Sunny, chilly Sunday afternoon walk to re-home the farm gnome.

Fungi walk today down in my favourite woodland. Found this and a gorgeous red fungi that looked like half a tangerine with red paint inside - one of the benefits of the soggy soggy year as it was growing only on rotting wood - out will have to come the fungi book.

Mostly we despise ivy and the damage it does to trees but this looked rather beautiful down in the long meadow over-looking Hay Bluff.

Early morning with the leaning copse.  One of the advantages of the crazy weather is that on days when the sunrise is glorious we appreciate it even more and revel in any signs of Spring coming, the hawthorne is shooting fast, the insects are enjoying the ivy flowers and the birds are definitely eyeing up potential nesting spots.

All is well - and the gnome has a new home, a place on a beautiful walk ready for treasure trail walks for guests.

Rather chuffed that this photo loaded, I went for an early ramble with Archie to see a stunning sunrise and was delighted to see the reflected light on the "dry soil" with surreal ice patterning by the cattle water tanks.  Scary to walk on as every now and again you sink into holes possibly created by the weight of William - our gorgeous bull!

Despite the rain, there is development in the garden - a wonderful birthday surprise was the creation of fabulous jetty down at the pond area - which now of course means the lady of the house thinks she should acquire a Wind in the Willows style fishing boat and at the very least needs a Jeremy Fisher style - "Gone Fishing sign".

The ducks have made it onto the jetty, the photo is posterized until it is planted underneath.

Just lucky with the oak tree silhouetted by Tin Hill, from our garden on 8th February.

Alchemilla Mollis May2012, just divided and replanted today

Wish it looked like this today but great to remind ourselves of how lush and warm we can be.  Also found a photo of some garden goodies ready for guests in the cottage before we decorated.  Its great at this time of year to think back on what we all achieve in a year with quiet, dogged determination.  Still, its also a great time to plan for lush gardens so I am donning the fatopets (best for gardening in this weather) - the silly hat, two pairs of gloves and off to attack once more.  I took some cuttings off the winter honeysuckle before lunch so have them to pop into some good gritty soil - I've taken enough to try popping half into the greenhouse and the other half directly into the soil which is pretty gritty.  It must have been the cook's dumping ground for broken pottery and her favourite colour must have been blue!

New extended herb garden just before settling snow

Phew, the Sorbus Cashmeriana was finally dropped into a lovely big hole where the herb garden fencing used to be - thanks to a great friend's help.  Just before the newly settling snow but in a great gale - I was wearing two hats and still had singing ears!

It's great when you suddenly have a eureka moment in your own garden - for years I had been nursing along two badly pruned - rescued roses and a fennel had established itself intertwined with a non-productive gooseberry - either that or the bluetits were really quick every year - anyway they have all gone, the tree is in and the bind (Convolvulus arvensis L.)  shards having been picked out.  Decided not to pop any green credential perennials in for a year but just take a pot luck with lots of forgotten annual seeds and just see what happens.  The ground needs to be kept fertile, covered but not with green manure - not until I am sure it is cleaned out,  I need to be ready to dig up anymore of the pernicious bindweed before being very creative.

No photos yet - not until the grapevine has reestablished itself and the Orange Blossom which I rescued from a Factory shop is in full leaf!  Just moved some Persicaria - a new variety from WyeVale cash and carry and moved some purple loosestrife to the replace them - they prefer bog gardens anyway and the bottom end of the herb garden definitely fits this definition at the present - Beth Chatto - my "right plant, right place" heroine would be delighted.

Chess Cottage, new year, new look!

Just putting my head in gear for a new website, would appreciate some feedback on these photographs. Do they show what you would like to see on an accommodation website.  Do they hint at comfort, cosiness, attention to detail and a wee bit of luxury from a country cottage?

Chess Cottage Brass Bedroom - January Flowers!

Chess Cottage, double bedroom, new washbasin area.

Chess Cottage, Brass Bedroom from internal door.

Snow, marmalade and gardening!

New sign well and truly christened with the rosa rugosa stems tickled with snow.

The lower pond with Silver Birch and Cornus in the foreground - hope the snowdrops are ready to push through.  Splodge is a snowflake (top left) no time to photoshop - seville oranges to juice and peel and chop - jars of loveliness will appear.

Then I took one more photo and used effects on the camera - pretty stunning I think!  Hope you are having fun too.

Happy New Year

Hay Bluff January 1st

Emi visiting Eardisley Great Oak from Japan January 1st!

Just needed a bracing walk on the Bluff after all the rain, as you can see a clear, gorgeous day.  

In fact the bicycle came out too!  Goodness rare image of me being still!  Back to the sewing machine this evening, finishing off new gorgeous linen cushions for Chess Cottage bedrooms - makeover nearly completed.  A few sneaky photos are creeping onto the website. www.herefordshireholidays.co.uk