Freecycle!

April asked about Freecycle following on from the post below - Here is the link http://uk.freecycle.org/, you then need to find your local UK group, or you could even start your own if there isn't one! It really is brill - I have offered things like spare bedding, pots and pans, books, DVDs, plant pots - you name it.... I have received such treasures as greenhouse glass, an actual greenhouse and garden shed, and I'm just waiting to see if I've managed to get a boat!

Empty Pots and Rain

Well, the weather has gone seriously downhill since I wittered on about wearing my shorts and flip-flops! It's back to being wet, cold and grey, so no planting on today's agenda. I have been lucky on Freecycle, and have a load of greenhouse glass coming tomorrow, which means I can finish re-glazing it after the winter storms tried to destroy it! I don't know if you have Freecycle in the States, but it's a brilliant way of asking for stuff you need, and getting rid of stuff you don't need.....all for free! It reduces impact on landfill, and is an all-together fantastic thing! Me and Tid will have to wait to plant our seeds, but there's always therapy of the retail kind to occupy us!

Talisman; Illustration Friday

Here is my drawing for this weeks subject, 'Talisman' - something which is described as bringing luck and good fortune. I thought this little boy with his lucky rabbit and dutch hoe fitted the bill perfectly!

My Little Stove

Do you like my little enamel stove? I was going to get it put in my studio, which is a shed at the top of the garden - but it looks so sweet, that today, we got a man round to give us a quote to get it installed in the kitchen. It will be just the job for those cold days next winter, and you can boil a kettle on the top and dry your socks on it too! I've been really busy in the garden, so haven't done much drawing lately. This usually happens to me about this time of year - I kind of shed my stupor, and get more energised (I'm pleased to say!) I'm getting the veggie patch ready, and have runner, broad and french beans, beetroot, carrots, parsley, potatoes and onions so far.....

Wonder Cat

Here is a lovely photograph of my beautiful little Bacon-Cat; he squeezes me nearer and nearer the edge of the desk, until I fall off! I have to go and find something else to do until he wakes up and decides to catch a mouse for his tea! The next photo is Tiddles' drawer under my desk - this is where Tiddles lives when he's not having adventures. I thought it looked kinda cool, all the little Tiddles, snuggling in the drawer (but he is real!)

Tiddles' Toy Dog

While I was working in the garden yesterday, Tiddles was busy himself, making this fantastic scooter and pull-along dog out of recycled wood. I have a big pile of wood stacked behind the sheds for 'one of those days', and this was one of them! We also made a new path in the greenhouse and put bean sticks up ready for runner beans and broad beans. It's been really freezing here today, with a weird sort of sea mist surrounding us, so no outside work; instead I made scones (yum) and drew a Tiddles (I forgot what colour he is, it's been so long!) There is a nice fire next door, so i think I shall go in there after I post this, and see what's on telly.

Brrr!

Wow! What a long time away from my blog and the World-Wide-Web. We had a fantastic time in Italy - in the snow! It was absolutely freezing, especially at night. Our hut has no heating, so the first thing we needed were hot water bottles and woolly hats! Just before we left for the airport, the trusty old laptop finally gave up the ghost, closely followed by my ibook.....A veritable technical disaster, which has resulted in mucho-spending of money, and now we have a swanky new desktop and laptop for travelling about! The computer guys have just finished setting everything up, and here I am! The weather here in Scotland is amazing - today I have been planting my onion sets in beautiful sunshine, wearing flip-flops and shorts, it's going to be the same tomorrow too, so woohoo to that! While I was doing the garden, Tiddles made the sweetest little pull-along toy dog out of old wood; it's so lovely, and he'll show you tomorrow (I've just gotta draw him!) It's great to be back - I missed you all!