Well, actually a fortnight really. Last week I had a school trip to Cattle Country (not many cattle, but a nice day out - if a little stressful due to the over-enthusiasm of my charge), 2 days of interviewing for a new headteacher (which as Chair of Governors required much more from me than I thought), but then last Friday it was chill out time at the Malvern Spring Show. I went with Sophie straight after dropping the girls at school and we had a really self indulgent day browsing through show gardens, plant stalls, shopping opportunities aplenty, and a couple of ciders in the sun at lunchtime. We left at 6pm laden with plants and the biggest basket in the world that Sophie bought but which we both carried around for the last 2 hours to many laughs from bystanders. I was restrained in the plant department but got heaps of new ideas for my potential new garden (if we sell our house), and I did come home with the most amazing scented geraniums - rose, lemon, nutmeg and lemon sherbert. I know the leaves can be used to flavour sugar and other things so I am going to research that and will keep you posted!
This was my favourite show garden - I can just see myself sitting here with a gin and tonic!
I also liked this fairytale one. Again, note the bench. Essential. Purple and blue were obviously the in colours this year - they were everywhere. Chelsea starts tomorrow night so it will be interesting to see if that is the case there too.
This one even had a little steam train in it, but unfortunately my picture of it has someone's arm in it too.
This was in the floral marquee and was a huge trug based on the small one in the foreground. It had every herb under the sun in it and was my favourite display.
I also liked the Auriculas against the black - really striking.
So, onto this week...Monday, Wednesday, Friday and this morning were spent temping in the office where I worked before I had the girls, which is something I have done from time to time over the last 6 years, and is good for some quick and easy cash, and then Tuesday and Thursday were spent interviewing for new teachers in Reception and Year 1. I am getting to be a dab hand at interviewing, what with all this practice! I have also been out every night except last night (allotment, pub, book club, ladies night at school), so I am really looking forward to a quiet couple of days to recover. This may also explain my lack of blogging - I have barely had time to check emails this week, let alone thrill you all with tales and pictures!!
I have actually managed to create some things too (last week), and I finally got round to something that I have needed for ages. I love sitting up in bed reading, but it has to be bolt upright otherwise I fall asleep, but my shoulders get cold so I made a patchwork mini quilt/shawl to throw around my shoulders. Unfortunately it happened to be just before the hottest day of the year and I haven't had chance to use it yet. Typical. Still, maybe tonight's the night as it is freezing here today.
Before.
After.
I also made a flower brooch and some card decorations out of some fibres I bought at Art in Action near Oxford 2 years ago. It is a show where crafts people demonstrate their art, and is very inspiring. My friends' husband displays his students cabinetry there sometimes and got us tickets (I am hoping there may be some this year as it was fab - hint hint Stacey!). I used soluble plastic and sandwiched the fibres in between before machine sewing round the outline in silver thread. You then soak the plastic away and Bob's your uncle! My camera is playing up and I haven't got a photo of the after, but I am very pleased with it. I am often quite critical about my sewing, but I was really pleased with how this one turned out. I'll try to get a good pic soon.
I have a much less stressful week coming up. My sister is coming to stay on Monday for the week, and is coming on the Reception class school trip on Tuesday to the Farm Park (she must be mad!). We are then spending the rest of the week pottering, shopping, chatting and sorting out my stock. She has a lovely friend who has offered to sell my stock for me. She has had a few very successful parties before and says she loves doing it, so is going to try to sell as much as possible over the next few weeks. I honestly don't think I have the time to devote to it at the moment so this is great. I just need someone to volunteer to run the website now as well (fancy that too, Lucy?!!), and I can run my empire from the allotment kitchen!!
Sorry I haven't been leaving comments on all your posts - I turn away for a week and Bloglines has 350+ entries for me to work through. I try to read them all so it takes a while, but I am slowly catching up. I am with you all in spirit though!!
Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. Where has the sun gone? I may even light the fire tonight! I have 3 logs left and a bit of coal so I feel I should use it up now ready for next season. Whatever you are all up to I hope it is fun.
Cathy XX