Revealing the herb planter

Hello. Today was a good day for filling the planter. Thank you Hazel for the idea of putting plant pots in the bottom, I have plenty of them. 

Next I covered them with an old compost bag and cut holes in it for drainage.

I decided to divide it into four compartments, because someone told me that mint spreads like crazy so I thought it best to contain the roots.

This is what I used to divide it. It's a roll of plastic which has mesh running through it. I got it from the Scrapstore, I knew it would come in useful for something. There's still plenty left. I cut four pieces and held it in place with drawing pins while I filled it.

Starting to put the compost in.

Almost there, ready to put the plants in.

Top it up with compost and there we have it, four herby plants.

I have put it in the spot where the pink painted twigs were, they are past their best now so I have binned them. It's in a sunny spot next to the cat shelter, on the brick patio. Looks pretty darned good.

The plants were £2 each, and a bag and a half of compost £4.70. Hopefully herbs forever. Sorry Briony, no flowers.

It was a lovely sunny day, the cats love it . Mayze is hiding in the rough patch of grass, she has made a nest.

I can see you Mayze.

They are still out now, I had better go and get them in. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Shopping late for cheap food

Hello. I'm going to be eating well for the next couple of weeks, and I've saved a ton of money. Yes, it was yellow sticker night tonight. I haven't been for a few weeks. Sometimes I get a few things from Aldi to keep me going  because if I have to go to town, Aldi is close by. Tonight was Tesco night, and I needed petrol as well. I had two coupons for £6.50 off, so I ran down the food stocks in the fridge and cupboards to make sure I could find enough to make up the £40 spend which was required.

I have lots of juicy fruit. 

Plenty of salad, mushrooms, houmous, pasta salad, and veg.

Two loaves of wholemeal bread, pancakes, hot cross buns, and teacakes.

Twenty five items with 75% off. I'm chuffed.

There wasn't many people in the shop, no grabbing, there was plenty for those that wanted it. I always chat to them, and usually see the same faces. The young lad who does the pricing is great, very friendly. I chat to the ladies on the checkouts, they all know me. One lady tells me all about her cats, and shows me pictures on her phone. It's a good atmosphere.

That's all for tonight, it's getting late, time for bed. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

I've got no idea what I'm talking about ;-)

Good morning. Raining, not good, I have to take Bailey poodle for a walk , will need the brolly. Dogs still have to poo, even in awful weather.

A question popped up yesterday.....

Brilliant! Where do you get your ideas? Karen

Thank you Karen. Lots of answers to this one. I let my mind wander, I daydream, I make time to think. Sometimes there is a fog in there, then suddenly I see a clear path. I get mental blockages when nothing happens, then bingo, a light shines and an idea pops up. 

I am inspired by other creative minds. I read a lot of books on art, crafts, interesting people, creative people. At the moment I am reading Mary Quant. I want to know what inspires other people, trying to work out what is going on in their heads. I love people who don't go with the flow but strike out on their own. People who make statements, either verbally, or with their appearance. I like flamboyant men, I like cross dressers, I like people who challenge, who push the boundaries. 

I watch a lot of yoootooob arts and crafts videos. The possibilities of what might happen when working with different materials. Some techniques inspire me to have a go, not to copy exactly but to adapt the technique with my own ideas. I watch how to needle felt a picture so I try it. I search for folk art and make my own picture. I watch artists paint then try and work out how I can do something similar with fabric. I am always looking for ideas to stimulate my creative side. 

I have never been a good team player, I think having to fit in with others stifles creativity. Seeking approval from those you work with means limiting yourself to their ideas when you should be thinking of your own. I had a spell of working as a fundraiser for a national charity, I had ideas which I thought would bring in more revenue. These were slapped down and I was told more or less to just do the job I was paid for. I lost interest because I was not allowed to think for myself, so I left. 

Lorry driving suited me, even though I had to follow instructions from the office, where to pick up loads, where to deliver them. The bit in between was my responsibility. Once I was out on the road it was up to me to decide which route I was going to take based on what I had learnt about traffic flow, peak times, and avoiding congestion. On a lot of jobs I was responsible for how the vehicle was loaded, there was no one to show me how to do it. I picked it up by watching others, learning how the equipment worked, and using my common sense. 

