Living in a Box

The Ideal Life

Two posts in two days ! I'm going for the "Most Consistent Blogger" award. Do you think I'll get it ? No, I didn't think so.

It was a lovely day today. Very cloudy - but the temp was mild. I went outside with baby Erin at 9.30 this morning - just to water the pot plants. (I'll have to stop calling her baby Erin or I'll be doing it when she's 18). I put her in the push chair so she wouldn't get wet - she crawls straight for the hose pipe. Within 5 minutes she looked like this.

I quietly finished the watering - then sneaked into the house and came out with this.

Yes, I know. A bit heavy-handed with the butter.  I made up for it with a salad at lunch time.

I sat outside for over an hour while she slept peacefully next to me.  It was very quiet, not much noise apart from birdsong and the occasional dog bark.  I took a few photos of my little patch to show you how its coming on, and then, as is typical of the ageing (lol) - my mind began to wander. (As an aside, my dictionary defines the word ageing as maturing or ripening ! I'll go for maturing - ripening I'm not).

I began to think about our future here, and what my ideal life would be.

When you are young, you imagine all sorts of things would make your life complete...and they usually involve great sums of money, mansions, travel, etc.  As I've got older, and particularly in the last couple of years, I've come to realise that my ideal life would really change very little from the way it is now.

Okay, I would like a bigger house. Not a mansion. In fact, I'm quite satisfied with the number of rooms we have - I would just like them to be bigger. And I'd like a kitchen we can sit in. This is the first house we've had that we can't sit in the kitchen.

I would like a much bigger garden - about 4 acres would do me nicely, but I'll settle for 2. I would grow vegetables galore - enough to feed all of us, all year round. I'd have a herb garden, and a cutting garden. I'd have a large area of lawn where the grandchildren could play to their heart's content. I'd have sweeping borders, and winding walks. I'd have a rose garden, filled with old favourites. I'd leave a lot of the garden to grow wild...and encourage wildlife. A pond would be nice too. Oh...and a greenhouse.

My ideal daily routine would be pretty much the same as it is now. I'd continue to have my faith, and be the best wife I could be to my dearest hubby. I would housekeep, garden, look after the grandchildren, cook healthy meals using my own organic veg. I'd continue, as I do now, to keep my family close and loving. I'd sew and craft and paint when I have time. Just generally keep busy, and try to stay healthy.

There you have it. My ideal life in a few short paragraphs. Most of it, I already have...the missing bits - we're working on. We know we need another year - maybe 2 - in this little rented house, and then we should be able to buy a home of our own. I hope we can afford a home with a bit of land. That's the plan. We'll have to wait and see what happens. Good things come to those who wait.

General Update

Where does the time go ? Mind you, I always seem to be very busy - especially with an 11 month old granddaughter around my legs all day.lol  Wouldn't have it any other way ! The grandkids keep me young - they keep me crawling on the floor, giving piggy-backs, playing ball games & busy, busy, busy. If I wasn't looking after them I'd probably be sitting sedately in a chair, knitting. Yeah - right !!

We had such wonderful weather the first couple of weeks of May, but it's been a lot cooler since then. Disappointing. I really thought summer had arrived. Its supposed to be warming up again soon.

The garden is starting to look very nice. The hard work is paying off. Annuals are all doing well. Perennials have all come up again, and are twice as big as last year. And I've been shopping (as usual) - I just can't stay away from the garden centres ! I got £50 worth of gift vouchers for Milletts Farm at Christmas, so spent those in the last week. And I also got another £50 voucher on Mother's Day in March. What wonderful presents ! My children know me too well. They know that nothing gives me more pleasure than working in my little garden (well - apart from the grandchildren that is). So I have been spoiling myself, and bought a few shrubs to go in pots & a few more annuals. I've taken photos - I just need some time to get them all uploaded.

