Lenora Jenkins Designs

Blaming it on the kids

I now have funny little men living in my garden.

 

Back to sewing soon, I promise!

Lenora X.

Full on Gardening

The Gardening bug has bitten. I have decided to keep a garden journal for 2012, so I have been madly trying to catch up with the weeding so I can take some 'before' photos that will not be too embarrassing when I look back in time. 

With all my energy focused on Australian Quilt Market in November, the garden did take a back seat, and it missed out on fertilizer and mulch. With no mulch to inhibit their growth, I have had an explosion of Aquilegia (Granny Bonnets) throughout my rose bed.

But their flowers are not as spectacular as their parents, and I think they will soon go.

So with some fresh enthusiasm for the garden, the girls and I headed off to the nursery yesterday. I know the middle of summer is not the best time to go planting, but when you have the urge, you have to go with it, and I do have plenty of water.

Our aim was to buy some herbs to plant in some pots we received for Christmas, but we did manage to find other things as well.

The deep red Geranium just had to come home with me, and I also pick out some more Buddleia (the ones that I have are doing really well despite their lack of attention). I also have some plans for those Dianthus as a hedging plants. Unfortunately they were $9.90 a pot. I picked the biggest of the crimson and pink and I will divide them up into new pots and wait for them to grow.

While driving home from the nursery, a vision hit me. The Geraniam would look lovely planted in an old bucket that was hanging about one of our sheds. So once home, it was off with the good clothes, into the farm clothes and off to the shed. Now farmers sheds are a wealth of treasures! I found four fantastic 'pots', but settled on this one.

So out with the drill (whoops one less drill piece but dont tell DH!) and it quickly had four drainage holes.

 

The herbs were planted in two matching pots (with not quite enough potting mix).

And today I will try and finish the weeding so I can plant the Buddleia's and divide the Dianthius. And I WILL keep watering.....please, please dont let me forget the watering!

Lenora X.

 

Farewell 2011

I have started, paused, deleted, rethought, started again, deleted and so on......but I might as well just get to the point. I am really sad to see 2011 come to an end.

For me 2011 was;

* The first year I attended Quilt Market as a stall holder.

* The first year I taught at a full length stitching day.

* The first year that I met blogging friends in real life. (and they have become such treasured friends)

* The first year we have employed some long term help on the farm, helping me to produce more patterns.

* The first year we tackled a serious road trip as a family. (and boy it has opened possibilities)

And of top of that, there was a family wedding, a successful year on the farm and no serious health issues. I am sad to farewell it, and I guess a little nervous as to whether 2012 can deliver the same enjoyment.

But a new year does bring new starts. While I have given up on the notion of a new years resolution, I am keeping with my newly formed tradition of dedicating the year to something.

2012 is going to be the year of my garden. I have pondered areas, trialled plants, and formed ideas of what I want my garden to be. Four years ago it was a paddock that the cows grazed, and now it is time for me to develop it into the repose that I want it to be. It will be a challenge with our weather, and some gravely soil, but a challenge is always good. My short term goal is to be able to pick flowers all year round. It might even see me planting Chrysanthemums for a flower to pick in May....my mother will laugh at that.

You may have noticed on my left side bar, the little Pinterest badge. I have joined Pinterest so I can keep a log of ideas for my garden. Some are probably only dreams, but I am learning that dreams do come true.

I wish you a happy new year, hopefully a year where all our dreams come true.

Lenora X.

PS. I had fantastic sale on Thursday. The heifers made over $200/head more than my previous best price. Happy Dancing Big Time.

 

Lazy Days

It has been a really lazy week, lots of housework and jobs to catch up on, but a body that doesn't seem to want to get moving.

So I took another day off today and visited Gum Valley Patchwork, then wandered about some open gardens around Timboon.

 

Nothing like a day in the garden. Maybe tomorrow I might go back to work.

Lenora X.

A find and a relief.

I have been having a lot of fun designing my projects for 'Stitch in Spring in Simpson'. I would love to show you all, but I don't think my life would be worth living if I did! .....maybe a sneak peak would not hurt a little closer to the day?

Look what I found yesterday.

Some old military buttons. I was walking the streets while our car was having a service, and popped into an op-shop. I can see the bright silver ones making a great embellishment on a pin cushion.

There has been a lot of sickness in our house again. Ear infections, belly bugs, fevers etc. I must say that  sickness is really the only time that I find having five children taxing. By the time the bugs pass around all the children, it really does wear you down. As a parent you really just like to see your children happy and healthy. Fingers crossed they will all be back at school today (the first time in over two weeks).

Before I have to race off and wake the children for school, let me quickly share my other excitement. Nearly two years ago we planted these gum trees in our garden (Is that really a garden???? lol).

Flowering gum trees actually.

Ever since then, I have been holding my breath, hoping with all my might that I had infact chosen the correct variety. The variety with hot pink flowers, not the pale pink.

Tiny flower buds appeared a few months back, and slowly slowly they have been swelling.

and look

Phew!

Lenora X.

 

When one does have anything good to say

...one stays quiet! 

The paddocks are all wet

and the cows are grumpy.

The calves have been difficult to rear.

Caterpillars are feasting on my trees

and the ground is so saturated my toilet is gurgling.

(Will not post photo)

 

Luckily the Quilt and Craft fair is on next week in Melbourne, it is all that is getting me through.

Lenora X.

PS. Well, maybe not all that is getting me through. Notice our last mob of calves. They are mostly beef, not dairy. If it is a good year I get to sell/barter those calves. If I am really clever I barter them to DH, then sell them later on. He says I am the only person who can sell cattle twice! 

 

I guess it is the season.....

I have been seeing quite a lot of these hydrangeas lately. They are at the entrance of our doctors clinic. Chest infections, ear infections, and tonsillitis seem to be the order of the last ten days. I think we are all on the mend now..... well I hope so anyway.

I have been hatching a bundle of fabric, which I had a sudden urge to crack open last week. Progress has been a little slower than I had hoped....too many walks past the hydrangeas..... but if I sign off now maybe I will achieve some progress this afternoon.

Hope you and your families are all well,

Lenora X.