Living in a Box

Me Me

I found this Meme and thought i would fill it in. Quite an interesting exercise in introspection ! Try it - fill in the first thing that comes to mind.

i feel: calm

i am a: reluctant shopper

i am wearing: jeans, t-shirt, fleece

i hate: cold weather

my best friend is: married to me

i look: granny-like !

i am often mistaken as being: capable

i am becoming: more thoughtful and introspective

the song that is playing right now is: no music at the mo

my favorite memories are: childhood memories of grandparents

my worst memories are: long forgotten

my favorite vacation place is: a log cabin, a fire in the fireplace, books to read, and paintings to paint

the song that best describe my life is: Leaving on a Jetplane

i want: a home of my own

i am making: gifts for Christmas

i want to be: more organised

i try hard to: be patient with everyone

my fear is: losing touch with loved ones

my hopes are: for my loved ones to do well

i enjoy: creating

when i get older, i: hope to have some time for me

i am trying to decide: what to make for Sunday lunch...

the leisure book i’m reading now is: The Artists Way

little luxuries of mine are: a hot bath with bath salts, chocolate chip cookies, a fluffy dressing gown, a little puppy on my lap,

one of my weaknesses: not staying motivated

my favorite colour is: too may favourites

my favorite television shows are: about history, genealogy, gardening, home decor

a person i adore is: my hubby

places i would go in a heart-beat are: Scotland, Botswana, Eastern Traansvaal in South Africa

the person that i’m thinking about is: Fiona, my daughter

i love the way: my new hair cut has turned out

i hate the way: the damp weather makes me cold

a vexation of mine is: doing dishes - a thankless job

my favorite time of the day is: after supper

summer time is: hot and lazy

i try to block out: heartache, fears, and worry

my life is: full

my favorite season is: summer

after school, i: went nursing

one thing i can’t be happy without is: my relationship with God

i’m trying to: prioritise

it hurts when: I think about past mistakes

like my mother always says: "It's only money."

the hardest thing i’ve ever had to do was: bury my child

before i go to bed, i: thank God for the day I've had

the first thing i do in the morning is: reach for my glasses

the best thing about life is: you get to start over each day

i never knew that: I would ever feel at home away from Africa

my bedroom is: tidy, restful and filled with all things roses (fabrics, prints etc.)

i cannot: eat tripe

i love going to: charity shops (goodwill)

i dislike: know-it-alls

i cry when: I watch a sad film, or read a sad book

it’s: nearly Christmas

i love the movie: Braveheart

i am feeling: lazy

i listen to: people

something that makes me smile is: thinking about my grandchildren

something about a person that attracts me is: sense of humour

love is: worth holding on to

traveling is: my idea of heaven

it is time to: do the dreaded shopping !

i’m ticked off because: I don't want to go and do the dreaded shopping !!

About Me

My name is Lorraine. My hubby and I live in a tiny house, with a tiny garden, in Oxfordshire in the UK. This is the smallest garden I have ever had ! My previous garden in Zimbabwe was over 4 acres, and here I am faced with a few square metres. Challenges abound - and I rise to meet them.

Hubby and I rent the house we are in, and we have lived here for 2 years. When we moved in, we decided we weren’t going to do any gardening at all - it wasn’t our house and we just couldn’t justify spending the money on someone else’s property. Well…that has made for a miserable 2 years in the garden (as any gardener can imagine !) We will be renting this house for a few more years before we can buy our own place. So…this year, 2007, I just couldn’t bear it - I had to get my hands dirty ! We decided to get busy in the tiny garden without spending too much money. I felt I could create a decent garden with annuals (and a few perennials), and any expensive plants would be grown in pots (so they could come with us when we move).

We have no front garden at all. Our front steps lead down on to the pavement.  We live in a village, but are on the main road through the village, so there is traffic, but not too much that it drives us crazy !

The back garden is small - very small. It is approximately 26 feet long x 18 feet wide ! Unbelievably small by my standards. I last gardened in 4 acres. When we moved in, half of the garden was concrete (nearest the house), and the other half was lawn (a bog in winter, and a desert in summer). The back of the house faces west. In the winter it gets no sun at all (how depressing) and in the summer months is flooded with heat and sunshine - we bake out there - LOL !! Not a happy medium.

With the owners permisssion, we have made a few alterations to the garden.

This blog will become a record of gardening in such a small space in difficult conditions.