One Year On

Hello friends, and welcome to a new month, the month of August. D and I hope it is a wonderful month for you all.

In a few days, it will be our son and daughter-in-law's first wedding anniversary. A whole year that has gone by in the blink of an eye. As this was their first anniversary, I wanted to do something special for them. I put on my creative hat and came up with this project.

(A shady version and a sunny version)

Traditionally, the first anniversary is celebrated with gifts made of paper. The background of this heart features a pretty patterned green paper with knotted green ribbon around the edges. The colour scheme of their wedding included lots of green, and so I wanted to use this in the project. The paper flowers and leaves were bought, along with the white hearts, which are mostly hidden underneath the foliage. Finally, the little wooden squares spell out their names. A little gift made with love, hopefully reminding them of their special day.

We'll be seeing the happy couple in the next few days and taking an extra gift from D. This week's baking was lemon shortbread, and there are just two pieces left. This was the plate a few days ago! 

I shall not be posting for a week or two now as my holiday with D has finally arrived. We are taking a cruise in the Med and visiting Pisa, Genoa, Corsica, Toulon in France and Barcelona. Cases are almost packed and ready to go, and D and I are looking forward to spending this time together. 

Until we are back and can share our travels with you, we both want to wish you a happy and safe couple of weeks for yourselves.

Back soon.

B and D

Which Would You Prefer - Sweet or Savoury?

Hello friends.

Monday started a lot more watery than I would have liked. I had checked the weather forecast, which suggested dry weather until tea time. Trying to stay ahead of the game, I put the washing machine on with the plan of getting it all dry by the afternoon. When I went to check that the cycle had finished, I was greeted by a swimming pool's worth of water all over the floor from a leaking machine. 

Aaah! 

Not what I had in mind. 

I mopped up the mess and checked the filter, which seemed fine. I did a further rinse cycle, and everything was fine. Fortunately, the washing machine is located in the garage, which is lower than the rest of the house; otherwise, it could have been much worse. Must have been the washing machine gremlin at work that day.

Still, the sun was shining and I had super clean washing to peg out. Halfway along the line, the sun vanished, and the heavens opened - mad dash to get everything back inside again. By the end of the day, everything was dry, but I didn't feel the urge to wash clothes for the next few days.

The rest of the week has been very pleasant and chilled out for us. D has been unwinding from the stresses of work and enjoying her freedom, which of course has involved baking. Her first baking of the holidays was triple chocolate muffins. By the time you read this, undoubtedly they will all be gone.

Friday morning, D was again playing in the kitchen, but this time making a savoury delight for our taste buds. There were cheese and bacon muffins, and they were so delicious. I think they may make a return for breakfast on some mornings!

After enjoying all this wonderful baking, my husband and I have started a project that has long been overdue - redecorating our living room. As the space is quite large, we are attempting to do the work in two halves. At the far end of the room, we have stripped the paper from the walls and at least now we can see the bare plaster and anything that needs repairing. I'm sure hubby will enjoy painting walls and laying laminate floors in the early days of his retirement. I will keep you posted on the progress.

D and I both hope you have a great week ahead, whatever your plans may be. Meanwhile, we will be counting down to our holiday together in August.

Take care 

B and D x

Baking, Harvesting and a Little Crochet Update

Hello friends.

The weather has been much more changeable this week, and while there has been plenty of sunshine, we have also enjoyed cooling breezes and downpours of rain. Isn't British weather wonderful?

During the cooler days, I got out my current crochet blanket project and added a few more rows. I'm about halfway now, and I love the colourful brightness. This is how it looks, hanging on the washing line on a breezy and dry morning this week.

As the weather has been cooler in our small corner this week, I also made one of our favourite loaf cakes. A lemon drizzle cake always goes down well in our family. Unfortunately, it was disappearing very quickly this time around, and I only just remembered to take a quick photo before we had completely eaten it. A few more minutes, and it would have been just crumbs. 😊

Outside in the garden, we have been digging up potatoes. They are by far the best crop I have ever grown: good-sized potatoes and plenty of them. I'm digging a few each day and enjoying the taste of homegrown spuds with our dinners.

