October 2023

Most of our vegetable harvesting is now done, with the last lot of tomatoes, and courgettes incorporated into a large pot of minestrone soup, along with a couple of the leeks (from the bed which will last all winter) and a couple of red peppers from the overgrown greenhouse. The soup is now potted up in the freezer all ready for cold winter days. The squashes are curing in the conservatory, taking up some of the space where Bramble likes to sleep!

The garden jobs change at this time of year; no more weeding and watering, but apples to store, the last seeds to collect, and logs to bring indoors. My work continues to be mostly geared to Christmas orders although most of them are delivered now, so I can begin designing and stitching the three commissions which are waiting. Then I will photograph and list new work here to re-stock what has been sold over the summer.

As we spend more time indoors and close the curtains earlier I notice the birds are again eagerly feeding from the bird table; the hens retire before our supper now, not after and the robin is singing again after his quiet period during the late summer moult. Golden October brings sunsets and conkers, acorns and spiders, roseships and berries!

September 2023

The other day when picking beans I sensed for the first time this year that ‘end of summer’ feeling, a kind of turning point, a subtle shift in things, the dewy cobwebs all over the lawn in the mornings and the gentler golden light glowing on fruits and berries. The garden produce has been good this year, helped by frequent showers, and the greenhouse is full of tomatoes and peppers, with accompanying pots of basil and tarragon, my two favourite herbs.

This is my busiest month as I have to complete the collections of Christmas cards ordered by shops and galleries, all needed at the end of September for display from October. It is always a bit of a race to get all the different designs made in time as well as keeping up with the orders for ‘everyday’ designs which are pretty steady throughout the year. October will be more focussed on keeping this website topped up with Christmas cards and seasonal framed pieces, which I always enjoy as we glide through the Autumn days towards Christmas.

September is a beautiful month, one full of changes: first school, back to school, new school or leaving home for some, the seasonal shifts to earlier sunsets and cooler days; it can seem like summer in the morning and winter in the afternoon! But whatever September means for you I hope the month brings plenty of good times ahead, and thank you so much for coming to my website, every sale is very much appreciated.

August 2023

August 2023

What a summer! Recently we have had many days of cloud without a hint of sunshine, along with constant stiff breezes from all directions and showers every few hours. Not much fun for a gardener, but the plants seem happy with it. The lavender is now full of bees and butterflies once more and our ‘bee hotel’ is busy. Until I was given one of these I had thought they were unlikely to be attractive to solitary bees, but how wrong I was! I look every day and watch a variety of odd-looking bees exploring the bamboo tubes before backing into one of them to lay an egg; eventually the tubes are sealed up with mud or cut leaves. After going through the stages of egg, larva and pupa, the adult emerges by chewing its way out.

The pond is full of life too, and on the rare sunny days, as if by magic dragonflies and damselflies arrive. I find these little creatures lift the spirits even in difficult times. My grandchildren in Wales call such creatures ‘minibeasts’ which is new to me!