Monday 15 July 2013

Summer and Garden Love

Last week was incomprehensibly busy, I think it always feels the same towards the last couple of weeks of term and, but at least I know that very soon we can all BREATHE again with lazy mornings and more relaxed days, which I am so looking forward to. Somehow throughout all the chaos I found so many things that made me smile and my little garden didn't fail to ground me.





My little veg patch is making some kinda magic at the moment and I am like a little child waiting with bated breath on its every move. Every morning I can't wait to get outside to see what magic the wonderful hands of mother nature has performed overnight. My first sweet peas have started to flower and I simply can't wait for the rest to follow suit. I always admire peoples sweet peas and now it feels so wonderfully grown-up to have planted more than just a handful for once. I have however already learnt that it might be worth attaching some netting against the trellis to offer a little more gripping options for both the sweet peas and sugar snaps, but that's the beauty of gardening, its very much a case of trial and error. Now these cheeky sugar snap peas appeared out of nowhere and its great to see little E's excitement every time she pops outside to see what's happening to them.
 
 
 
Cabbages are growing, but they have been under attack from the pesky (I mean lovely!) caterpillars and it seems that the Cabbage white butterflies has been really busy. So far we have already lost quite a few cabbages and this morning the next one seems to be under attack, and even though we are all for attracting butterflies and bees, says she whilst muttering under her breath, pesky little flutterby's! I have now removed all the eggs from the cabbages and also moved all the 'catties' as little Es calls them, to another piece of green, so we will see how it all pans out. Has any of you had any experience with this?
 
 
 
 
  
 
Loving the vibrant colour of the courgette flower, it certainly adds a bit of colour to the rather green looking veg patch. My very late planted sorrel seems to be coming to life, I love the taste of sorrel in salad, it just adds that lemon zing to it for me. In Jamaica they use sorrel with rum, sugar, water and ginger to make an alcoholic drink, which apparently is quite yummy, and for those wanting to give it a whirl you can find the recipe here. The pumpkins are slowly popping out and it must be really strange as a child to try and get your head around the fact that these tiny little yellow balls will grow into big pumpkins (well we hope anyway) in time for Halloween. Surely that's got to be magic, right?!




Loving all the beautiful succulents around the rockeries at the moment, not because they are a bit phallic (not saying more :-)), not because of their beautiful and very sweet flowers.
 
 
 
 
 
I am so excited to see my new David Austen's Strawberry Hill rose in bloom. After several years of rose envy, I finally purchased one this year and I am as pleased as punch! The second rose, is a climbing rose called Rosa Albertine, which I planted two years ago and last week it gave us our very first beautiful pink rose. I propagated this rose last year and amazingly it worked and it is now growing in a little pot already showing us its first bud. For any of you interested in propagating roses, you can read more about it here. I will add that I didn't leave mine outside, I put it in a small plastic bag to act as a little greenhouse for a week or two and then took it outside.
 
   
This glorious weather makes such a difference to lifestyle and we are making the very most of it by enjoying leisurely meals outside, it is amazing how a little sun can bring some calm to busy days.
 
 
 
 






We finally got around to clearing the majority of the wood away from this corner so we could get a tree swing up for the kids. Andrew collected this lovely piece of wood when they went for a walk and a couple of hours later there was a brilliant new swing for the kids to enjoy.
 

 
 
 
All things British, some flapjacks baked especially for the doh race on Saturday and will add here that he did really well, thank you for all your kind wishes. Not only did he finish the 30 mile fell race, he also managed to come 26th out of 90 odd people, so I am so proud of him for achieving this on the hottest day of the year. Moments of croquet in the garden with the kids.
 
 
No, not a sock tan, but my doh's legs when he came back from his 7 hour run, you can imagine what he would have looked like if it was wet and muddy!!
 
 

 
Last week I managed to do a little more on my first quilt by sewing my strips together and then cutting them up again, just so I can sew them together again, oh such fun. I am really enjoying the process and I am starting to appreciate just how long this is going to take me, with fingers and toes crossed I might have some warm snugly toes  by next winter.
 
I hope that you have all had a lovely weekend and that you were able to enjoy some sunshine where you are, even if it is a little winter sun. This week I am working on our contribution to the annual village scarecrow festival and fingers crossed I will get it done to get it up in time for the fete. This is such a strange, but lovely English tradition and I am not sure where or how it originated, but I love the effort people make. We are only doing something small, which I will share with you very soon.
 
 
 
In the meantime I am going to take a leaf out of Sinbad's book to do a little snoozing in the shade. Wishing you all a very happy and creative week.
 
Warm wishes
Hannapat
xoxo
 

27 comments:

  1. Hi Hannapat... your garden looks great. I didn't understand the quilt bit; why did you stitch the rectangles together and then cut them up again and re-do them? Is it practice? Have a good week x

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    1. Hello Andrea, even though I have replied to you by email, I thought I would try and answer it so others can read it. Basically it is shortcut, and definitely not practice (wish I was that motivated!). You are suppose to use 2.5" squares, 16 per block, hence the name 16 block quilt, so instead of cutting hundreds of 2.5" squares, I cut strips of 10" x 2.5" and then sew them together therefore ending with 4 strips sewed together. I then cut them up again, which meant that I had strip of what looked like four 2.5" blocks sewn together, if that makes sense. The next step now is to put the strips together and mix and match them so I will end up with the necessary 16 block squares. I hope this make sense. I promise to give more info once I have done a little more xoxo

