Thursday 10 March 2016

Tulips, Garden Plans And Bloggy Thoughts.

 
 
 
I treated myself to some tulips this week, £2 from the market, they are still going strong and have made me smile. I love spring flowers. Colour at the end of the greyness of winter. This year I'm going to plant lots.
 
It's raining today, well more the 'wet you through in a minute' type of drizzle. Yesterday it rained heavily all day. It's cold too. Not much gardening going on at the moment, it's more snuggling up warm with tea and a book. I managed to get some things done this weekend, generally a tidy up and I've transplanted my strawberries out of their tin bath, and into one of my raised beds. The two remaining raised beds haven't been filled yet, I've realised I've not go enough 'stuff' to fill it with as yet, we are doing lasagne gardening, the no dig method, and will need some more layers.
 
I've taken possession today of two garden arches, to be placed in between the raised beds. I'm hoping they will soon be covered in delicious smelling roses. They will give much needed height to the vegetable garden. They may have French beans and squashes growing up them this year, whilst the roses get going.
 
I've been thinking a lot just lately about Vintage Sheet Addict...there aren't many vintage sheets anymore, I either need to start doing something with them, or change my blog name! This blog will be four years old this summer, it's flown. Thank you for being here and for reading. I'd love to know who you all are, but perhaps being 'unseen' is part of what you enjoy. It really is quite a funny business this blogging malarkey...kinda like it though.
 
You may have notice my blog list has disappeared. I wanted to rearrange it but some how can't get it back on, I really am quite dangerous when left to my own devices! I will endeavour to correct this.
 
 
Soon be the weekend...I've got a shed to organise, and a little greenhouse to clean, ready for some seed sowing. Oh, and I'd love a raspberry patch so had better get onto that before it's too late. What plans do you have for the weekend...I'd love to hear.
 
 
Amanda :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

32 comments:

  1. What interesting plans you have for your garden. I managed to spring clean the greenhouse on Monday and am hoping to cut the lawns and plant some seeds this weekend. At least it's warmer inside the greenhouse. By the way the pattern on your background is exactly the pattern of my first ever continental quilt cover back in the late seventies. I remember coming home from school and it was on my bed. I felt so very modern!! Hope you are feeling well. I would love a couple of raised beds. Are yours made from wood?. The Lasagne method sounds intriguing.
    Best wishes Alison.

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    1. The patten is an original M&S one from the 1970s, a very popular design. The raised beds are steel, I love them, they are expensive but just look fab and I managed to grow lots in them last year :) xxx

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  2. My plans for the weekend include gardening too - I have just taken delivery of a couple of patio peonies (bare root) which are going into pots and some little spring perennials - cardamine quinquefolia - lovely leaves and pale lilac delicate flowers, a bit like Lady's Smock flowers. I just hope the weather is kind!
    Your plans sound really exciting too - I look forward to watching your garden develop.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Peonies are fabulous aren't they Ellie, I am going to make sure they feature heavily in my new planting scheme...hope the garden stays dry for us! :) xxx

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  3. I like blogging too but fear a 'commercial takeover' and I do miss your side bar as I use it to read blogs that I can't work out how to follow! So keep up the good work for all us amateurs... and yes, you need a new name...competition time?

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    1. Hi, yes I'm being really turned off by commercial aspect of so many blogs now, some of which I used to love to read. It's difficult as I know the blog authors are making their blogs into a business, that's fine but not really what I'm wanting to read. I'm not sure how to even change my blog name! I will work on the blog list :) xxx

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    2. I dislike intensely having things like yarn constantly promoted. Apart from that it kills off people's own creativity, it serves not just to inspire but to get people to copy the whole thing. If it isn't that it is patterns and other things we are meant to buy. Some people manage to make it fit into their blogs okay while showing appreciation and gratitude (Posie gets cozy) while many more don't sadly. At the same time the personal aspect has disappeared and I fear we are just marketing fodder now for some bloggers and are somewhat cynically exploited. Sometimes we are only blogged to in order to broadcast the next product on its way. The rest of the time the reader and any input they have is often ignored.

      I love blogs like Three Stories High, which seems to be all about a creative blogger sharing their clever makes without any kind of ulterior motive. I miss all those blogs that have gone now.

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    3. It's a difficult one isn't it, whilst I've nothing against anyone making their blog a business, it is their blog after all, I'm turning more and more away from those types of blog. I love Attic 24 and whilst it is a business, it's also full of inspiration, patterns a as well as home life too. I never feel anything is forced on me. I've stopped reading a lot of blogs purely because they only seem to promote the latest book or Shop brand. Anything I review on here, it's on here because I love the product and not because I've been asked to promote it. Good luck to anyone who can make what they love doing pay, it's just not for me that's all :) xxx

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  4. Looking forward to seeing more of your garden, I can't wait to get out and get ours sorted properly, then there is more time for being outside enjoying it, we spend lots of time in the garden in summer and eat outside, it is so relaxing x

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    1. We are so lucky aren't we to have an outside space...very often I'm sat out sit on my own eating, I've a family frightened of flies and wasps! ;) xxx

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  5. I look forward to seeing your garden! I am desperately hoping to get some work done on our backyard this year, but have to plan around deer. That makes it a bit tricky, they already love to feast on our blueberry bushes, apple trees, and whatever else happens to pop up that they like! I agree about blogs and the commercial aspect. I love both Attic 23 and Posie Gets Cosy, they are still more personal, diary-like, but share things personal to them in regards to selling. I enjoy personal blogs, getting to know people while seeing and learning from the fun and beautiful projects they do/make. I do look forward to seeing what you do with your blog!

