Truly at home in Suffolk outside thatched cottages,  but I think they originally come from the himalayas.

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BH promised me that we could get another dog just as soon as I was working closer to home…well on Friday I finished my long haul commute ready to take up my new post in September, so on Saturday I kept him to his word!

Pearl is a tenacious Jack Russell pup. She’s only nine weeks old but she’s already showing us what shes made of. When we first introduced her to Arthur she nipped him on the nose just to let him know she’s no push over!

We were worried that they might not get on, or that he might stand on her, but so far so good. He’s really taken to being a big brother and he’s really gentle with her. I’m not sure who’s going to be leading who astray!

These were waiting for me when I got home…

…along with balloons and my very own ticker tape parade – bless my tribe – they’ve seen me through every get up and were still there to blow the champagne corks when it came to an end!

This cake was made by one of my parents – I am in awe of their talents and intend to copy this for all my friends!

Once the champagne bubbles have faded I intend to spend the rest of the summer in the garden – the weeds are gathering momentum and it feels already as though the season is slipping away from me. I cant believe I’m excited about raking and hoeing but there it is! the only thing that looks lush in the border at the moment is this Yarrow ‘Summer Berries’ and even that is in the wrong place and needs moving next year…

But the best thing about breaking up for the summer, the very bestest and loveliest most smashing thing of all is… no more dashing off before breakfast to commute and leaving these two lovelies in bed; and a whole summer of ‘Jesse and Woody’ fabness ahead – double hoorahs all round!

YEEHAAH!!!

They loved these alkaloid filled plants. I think they would be toxic to humans and horses if eaten to excess..

A lone Ladybird wandering around on the plot. These are such happy insects.I love finding them in the allotment or in the garden. They are aphid eating machines.

The Cabbages are nearly ready to be harvested. All the blood, sweat, bites and stings seem worth it once it has been washed, prepared, and cooked. The satisfaction of eating your own grown fruit or veg is amazing!I am almost evangelical..just try it and see.

The finished plates with artfully arranged New Potatoes, Pea’s, Globe Artichoke, and three types of Courgette from Hils (normal, yellow, and round).
We ate the New Potatoes with some Chicken on Tuesday. They tasted lovely. I need to go back to harvest the rest of the Charlotte New Potatoes.
The RHS Tatton Park Show yesterday was amazing. I took over three hundred photos. Tomorrows post will be about this years show. It runs untill Sunday if you are near Cheshire.
There was so much there to see. It is one of the highlights of the year for me..

I wanted to experiment embellishing my world with it… I like how it looks here, hung from a tree branch… an eye-catching art for winged faires and butterflies!

Or here… hung on the knob of the old armoire. I love the combination and warmth of beautiful pinks and rich chocolate browns for a dreamy look.

Nothing like the warmth, inviting atmosphere of a country home, and my little jar sitting here, by the white enchanted window, provokes just that!

Light and airy are the feelings I get. I think I should leave it here, don’t you think?

Oh but I must try it in the kitchen too! Like here, on the baker’s rack along some soft pink rose heads and favorite tarnished silver pot.

Pink roses and a tarnished silver pot, always a classic don’t you think? Where do you think I should place my new glass jar?

Happiness comes from counting our blessings and appreciating little things.

An offer was accepted, i found a new job and husband was persuaded to become a stay at home dad for the forseeable future. Before we knew it we were here and living the dream, building raised beds, planting veg, soaking up blue sky.

But before you think this is all smug loveliness, we also discovered rising damp, occasional social attitudes that I thought hadnt been legal since 1973 and that I’d forgotten just how flippin cold it can be up North!

Despite this were still here, the chickens have arrived (more of them to come) and now I cant imagine living anywhere else (unless it had fields, and more land, and barns and stables and room for goats…)

Here are ten of the best vegetables for the home gardener to try growing.

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are labour intensive but rewarding. They are also one of the most prolific crop, offering a season of upto three months. There is never a problem in sharing a bumper grop of home grown tomatoes. Tomatoes need careful watering, feeding and pinching out. But, there is great satisfaction from training the tomatoes and providing neat rows of plants. They can be grow in small spaces and so are ideal for the small garden. See tips for growing tomatoes

2. Runner Beans.

Runner Beans are a great crop for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are easy to grow. You can sow direct outside in May / June. They are very fast growing and can soon reach a height of over 6 feet (where they will need pinching out to encourage more vegetables. Also, they are remarkably pest and disease resistant. Apart from slug damage when very young, Runner Beans will thrive without needing to tackle the usual pests like aphids. They also look very attractive with green leaves and red flowers, they can be grown in an ornamental garden with no shame. See: Tips for Growing Runner Beans

3. Spinach.

Conventionally grown spinach has one of the highest levels of pesticide residue in it. Grown at home you can be sure it is organic and free of repeated pesticide spraying. It is tasty and easy to grow. It just doesn’t like the mid summer heat where it will soon bolt.

4. Strawberries.

According to an EU report, strawberries has the highest level of pesticide residue in them. Since they are eaten raw in fruit salads, it is best to grow them organically and be sure you can pop them straight in your mouth. They are also a great resource for the hungry gardener. Once established they can be relatively low maintenance for a number of years. Just make sure birds and slugs don’t beat you to the strawberries.
Growing Strawberries

5. Peas.

The taste of home grown peas is hard to beat. So sweat you can eat them raw. Grow up pea sticks for an attractive and tasty fruit.

See: Tips for growing Garden Peas

6. Sweetcorn

A decorative vegetable which adds height and formality to a vegetable bed. If in a relatively sheltered spot, they are self supporting and will offer lovely tasty heads of corn on the cob. They can be sown as late as May for cropping in early autumn.

7. Cucumbers

A lovely vegetable. Good fun to grow. See: Growing Cucumbers

8. Potato

You can’t beat the humble potato. A good heavy cropper. In small gardens try growing in pots.

See: Growing early potatoes

9. Lettuce.

Easy to grow for fresh cuttings for the salad bowl throughout the year.

10. Broad Beans.

We have a saying – ‘broad beans make a salad.’ Fresh from the garden they are soft and tasty – quite different to the tough rubbery veg you may get in the shop. Broad Beans are relatively easy to grow. You may get attacked by the black bean fly. But, an organic spray should be enough to get rid of them.

Related

• Top 10 Vegetables
• Growing Veg in Greenhouse
• Top 10 Vegetable Seed Suppliers

Orchids come in all shapes, sizes and colours and these pictures are just a couple worth writing home about.
In a well illustrated book by

Orchids cover a wide range of 25,000 species and 100,000 cultivars and hybrids. So it may be sensible to specialise and that is what