This weekend we have rain, lots of it. The dead, brown lawn has transformed into green in 48 hours and the garden and allotment are soaking it up! I'm so pleased - I will never complain about rain, I promise! not after the heatwave we just had!
I have been binge watching Black Doves on Netflix, it was brilliant. In the same style as Killing Eve.
Last week I did a different kind of painting - chalk paint! My first time trying this out on my two old, shabby, yellowing 15 year old pine tallboys (which I use as bedside tables as we like the height for table lamps!). The first cupboard showed brush strokes so I sanded it down and did a second coat with a roller on the larger areas. I did the same with the second as sanding with a very fine paper gets a nice result. I waxed afterwards with two coats. They look ok (from a distance ha ha) but not as smooth and perfect as my machine painted wardrobe which they now match -
I was expecting too much! It is nice to have the furniture matching and I think it is a great improvement on the previous mismatched furniture in the room.
Ta da !!!
At the allotments we had the annual competition for best plot and then our annual BBQ. There were veggie burgers for me and plenty of homemade cakes (key lime pie, courgette chocolate cake and scones/cream with homemade jam)... the competition was won by the plot neighbouring mine. He has a lot of flowers: dahlia, cosmos, hollyhock, like a mini cottage garden.
The ladies put pretty tablecloths out and made up these pretty posies!
I have taken some pictures of other peoples plots as they are so diverse - they seem to look even more beautiful in the rain!
My beef tomatoes are so big they are falling down and I am not sure they will ever ripen, so I cut the foliage back, picked the largest and left them in the sun. They ripened in a few days but are quite starchy. Tonight hubby (the main cook in our house) made a pasta sauce with all the tomatoes and it was delicious!
My plot is tidy but there is empty space to plant a few things for Winter...
I planted potatoes for Christmas (maris pier and charlotte) 2 weeks ago and they are showing tops now, but only a few carrots and parsnip have germinated which I spent Friday afternoon separating and replanting for more space. Currently I am still picking lettuce, rocket, radichio, herbs and my celery is not yet ready.
Hubby retired this week and has given himself a list of DIY jobs to work through.
Above is my favourite early morning cup of tea spot where I sit with Mollie cat.
Last Sunday I went picking sloe berries and blackberries with two friends from the allotments. We had such a lovely time foraging. And I have bottled my berries in sugar and gin to make liquor. The woods are looking beautiful in Autumn golds.
I was browsing our small, family run garden centre when I saw the above broken pot being taken away to break up, I love a chance to recycle and they were happy to give it to me free. I used Hard as Nails, which is like a cement paste, to repair the damage and planted it up today. The crack is visible but is at the back.
Today I'm planting beetroot. How's your weekend going?
Great job on the furniture. your bedroom looks so calming!I have a massive pine wardrobe that would look great with a makeover but scared to tackle it in case I bodge it up! Wish you lived closer, you could come and help!! I love the look of your allotment. Such a great social space and very productive. I can't garden at the mo. Wasp problem in my Willow tree. The exterminator came and had a look but couldn't find the nest. Says it must be located elsewhere and the wasps are coming to feed off my tree. Nothing to do about it til season's over. Too dangerous to spray, might cause swarming.. Not good when you have grandchildren around!well done on the rescued plant pot! Been harvesting raspberries and plums from you-know-who's garden! Back again next week! Yesterday I harvested lots of apples from a son's tree. Don't know which variety they are but they're the sweetest I've ever tasted.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the furniture. your bedroom looks so calming!I have a massive pine wardrobe that would look great with a makeover but scared to tackle it in case I bodge it up! Wish you lived closer, you could come and help!! I love the look of your allotment. Such a great social space and very productive. I can't garden at the mo. Wasp problem in my Willow tree. The exterminator came and had a look but couldn't find the nest. Says it must be located elsewhere and the wasps are coming to feed off my tree. Nothing to do about it til season's over. Too dangerous to spray, might cause swarming.. Not good when you have grandchildren around!well done on the rescued plant pot! Been harvesting raspberries and plums from you-know-who's garden! Back again next week! Yesterday I harvested lots of apples from a son's tree. Don't know which variety they are but they're the sweetest I've ever tasted.
ReplyDeleteCommunity gardens are becoming quite popular here. It’s a good way for apartment dwellers to retain their connection to the soil. They are especially favoured by the immigrant community.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post Betty. Working backwards through your post - great work on the pot repair. Where you sit with Mollie the cat looks such a delightful spot! So I always thought the allotment gardens were just to grow veggies ... how wonderful that they grow flowers too!! I would be in heaven!! I have found that I get good success with growing brassica's thru the winter months - & there is not the white butterfly to contend with either.
ReplyDeleteI think your chalk painted drawers look just wonderful - that is a very nice colour. Yes they can feel grainy - it is the chalk in the paint but that's what makes it stick to so many different things. I have often found that a light sanding with a very fine paper afterwards, brings out any grainy-ness in my work. We are always critical of our work but I think they look great Betty.
Isn't it amazing how quickly lawns green up again after rain. When we have had summer droughts & everyone is out there watering their lawns (& paying for the water !!) I always think, save the water for the gardens - the lawns will come back real quick!! Happy week to you Betty x0x
Your furniture looks super. I have a similar chest of drawers which is painted also. You couldn't have left that lovely bowl behind. Cracks dont matter if they show, most of my elderly French pots are cracked but still look good!
ReplyDeleteYour bedroom looks so nice with the newly redone dressers. I like my bedroom but it's quite cluttered so not as restful looking as yours.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I had the idea that people used their allotments just for vegetables. Obviously I was mistaken.
I'm glad that you rescued that broken pot and were able to repair it. Looks great now.
The tallboys look great! And I love the repaired pot, great find! That sunny spot in your garden is perfect!
ReplyDeleteDear Betty 🥰
ReplyDeleteReading your post was therapeutic 🤗
How nice you painted your old bedside tables and they look awesome in your bedroom 👍♥️
I loved colour theme in your bedroom too very elegant ♥️
Sounds like a fun to have competition among plot owners. Plot of your fellow sounds beautiful through your description 🤗
I hope your plantation grows well dear friend and may the harvest be fruitful for you and all fellows ♥️🙏
The food of the event seems tempting.
I will check on internet the berries you picked with your friends. Good to preserve them in liquid 👍
Your tea spot is lovely 🥰♥️
Congrats on the retirement of your hubby dear Betty 🥰
Best of luck to him for diys he chose to do 👍
I enjoyed the all pretty images of flowers from your friends garden 🤗
Thank you for sharing,health,peace and happiness to you and loved ones ♥️🙏
Forgot to say ,I felt so happy you got some needed rain dear friend
ReplyDeleteThe garden is looking gorgeous, Betty -it puts our overgrown, weed-strewn wilderness to shame, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteA great rescue on the pot, what a beauty that is!
The furniture makeover is great, much better in those muted shades than that orangey 1980s knotty pine.
I bet that homemade tomato sauce was delicious with the pasta. I love how many there are of us in Blogland who have blokes who do the cooking! xxx
Those flowers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe tallboy project turned out great. It's amazing how much a fresh coat of paint can transform old furniture, and it sounds like you learned a lot in the process. They look fantastic and I'm sure it makes the whole room feel more cohesive.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos , truly lovely
ReplyDelete