The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies. Gertrude Jekyll

Annie's Little Plot

Annie's Little Plot

Thursday 3 January 2013

And Breathe......

Phew thats Christmas done for another year. Its been a bit of a stressful one for me, but we've got through it and we are now into a New Year and I'm hoping for a better start to the year than the end to the last one. My dad is now out of hospital and is getting a bit better day by day though still quite frail, my mum is not well either but she is getting a little better now too so fingers crossed things are calming down for a while. Its been a tough time for us as a family though we are all close and pull together at these times. But it was a breath of fresh air to get up to the allotment for an hour yesterday afternoon. I don't know what I'd do without it, I know I've got my garden but I think the fact that the allotment is away from the house gives me that feeling of escape and getting away from it all. I was the only one there and I just pottered for a while, clearing away some old crops, digging up some leeks, taking down some wigwam supports but just being out and doing something with my hands and feeling the wind in my face was what I needed.
Its very wet as might be expected so no digging possible yet and I've still got some moving of muck to do but I'll try and get Martin to help me with that!
One surprise was with my Romanesco broccoli, this has been growing well all year but never produced a head until now! Three of the plants have now got small heads, two of which I've harvested, the other is still quite small so I'll leave that to keep growing. So just shows a bit of patience in this tough year (and the fact that it has been so mild) have enabled me to get a small harvest!
I had a number of garden related Christmas presents.
A little greenhouse which could be used as a cloche, some more gardening books (you can never have too many), an Amarylis bulb which I've never tried growing before. But my favourites were from my lovely crafting friend Amy, she made me a crochet mug warmer for keeping my cuppa warm at the plot.
But best of all were these gorgeous plant markers for my herbs.
She made these in a pottery class that we went to together before Christmas, I made some hanging decorations and she made these. She's so clever, though I have to say she found it a challenge on the potters wheel which we both had a go at. Great fun and I hope to do the class again this year.
She also makes personalised cards too and some other crochet goods which she sells on her website on Folksy (http://folksy.com/shops/Craftabubble). She's only just getting started but have a look, she's got some lovely things.
I'm trying to fit in some new crafts this year and another present from a friend is encouraging me to have a go at some quilting, but might have to start small with a cushion maybe.
Need to introduce myself to my sewing machine again after I've dusted it down from the back of the cupboard!
But first, I'm off the rest of this week and my next job is to get together a bit of a plan for the up-coming growing season, sort my seeds and order any more that I might need (and many that I probably don't really need). I've not really had chance to reflect on last year's growing season, maybe thats wise, though some things did well.
I may be some time.....

14 comments:

  1. Wow some great pressies there. I just love those seed labels they are amazing and the crochet mug warmer. I want one ;) What an amazing friend. I'd love to do some crafting but never seem to have the time. :( But I have got round to ordering my seeds. can't wait for them to come. It's so exciting.

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    1. I don't have much time to do much craft either really, my garden and the allotment always comes first but I'm going to try and give something new a go.
      Look forward to seeing what you growing this year!

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  2. It makes all the difference even just pottering at this time of year doesn't it.
    I bought Cleve West's book for myself last year and really enjoyed reading it, and have often referred to it since. Flighty xx

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    1. Have started reading it already and I love his style, its a good read.

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  3. Hi Annie, I have followed your blog and can't wait to read your up coming posts. You have a great plot! I'm a new blogger but have had my allotment for a year in January. Please feel free to follow me back and read my posts if you like! I know what you mean about escaping to the plot for some quiet. Its good to hear your dad is out of hospital and your mum is getting better. Bob

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    1. Hi Bob,
      Thanks for leaving a comment, and I've checked out your blog, looks great you have done loads on your plot already. Glad you weren't put off by the terrible weather last year. Its different every year we'll see what 2013 brings us. Will enjoy follow your progress!

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  4. What lovely gardeny Christmas presents - very clever of you to pick a talented friend. I managed to do some gardening today for the first time in ages - it felt good to be outside again.

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    1. Its so nice isn't it even to do a little bit in the garden.

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  5. Glad to hear that your dad is out of hospital and that you're mum's recovering too. We had a scare on New Year's Eve when my dad was rushed in to hospital with a suspected heart attack. The tests came back negative, thank goodness, but he needs more tests now to see what's wrong. You received some lovely gifts, I got an amaryllis bulb too, so I've set it going and can't wait for it to grow. I haven't been to the plot since before Christmas, all the wet weather we've had recently has put me off, and I know it'll be too wet there to do anything anyway, so I'll wait until the weather improves.

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    1. Sorry to hear that your dad was poorly over the Christmas break too, that sounds very stressful for you and your family.
      I'm going to get my Amaryllis growing today and see how it goes.
      I can't really do much as the allotment like you mine is too wet to do much, was just nice to get up there to look at it after all that time.

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  6. Seems lots of us have had a stressful Christmas. Not unusual for my family as we are affected by the curse of Christmases past!

    I love the plant labels.

    I also had a go on a potter's wheel but the clay from a neighbouring wheel shot off and flattened my attempt which was maybe just as well.

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    1. Its harder than it looks the potters wheel, I'd like to have another go, I managed a very small pot!

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  7. Good luck with the sewing. Be warned, collecting fabric is addictive! xx

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    1. I think its seeing all the lovely quilts that you make that has inspired me! I'll give it a try, whether I'll be brave enough to post a picture of the end product I don't know!

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