As I finish writing this, I can hear the rain hammering down outside, and we've had thunder and lightning this afternoon too. What will next week bring? 

D has finished school until September and is now enjoying a well-earnt rest and some time to catch up on crafting, baking, and a few other things. Our mum and daughter cruise is also only three weeks away. 

I'm looking forward to the next few weeks and hope that you have things to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Whatever your plans are, have fun and enjoy.

B and a rather sleepy D xx

A Hot and Quiet Week

Hello friends.

It has been very quiet in this small corner, and there is very little for me to say this week. I've just been trying to stay cool. 

It has been a quick stroll around the garden in the early morning to check on the plants and to pick the Sweet Peas that are appearing daily in abundance. They are benefiting from the grey water from the kitchen sink and are flowering profusely. 

For the rest of the week, I stayed inside, which gave me the opportunity to read a whole book, which is a rare treat for me. I do enjoy James Patterson's books and like the very short chapter style. 

Wherever you are in the world, I hope and pray that you and your family are staying safe and well. Have a good week ahead.

B x

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Hello Friends. 

How are you all this week? Good, I hope. 😊

This week, I wanted to share with you how our garden has been changing and growing. Halfway through the year now, and a lot has changed in the woodland. Most things have done well, a few things needed moving, and a few plants got a bit too sun-baked. 

I'm also showing the not-so-pretty bits, such as the area where the bark and other bagged items are stored, as well as hubby's sand and ballast supplies. There are also the vital parts of the garden like the compost and the water butts. Where would I be without those?

We have just about finished covering the whole area with chunky bark. This will massively help to reduce watering and weeding jobs. During the varied hot, windy, wet and everything else in between weather, the bits of the garden that already had bark laid suffered little wilt and no weeds peeping through. Now the entire area is covered, and we also have a designated spot to place our chairs and enjoy the garden.

Now, follow me around the garden and see how our plants grow.

The area covers about 30ft x 25ft, or about 10m x 8m.

Starting outside the shed, we have a space large enough for two seats with a bit of shade from the Hawthorn tree overhead. At the moment, the tree has lots of green berries, which will ripen later into red ones that the birds will love. We can't leave seats out because we are plagued with pigeons and their ....!

Two of our water butts are located next to the shed, making them very useful.

This is one of the less pretty and more functional parts of the garden. Everybody needs somewhere to store 'useful stuff'. Here is where we store odd slabs to be repurposed, bags of grit, sand, and bark, and my long canes. I already have a plan for the slabs in another part of the garden. 

Another very valuable resource is the double compost bin that my hubby made a few years ago.

Hmm! This doesn't look too good, does it! 

The grass has died back quite a bit, but there are still some patches of green, so I won't give up hope. It hasn't been watered at all this year, and perhaps not enjoyed the extreme heat. It will recover, though.

The same applies to this bush Amelanchier. I will be placing plenty of bark around the roots to retain moisture, and next year, I will find some temporary shade for it.

The log and twig pile is growing and will be a cosy home for small creatures in Winter. 

This pretty little Acer was not happy where I originally placed it and, as a result, got quite burnt. I have since moved it into some shade, and it seems much happier. Next year it will be even better.

The whole area has now been covered with chunky landscape bark which will make things so much easier for us to maintain in the way we want from now on.

Everything has been growing at such a rate even with the very hot days we have had lately. The Rodgersia plant with its frothy flower heads has been the best I have seen.

This Acer has now reached the height I am happy with, but no further. I will trim it back in the Autumn.

The Rheum (located just in front of the ferns), which resembles a large rhubarb, has been sulking, but I think it has got too hot and not enough moisture around its roots again. It has had plenty of water and a cosy bark mulch as a way of an apology, and I need to think about how to keep it happy next year.

Finally, this is a useful table that I use for pots of bulbs, taking cuttings, and other small garden tasks. My hubby made it from an old door and covered it with EPDM rubber left over from when we had our flat roof recovered.

In other garden news, when we visited our local garden centre for more bark, this pretty Lantana caught my eye. It went straight into my basket when I saw the price. For now, it will be placed in a large pot while I decide on its permanent location. The Clematis was reduced, and also made it to the checkout. Both plants now need planting. 

Well, that is how my garden is growing at the start of July. If you have any outdoor garden space, I hope it brings you just as much happiness as mine does. 

Have a lovely week and mind the sun if it comes out to play.

B x

Something Unusual

Hello everyone. 

I hope you are all well and being extra careful if you are enjoying some extra hot weather this week.

So this week, something unusual in the garden. Do you know what this is?

No, they are not small green tomatoes. In fact, they are potato berries. I had never seen them before, and they were quite a surprise to find on one of my potato plants. This particular potato plant had quite a few flowers a few weeks ago, and I thought nothing of it. 

When the flowers are pollinated they can produce potato berries. They are, however, poisonous because they contain solanine, a toxic compound harmful to humans and animals. Has anybody else had potatoes that have done this before? 

And what about this little blue box?

As some of you may already know, a few weeks ago, I spent a lovely afternoon at Edgbaston Cricket Ground with my family. I have also been continuing with some decluttering and found this game. It is a dice-based, pencil-and-paper cricket game. Pencil cricket has its origins in pre-war Britain and uses two dice shaped like short metal pencils with numbers on one side and words on the other. One die is the batting die and has 1, 2, 3, 4, owzatt, and 6 on each side. The other has the words 'bowled', 'stumped', 'caught', 'not out', 'no ball', and 'LBW'. One or two players can play the game.

This version belongs to my husband.

Sometimes, the unusual or unexpected can be fun, and I enjoyed discovering these things this week.

Have a good and safe week, everyone.

B x

Edwardian Elegance

Hello friends.

It has been a very warm and sunny week here in this Small Corner. Hopefully, you have also enjoyed some sunshine.

Taking advantage of the good weather, my husband and I visited a wonderful house and gardens hidden on the outskirts of the city centre, near the University- a real oasis of calm and beauty.

Winterbourne was built in the early 20th century as a family suburban villa and is surrounded by approximately 7 acres of gardens. It was built for John and Margaret Nettlefold, with much of the garden designed by Margaret herself. She modelled the gardens on the designs of Gertrude Jekyll.

The house is Edwardian and follows the style of the Arts and Crafts movement that was popular at the time. There are also many examples of local craftwork around the building.

The main rooms face south and open off a wide hallway, with the drawing room leading directly onto the terrace, seamlessly linking the house and garden. There are many original features which enhance the rooms, along with period furniture and William Morris wallpaper.

The house changed owners several times until the end of World War II when the University of Birmingham inherited it and became a hall of residence for female students. In 2010, following some refurbishment, the property and grounds were designated a heritage site and later became an Arts Council-accredited museum.

There are also exhibitions which reflect the Nettlefold's industrial connections with GKN (Guest, Keen, Nettlefold)

I enjoyed seeing this Edwardian home, as it gave me lots of ideas for my dollhouse. Hubby also enjoyed the exhibition on the industrial heritage of the original family.

The gardens also reflect an Arts and Crafts feeling with the curved steps leading down from the terrace to lawned areas and a wonderful extended nut archway. In the 1930's a pergola and Japanese bridge and tea house were also added. We enjoyed wandering around the woodland walk and seeing the sunken rock garden. There are also several period glasshouses containing collections of orchids, alpines, carnivorous plants and cacti. We didn't stay in there too long as it was so hot on that day.

(These Gunners were enormous) 

(My eyes were drawn to yet another hosta!)

Back home, our lovely D baked another cake. This time, it was a vanilla sponge cake with cream and caramel topping. There is currently about a third of the cake left on the plate.

While on the subject of cake, we also celebrated a " 60" birthday for hubby's younger sister this weekend. It was lovely to meet up with everyone, and although the hotel food and organisation were not great, we still had a good time celebrating together.

I also managed to pick the blackcurrants in our garden, and above are two of the pots of jam I made with them. 

It appears that the weather will be more changeable this week, with sunshine and showers expected. 

Whatever you are doing this week, have a great time and enjoy the long Summer days

B x