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  2. Hannapat what a fabulous post, I love it. I am so envious of your gorgeous garden, I love plants of all kinds but am hopeless in the garden, I really am. I love your quilt the colours and design are wonderful, well done you! I am hoping to catch the marmalade fair this month, would love to come to your festival too, perhaps we could have a coffee. You are so talented Hannapat, an inspiration.
    Lots of love
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxx

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    1. Thanks Dorothy, you are always so kind with your lovely comments. I have to say I so enjoy gardening, just wish I had more time, energy and money! for it. Our village festival is on Saturday this week and sadly I won't be going as I am having a vintage tea party for my 40th (a bit late, I know). Hubby and kids will be going though. We should definitely arrange for a coffee one day. Maybe you could make the trip to Treacle one month and we could meet up, that would be great! My next treacle visit will be in September now xoxo

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  3. What a wonderful post Hannapat - I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it from start to finish! Your hubby did very well in his run - I had to laugh at those legs and feet!
    Oh your quilting is going so well and looking soooo good, such pretty gentle colours!
    Didn't you do so well to propagate a rose - now that is no mean feat! Well done - I must follow your link and take a closer look at how!
    Your pics are magical Hannapat - what an amazing garden you are working there, but sorry to hear you are having trouble with the little Bs on the cabbages!!! Very difficult to keep them away!
    Keep enjoying that glorious weather and have a wonderful week!
    Joy xo

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    1. Thank you Joy, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Hubby most certainly did very well, gone are the days of wanting to shower him down before you tramps all that dirt in the house, now I just need to look the other way. I am sure you will find propagating a rose quite straight forward, I am hoping to do another one this year, so fingers crossed. At the moment I have tried a hydrangea, but things aren't looking so good. Time will tell! xoxo

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  4. It looks like you are all having a lovely time in this lovely weather! Your garden is looking so pretty. Well done to your husband on the fell race too.
    M x

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  5. What a summery post! I always battle pests like Monty Don tells me to...and the quilt is looking lovely - I was very nervous the first time I took the rotary cutter to my carefully sewn squares, but we survived! :) And I giggled when I saw your hubby's legs - my guy also does crazy running adventures, and I've had to deal with filthy sports kit, 'tan' dirty legs...really, they are like overgrown children! Chrissie x

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    1. Oh Chrissie these men, I always think of it as just one more child, we have to love them! xoxo

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    2. That is so funny - on more than one occasion, when asked how many children I have, I reply, 'Two girls and one big boy!' Cx

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  6. You must have such a beautiful garden. I'm glad it is such a source of joy for you. It's the middle of winter here & I completely overheated today, I think it was about 26 degrees in the sun. What I'd give for some real cold! Your quilt looks amazing already. What a wonderful project. I must send you a proper email soon, I've been keeping busy with the wee bit of extra energy I've had. Xx

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    1. Thanks Leisa, I get so much from it, just wish we had longer summers to enjoy it. The summer always feels so much busier than the winter with so much to do, but I love it! Yes, I cant say that our winters in SA were ever that cold, but 26C seems very warm indeed. I know it is much the same in SA at the moment. I am so pleased to hear that you are still having a little more energy and enjoying spending it. No need to rush with the email, I know you are there and I would rather you did something enjoyable!! xoxo

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  7. A beautiful garden, and I can't wait to see your roses!! They are my favorite!! So glad you have been enjoying such beautiful, summer weather and days!! Love the quilt you are working on!! So colorful and cheery!! Wishing you a lovely and crafty week sweet Hannapat!! xo Heather

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    1. Thanks Heather. I have fond memories of walking up my grandparents drive and just smelling the sweet scent of the rose garden, it was heavenly. I just need a little more space to plant a few more bushes, but I am sure a few more things will be moved and changed over the years to come. xoxo

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  8. You your garden is blooming, so many lovely things there...and that quilt, wow, it's beautiful! :) x

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    1. Thanks Ada, I am thinking of you as I am working it as there are a few sheets in there from you! xoxo

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  9. Have you tried sorrel soup? My mother in law makes it for us every time we visit and it's delicious :D

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    1. No, I can't say that I have ever heard of it, so I am off to google it. Thank you for the tip, I love trying new things! xo

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  10. Gosh your garden looks beautiful Hannapat. I feel your excitement at checking out your baby vegies, and your frustration at those naughty caterpillars. I no longer plant cabbage type things, because those white moths will not stay away if I do, and their greedy babies gobble up everything in sight (not just the cabbages!) x

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    1. Thanks Kylie, I think I might be adopting the same philosophy next year or alternatively I might just be a little more ruthless and less concerned about letting mother nature run its cause! So far the greeds haven't spread to anything else, fingers crossed and I am on them now! xoxo

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  11. Your garden is so beautiful, so many pretty flowers and Sinbad makes it perfect :) Your quilt is looking lovely too. So much work goes into big projects like that but it makes it all the more special in the end :) xoxox

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    1. Thanks Elisabeth, yes it certainly seems to be a big project and is going to take some time to finish! Thanks for your lovely comments xo

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  12. What a glorious summery post....your images are a delight and your little girl is a stunner so so cute....bet she looks like you??

    You have reminded me that i want roses in my garden next year!!

    thank you for all your lovely comments ao my blog....don't wory i have received them all....you see I have 'comment moderation' on which means they are not published immediatly...!!

    bestest to you today hope you are enjoying your lovely garden....Daisy j xxx

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    1. Thanks Daisy, can't even blame age here. I am on board now! xoxo

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  13. Lovely photos. That quilt is coming along a treat. It is gonna be wonderful. Jo x

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    1. Thanks Jo, so lovely that you have stopped by. xo

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