Hi bloggers. I have been a bit under the weather but feeling more like me again now :) Sorry I have been quiet over here. I have been visiting your blogs and leaving comments.
some of my pics are still coming out sideways.. sorry :)
On sunny afternoons I have really benefitted from being on my allotment for a while. I was starting feel almost phobic about going outside so this has been very helpful. I have put my home made compost across the plot and planted potatoes, beetroot, lettuce, carrot and spring onion seeds. Below is my insignificant looking potato for the plot holders competition to grow the biggest crop - judging in August.
At home I gave the lawn its first haircut of the year, I have tulips and grape hyacinth in the borders and have cleaned my pots ready for tomato growing. Seedlings are on windowsills indoors, but very stringy despite repotting. My conservatory is crammed with indoor and outdoor plants my lemon tree and lemon verbena.
My very good friend Annie sent me this beautiful gardeners journal, I wanted one for ages, she must be telepathic! Thankyou so much Annie! The card is a keeper too as it's like my little Mollie. Annie and I have been blogging and chatting on WhatsApp/phone for years!
I want to avoid cleaning products that are harmful to the environment, a lot of the things I have used are damaging to marine life for example and go straight down the drain to the sea and it bothers me ... My current read is Nancy Birtwhistles Clean & Green (eco friendly cleaning recipes; everything I tried so far works and I now make my own fabric softener, and bathroom/kitchen cleaner. The main ingredients for everything seem to be white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, vegetable glycerine and citric acid, all of which I have bought online in bulk). I found glass bottles to store the mixtures in can be expensive so am using empty wine bottles which are ideal (double benefit there!).
Some new cushions have brightened our lounge. We took our limp tired sofa cushions to a local factory that fills upholstery for hotels, etc., to be restuffed, they were more than happy to do our small job and the sofas now have a new lease of life, they are 15 years old!
I recently got a lift and enjoyed a few hours in Brighton on the beach - the sea air was a real tonic. It was chilly so I wore my fake fur coat and warm boots. Having spent holidays there as a child with my grandmother and her three eccentric sisters, it always feels like coming home :)
Thankfulness: seeing the bluebells near here, sitting in the garden with a cup of tea in the sun (coat on as chilly), walking to my allotment for exercise and fresh air. My soup maker for nourishing easy lunches, My family. My little cat. Time: taking a slow but positive pace and knowing that there's always tomorrow.
Back soon.
Betty
Morning, Betty! Lovely to see a post pop up from you. Anxiety is a b*stard but it sounds like you're being kind to yourself and spending time doing things that bring you joy, time by the seaside, filling your home with colour, gardening and of course, spending time with Mollie. I hope things continue to improve and you feel more like you again, soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely to get a glimpse of that fabulous kaftan on the beach. It's definitely big coat weather at the moment up here, too.
It is difficult when the internal spring overwinds isn't it.
ReplyDeleteIt has been good to see your comments.
Gardening is good for us xx
My grape hyacinth are blooming.
ReplyDeleteHi Betty ... sorry to read you have been suffering from anxiety & I hope it is improving now. It is a horrid thing & can affect so much the way we live our lives. Your garden is looking wonderful - spring is such a season of hope. Love the gardeners diary - it will be so handy for you. Take care Betty - sounds like you are doing all the right things for your health. xx
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better. I'm glad that the allotment helps, the potatoes look promising! Interesting eco friendly cleaning recipes, I'll try and find the book. Take care, Betty!
ReplyDeleteJust ordered the Nancy B book from library. My windowsill is covered with seedlings too. Carol Klein did an interesting item on repotting in last week's Gardener's World. Sunny but cold up here but always makes you feel good being outdoors when you can manage. Tiny steps.Bet you could do some lovely drawings in that journal! Take care my friend.xxxx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that being outside, and achieving things in the garden/allotment can only do good for the soul. I hope you can shake off the anxiety Betty, it must be very hard.
ReplyDeleteAnxiety is such a curse isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat said, it sounds like you have the perfect tool set to combat it; spending time in nature, maintaining an allotment and sitting by the sea all help put things into perspective. Glad you're feeling better.
Bicarb of soda and vinegar crop up time and time again for all sorts of cleaning and healing solutions. Let us know how you get on.
x Claire
P.S. Love the new cushions.
Nothing like an allotment & Brighton beach to stave off anxiety Betty. Lovely to see a glimpse of both. Very trendy vino bottles too - great idea. Take care & stay awesome xXx
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