Monday 21 March 2016

Just perfect

Hello. This pampered pooch loves his bed. He lies on the edge of my duvet, and has his own small duvets, one underneath and one on top. I get up in the morning and he lies there waiting for me to get dressed, go to the bathroom, then come downstairs and open the back door. 
I went to Crafty Club this morning, and after a lunch of mushrooms and scrambled eggs on toast, I went out into the garden to finish off the beds. davee is disappointed that I spent £28 on some plants, when there are plenty of seeds going free at the local park, and cuttings can be taken as well. Yes, I agree there are lots of freebies if you look around, but I haven't had hardly any treats over the last few months. Last holiday was in September, an odd day out here and there, and considering how much I have actually saved by scrounging free bricks and doing the job myself, I think I can splash out on a few plants. It looks a bit bare at the moment but there are lots of seeds in there as well, so I am hoping for a splash of colour for the summer.

These two popped in to see me when they were passing. Lulu on the left and George on the right. They know where to come for a tasty doggy treat. Quite a few dogs try and pull their owners up my driveway because they know this is the house where the owner is soft about dogs, ha ha. Aren't they adorable. 
My job for tomorrow if the weather is dry. That pallet decking has to go, and see how the wooden shelving is leaning, it's rotten at the bottom and is in danger of keeling over. I have a plan for that, I can't take it away altogether because Mayze cat likes to snooze in it. Some adjustments are needed to keep it upright.

Isn't it lovely that we have more daylight hours now, I am waking up earlier as well. The first thing I see when I open my eyes are the silver birch trees in the garden behind mine. My bed is facing the back window and I leave the curtains partially open. Some mornings it's the sunrise that wakes me. Every morning I lie for a few minutes and contemplate how I might fill the fresh new day ahead of me. My life is just perfect at the moment, I have everything I need. My house is not modern, everything in it is a mish mash of different styles and colours, nothing matches. The interior decoration is the choice of the previous owners, I can live with it. My garden is my playground, there are no manicured lawns or block paving. The garage needs demolishing and a new one put up in it's place, but it won't get done, I'll manage with it. Show house it most definitely isn't, but it's my home, and it does me just fine.

A nice mug of hot chocolate will finish the day off nicely, so I'll say goodnight. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

31 comments:

  1. Hello! Your boxes look so nice, I', going to ask my hubby to make some at my house. We live in a very old town, ans I can think of several piles of old brick just laying out on fields. I agree with you about the plants..... everyone needs a treat once in a while. Mine is usually quilt fabric, but plants are also a favorite too. Those puppies are adorable! tata for now.....

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  2. glad you have had a lovely day. the longer days are very welcome

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  3. A lovely post! It's good to be content with life, makes you feel great. Your flower beds will fill up in no time once they get going.

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  4. Your beds are going to look so pretty and the £28 you spent was so worthwhile and everybody needs a treat now and again and if everyone took cuttings from park flowers think how awful the plants would look. The dogs round your way are lucky to have you for a friend and your own little one is so lucky to have you for a mistress/friend.
    I am just of to make a hot chocolate and bed after making a few Easter cards tonight for special friends. Hope it is nice and sunny for you tomorrow I am of with a few friends to visit the Sky Garden in London so hope it is a nice clear day for us as well.
    Hazel c uk

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  5. I can't wait for the long lazy evenings outside in the garden. Just pottering about, with the warm air filled with summer fragrances. Heaven!

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  6. What a perfectly lovely post. Your happiness shines through. So glad you treated yourself to those plants , you will have much pleasure from them. JanF

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  7. Lovely photos and post Ilona

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  8. Love the new brick beds! They look perfect. You did good! :)

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  9. You have the most fabulous attitude toward life!!! I love your blog!

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  10. Your brick beds look great! I'm glad that you were able to get some plants, and I know it will be so nice this summer. Can you see your see the beds from your summer house? Did you plant some sweet smelling flowers too?

