the winter garden

It seems odd to talk about winter when we are bouncing towards spring with a hop, skip and a jump but I’ve really noticed in the past few weeks, all that is flourishing in the garden amongst all the plants that have shut down for the winter months.

Made even more lovely, no doubt, with the few frosty mornings we’ve had of late. 

Last year our garden was bulldozed and blitzed and made lovely, shiny and new, giving us a veritable blank canvas for planting. 

Quite a daunting task to undertake and it is still a work in progress as we wait to see if everything will flourish in harmonious abundance in the borders of our cottage style garden.

lighter, brighter

And so it is, I find myself drawn back here. To my little journal of makey bakey capers and random mumblings. I’ve been so long away that I hardly know how to dive back in.

The chaos of mamahood has been as ever, all consuming shades of overwhelming loveliness....and exhaustion!

Forever spinning plates and drinking cold cups of tea.

lemony snippets

Just before Christmas, Mr H gave me a lemon tree for our 5 year wedding anniversary.

Just after Christmas I thought I might have killed said lemon tree

I moved it around the house trying to find the perfect little corner for it to flourish in blissful lemony harmony.

It ended up in a prime spot by the back doors, a veritable sun trap.

But then I got a bid giddy with a surprising bit of sunshine in January, and thinking we were headed for spring {delusional} I moved the tree outside onto the deck.

When the temperatures dropped and the so very wintry snow flurries began, I quickly carried it back indoors. To the cosy warmth.

However, the very next day ALL the leaves fell off, tumbling to the floor like a bit of a dead thing.

Ooops.

So anyway, after much panicking, a bit of better late than never watering and a few gentle whisperings of encouragement to the last remaining and clinging on for dear life leaves and buds, I can confirm that our little lemon tree is back from the brink with a bountiful bursting of new greener than green leaves and a veritable bouquet of new blossoms.

We've quite enjoyed following the progress each morning, me and the little lady. Counting the flowers and newly uncurled baby leaves. Our little lemon tree is positively flourishing

Ok, not that flourishing! 

We are certainly not at the point of enjoying our own lemons, as it were.

But feeling in a bit of a springy lemony sort of mood and with a friend round for dinner on saturday night. I whipped up some lemon posset and served in some cute flower tea cups bought years ago from Laura Ashley.

This is sooooooo lemony and creamy { and I halved the recipe as it was just the two of us } that I'd be inclined to reduce the lemon juice quantity next time. And just a few spoonfuls of this dessert is more than enough. 

I dusted with icing sugar and served with raspberries and wafer curl biscuits.

little april showers

This afternoon the biggest darkest cloud slowly moved over the skies above us looking a little bit like the alien spaceship in Independence Day.

I even put down my cup of tea {never happens} and stared out of the window in an end-of-the-world disaster movie type of way....

the washing on the line {that had been hanging there for a week} almost seemed to sigh here we go again...

the cats began to regret scratching at the back door to go out a few minutes earlier.

and, suddenly remembering that I’d sent the little lady off to nursery without her wellies,

and with barely a flicker of the new boys sleepy baby blonde lashes...

the april showers lashed down, there was even hail and a bit of thunder... 

and I grabbed my camera and headed into the waterlogged garden.

Ooh, I do love a great British downpour, don’t you?

Happy wellie wearing weekend. x

✴ green living

I'm loving the green that surrounds us. Everything is thriving from the fabulous sunshine and although the garden is lacking in colourful blooms {must do better next year...} I'm learning to love the green and the leafy.

Jasmine leaves in a tiny glass bottle and small ribbon-tied bunches of ferns are making my heart sing this week. 

The botanical greeneries and crisp white linen make me think of an Edwardian parlour, I'm not sure why but there it is. 

So gloriously glorious and springy are the green and white hues, a perfectly elegant and cheap way to decorate a room and so very weddingy too! 

There I go again, obsessed with all things weddingy....

All things green....

ferns and jasmine from a shady nook in the garden,

transferware sauce boat from a nearby charity shop and a gift from a thoughtful friend 

{thank you Miss S.}

Burleigh chinese style bowls {x 2} in pale green 'Asiatic Pheasants' pattern, local charity shop £3

home grown and home made pea shoot and walnut pesto, recipe here.

{I used old baby food jars, which are a perfect size for pesto and improvised jampot covers with fairy cake cases!}

More Flea Market Finds here

Also, still time to enter my giveaway I will draw winners next week.

