Hello February!

This post has been hanging around for a while, and I never realised I could be so patient! Today I'm sharing the first of a few months of papery loveliness, and one of my Christmas presents. I don't know about you, but I embraced all things subscription boxes for Christmas presents and while researching presents to buy, found one for my list too...

My first instalment arrived the first week of January, which goes to show just how patient I've been about sharing it all - you might remember the Happy New Year garland which I pinned un-cut-out on my noticeboard in a half-attempt at making use of back then. And that was only the paper sleeve. 

inside the box there was a tropically patterned notebook, a month card (look out for that on Instagram at some point during the month, I'm sure), and some slogan pens all brightly coloured and wrapped in zingy tissue paper.

Add to that a contrasting, plainer notebook and a handy to do pad and a matching birthday card too, and I'm all set for a colourful, and yet organised month!

THE FULL SET IN FEBRUARY'S PAPERGANG BOX BY OHH DEER

The next box has already arrived - the crazy timing of the subscription box world- and you might have already seen a peek at it on my social channels. I can't bring myself to share it all before March, because, well it feels like I'll be wishing the months away, and they already go pretty fast don't they?

2017 in garden visits

After looking back at my own garden and the allotment over the last year I thought it'd be nice to look back at the gardens I've visited, or more precisely the ones I've already shared with you.  Unbelievably - actually it's not that unbelievable - I've still some to share, so look out those as they appear.

I'd forgotten that last January we went on the hunt for snowdrops on the Blickling Estate, we found them, but I also snapped one of my favourite shots of the year - and now I'm wondering why I didn't include it in an earlier review post. The hydrangeas are against the wall of the orangery but it has a sort of ethereal quality to it, I think.

JANUARY: AT THE BLICKLING ESTATE 

We did find the snowdrops, but we also found a fantastic kitchen garden project which I'm hoping to catch up with again this year, on one of our trips to Norfolk - it'll be great to compare the progress they've made.

AND I'D QUITE LIKE A GREENHOUSE LIKE THIS TOO...

In March we stopped of at Mottisfont in Hampshire and I had a very good nose around the Potting Shed. I was all for closing the door and getting comfy in there, but MOH was less keen on that and I'm sure that really wouldn't have been the done thing.

MARCH: ONE OF THE PRETTIEST POTTING SHEDS I'VE SEEN

We'd spent a week in a beautiful cottage in Dorset and had taken the opportunity to revisit Kingston Lacy and take a walk through the camellias, which at times looked more like confetti. 

MARCH: CHECKING OUT THE CAMELLIAS AT KINGSTON LACY

A couple months later, after a lovely dinner, we took a wander (or more like a waddle) around the kitchen garden at Gravetye Manor. We're planning to go back again this year, and were hoping to go in the winter months - to sample a different menu of food, but it's currently being refurbished (the hotel, not the kitchen garden!)

MAY: ENTERING THE KITCHEN GARDEN AT GRAVETYE MANOR

We'd already visited Grand Designs Live at Excel and while these technically aren't gardens, they are garden sheds so I think it's fine to include them.  I'm sharing one of my favourite shed interiors, a sewing room and while I love my greenhouse for pottering, I'd also love a space like this.

IT REALLY IS A SHED...

2017 was also the year that I managed to visit behind the ornate gate in Greenwich Park, and it was spectacular. It's known as the Queen's Orchard, and if you go to Greenwich Park and it's open, be sure to visit, you won't be disappointed.

JULY: A CALM SPOT IN THE QUEEN'S ORCHARD IN GREENWICH PARK

In August we had a few days away in Suffolk, and the opportunity to visit new gardens like the knot garden at the privately owned Helmingham Hall, another place I'd recommend visiting. While the National Trust and RHS gardens are fantastic, these independent gardens really do have a unique feel to them.

AUGUST: A KNOT GARDEN IN SUFFOLK

I've shared pictures recently of the gabion wall at RHS Hyde Hall - and it was fantastic - but equally so were the delicate astrantias in the Robinson Garden there. These plants remain on my plant wish list, and if I did more than just wish about them I might actually get myself growing some this year!

JULY AND A VISIT TO RHS HYDE HALL IN ESSEX

And because I can, the last picture and post I'm sharing is one from Dad's garden. His roses were great this year and my conversion to roses is continuing, enjoy!

So just a quick tour of (some of) the gardens I've visited, I'm sure there's more. One thing's for sure though, there's plenty more to come this year.  I'm hoping to get to some new-to-me gardens too, where would you recommend?

Adding flexibility - and stools - to our dining table

You'll remember in our search for our dining table and chairs MOH was keen to have a bench seat as part of our purchase. That didn't quite happen, but his reason behind it - apart from liking the look - was flexibility. And he had a point, but we opted for six chairs to go with our white glass table in a mix of colours - and we forewent the flexiblity. 

Until recently that is, when Cult Furniture offered me two of their Grey Hatton Wooden Low Stools to give us that extra flexibility, in a most stylish way. I chose the Dark Grey finish, as these will work with our decor throughout the house, not just our downstairs - as while they're not in dining use, they'll be used in our conservatory and my craft room.

Although they work well without the table extended, and give a similar feel a bench would have done. I think they give more flexibility than a bench, as when the table is extended it makes sense to have the stools at either end of the table, like this:

It also means that dining for eight has become a much more stylish option. 

I like clean simple lines and these have that, and match well with our existing chairs. They're the same height too at 45cm, so no one will need to feel like they're on the "make do" seating option - in fact these are as far from "make do" as I think you can get!  They're very tactile, made of rubberwood and also come in a black and walnut finish, and if you're after a higher stool, there's also a 72cm option.

The curved seat also means they're comfortable - surprisingly so - but that's just what you want isn't it? 

Give me some cook books, a notebook, a to do list and washi tape and I'd be happy to sit here and plan away.  I'm glad they're comfortable as one will have a longer-term home in my craft room (or the study, as MOH is still insisting on making a part-claim) which means when it's not being used, it'll fit nicely under the desk making the most of the space available. 

Once I've got that craft-room-cum-study slightly more presentable I'll show you how it works up there too.  But that's for another day.

I'm really pleased with these stools, and the flexibility they'll give us and I've been impressed with Cult Furniture too.  One of the stools I received was damaged in transit and often you can tell a lot about a company by their customer service. I sent photos of the damaged box and stool and a replacement was quickly sent, but this time using a different carrier - and with better results.  I don't think you can ask for more than that.

What do you think?  And how do you cope with additional people for dinner?

* This is a collaborative post, and I received these stools for the purposes of this review, however all views and opinions are my own.