I wanted to support other female HGV drivers so I started a Lady Truckers Club. It grew over seven years to 350 members. I didn't wait for someone else to do it, I took the initiative because that's what I wanted to do. I organised events, Truck Shows and parties, I went to the Women of the Year Luncheon at the Savoy Hotel three times, and I met royalty. I did all the publicity, and when it became too big and was taking all my time up, I handed it over to a committee. 

I wanted to meet people so I started an Introduction Agency/Singles Club. Advertised it in the local newspaper, made a programme of events, and published a monthly newsletter. It was successful, people found partners, some got married, and a lot of people had a social life and made friends. On both of these occasions I spotted a gap and filled it. 

I know it's an old cliche, think outside the box, but if you want to achieve anything that's what you have to do. Some people are born with creativity, but I also believe you can learn it. In fact you can learn anything if you are determined and focused. Ideas are all around you, you just have to open your eyes. People get used to their comfort zone and will not step outside the box, that's fine if they are happy where they are. There have been times when I have not been happy with the way my life has been going, what do I do, I fix it. I go in another direction. 

Always challenge the norm. Simple question, what do you do if you have lost several socks, and don't have a matching pair? Simple solution, wear odd socks. Who said you have to have matching socks anyway? This question came up on a forum.....my bread is too big for the toaster, what do I do about the bit that sticks out the top? You can guess that most answered with, cut it off, or buy a smaller loaf, or buy a new toaster. But what if you like that particular type of bread. My answer. Insert bread, set the timer to half the time it normally takes. Bread pops up, insert it back in with the white edge at the bottom to finish it off.  

Everyone has some ideas, it's what you do with them that count. If you want to do something try it, even though you might not be confident with the outcome. If you don't try you will never know. The only thing that will hold you back are the limitations you put on yourself. One more thing I will say, my brain works better in the morning, when it comes to late afternoon it's slowing down. I work best in the morning. Have you identified when your best time is?  

Still raining, I've done the dog walk, now it's lunch time, then I'll go and see Stan at the library van. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. 
Toodle pip

Octopussy

Hello. Not much happening today. Crafty Club as usual, one new member. Lunch was a frozen portion of home made stew. The fridge is bare so I am eating whatever I can find. This afternoon was hedge trimming at the front and back. I found some cheese and there is bread in the freezer so it was a hot cheese sandwich, one tomato, and some beetroot for dinner. After that I did my walk. That's about it really. 

This is going to be an octopus. I think. 

Under the sea flowers.

Erm.....excuse me Heidi. I hope you haven't scratched my car getting up there. She is doing ever so well. I've reduced her tablets slightly and she is not showing any signs of illness. When I am in the garden she follows me everywhere. Her black fur is going a little bit rusty brown on her back, not sure if it is the sun doing that. She spends most of the day outside.

I will need to go shopping at some point this week, I've got a voucher for £6 off a £40 shop, so I'm running things down. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Making a planter out of scrap wood

Hello. It's been a good day for getting on with jobs in the garden. The sun has been shining, with a slight breeze to cool things down. The wood has been on the table all night, waiting for me to do something with it. I seem to remember I got it from the scrap wood pile at B & Q when I worked there ten years ago. 

 First of all assemble four sides. I only had to cut the thin pieces, then screw them together.

Next make four legs. This wood came from a skip. All I had to do was to cut two pieces in half to make four.

I even had the saw out of the same skip. The man doing the house renovation said it is no good. I took it anyway because I thought I might be able to make something arty out of it. I cleaned it up, and lo and behold, it cuts better than the saw I already have.

And there we have it, one planter. I had to nail the legs to the body because I didn't have any screws long enough. I wanted legs so the wood wouldn't rot so quickly from standing on the ground.

For the bottom I attached a piece of wire mesh. It's tacked all the way around the edge with small nails, and supported buy two cross members. The mesh if you remember was bought from the £1 shop, I used some of it for an art project.

A lick of paint and it's ready.

I could have probably made it two slats deep, because it's going to be heavy once it's full. I need to find a permanent place for it. I will put a sheet of plastic on the bottom with drainage holes in it. It should last a good few years, the wood is similar to pallet wood, and my raised beds lasted six years. I might decorate the sides. At the moment it's under the summer house porch. I'm quite chuffed with it. I've just had a thought. If it had a lid on it, it could be used as a coffee table with storage.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip