365 returns...

Sort of.... I've still been taking some photo's but not necessarily for each day. Life is rather more hectic than normal and the photographs had taken a very undeserved back seat, but here are a couple of Autumnal shots from my garden to share with you.

And here is a new tool in my house. Something to help me keep track and at least feel more organised. Our family planner. I just love it. A column each and two spares, one for "other" things which I use to note birthdays etc, and one I use as a meal planner for the week. The planner started in September and runs until next December. Did I mention I love it !

Not much to share for such a long absence I know, but I will be back! Promise.

365 #231

Yesterday I went and sat in the garden with my camera in the hopes of catching some shots of butterflies. It was extremely frustrating, and I'm not sure I used the best lens for it, it does remind me of how much I want a macro lens. I didn't manage many shots, but was pleasantly surprised when I found this one amongst them.

365 #220

Finally we have collection bins for garden waste! Hurrah. With the weather having taken a turn for the better we actually out in the garden on Saturday for mowing and dead-heading and a small amount of tidying up ready for the collection on Monday.

365 #155

Last year I managed to start doing some work in the garden, mainly hacking back and removing some very overgrown shrubs, of which I am not a fan anyway. Whilst doing that in a dark corner by the shed I found a very sad looking fern, I'm pleased to say that it's come back this year with a bit of va va voom and is starting to look rather splendid.

365 #152

An early morning wonder around the garden in peace and quiet before the rest of the house wakes up. The sun was still nice and low and I was on the hunt for some shots for PwL the Sequel. I really love how crisp this shadow was against the fence.

365 #146

We're still working on the veg patch since we got waylaid by numerous radiators giving up the ghost. We've put some raised beds in using this stuff for the edges and more is needed.

365 #137

The alliums Jamie and I planted under the living room window were out in flower when we got home and they are just lovely. Sadly they have been joined by a load of weeds as well. Just waiting for the rain to ease off so I can get out there and tidy the bed up. Hopefully the colour and beauty of the alliums will distract peoples eyes from the weeds.

365 #120

We seem to be having a losing battle in the lawn with these at the moment. Trouble is they are so beautiful when they go to seed I can't help but admire them.

Footie anyone?

Such a lovely sunny day - so why waste it indoors. Well, I didn't waste it, I scrapped. I did scrap outdoor photo's though in my defense.

This LO is of Jamie and Rosie playing football in the garden a couple of weeks ago. I've used the scrapagogo April Showers kit, along with a few bits from past kits, stash and of course my new threads, flairs and a journaling card.

TFL!

365 #107

Another wonder around the garden to see what I could see. Unfortunately I can't remember what this is. It's one of what felt like a million bulbs I planted last October. I didn't notice at the time of taking the photo that it had a visitor either.

365 #97

Another wonder around the garden today so see what else is springing into life. This is our one and only tree which is now covered in small buds.

Apologies for the sun flare mid shot, but I still like the photo. Just shows what a sunny day it is here today.

365 #90

I've had two new lenses delivered today for my camera and have been walk about in the garden to see what I could see and to capture some lovely shades of green.

Both of these shots were taken with a Canon 50mm f1.8 II. I am in love with this lens. (Does that sound a bit...odd?)

365 #81

More gardening today! I was determined that I would set up our patio veg plot, and these are the two planters I'm using, one for veg, the other for herbs. Today Jamie and I were busy filling them and sowing carrot and onion seeds along with some garlic and flat leaf parsley. Chris was busy starting to clear a corner patch of the garden where we intend to put in a couple of raised beds to grow potatoes, peas and sweetcorn.

And should you be wondering, the little pots in front are my hellebore collection, yet to be put in to the garden.

365 #80

An afternoon of gardening, part of which was to chop back an extremely overgrown penstemon, but that was stopped when I found several ladybirds sitting in it. I love ladybirds, so having found a few on the plant, I moved on to hack away at something else.

365 #76

With all this lovely sunshine we're having, the kids and I took a quick trip to the garden centre as it's about time Jamie grew something from seed. So here we have a selection of flowers, herbs and veg. I think he would have walked away with every packet of seed they had if I'd let him, but for now he'll have to be satisfied with these as we've only got a small garden, but we now have a couple of lovely rustic planters to go on the patio.

365 #57

The garden table.

I think I have my work cut out for me as it's been left out since we moved into this house 2 years ago...and is looking a little sad.

365 #33

With all the snow that landed overnight on last Sunday, I ventured out into the garden for something to photograph on Monday morning. This is the leaf bud to my climbing hydrangea with the snow delicately sitting on it.

365 #30

Today I have ventured out into the garden to take another wonder around as signs of spring are very slowly starting to emerge. Instead I have settled on an autumnal view of my climbing hydrangea. It has new leaf buds forming but what caught my eye were the old petals from heads that I hadn't removed.

365 #3

We moved to our house 6 weeks before Rosie was due to be born in 2007 and as the gardener of the family I haven't had much chance to get out and do anything since. I managed to get some things done last summer, but Rosie is one of those children that means everything goes in her mouth, so when it comes to gardening - you don't really get much done.

Yesterday I took a little look around to work out what I need to do this year and came across this flower, standing all on it's own, tucked away, but what a welcome splash of colour this time of year.