Den Building.

With spring well on it's way we have managed to build the most wonderful willow den. It great to have a creative experience working outside with natural materials. Now for those that are professional at this I know you may gasp at horror, but it's all ok! Yes I know that our willow den will not live and grow because it is under a tree but that isn't really the point for us. And I know that although I followed the instruction's on how to build a den generally I always think there is room for artistic interpretation.

All the same we had a wonderful time building, and now the smaller children will have there own special place in the garden. I will be sharing this on today's creative Friday over at http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.co.uk/

Celebrationg our hands 3/31

Following along with Josie at http://www.myhomemadehappy.com/ , her efforts are on day 3 but this is my first entry but I am keeping up with everyone from now on :

Today I had 2 1/2 tons of poo arrive on the path, so I had to move it over my wall!

Lets just say Mantra's DO work, I kept running through my mind "my beautiful garden" and I have managed to move two thirds of it today, just a little left for tomorrow.

Some things.

Some times I think I must bore you all with my "look what I did today blog" . But then again it is an example of a family trying to live a simple loving life, and yes I do love to share! So here I go again.......

I have been over come with the joys of spring! My aching muscles are loving every minute! With the start of the good weather every gardener is out, preparing.  So from this :

To this:

And this :

Although we have had raised beds for many years sadly they have rotted somewhat and we all worked hard to up grade the garden. Arthur loved to do EVEYTHING that Daddy did!

A little speak preview of the bounty coming our way. I just love the way leaves unfurl themselves.

I also stocked up from the library on inspiration, The weather has been to good that I haven't had a chance to look at therm yet!

Have you sprung into spring yet?

Planting Trees

We had a wonderful weekend, although there has been some hard frosts  an area where a little tree planting took place was still suitable. I belong to the Women's Environmental Network, Crediton group, the lovely Kate applied to the Woodland trust for, yes Trees! We had a 420 trees that are native species, put along a bank to create a hedge on a wonderful small apple orchard.  The trees planted where mixed dog rose, elder, hazel and crab apple. Kate's plans are that in the future picking and gathering parties will return to this site, it should also encourage wildlife.

A good group of us working away, suitable for all ages.

Look at how small they are to start, the plastic coverings protect them from the rabbits.

A good job done, over 250 planted in just a couple of hours

Kate gave a me an apple tree to take home and plant myself. They had to show me what to do and how to care for it. 

I has a wonderful time, it has really inspired me to get out and do some work in my own garden.

Ice Art.

The weather has been a little chilly here. On our dog walks Arthur and I noticed how deep the ice was, we thought this a great opportunity to make ice art of our own. We collected leaves on our walk and found some primrose leaves in our garden.
We then got a collection of pots and plastic containers put a little water in and placed s peace of matertial that would be the hanger. Also all the leaves placed in the water, which Arthur really enjoyed!

We left the containers out over night and they had frozen to create our amazing ice art!

We took them out of the containers to see the beauty. Can you tell I loved this, it was so lovely and Arthur had completely lost interest by now and went off to play with tractor's whilst I still took loads of photos!!

This reminds me of animals found in amber.

I long to do it all over again!!

Preparing for Spring

Today our efforts for creative Friday (joining in with the wonderful http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2011/10/creative-friday_28.html ) We have been preparing for spring, although this seems slightly mad seeming as it only just autumn! We have been planting bulbs into two large pots that sit on our front doorstep. We do this each year and it never fails to amaze me , near the bottom we have tulips, then on top we have daffodils, then crocus and then a little greenery to see us through the winter.

So the plan is in the spring, all effort made by mother nature will provide us with flowering pots that will last into the summer.