yard

Rich pickings

On Sunday we cycled uphill to Pirners Brig - a picnic spot by a river where we used to brave the icy water and swim as youngsters.  No swimming this time, but lots of skimming of stones and on the way back I picked some rosehips from the bushes at the side of the road which were also laden with elderberries.  They were incredibly red, dazzling against the blue sky.  They are now in the airing cupboard in a paper bag where I hope they will dry so I can use them in a flower arrangement later on.  I've heard that the little hairs and seeds on them can really irritate the skin - the original itching powder - so I will leave them intact!  Hope they won't loose their colour too much during the drying process.  Any alternative methods appreciated!

The power of flowers

What a joy it is to be working with flowers again.  Day 3 of the new job has passed and it's going well.  It's hard work - the shop is on 3 floors with almost vertical stairs.  Very Dutch!  I'm going to have killer calf muscles in no time.  There's something very satisfying about heading home after my shift with green fingers and that flushed feeling like I've spent a day picking tatties.  Good, honest hard work.  You can't beat it.

 

Although there are some lovely flowers in the shop, I am making the most of the availability of these little posies which are being sold outside some shops and the local post office.  I'm told they are grown in the Arbroath area.  I'd love to see the fields they're picked from. 

 

 

I couldn't decide between the autumn golds or the purples and scented pinks.  So I bought both.

Thank you Holly and Julia for your kind comments about the kitten.  Please consider Babas cuddled.  She has been getting lots of those - and some gourmet tidbits for tea.  I wonder how the wee chap is getting on...

Secret Gardens

There are some beautiful old houses in our village with walled gardens and as I walk by them I often imagine what is over those high walls.  I was in for a treat today as for one day a year, around 10 private gardens open their gates and let nosey parkers like myself have a wander around.  Some of these gardens were beyond my imagination, I really did feel like Alice in Wonderland.

I couldn't find the rabbit hole, but do mind your head on the little blue door...

Must stop and smell the apricot roses...

I wonder where this leads to...

Pretty cottage borders of blue delphiniums and fiery alstromeria...

I wouldn't mind a little peek in this window...

Let's stop for a rest at this dreamy oasis...

Such a pretty combination, aqua and pink don't you think?

A novel way of recycling those glass bottles, better than a poke in the eye!

Now just you sit down here and I'll be back soon with some cream teas. 

If I could just find that little door again...

Whiskers on kittens

Boo is my name, being cute is my game. Aren't I growing fast?

Flowers from the garden

A lovely little cupboard bought this week.  New, but looks old.

The foxglove is for Heidi at foxglovesfabricandfolly.blogspot.com/ who tagged me during May.  I won't pass it on as I'm oh so late with it and you've all moved on by now, but I did promise a reponse.  Here goes...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Hmm...that was sooo long ago.  I was probably fretting about my weight but no doubt was a good stone lighter then!  I was working as a "desktop publishing assistant" a rather 90's job title, in an IT company in Aberdeen, living with my now husband Derek in a poky tenement flat that had a blue kitchen that I'd repainted 3 times in so many months!  I was having a great time, partying with friends, eating out every weekend, spending far too much money and thinking how far off 10 years was.  How wrong I was!

2. 5 things on my to do list today?

It's Sunday, isn't it the day of rest? ;o)   Tomorrow, I will...

• Paint the outside table and chairs - Seagrass by Cuprinol (lovely green/blue shade).
• Borrow a kitten pen as fiesty little Boo is already precariously hanging from the edge of the basket in an attempt to escape.
• Go shopping and buy myself some quality "key pieces" for my wardrobe instead of the usual tat I come back with that still has tags on in 4 months time.
• Plan little boys birthday party.  Is going to be a family barbeque in the garden with a gazebo, lots of bunting and ice cream and jelly.
• Keep up the water drinking - I feel fab! 

3. Snacks I enjoy...

I enjoy chocolate.  I wished I enjoyed fruit more.  Does strawberries dipped in chocolate count?

4. Things I'd do if I were a millionaire...

I dream about this quite a lot.  I would cook now and then for pleasure, but most days would have delicious and highly nutritious food delivered each day - lots of tasty veggie dishes and organic chicken and fish.  If I were super rich, I would open and fund a chain of complementary medicine/therapy centres across the country.  Treatment would be free for all.  I'd buy a cottage by the sea and paint all the walls and floors white and buy some truly amazing fabrics to decorate it with.  If it were money they needed, I'd make all my family's dreams come true.

5.  Places I've lived...

Aberdeen, Glasgow, Strathblane, Edinburgh, London (only lasted 8 months!).  The best, by far, is where I am now.

Thanks Heidi! It's been a trip down memory lane for me.  Have a great week x.

Beading on a sunny afternoon

Wow, I've been sooo productive today.  Must be the sun, it has recharged me.  I've spent a very content afternoon beading at the table outside.  I wanted to make something summery and with these lovely glass beads, including some rose quartz, I came up with the following...

Now I just need an outfit to go with it! 

These below started off as necklaces but I thought they were a bit fussy so I finished them off as bracelets. The heart charm was actually from a pair of ear-rings but I found them a little heavy and borderline Pat Butcher (cockney soap character for my friends outwith the UK!), so, I thought I'd reuse and recycle!...

This one's my favourite...

The flower heads for my "photo shoot" are courtesy of our lovely Clematis growing at the front door.  I am trying to train it into a heart shape (aww) but I think it needs a bit of a haircut! 

Finally, to round off a lovely day, I potted up some window boxes...

I think I've earned that glass of wine now, don't you?  Have a lovely weekend all. x

A Spell in the Garden

{Apologies that you've been unable to leave comments lately.  I have been writing another blog for a youth group which is comment-free and I'd got myself all in a muddle.  Hope to hear from you all soon!}

Pots of pretty flowers nodding their heads in the warm spring sunshine...

Little carpets of blue flowers, settling roots into the cool earth...

Sleepy insects, stretching their wings and inspecting fresh green foliage...

Garden chairs and table, eagerly awaiting a fresh lick of paint and the first customers of the summer...

My lovely garden.  Opening for the new season very soon.

Spring is coming

These beautiful blue hyacinths are filling the whole of downstairs with their heady scent.  It's such an exciting smell - it brings hope that Spring is on the way.

I love tulips...

...although they're not my ultimate favourite -that would be roses, pink and scented, something like these - in fact, exactly these!

The hand-tied bouquets can be ordered from David Austin Roses.  (Husband take note, although the sad truth is that if you are or have ever been a florist, no one sends you flowers anymore).  Anyway, they are so gorgeously old-fashioned and I imagine they smell heavenly... 

Last year I ordered and planted one of their bare root roses "Gertrude Jekyll" (pictured).  It was a leap of faith to be honest because if you've ever seen them in their bare root state you really wonder if anything will come of them. But come they did, beautiful, sweet, tea scented blooms - even in our northern Scottish climate!  I think maybe I should be pruning them about now?  Yet another reason to feel guilty about blogging!