Signs of Spring

Wasn't it a lovely day on Sunday? It was also the first day this year that I got to potter in the greenhouse, but more of that another time. As I wandered up the garden I couldn't help but notice the signs of Spring in our garden. And already it was looking different to a month ago. 

I did manage to get a shot of one of the daffodils, but only after I got hold of it. It's such a delicate colour and the frilly edges are equally as delicate. 

It's also the start of euphorbia-time in our garden. I love their acid green cheery flowerheads, MOH is less keen but he puts up with them. For the first time this weekend I heard him say there was more going on in our garden than he thought, but that you have to get up close to see it. I think that's progress because up to now his main beef has been that "it's just green."  I do wonder if that's because he's getting more involved with the garden and the allotment, could be...

The roses are starting to grow as well, the photos above and below are different plants but both have that red new growth thing going on which I'd not noticed before. Below is my Getrude Jekyll rambling rose which was my fourth wedding anniversary present from MOH. I'm pleased to see it looking so healthy as last year I moved it from its original position - probably at the wrong time - and while it lived, there were no flowers.  So hopefully I'll be luckier this year and it'll become the prolific flowerer that they can be, and it'll ramble up the fence and bring some colour close to the patio.

Further up the garden the sun was on the currant berry - which is usually one of the first to flower in the garden. This year though it's had plenty of company and I wonder what it thinks about that.

Our red camellia continues to be a late developer, compared to our neighbours anyway. Their camellia's have been flowering since Christmas - seriously - but ours, which is in a much more sheltered spot, has only managed a few flowers so far.  Let's hope it carries on. The new white camellia which I bought last April and is planted at the end of the garden is doing well.  I was surprised to see just how well when I looked back to how small it was when it arrived. It looks a bit healthier too, I think.

But the real winner for me, was the pear tree against the sky - ah the colours. It's not quite at the blossom stage yet - and it rarely gets to edible fruit stage - but it's a pretty tree, and especially when the sky is that colour behind it.

Let's hope there's more blue sky this weekend (and beyond). Is your garden starting to wake up?

Looking back at our stay in a snug Dorset cottage

I'd been umming and ahhing about writing this post about the cottage we stayed in on our trip to Dorset last year, and I'm not sure why. It was a beautiful cottage and we had a great time there, but whether it was time or something else I hadn't shared the pictures of our stay. Then last week the owner got in touch to say they no longer owned the cottage but had another holiday let cottage in the same village if we felt like a Dorset break again.

I realised then the cottage we stayed in probably looks completely different now, so whatever reservations I had about sharing its interior were gone as well.  So today I'm looking back at our stay in what was a snug and comfortable cottage, with a log burner that was very welcome in a very chilly January.

Throughout the cottage there were some fabulous touches, like these wooden fish above the dining space.

The kitchen was in a single story extension at the back of the cottage with a stunning skylight, which let in light but also gave you a glimpse of the outside. It was a well stocked kitchen and one that had been cooked in - so often for self-catering holiday lets, there's basic equipment but not enough to cook as if you were at home, not the case here!

Upstairs the bedrooms were light and well accessorised. The single bedroom was very cute and the wooden hangers on the wall were a lovely design touch and practical too.

A PICTURE THAT'S SIMPLE BUT ONE YOU KEEP LOOKING AT

SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL

And I thought that if I was going to be in the shot - I might as well be in the mirror - not sure what caught my eye though!

The main bedroom was full of character too, and a large comfy bed. After staying here I seriously considered buying a fluffy mattress topper as it was so successful here. In the end we bought a new mattress later in the year, but having never really been a fan of mattress toppers, here I was sold!

ANOTHER TRADITIONAL DOOR WITH IRONWORK

QUIRKY SIDE TABLES, WHITE BED LINEN AND A SPLASH OF COLOUR

So a great stay in a fabulous cottage, which is now moving onto its next chapter. And looking back, I'm not sure why I didn't share before!

Cards for Mother's Day

I'm taking a risk here posting my Mother's Day cards ahead of tomorrow, so if you're my mum or my MIL please stop reading now...

- - - Yes, if you're my mum or my MIL there's nothing to see here - - -

Right, with that out of the way, let me tell you more about the cards I've made.

I'm forever pinning ideas onto my Cards, Wrapping & Tags Pinterest board and so I thought I should check there for some inspiration before I started. And it worked.

You'll need:

Card blanks
Card scraps
A selection of scrapbook paper cut into 1cm strips (or substitute washi tape for a quicker result)
PVA Glue
Printed or handwritten message
Embellishments for decorating

I used scrapbook paper for these cards, but washi tape would produce quicker results.

1. Cut a scrap of card that covers two thirds of your card with a margin on each side and at the top.
2. In a diagonal pattern stick the 1cm strips of scrapbook paper onto the card*, turning it onto the reverse of the card.  Leave under a pile of heavy books to dry.
3. Cut out your text and stick onto a small piece of scrap card and leave it to dry under a pile of heavy books.
4. When they are dry, cut around your text to form a flag shape at one end, your choice which and then stick this onto a larger piece of scrapbook paper that fills the remaining space of your card blank. Leave this to dry.
5. Take the decorated piece of card and stick it onto your card blank, and leave it to dry.
6. When both of these elements are dry and flat, stick them onto your card blank and leave it to dry for the last time. The heavy pile of books (or anything else that's heavy) is important as it keeps the card flat.
7. Once the card is completely dry, add an embellishment in the top left-hand corner and you're ready to write your message inside.

These cards have do need time to dry as you assemble each element, but if you're using washi tape - which I think would look just as pretty - you can reduce the time it takes to make the cards, but not the effect.

So there you have it, cards for Mother's Day. I'd hoped to be able to take better pictures of them before they went in the post but that didn't quite work out - next time I'll need to factor that in as well!

If you want some inspiration on home made cards, take a look at my Pinterest board - and if you like it, it'd be great to have you follow along.

Follow Stephanie - Life at 139a's board Cards, Wrapping & Tags on Pinterest.

And that just leaves me to say Happy Mother's Day!