I seem to be fighting Time at the moment. I just don't feel as though I have enough of it - not enough hours in the day for all I need to do. The grandkids are all gone by 5.30pm, and then I start cooking our evening meal. By the time we've eaten, and I've cleared up, washed dishes, tidied around and prepared for the following day, done a bit of admin work for Baz, its usually around 9pm. I'm so tired by then, that when I finally stagger over to my desk and turn the computer on - all I'm fit for is to read a few blogs. Most nights I'm even too tired to comment - sorry ! I'm trying hard to summon up the discipline to post on a regular basis. I have a few other blogs - a family blog, a painting blog, photography blog and a genealogy blog - and they are all as neglected as this one. I'm seriously considering combining them all into one blog. Wonder if that would work ? Maybe not - after all, the gardening folk wouldn't be interested in my genealogy research, and the genealogy folk wouldn't be interested in my painting blog etc. etc. Hmmm. I will just have to make more of an effort.

The photos I've uploaded in this post are just general shots around the garden. I'll post more specific photos and comment on them in later posts.

 

I'm off to watch Sarah Ferguson trying to reform a family from Hull ! Its on ITV1. I watched it last night, so thought I'd follow along.

For One Day Only.....

....we are expecting a high of 18C/64F. I am rushing through the necessary (cleaning, shopping etc.) and will spend the afternoon doing what makes me the happiest - gardening ! Can't stop. Much to do.

Gardening Weather

What peculiar weather we've been having. From this...........

to this..............

...and all within 24 hours. I had thought spring had sprung, but we were plunged into winter again for a few days. It has now started to warm up - and so it should - it's the middle of April.

I thought I'd share a few photos of our village during last week's snow.

I don't know about you, but I certainly feel as though this winter has gone on forever. But I think I say that every year. We've been here in the UK 6.5 years, and I'm still not used to it. I cannot stand the cold.

Today has been a mild day - a gentle breeze, warm sunshine, and not a cloud in sight for most of the day. It felt like heaven. So I spent the day doing what I enjoy - gardening. Of course I had my usual helper. Meg turned 4 last Saturday - and she was digging with gusto. Baby Erin, now 10 months old, ate her weight in good fresh compost ! (Not really - but she wanted to). And Jack - our little terrier, also 10 months old, was a real pain. He wanted worms, and did all he could to get them. I didn't get a lot done watching the antics of these 3 - but we enjoyed it. Just to be out in our little patch in the sunshine was such a pleasure. I feel as though I have been a caged animal for the last few months. Growl !   

Just a few photos that I managed to take this morning (in between bouts of heavy rain).  Here in Oxfordshire, we haven't experienced the really bad weather that was predicted for southern counties. Towns along the coast had an awful time yesterday - lots of damage. We have had some heavy rain, and strong winds, but nothing too serious.

It's so wonderful to know that the ground is warming up outside - and life is beginning once again.  I cannot wait to get my hands into the soil. Pity about my nails though. I've managed to grow them for the first time in years *sigh*.

 

Coughs, Splutters and a little Rant !

Nearly 2 weeks since I last posted, but life seems hectic at the moment. And, as there's not much going on in the garden, I suppose it's time to talk of other things.

I seem to spend my days wiping noses (my own included) and dishing out cough mixture. We have all been attacked by a flu virus of some kind. It's affected all of us in the family, some worse than others. The grandchildren have been hard hit - the baby has been coughing for a week. The children have all had visits to the doctor - and the doctor agreed - yes, it's a virus (grrrrr). So apart from dosing with the usual cold and flu remedies, there's not much to be done.

The colder weather isn't helping much either ! It means that we are all confined - on top of one another in this small space I call my home. LOL. Really - we need a few days of bright sunshine (even if it is cold) - just to cheer everyone up a bit. I think I'll be ready to jump off a high building by February. No...it's not that bad. But I am affected by the lack of sunshine and light. I struggle with this every year, as so many others do.

I dashed off to the shops this morning for some urgent neccessities...food...and our butcher commented that he hadn't seen me for a couple of weeks. I replied that I've been very busy. He laughed loudly and said something to the effect that we ladies of leisure have it so good !!!!! It took all the strength in my jaw to keep it tightly clenched shut.

