French Knots

Chicken advice

We are measuring and researching, planning and dreaming. Perhaps there is a little corner of the garden for a chicken coop after all! How exciting! Instead of a bit of weedy flowerbed and by stealing a few feet from the edge of the lawn I think we can do it.As I know some of you have already got some feathered friends in the garden I thought I'd ask your advice.

Which breeds are most friendly/healthy for the beginner to keep?  If I have the coop/run against the fence will the ivy that covers it do them any harm? Any websites/books that we should read?

I'm assuming that if we give them free range over all the garden they will eat all my plants so I've found a coop that looks like it might fit and give the hens a happy life, but as the run doesn't look very big they might have to be let out to play on the grass too.  

 

Do you think it looks foxproof enough? I would hate to take on some chickens and then be responsible for their demise through lack of planning - of course you already know how much I love a list!

The thought of being able to walk into the garden and collect a few eggs for breakfast is tempting and suggests a life removed from the usual rushing about, a more relaxed pace with time to breath.

All good

After a few days of the blahs I woke this morning ( well was woken by the hungry fella that sleeps in my room!) at 5am to glorious sunshine and decided to change the pattern and look for the good.

The Baby Brother enjoyed his first breakfast ( naturally starving again, after his 2am late night snack) then went to sleep in my arms, lovely and snuggley and didn't prosecute - this is The Big Sister's word for possetting and I haven't corrected her as it makes me smile every time she says it.

     

Am wearing my comfy old Dr Marten sandals, survivors of many holidays and hot summers that look really tatty but never rub no matter how hot the day. And I painted my toenails last week - bit chipped now but I spend my days with a 7 week old who can't see as far as my feet.

The Baby Brother smiled at me last week, a real smile with his eyes and his little mouth grew wider and wider in a wonderful smile as I smiled back at him and he tried it again as it felt so good. My  heart almost burst with the joy of it.

The wonderful sunshine prompted me into action and I tackled the laundry mountain, third load has just gone on the line so I feel virtuous and in control ( ha! until it's dry and the pile sits around again waiting for the laundry fairy to put it away!).

 

As I hung it out I could hear the children in the school next door singing through their open windows, My Little Helper and his friends are rehearsing the Infant Production. He is to play a Cool, Organic Sheep! Costume requires white top and trousers and of course cool shades - can't wait to see it and will no doubt need a discreet tissue as usual.

The towering self seeded verbascums are starting to flower, as the rest of the garden has a look of the Lost Gardens of Heligan before they were rescued I am ignoring it!

 

ok end of the Pollyanna moment - have a good day!

Creating

While 'he whose tummy is always empty' had a quick nap between feeds I rustled up some thank you gifts for friends who had kindly passed on some nursery furniture.

It was Pebbledash who posted about recycled Toast and it lodged in my brain. In the wee small hours as my mind drifted during feeding I came up with an idea that was quick to make but, hopefully, touching to receive.

I stamped some wooden pegs, backed some pleasing images from the aforementioned Toast brochure and chose some of my sweet hearts - lavender filled sachets made from recycled fabric. I stiched the hearts inside brown paper parcels instead of wrapping them in the usual way. Once the notecard was pegged to the parcel I was pretty pleased with result.

 

If I get time I'm going to make some more for the end of school year teacher's presents from the big children as they have 5 teachers between the 2 of them I need a simple solution. Though Mr L might not appreciate a lavender sachet.....!

Snuggled in love

A wonderful package arrived, filled with snuggley cardigans for The Baby Brother. Amazing, intricate knitting, complicated patterns and all soft against his skin.

 

 

I love the colour of this one, so vibrant

but this one is my favourite, it has a real vintage feel to it. I could imagine a '50s baby in a cute little jacket like this

 

Hasn't he got a clever Grandma!

The weeks are flying by in a bit of blur, I keep trying to remember to take photos of his tiny baby days as they are so fleeting but one day blends into the next without a proper night time to differentiate it. He has a wonderful range of grunts and groans, accompanied by lip pursing and gurning.  He smiles at opportune moments too, which I know is not a conscious act yet but his timing is so good it melts my heart, and when his lower lip does it's little wobble......!