How does your garden grow.....

We have a reasonable sized garden for a house in Blackpool and even though in the past have grown veg, we didn't make the best use of the space we have, so a couple of months ago we gutted the garden, moved the pond, cleared out all the junk that had accumulated and saved the things we would use like tyres.
the only plants we left in were the bluebells that were just peeking through and the blackcurrant bush, there wasn't much else growing or worth saving. I got 20 willow plants off ebay from Scotland and planted them along the back fence in the hope that when they grow tall the neighbours will be blocked out a bit. We also got some pallet's and spent a long time, days in fact taking them apart and sawing them to size to make some raised bedsIt also took ages trying to fill them with compost, 2 of my compost bins spread between the 4 of them did nothing at all, we collected horse manure for free from a farm and my friend donated bags of cow manure each time she came round, we also managed to get some big bags of organic compost from Lidl (supermarket in UK) for cheap. They are still not full but they will do, thinking the raised beds was going to be a cheap way of gardening kinda went out the window by the time I had finished.

I have reused tyres to plant green beans, courgettes and potatoes, moved the chicken arc next to the big chicken house to make more room,

 My friend took me to the industrial site and we collected some windows from a skip, these have served well as pop up cold frames for rhubarb and lettuce, I did plan on making a mini greenhouse like Alys Fowler's one of her TV show but never got round to it. Along the back fence we have willow, mint, strawberries in tubs and hanging bags, bluebells and delphiniums.

In our beds we have lettuce, peas, carrots, potatoes, pak choi, mooli radish, sweetcorn, rocket, butternut squash, runner beans, french beans, red onions and lots f marigolds to deter the beasties that love to munch on my salad! I have planted foxgloves for the bees and have honeysuckle growing up the fence, this is for bees and for in medicine too.

I love popping out early morning after letting the chickens out of their house and looking around the garden to see what has grown overnight, the chillies, peppers and tomatoes are growing in the greenhouse very slowly this year because of the lack of sun in Blackpool, I'm hoping that will change soon.

Under the blackcurrant bush I have sacks of potatoes growing which I think should be ready soon, hey were the first things I planted out. I use the re-usable bags from Marks and Spencer which cost about 50p, you just snip off the bottom corners for drainage and then when your spuds are ready slice the side open and voila easy access and much cheaper than the potato sacks from the garden centre.

 In the right hand top corner of the picture is our herb patch, we are growing lavender, oregano, horseradish, 2 types of sage, lemon thyme, lemon balm, marjoram, chamomile and lupins - I know not a herb but just for the bees. I love getting herbs from the garden when I'm cooking, it makes me feel proper!

Lots of lovely rocket in this bed, I adore rocket, it's peppery flavour goes so well with tomatoes on ciabatta

one of the sweetcorn plots growing very well this year, not had much success with the other times I have tried to grow it, so fingers crossed we will get some cobs this time. I have copious amounts of nasturtiums growing all over the garden to feed the caterpillars then they wont eat my lettuce, the chickens love the leaves and the bright orange and yellow flowers are a joy, I haven't managed to get anyone to eat them yet, even me, which is weird because I eat all the other garden things, the thought of eating flowers though hasn't quite got me yet.

another little patch of herbs right by our back door so if its pouring down I won't get soaked!, here we have rosemary, thyme, parsley and elephant garlic, which I can't wait to grow because it's meant to be massive and we love to cook with garlic.

Growing cucumbers this year for the first time, didn't realise how spiky the stems are!

foxgloves are so pretty, I think it's quite magical when the bees pop inside to collect the pollen

the pond is right in the corner but everything has grown so much you can't quite see it, we have watercress growing in the pond and froggy was last spotted a few weeks ago so I don't know if he is still around or hopped of to the birdbath for a splash

 Look here our first cucumber, I was so excited when I saw it, I ran in and told the boys to come see, they did say well done but I think I was most enthusiastic and I don't even eat cucumber!  love to grow things and am so happy when my hands are in the soil, I'm still learning and each time I do the growing thing I learn more. I got a great book called grow something to eat everyday, it's like having a grandad giving you tips, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to grow and I'm proof you don't have to have a big garden to grow lots, its all about the position of things, I'm always trying to squeeze more in. The thing I can't seem to get right is the continuous growing, we always have gaps where there is nothing to eat except lettuce. What are you growing this year?

sneak peeks

I love looking a photos of other peoples homes and know there is a flicker group called corners of my home which I have spent many an hour looking at when I probably should of been doing something else! I thought my post today would be what I would like to see on a blog, so here goes.....

 My bedroom, I made the patchwork bedspread, the cushions, the bunting, headboard, crochet blanket (just seen on bed)

 youngest sons bedroom, we just decorated it recently, it did have a full jungle mural that I painted for him but now he is a bit older and for ease I just painted everything antique cream, this is a tree he brought home from the park 3 years ago, he's got birds, dreamcatchers he's made, beaded strings and his last two cuddly toys in it.

 another bit of youngest son's room, he loves collecting things, especially warhammer

 middle sons bedroom, he loves bionicles and xbox games!

 our tiny kitchen, I'm guessing in the past it was actually a pantry as it's so small, I'm actually stood at the door taking this photo!

 welcome to out hallway, note the cath kidston bags...all freebies with magazines, I would just love a real one ;) .The indian bridal hanging came of ebay, it's so lovely, full of embroidery...