So...what is keeping me busy these days ??? I'll make a list :-

• a sweet, dear husband, who is in his second week of the dreaded virus, and who sighs, coughs, and splutters at every opportunity (but still manages to consume his meals with gusto - and even asks "what's for dessert ?")
• an aging mother, who has also been coughing etc. for the better part of 2 weeks, but who has consumed very little food during that period (I get quite worried that she doesn't eat and keep trying to tempt her)
• a 15 yr old grandson who always arrives home from school starving - and who promptly eats me out of house and home before 5.30pm every school day (when he goes home and eats his parents out of house and home)
• an 11 yr old grandson who has been hard hit by the virus, and has spent most of the last 2 weeks either in my bed, or on the sofa, fiddling with the TV remote control and changing the channels  approx. 100 times a day, and who is constantly arguing with
• a 3 yr old granddaughter, whose snotty nose I have wiped and creamed at least once an hour for the last 2 weeks, and who is rather weepy because she feels ill, and wants to be read to, constantly, because it make her better
• a 6 month old granddaughter - coughing, spluttering, sneezing, teething - bless her heart - through all that she always has a smile for her granny
• a 5 month old Jack Russell puppy, who can't understand why no-one feels like playing with him, and who barks in surprise every time someone sneezes
• and last, but not least, all the regular stuff like cleaning, washing, ironing, cooking - you know - the stuff that just seems to happen on it's own !!

By the time the grandchildren all go home in the evening, I collapse in a chair, and unfortunately, the internet is the last thing I think about. But we are slowly recovering, and will, I'm sure, be in better spirits soon. After all, Christmas is on it's way - and we can really do with some Christmas cheer.

Our Cottage

Our little row of Cottages is called Church View Cottages. This is why.

Directly across the road is the village church. The view from my bedroom window is a beautiful old  graveyard. Some of the graves are dated in the 1700's. The graveyard is within the church garden, so it is well maintained. It has been left a bit wild here and there and so it looks very natural.

You'd think it would be rather grim to look out over graves every day. But I find it comforting - very soothing and relaxing.

Jumping in the Leaves

I walked a lot today. At the crack of dawn I took our little dog out for his morning walk. He is still a bit unsure of himself out in the big wide world (he's only 4 months old), but it's getting better. I go early because it's quieter then, and I love the fresh morning air. Mind you, it was very damp this morning. Here's Jack straining at the leash. He doesn't quite get it yet, but he will.

Later in the morning, I took the girls for a long walk. We really enjoyed it. Meg (3) skipped along singing the whole way. When she saw the fallen leaves (see below) she shouted "Granny, quickly, come and jump in the leaves - it's such fun". So...of course...I had to go jump in the leaves. And it was such fun.

 

Autumn

Well...so much to catch up on. We have been so busy this summer that time has got away from me. I have not spent nearly as much time as I used to on the Internet, but I expect all that will change now that the nights are drawing in. I will be able to spend more time on this blog too.

We had a great summer - the birth of a new granddaughter, a son's marriage, a new puppy, and many day trips out and about. We enjoyed our little garden very much. I'm still picking the last of the tomatoes ! I'll get some photos taken as soon as I can and get them on the blog.

During the summer, we spend so much time outside that we don't notice how small our little house is - but now that it's getting cooler, and we are back indoors, I am feeling a bit irritated with the lack of space ! So I plan on making some changes to our furnishings and decor over the winter - trying to declutter and also rearrange things so that we are more comfortable. I also plan on redecorating, and have already made a start in the main bedroom. I'll show you any changes I make. I also have a lot to do in the garden and will take you with me as I work !

So...family is back at work, grandchildren are back at school, and I'm looking after my beautiful baby granddaughter while her parents are at work. I also look after her older sister, Meg, but she's at nursery school in the mornings. We have a 4 month old puppy to add to the mix - a very lively little Jack Russell names...wait for it.....Jack (how's that for an original name). I'm very busy !!!!

Been Busy

I have been very busy for the last few days. And this little angel is the reason.

This is  my newest granddaughter, Erin. She was born last Thursday morning, and weighed in at a hefty 9lbs 9ozs. Her Mum, Dad and sister are elated, and of course, Granny & Granddad are over the moon !

I will get back to normal posting asap !!