Sorry if you have had trouble commenting, blogger was a bit disturbed last week and I fear I have a lost some comments in the process. Hopefully now normal service is resumed {because wasn't it a pain?!!!}

✴ royaltea

The past couple of days, me and the little lady of the house have been 'at home' to friends calling round for afternoon tea. It has been most delightful. We have supped tea and fine bubbly {for those of age} and dined on delicious savories and home baked nutmeg scones with strawberry jam and fresh cream. Yum.

We have been a bit impressed with our oh so last minute afternoon tea styling with antique embroidered tablecloths and thrifted vintage jugs holding bluebells and wild {or weed?} flowers picked late one night from the 'jungle' before the gardeners mowed them all away the next day. 

We found old rocks, shells and pieces of coral gathered long, long ago from beachcombing trips and now scattered around the garden and thought they'd make pretty good tablecloth weights against the blustery winds that swept though our gloriously sunny days. 

I had forgotten about the heart shaped lump of coral and thought it quite apt and just a bit pretty. 

We watched children play and tickled new babies toes, we chatted about new loves and remembered past high jinks and nights of hilarity, we discussed wedding plans and preceding hen do's and special birthdays soon to be celebrated. 

And with bellies full, glasses drained, teacups gathered and sleepy children heading to 'bedfordshire' we decided that love was most definitely in the air and exciting times are ahead.

I'm wondering if Kate has been scoffing cream tea and laughing with her gal pals and I'm doubting she has a dishwasher to empty and reload...

✴ well, i didn't expect that...

...and how pleased am I that I am just a bit behind with planting and sowing this year.

Because, after picnics in the garden yesterday, digging out summer jackets from beneath the mound of winter woolies, and searching {in vain} for misplaced {read: moved by toddler} sunglasses, you just wouldn't expect to see frost the next morning...oh no, you wouldn't. You would probably find that just a wee bit surprising....yes indeedy....it's March for goodness sakes!!!

Although I have to admit to being just a bit in awe of the beauty of it all.

Sparkling sugar dusted leaves, twinkling in the sunlight and the fresh {oh so fresh...Bbrrrr....!} frosty air.

Of course it'll all be melted soon enough, and good thing too, as quite frankly, we were promised spring, so, off you go frost, see you at the end of the year...!

✴ happy monday

Oh! What joy, to be able to get out into the garden. The feeling of spring is finally upon us and the bitterly cold freeze has at last turned to an amiable chill, and lets face it, as stalwarts to the cold and the rain as we are, here in blighty, a little chill isn't going to put us off getting outdoors after a long miserable winter.

I have now the task of fixing up the garden, which remains in a bit of a hapless state. The vegetable plots need weeding and soil turning ready for some onion, garlic and shallot plantings.

I have new things to plant too. Trees and plants of the edible kind.

So far, me and the little one have planted an apple tree {cox's orange pippin} and a pear tree {conference} and a little quince bush is waiting for me to decide on the perfect place to plant it. I have a big list of other lovelies I'd like to plant but more on that later.

What's going on in your little plot/ acreage/ windowsill? 

Happy monday. x

✴ winkworth arboretum...

...on a cold, wet sunday afternoon.

Starting with a very welcome pit stop for hot soup and cheese toasties in the cafe and deciding that the rain was probably not going to stop any time soon, we braved the cold and drizzle of the great outdoors.

Suitably attired in wellies and waterproofs it was evident that it really wouldn't take too long for the littlest member of the group to end up with soggy and mud splashed trousers after a good session of puddle jumping. 

Despite picking probably the worst afternoon to visit this idyllic National Trust spot, everything still looked beautiful and spring like. Patches of daffodils and snowdrops carpeted the mulchy earth and raindrops clung to budding branches like crystals, catching small rays of light through the dark ominous clouds above. Delicate pale green lichen hung from branches looking like clusters of seaweed washed up and left behind by the salty sea. So pretty. 

After a bit of wandering and a lot of pondering over a damp and just slightly bit confusing map we eventually came across an old, weather worn boathouse. Believed to have been built around the turn of the century, the National Trust have kept it quite untouched and rustic inside with a few oars nestled in the rafters, a slightly crumbling wooden canoe on the floor and fish trophies on the walls. A couple of comfy whicker settees and chairs have been placed by the open doors leading to the small balcony over looking the lake and on a side table, an old chess set, perhaps to while away the long tedious wait for a bite { I don't really get fishing...}. The perfect place to hide out from the rain with a hot flask of tea....um...if only we'd been so prepared..!