Up our stairs, all paintings done by me at various times, our walls have been painted all sorts of colours over the years but now I'm doing something I thought I would never do and that's paint everywhere antique cream, it looks so much calmer and tidy, but I do love colour so much. I love all sorts of styles too, shabby chic, retro glam, art deco, all eras, in fact I have always thought how cool it would be to own a street of houses and decorate each one, filling it with furniture of each time period and then when the feeling takes you could stay in the 40s house, or live it up in the 70's house etc. Which interiors period do you love?

This site is so worth checking out for this unusual and very awesome house

Our day at Lytham

As I had an appointment at the hospital we had to go to Lytham again - oh no, he he, it was so cold but really sunny so lovely for strolling, I made some bunting and this v.cute teapot cosy for the lady at Fresh, this is my first ever one and I'm really pleased with it, its embroidered and appliqued onto hot pink quilted wadding, I must invest in a really good camera when I can as this looks so much better in real life. We have been using our new bread maker everyday - why didn't I get one earlier, I love it and have been getting up extra early just like a proper housewife! Whilst out and about we went to Booths food store and I love the variety that they have, loads of dairy free things and lovely organic local veg, we always buy bits and pieces whilst we are there, next door is a home store that has a great kitchen range in it, lots of coo-ing by me over the scales, polka dot oven roasters, cute cake stands and Cath Kidston mugs, we went upstairs and we saw this sofa:
it is so comfy and squishy and in the sale......we took measurements and a photo and walked away in the hope of finding one a little better priced :(

We had a long walk on the seafront and down the jetty where the lifeboats used to go,

Chris loved collecting shells and trying to spot things in rock pools,

I loved looking back at Lytham from a different angle, and having the sun shine on our faces. We went for lunch and I went into the Cath Kidston outlet, its in another shop and I have always wanted to go in but it looked too posh, but today I really wanted to buy my first piece of Cath so I got some lovely floral oven gloves, which I really did need to take the bread out of the bread maker!! and a cup for Mr Tom and a cup for me, they are awesome cups, they are two brew size, so in the long run they will be worth my frivolousness as the kettle won't be on as much x

chickens and pigs too.

After watching Hugh's campaign for free range chickens, Jamie's campaign for free range eggs and now the latest one I watched the other night Jamie's saving British pork I feel I should have a rant in the hope that I may feel a bit better about it all.
I agree with everything they are trying to do and I only buy free range eggs and the same now goes for chicken and British pork, but why do shops make it so damned hard?. Our local butcher is the only place locally I can buy sausages without sodium metabisulphite in. (This is also in most children's drinks too) I will post about that another time, but if you have children take have a look at the link. Getting back to my butcher, I asked about his chickens being free range, He said no but they are kept very well on a local farm, so I asked if he had been to this farm to see how they are kept, guess what? - he hadn't!! how can someone say they are well kept if they have never been, judging by the horrid hock marks I would say not so. They wont sell them because apparently in the area which I live people wont pay extra for free range. This has made me cross because I'm sure there are more people in my area that would buy them if they were available. I guess it comes down to how strong your morals are.
Next we come to Iceland, the shop not place, the supermarket where apparently mums know best, well this mum does and I was very upset that Iceland's policy ( I know because I rang head office) is that it is unfeasible at the present time to sell free range, think of little Jimmy's nuggets and those lovely Kiev's, all from shitty legged poorly looked after chickens - yummy!! As one of the major players in selling food especially to the poorer end of the consumer, they should make some kind of stand,. Their statement said to me, our customers are too poor and not bothered enough to care whether we stock free range or not. Well I was one of their customers for years in fact but I wont be going in there again until it changes.
Please tell me why cant there be more compassion in the world, why is it all about money?
Sometimes we feel very alone as a family, in that we home school, follow a choice of not eating chemicals, preservatives etc in our foods and seem to have a different outlook on life than most folks around here. That's why I like being on the net to read about other like minded souls, it makes me feel that were not alone and only a bit crazy!
(photo is not mine, it is off another blog but I cant remember which one, so if this is your pic mail me and I will put a link)

All things gorgeous

I just love anything for my kitchen at the moment and usually buy things just to put on the dresser and look at, but this juicer i could actually look at and use woo hoo! These come from another site i dream over quite a lot, check out the rugs they are divine.

oh my i love this egg cup, what a lovely way to brighten up boiled eggs! At £4.19 its a little treat to put a smile on my face - note to any family reading i want one please!

Look at the fab cushions i found today when i was having a tea break - ok really i was just being a bit lazy whilst the boys played outside at a great game called capture the flag with the neighbours children, this is the second day they have played it, i joined in yesterday and its great fun although im sure some of them cheat!

this Clarissa the cat cushion made by jane claire is available from a great website called not on the high street where you can find unusual items for your home, this one is £54.95 which is a bit too much for me to pay but i can dream or try and make something similar.

I adore this one even more, just look at the gingham!! Woodland floral is by the same designer and so cute.