Catching Up With Myself

I expected to be back online before now, up north here in the Princess Garden we have been lucky and had some really good weather so I've gotten ahead on some of my jobs.

It's all started with a bit of a mess...







It's all starting to take shape now, thankfully, but there is still lots of work ahead...



This is my new bird feeding area, it's where the lavender previously resided!

I'm currently playing with lots of ideas for the bottom half of the garden where the pig shed and giant tree resides.

My composter seems to have an infestation of ants and spiders in there, so it'll need cleaning out somewhat, but I'm not sure how to do that, could it go in the brown bin? Probably not. Mmmm what to do what to do... I could also do with relocating it to nearer the house, it may get used more down there, not so much the putting stuff in it as the taking the compost out of it when it's ready! Yes I really am that bad.

I have discovered though that the more time I spend out there the more I want to be in the garden rather than in the house, so I'm now looking at areas I can turn into a little me area. Using a mix of climbing plants, some slabs and possibly a gazebo so it will have both shade and cover from light rain...! The Princess Garden is in Yorkshire after all!

It's Been a Busy Busy Day

Well this is where we started in the corner of the Princess Garden. Things have changed somewhat. This is now where the bird table and feeders reside. The lavender has completely gone and you can now see the belfast sink.

This week alone the boys and I have been busy little bees so far we have planted potatoes, tomato plants, and have sown basil, coriander, yellow bell peppers and purple sprouting broccoli, plus some sweet peas in the belfast sink and nasturtiums in hanging baskets.

I'm still working on digging out much of the shrubbery as where I was clearing elder out at the begginning of the season extra bits of the evil weed are popping up every where and all over the place. It driving me crackers! I'm wondering what I'll be able to plant next and which bits will be saveable.

Hopefully if the light is good tomorrow I can post some work in progress pictures of everything that is happening.

No Time for the Wicked

At least that is how is has felt of late. I refuse to post anything when I am having problems finding a positive spin on anything. It's just too depressing to see in words just how badly I am taking having to live in the real world at times. Mostly I like to live in my own little cocoon here in the House of the Princess Garden.

No pictures today as I am working off my Hubster's new little toy but more will come.

Twice this week alone neighbours have offered to buy part of the Princess Garden from me. Of course this request has been answered with a hearty no.

The bain of my gardening life is the ground elder that I thought I'd almost conquered but no it is back in force. So we are no longer organic in the garden, we have a large quanity of roundup covering the said weed and its put pay to the plans to grow veg in the borders this year.

I do however need to make a final decision about the rambling bramble in the mid-way section of the garden. To keep or not to keep, it's just starting to wake up now. Unlike the nice weather I hoped we would have had over the Easter Bank Holiday. But alas it wasn't to be, the grass has been cut and all the moss has been exposed but not enough dry weather to apply the weed and feed my what a lot of work that is going to impart. Gulp!

Quiet Times and Louder Moments

Recently I have been neglecting my growing magazine pile. So now it is the turn of the knitting to take a back seat and to catch up with my ever growing pile of Primas, Good Homes and Look magazines.

But still I'm missing that to sit here and strike a few keys. In the last few weeks I have become what can only be described as the queen of procrastination. Right now that means drinking coffee, eating blueberries and watching Glee. What I can I say I'm not only procrastinating but also multi-tasking!



On the darker side my roof still leaks and no sign of the man due to fix it!

I started running outside again last weekend, which more or less set my lungs on fire! This weekend I'm going to do my 1st 10k with my friend's husband. It could be interesting... but at least he should push me to go a bit quicker and further (I have a horrid competitive streak that needs to be reeled in). So beware some random posts and pictures may occur soon. Especially as the days get longer. I can't wait.

On the garden front, not a lot has happened as again Mother Nature has seen fit to bless us with snow again! That and my littlest B decided that the best course of action was to uproot all of the crocuses thinking that they were onions! Bless but still grrr. I also attempted to make up the green house (but alas it wasn't to be as part of the casing snapped on construction! That'll be going back to the shop next time I'm in Selby.)

Now I'm going to buzz off to the kitchen and check on my 1st wholemeal loaf. Look at that I'm using my breadmaker for good and not for evil!

This weekend was a bit of a bake-a-thon, and thanks to my step-mother J I made a corned beef and potato pie. I had the inlaws over for a visit and it was a roaring success so I thought I'd share a picture of it for you to see! I also made a sausage plait (with my own sausage meat!) and a pineapple upside down sponge with coconut and jungle juice to serve mmmm. Couldn't move afterwards, so what did I do? Went for a drizzly 2 mile run!

Long Time... No Blog

I have been battling my inner demons of late and finally I seem to be winning again. My head is almost screwed back on, maybe not totally but a good 80% which is a passing grade me thinks!

The weather has taken a turn for the snow again, and apparently it's going to be as cold here as it is in Canada for the next two weeks, eep maybe we could host the winter olympics.

So what has happened since I last logged on? Well we had pancake day in which I made the LBs lots of the round floppy ones, this time with frankfurters sliced on top. My eldest thought it looked like pizza. So my thought is next time to make american style pancakes with pizza toppings mixed in.


I've also had a bit of time to work on my blanket as Littlest B has been potty training this last week so a bit of eagle eyedness has been required to say the least!



Tonight is Slimming World's Lets Beat It Campaign launch at my local group so I wonder what scrummy things people will bring for the taster table? I'm thinking it could be time to break out my Cheese and Onion pasty bake... mmm baked beans mmm. I'm a simple person with simple tastes!

Speaking of which I probably should go and make it... I'll post some pictures later!

Dark Happy Movie Days

It's not nice outside but it's all bright and summery inside the House of the Princess Garden. Tarzan is on telly, coffee is in my big pink spotty cup and my Minnie Mouse ears are on my head! Anything to brighten up a day.



It's day two of potty training Littlest B, so we are on house arrest of sorts, but this does mean that I get to spend some time with the kids in their home environment not worrying about other peoples things and generally being me. At the moment I'm getting squarely crafty with my last hurrah of my favourite wool, I can't find anymore anywhere - snob - I've loved the varigated wool in primary colours since junior school so bright and random you can't guarantee where each colour will fall. It's bliss.



Which is always good so it will be knitting all the way while chilling out before tonight's expedition to see just how far off track I fell this time as I turn up and face what nasty news the scales will hold for me. Fresh start I think! Must remember I am actually going on holiday this year and will be away with lots of normal sized people. At some point in my life I must fit in visually, must remember this and figure out just how far away it is, along with that 10k that is quickly getting closer. Eek, must get back to training next week.

So that's enough of maudlin me. Not good for me or for you lot out there either.

I'm sloping off to look at my Your Home magazine and to add more rows to my squares.

One Plus Two Equals... Half Term!

Today is the first day of 2 things... Half term and potty training the Littlest B! I must be asking for trouble! Everything started well I even managed to get out of bed, get dressed, put my contacts in and make up on - all before 7.30am - I know even I was impressed. Shame we weren't due to go anywhere until about 10am! Ooops now why can't I do that on a school day?

Who'd have believed it, it's February and it's been snowing, again! So all in all it's been a very grey day so I've been looking for a bit of colour to share with you all today, first I have my breakfast and then there is my crochet bag that I store my wool in and the first two rows of my up-and-coming blanket. It's coming along now, but it's a slow business.






I think tonight will be the night of chores. I didn't manage to get much done today due to the presence of 2 LBs and the unexpected shampooing of the front room carpet. At least it is almost time for some quiet at last, no matter how brightly coloured they are there is only so much The Beatles Yellow Submarine and Power Rangers Jungle Fury a girl can take.

Oh and of course I can play with my new toy!