Spring has sprung..time to go out and play!

I love to garden!  One of the things which made me shed a tear or two, when I left the States, was to leave my garden behind, and give away my potted plants.  So, when these old bottoms of rabbit hutches were finding their way to my parent's trash pile, I nabbed them!  With permission, of course! :)  I've been "given" the patio area to work on, and do my own thing, basically.  So far, everything I've done has been given the seal of parental approval.  Drilled some holes in the bottom of the two containers (no longer hutches :) ), for drainage..and put newspaper on the bottom...

...yes, this is another use for the versatile Surrey Advertiser.  Oh, if only the intrepid reporters and editors knew what I was up to with last week's edition  LOL ...

And then off to the compost pile.. it took about 4 buckets for me to get all of the stuff I needed..good homemade compost from my parent's garden..better than buying it, huh?

Yeah, I know I'm pathetic with all the photos, but it keeps me off the streets and out of mischief!  Obviously this is the compost going into the bottom of my containers...

At this point I went to the garden centers for grow bags, and some plants..and seeds. 

This is what my biggest container now looks like.. a curry plant at the back, on the left..chives in the middle, and a chocolate mint plant on the right.  Violas in the front.

This container has lupins, something which my mother calls "grandmother's bonnet" and primroses in the front.

I'll have to keep updating the progress of these pots.. I have calendula and marigold seeds in the two troughs..the middle pot has lavender. (Note to self:  sweep up under the bench tomorrow)

Had to take a trip out to the office at the "nearly done" stage..and came home to find that Dad had put this little dog in my tray, near to the primroses.  Cute, huh?

This nifty little thing I plan to put busy lizzies in..once the fear of frost is gone.  My aunt and uncle are moving soon, and are sorting out all their belongings..that's another story altogether!  I mean, they've lived in their current house for 52 years...oh yeah.. they've got STUFF to sort out!  But this is one of the little treasures I have had passed on to me.  (Thanks J and V)

I'm just so impatient really to see the seeds all come up.  The last one has globe carrot seeds in it. 

I've just had a perfect couple of days doing this...the sun has been shining, the birds have been singing ...there's even been a woodpecker doing his thing!  I've caught the sun a bit..hoping to go brown bit by bit this year!

And I just feel so calm after working outside..nothing like shoving your hands into a bit of dirt!

Sorry for all the photos, if it's made things hard and long winded to load..I just love playing with the camera too much, and I guess I get carried away!

:)x

Unexpected Visit to an Art Gallery!

So, while I've enjoyed my current job quite a lot, there's been some things I've also just NOT liked about it.  Firstly, as it says in my little bio thing, I don't like the amount of driving I have to do. Secondly, I don't enjoy the long long hours (we've been talking 7 am to 10 pm some days).  And thirdly, I really needed a job which paid just a bit more.Not that I'm trying to be a money grabber, but, well, you know, a girl's gotta live!  And yes, I'm quite aware that anyone in the caring professions are usually pitifully paid!  :) 

However, I have had the opportunity to meet some fascinating people.  One of them kept telling me how she was a sculptor.  Finally, I managed to wander around her garden the other day...she was my last stop, and the weather was nice...so I went to have a look at her work.

Amazing.  The garden was..well, is...laid out in such a way as it just leads you on into little bowers almost and suddenly you are looking at a sculpture. She has most certainly been blessed with a gift! I just loved this one. Told her I had considered picking up one of the geese, and kidnapping it away in my kit bag - never seen someone laugh so hard at me.  Thought she would suffocate!

And this one of the children was in another little corner.  I wonder if she used her own children as the "models"? At least for the faces?

Really, there is a great abundance of art and artists in Surrey. And you just never know when you're going to come face to face with either one! Just have to keep your eyes open, I guess, in some people's back gardens!

Oh, and by the way, the job thing... yes, got a new one! I've yet to be given my 100% certain start date, but it should be sometime next month.  Same type of work, but just a little more civilized in hours and location, and of course the money!

:)x