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  11. I love the brick beds. I have some myself and it makes it all so much easier with less back strain and an improved view. I love that you treated yourself at the garden centre. buying plants gives instant results and you are mixing that with planting seeds to get a good balance.
    It's been a hard and somewhat busy time recently - a treat helps considerably. :-)#
    J x

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  12. Lovely photos of the dogs. The seeds were a treat now and will be later when they flower or ripen into veg. I buy seeds and plants in order that I have cut flowers ready for arrangements. Mini apple trees, herbs, garlic, potatoes and strawberries. My own paradise at home. I'll look forward to yours too. Natalie

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  13. I live on the edge of woods and common land and I love it been here for nearly 25 years however the road and adjoining road is full of beautifully manicured lawns and gardens. I have never had the money, time or inclination to keep mine like that. Now I do have more time and inclination I don't want to lol

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  14. What a lovely happy post, you sound so contented with your life and everything around you. Those beds will be beautiful when they are amass with colour in the summer months and make you smile even more. I really admire your simple, carefree attitude to life, everyone should think this way instead of being wrapped up in all the material things in life they have or havent got. Keep on being you, even your animals look content and happy with their lives. take care jane xxx

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    1. Totally agree with you Jane.

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  15. The beds will look even better in summer. Great photo of Rocky. He is such a star! X

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  16. Plants are one area where I feel it's ok to splurge! They either provide food, sustained beauty, or both, and once you have them they often provide pleasure for years and years to come (I rarely buy annuals, and if I do it's from seed). Other plants grown from cuttings are great gifts too, especially as pots can so often be happened upon for free!

    Mina @ http://thriftcottage.blogspot.co.uk

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  17. Dear Rocky - so photogenic!
    We love seeing all the things you have been doing.
    Wendy (Wales)

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  18. Rocky, LuLu and George are adorable! Rocky looks like a little teddy bear in his bed :)
    All your hard work is coming together those beds look great. You did the right thing spending money on the plants seeds etc.
    Most parks and public garden don't allow people to take cutting and some prosecute classing it as theft.
    So it's something I would not advise personally. I'm all for a bit civil disobedience for the right reasons but nicking stuff from the park no.

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  19. Between your shed and new raised beds, the garden club is going to have to put your place on its next tour! Adorable dog pictures! I'm in love with Rocky.

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  20. I can't help praising you to the sky for those lovely brick raised beds. You've made such a lovely job of them and they are going to last for ages. Can't wait to see them full of plants.
    Thanks for another little rocky photo, I love that little doggie.
    Briony
    x

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  21. Your garden looks splendid and those dogs are adorable! So glad you are getting sunnier days.

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  22. Ilona, as always a lovely and interesting post; one quick question... Rocky's (I love that darling) 'duvets', did you alter a normal size one (if so how please) or do the stores etc sell 'dog duvets' and/or you got given them by a friend. My babes are ok with blankets but Rocky looked so happy would like to know. Good luck with the raised beds, hard work will be paid off. Amanda

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    1. Hello Amanda. A friend gave me a double size duvet which I didn't need for myself, so I cut it up into nine squares and made pet beds out of it. I wrote about it here.

      http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-mini-quilts-are-finished.html

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    2. Thanks Ilona, I am a 'newby' follower, haven't started reading from the beginning but I pop into the 'stuff you may like' box; sorry to be a pain when you have already explained how you did it. However, I am reading your site every day now - love it, loads of good advice and interesting things to share with others. Keep it up. Amanda

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  23. What a lovely,uplifting post.The garden is looking good and little Rocky is so adorable.It makes my heart sing to see him looking so happy,loved and well cared for.I know he had to wait for his 'happy ever after'but his little face says it all,he's enjoying the life he was born for.Well done on all counts.Jan.

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  24. What a lovely picture of a cool, laidback Rocky, he is such a darling dog. Wish I lived nearer you could have had some freebies from my garden, I have some young Hellibors, and other perenials. that have self set in my garden. Like you my home is a mis-mash of furniture, got a coffee table that my father had made for my mother on their ruby wedding, its lovely walnut wood, got other old bits around me from other family members also, but its lovely reminding myself who had things before me and like you Ilona I am happy in my own skin so to speak, and I do give myself the odd treat now and then, a trip to the local garden centre and a few days with national holidays now and then are my special treats these days and food for the ferral cats in and around the park near my home come high on my list of giving.

    Danneke

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  25. A lovely post and I'm sure that the new raised beds won't be long before they're overflowing with colour.

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  26. It is lovely to hear someone say they are happy with their life Ilona - you are inspiring, as I said before, and it's heartening. I love animals too - bless your deal little gang. Lainey

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  27. Because you mixed up all your brick it looks like it is a designed plan. Just sooooo great!
    Rocky Dog!!!!

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  28. If every child (let alone dog) were as loved and pampered as adorable little Rocky there would be no war. D

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