The first battle is won.

I have spent most of the past 2 days in the garden, digging, hauling turf, measuring and of course answering the plaintiff cry of "just come and hold this for me" 
I must say here that all of the sawing, drilling and fastening has been courtesy of Mr Muscle, he did lift the lions share of the turf as well. There is still a swathe to be removed but it will wait, after all tomorrow is another day not even touched yet.

I forgot to take before pics, this section is pretty much representative of it all. 

The border bed was planted up with winter squashes and courgettes, they were doing well and then we had a week of constant rain and the local Keel Slug and common snail population decimated them.

I have been on nightly slug patrol as it was pointless replanting otherwise.

The whole garden is being changed, the grass is going and perennials, shrubs and roses are going in along with spring flowering bulbs.

But first the beds must be marked and a path has to go in, the dividing edging is being made to measure and is as cheap as chips. BTW did you see that metal lawn edging on Love Your Garden? something like £70 a length, okay it went round curves but my version cost £9 for wood plus about £1 worth of screws and some stain left over from doing the shed.

These plants had to go straight in as they were container grown and getting root bound.

A quick look at the equipment needed.

The view from the road

The poor little central bed, the shrub will stay but the rest will be moved later.

The path along the front of the house, the tops of the stakes will be stained and all the edging will eventually be covered by the overhanging plants.

You can see most of it here, all that grass will be gone soon and scented roses and shrubs will take its place.

I have placed some of the stone, dug out of the garden, in the corners, they may stay I am undecided as yet. I do have some more so may add a few.

The path stone is Cotswold and is a lovely contrast to the local stone facing on the house. It is laid on a double layer of weed suppressant fabric.

Where it peeps up at the sides I will be pushing it out of sight.

I have added some topsoil and will be forking my compost and some well rotted manure in the beds, the soil is not the best and will need help for the planting to be successful. 
Once this is done I will be putting some raised beds in the back, I want to cut down on the pots next year, all that watering has lengthened my arms, I am sure of it.

Now I think it is time to walk Ben, shower and find something to eat.

          TTFN                                                                     Pam

ps My arms ached so much last night that I could not do any hand sewing, hope it is is different tonight.

Hit the ground running

I had an early start to my day, Ben decided that 5:30 was the perfect time to get up and have a walk round the garden. I did not mind, I have a busy day ahead.
While the kettle boiled I made some basic scone mix  up and divided it between 2 bowls, one had a heaped tbsp of sugar and a handful of sultanas added, the other had a good amount of grated cheddar, the leaves off 2 sprigs of thyme and a grinding of black pepper. I beat 2 eggs into some stale milk ( I save it in the freezer)
and made the scones, I did add a tsp of wholegrain mustard to the cheesey mix.

These are a bit thin, they can be buttered on the bottom, rather than cutting in half, the recipient will not mind.

The cheese ones are  better, as you can see I do not faff about with cutters, just pat it out with the flat of my hand and slice with a knife. A little egg wash and 15 - 20 minutes in the oven, lovely.

When the scones came out I lowered the temperature and whipped up a ginger cake, recipe from John at Going Gently. I did put a bit more ginger in and added a few cubes of crystallised ginger chopped small, just because it was there and I like it.

Once the cake went in I set the timer for 40 minutes and decided to make another storage box, and remembered to take pics, lots of pics.

You need 2 outer pieces, mine were 11 1/2" by 17". There is no hard and fast rule, the bigger your rectangles the bigger the finished box will be.

2 lining pieces the same size, and 2 handle pieces, mine were 4 3/4 by 10.

These sizes were governed by the fabric that I used.

Cut 2 pieces of batting the same size as the outer fabric and quilt, I used a little 505 spray to hold them together. Just a few rows will be enough.

I set my stitch length to 3.5 and lessened the pressure on the foot to 3, just to make it easy on myself. Then place the pieces right sides together and sew 3 sides, leave one long side open, this will be the open top of your box. I just set the needle to the middle and use the edge of the presser foot on the edge of the fabric.

Using a small ruler I marked cutting lines, 2 1/2" in from the seam line on the bottom corners. Check and double check as I have cut both from one side, ruining the project. Then cut the square out with my scissors.

Holding the seams open I bring them together and pin the edges.

A birds eye view

I then sew the seam, I use the edge of the presser foot as a guide with the needle centered. A little pressing with the index finger helps the seams go through with no bother.

sew the lining together as well and mark, cut and sew the corners as before.

Now for the handles. I cut a small piece of wadding, about 1 1/4" wide by 10" long. Press the handles pieces in half, wrong sides together long ways, open  out and lay the wadding along the crease.

Fold the top flap over the wadding and press along the edge, watch that your iron does not touch the wadding. It is a bu***r to get off the sole plate.

Fold and press the bottom flap up and over to cover the wadding, press well and then stitch.

I set the needle to 1/4" width setting and keep the stitch length to 3.5, then sew down both edges and add as many rows of stitching as you like.

Pin the handles to the outside edge of the  bag outer, around an inch from the seam, I then stitch to hold them in place using a 1/4" seam.

Drop the bag, right side out into the liner, right side in and pin around the top. Mark a gap with 2 long pins on one side, this needs to be around 4" wide, you will be pulling the bag through here. Make certain that your bag handles are hanging down inside. The sew round the top leaving the gap between the pins open. take the pins out as you sew, you do not want to break a needle.

 

Put your hand in through the gap and grab a bit of the quilted outer fabric box and start to pull it through the gap.

You will need to be firm, it isn't called birthing for no reason.

There is the little gap, push the lining into the box, use your fingers to push the corners out. Go to the ironing board and press round the edge, I like to put the iron just inside the box and press, pulling the lining down so the outer fabric shows a little. Press all round, use steam on the seams if you need to and on the turning gap.

I have turned the box inside out to sew round the top with a 1/4" seam setting. I was too lazy to move the insert from my sewing table to use the free arm.

Here is the inside of the box, nice and roomy.

Full of my blue fabric, bigger than a 5" charm and less than  1/2 yard.

The side view, it measures 7 1/2" tall by 10 1/2" wide by 5" deep.

I made a smaller one earlier in the week using 2 rows of 3 charm squares on each side, measured the cut out square 2" from the side seam, and cut the handles 4" by 8". I quite fancy making a wider one, possibly square but would have to do some close quilting to help the sides stay firm. I will think upon it.

I hope that all of you who are still awake find this helpful. It took me almost 40 minutes from start to finish, the first one that I made took over an hour. There are lots of versions of this out there, I make some without handles,make the lining taller so it folds to the outside when made up.  Some I  make extra tall and fold a cuff over. The world is your oyster once you have the basic method

 under your belt.

Now for the garden.

                  TTFN                                                   Pam

Digging for victory

Perhaps not victory but at least a draw. I have been on nightly slug patrol, I can not touch them, not even with gloves on, so I carry a pair of scissors and cut them in half. The next morning I have a few birds scuttling round at first light enjoying breakfast.
I have a multitude of planted containers waiting to be sited and potted plants waiting to be planted out. I am changing the front garden and the first section will be done tomorrow, weather permitting.
At the moment the back garden is a dumping ground but order should reign by the weekend.

I have a few photos to share, no sewing to share as it is all for my Santa Sack Swap. There is however a WIP mountain assembled on the side and I plan on finishing 2 of those before I make a start on the 4th item for my swap.

2 of the cherry tom varieties, the top ones are not bad but not good enough for another year.

2 of the apple trees, lots of pots around here, all doing well.

A small forest of sweetcorn

There are 2 pots like this, the lavender is a dwarf variety and the Petunias are a very dark purple, almost black. The pink Dianthus really sets them off.

There are 4 Penstemons, some Fuschias and more Lavender (Hidcote) ready for the front garden. Most of the plants going in are scented, the Lavender will provide enough perfume in the first section. I have scented roses on order for the rest of the garden and I have some hardy Gardenias ready to go in and a stack of bulbs for scent and colour in spring coming.

My 2 Hostas are looking good, I aim to find some different ones soon.

More plants lined up ready for planting out. I look forward to being able to walk along the path without having to shimmy through a slalom of plants.

That is all from me, I need an early night, lots to do tomorrow.

             TTFN                                                       Pam

Still wet and windy

Another lovely rainy day, I have been sewing and cooking, heaven.

I made a batch of white bread, I also make wholemeal but I have neighbours who prefer white.

I will be needing fresh white breadcrumbs later in the week so made a biggish roll just for that purpose.

Pasta bake for dinner.

I had a tub of soft cheese to use up so I whisked enough milk into it to make a sauce and poured over the top, then grated some Parmesan on for added flavour and some crunch.

Half an hour in the mini oven and dinner was ready.

It was very good and there are leftovers for dinner tomorrow.

I have done lots of sewing, but it is for a swap later in the year, here is a little teaser.

The very last of my Kate Spain Joy and  Flurry, I am going to miss them.

Quite a bit of this.

Even more of this.

I am halfway to finishing number 3 on the list, I will not be able to share until the end of the year. I don't want the recipient to see anything.

I still have the dress pattern and fabric ready, and I have a jacket pattern that I may make.

Much as I have loved every minute of the past 2 days I would like a day in the garden now. Sun, please take notice and pay me a visit tomorrow.

That's all folks, need to get the 'puter on charge.

                 TTFN                                               Pam

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