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    1. Well I have to battle slugs and now Otto, I can't imagine throwing deer into the mix too! Good luck with your garden plans Michelle, I'm sure they will turn out to be beautiful :) xxx

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  6. I've only been following your blog for a short time and I'm not sure that I've ever commented and I have no memory now of how I found you. In answer to your request I feel I should introduce myself, I'm Kate and I live in Tasmania, the island state of Australia. I love yarn and knitting and crocheting, I'm a brown thumb so although I have plenty of space my garden is non existent. We are just coming out of our hottest, driest summer on record. It's been horrible and I'm so ready for Autumn, my favourite season. Your cat looks very much like ours, and Otto is just gorgeous.
    Thanks for sharing all that you do, I love to glimpse into real lives that are so far away and often different to mine but at the same time so very similar as well. I don't have a blog, too lazy.
    cheers Kate

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    1. Hello Kate, thank you so much for spending the time to tell me a bit about yourself. What I love more than anything about blogging is the connection made between people who live in different parts of the world. It's been quite a few years since we've had a hot summer here in the UK...I'm really pleased it's spring, although it's felt more like winter this week! ;) xxx

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  7. do hoe you can get the blog renamed to what you like but it must not mean we might lose you, re all the extras on the blogs I just put the links to whatever BOMs etc I am doing or planning to one day do. Liking the idea of roses on the trellis you must make sure you get ones with a perfume to them so many these days seem to lack a scent I gather you have to point out you want scented ones.

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    1. Morning Margaret, I daren't change anything for fear of losing it all...wish I had a technical brain! Oh yes, scented Rosie's all the way, those old fashioned ones are the best :) xxx

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  8. Hi my dear!!!!
    though blogging times, right? As you, I started to read less blogs than before, because a lot are just promoting one kind of yarn (is it possible? with all the infinite options we are surrounded with!!!) or just some books (still? with all the variety we are blessed to have) or friends that are already popular.... I still love to blog about my makes or my strange yarn stash (not really trendy), but this is what I am and what I feel... I'm not a trend setter, just a yarn lover, of all kinds!!
    Happy weekend, xxxx Ale

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    1. Just be true to yourself Ale, that's the best way...blog about what you love, simple really! :) xxx

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  9. Dear Amanda, beautiful tulips, its good to spoil yourself and flowers are always lovely. Your plans for your garden and those arches sound good, eventually being covered with climbing roses...I am looking forward to seeing more of your garden as it progresses.
    Happy Mother's day, such a beautiful gift of perfume. I spoiled myself (just to cheer myself up) with a bottle of Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere recently, not the new formula but the 2007 version which is delightful and very hard to find here, I bought it from Spain. We celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May down here in Australia.
    Have a happy weekend!
    Hugs, Dianne.
    xoxoxo ♡

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  10. That reminds me I need to sort out my shed & start some seed sowing. Did manage to pop out into the garden today & do a little weeding & made a start on the tidying up. I love your vintage sheet design. My Mum had this design (also in purple I think) when we were kids so always makes me smile. when I see it.

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    1. It was made in a few colour ways...one of my favourites. Let's hope the sun shines over the weekend so we can potter some more! ;) xxx

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  11. Those are beautiful tulips that are especially stunning against the colour of the door! My weekend will be similar to yours. We are off to buy raspberry plants too! Sarah x

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    1. I just love rasberries, last year I got three plants from a cheap discount shop, they all failed miserably! Fingers crossed for this year ;) xxx

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  12. Hi my names is Lisa. I have followed your blog for ages and think it''s great. Your gardening sounds great and you are inspiring me to do something about mine. Thanks ;) x

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    1. Hi Lisa, thank you for letting me know you're out there, I love hearing from folk who read my blog. Have a super weekend :) xxx

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  13. Morning Amanda, from a foggy Sussex this morning. I had surgery on my right hand middle finger yesterday so my weekend = keeping it raised and rested. (Not good at forced rest.) Blogland seems to have changed with instagram, but I have learnt so much crochet wise from peoples blogs. They are inspirational and it is great that the world can be one. I have decided to do a CAL this year from Shelley Husband, spincushions in Australia. I have never made a blanket with granny squares but now I will. Looking forward to seeing your arches in situ.

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    1. Instagram has changed things a lot, I'm a big fan of IG but blogs are a different medium. Your finger sounds very painful, rest up and hopefully you will be making that blanket soon! :) xxx

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  14. Hello again, I've not been visiting here for long but your blog and Instagram have become a favourite to visit. I'm in Lancashire and retired now. I don't knit or do much in the way of crafty things these days due to arthritis in my hands but I like to potter about in the garden. Your Otto is lovely, dogs are such good company aren't they? We've got a Parsons Jack Russell, he was a rescue dog and although I've always had dogs in my life he's the cuddliest one we've ever had. Nothing quite like a cuddle with a furry person!
    Looking forward to reading back through your archives when I get around to it. Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Hello Jan, thank you so much for your comments. I don't know where I'd be without my garden, I've been out there all morning and it's been fantastic, sunny and warm. Otto is very cuddly too, in fact I think he would sit on my lap all day if I'd let him! :) xxx

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  15. Uhm...that door is the right, correct, set for every post. In this one...thank you for this bunch of tulips!!!
    H&K,
    Miriam

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Hello! Thank you so much for leaving your thoughts and messages with me. I read each and everyone and will try and answer any questions as quickly as I can! :)x