A walk in the woods on a rain soaked day which holds such romantic captivation for lovelorn couples can be tantamount to trauma with a toddler in tow. For many reasons; 

one, a small person will positively insist on holding the map/umbrella/camera... in fact anything other than your hand... two, a small person is incapable of walking along a designated path choosing instead the most muddiest embankments, deepest puddles and steepest verges and any other route with a slight element of danger, along which to tread... three, at some point, and maybe even more than once, a small person is guaranteed to 'step out' of a wellie boot and will therefore require carrying the rest of the way back to the car while bemoaning the "wet sock..." they are now sporting.

Happy weekend.

✴ pumpkin head

This cold has taken over my weekend. Resulting in a bout of sinusitis which has been dreary beyond belief. It feels a lot like having a bowling ball for a head....or more aptly, a heavy pumpkin head. 

I had to cancel a girly day out and resorted instead to a day in bed....made only slightly more bearable by a tankard of tea, a hot water bottle and the Cranford box set.....bliss! I could watch it again and again...actually I have....and will do again no doubt.

Lovely Mr H has entertained the little one all weekend and allowed me to rest and wallow. The cats, as usual did nothing to help....not even a cup of tea....lazy.

I'm not sure whether to feel relieved or saddened that there was only one small timid little trick or treat-esque type knock at the door. 

The little one marveled at the pumpkin heads {or 'potatoes' as she likes to call them} and the simple cut out mice silhouettes from Martha were a triumph of wonderment and awe. 

And we were so glad of the extra hour.

Happy All Hallows.

✴ small gatherings

Me and the little lady are still suffering with our autumn colds. It's so much worse for a little person who hasn't yet learnt how to blow her little nose. Poor thing.

I find it almost impossible to completely switch off when I'm ill. Obviously I have no problem with switching off from housework...euhh...any excuse. 

I've been cooing and ahhing while sorting some new and old vintage buys.

Lace, hankies, buckles and beads.

✴ seed heads

Autumnal walks on bright crisp days collecting seed heads. Always amazed at the beauty in the dead and dying flora at this time of year. 

I think these spidery seed heads just look so beautiful in their dark skeletal form simply placed in a pressed glass vase on an off white vintage doily and rare October sunlight casting delicate shadows. So pretty, so simple.

I'm so in awe of the beautiful prints by Angie Lewin, of seed heads, feathers, grasses and other natural forms. Love the fabric from St Jude's. I'm dreaming of cushion covers and framed prints in a bright new kitchen destined for next year....

 Always inspired at this time of year for it's design inspirations, colours, textures and influences.

✴ mon petit potager

This summer, my little kitchen garden has done me proud.

To this novice gardener the bounty of fresh vegetables humbly produced using the wing and a prayer, 'just bung it in and see' approach to creating a vegetable plot {for the very first time} has been triumphant, nay a small miracle.

I wouldn't say we can give up the supermarket and live gluttonously from the land...um, no...definitely not. But it has certainly been a while since I had to buy salad leaf, courgettes and other bits of veg.

Disappointing :: Strawberries, Carrots, Garlic, Spinach {first sowings}, Blueberries, Rhubarb {because I couldn't touch it in the first year of sowing!}

Harvested :: Onions, Shallots, Baby Beets, Gooseberries, Whitecurrants, Radishes, Swiss Chard, Rocket, Mizuna, Cos Lettuce, Mini Cucumbers, Greengages, Tomatoes, Pea Shoots

Picking :: Courgettes, Runner Beans, Spinach {second sowings}, Peppers, Chilli Peppers

Growing :: Turnips, Spring Cabbage

It's a learning process. Some things will flourish, while others will fail. 

It's not all down to following the directions on a packet of seeds....wildlife and weather can play a big part in determining a successful crop. At first I was a bit upset that the majority of my carrots were eventually ruined by carrot fly infestation, but then in a 'les miserables' sort of way I pulled myself together and thought..."next year, I'll build better barricades..."

If you only grow one thing, grow...

Pea Shoots!

Here's how;

Go to the supermarket and buy a pack of dried peas {I used Batchelors 'Bigga'}

Fill a pot with compost.

Scatter a good handful of dried peas over the compost.

Press down each pea into the soil.

Water and wait...

About 2 - 3 weeks later..

Cut pea shoots and eat...

in salads, risotto, pesto......etc....

Watch the shoots grow again and cut and eat again.....!

Thanks to The Edible Garden for introducing me to the easy peasy {!} way to grow these little lovelies {and sooo pricey in the shops don't you know!}

A selection of peafect recipes here...

Bon Appeatit!