Monday 16 February 2015

On Planning and other stuff

sunrise on Sunday

Anemone emerging in the garden 

I can't tell you how much I adore this house

En route to plot number 10



memorial walk, Hayle


Hayle estuary


reed bed


It's the best I could do CJ 

conquering 'The Spider's Web'


Well kids it's been a lovely weekend, and that's the truth.

It's been satisfying in that Marc did loads of those little 'to do' jobs that go on the list, and then never get done. I have another one for him to do while I am in Bristol. Spring is definitely descending on West Cornwall. I cleaned windows, soaked my sweet pea seeds and planted loads of  Lupins, Echinops, Delphiniums, Anemones, Coneflowers and some rather fancy Dahlias. Planning is not a strength I have to say. I realised that as I was stood wondering exactly where I was going to plant my stockpiled hoard. I think that's why I've never got on board the crafty boat. Jennifer's last post filled me with a mixture of awe and dread. Awe at her organisational prowess. Dread that I may have to do something similar if I ever took up crafts. I married a fantastic planner of stuff. I think he must get very exasperated with me. I always have a list on the go. But they are rarely completed. I always have wims and fancies. But they usually don't see the light of day. Ask me what my latest one is. Go on. You'll laugh your head off.

There was a Tortoiseshell butterfly fluttering in my blinds this week, and I was advised by CT that she had probably been hibernating in the house (the butterfly, not CT). I released her outside, where she busied herself amongst the ivy flowers and then huddled for warmth on the grill of the boiler outlet. She was still hanging out on Sunday. Olly and I also spotted a carder bee in the garden. I wasn't quick enough for a photo, but he lingered long enough for us to identify him. And what a beauty he was. We have spotted  a couple of bumbles this weekend. And there are plenty of birds gathering stuff from the garden for their nests. I enjoyed watching a Blackbird flinging leaves and twigs and maiden hair around underneath the plum tree. He knew what he was looking for at any rate.

We went to plot number 10. Marc is digging beds in earnest. I am crap at the hard landscaping. It's still a little overwhelming for me to be honest. I think I need him to help me plan, because I'm worried that I may come undone otherwise. I did take pictures, but they didn't come out properly. I've included a photo to prove it ;) As Olly and I walked up the lane towards the allotment, we watched a buzzard swoop down into a field and emerge with a rabbit in his talons. Olly was flabbergasted.

Do you have planning issues, or are you very organised and detailed? Are you the type that dives head first into a project without pausing to think, or do you like to be ordered and rational? Please tell me I'm not the only one who has stood with fifteen lupin tubers in her grubby hands and no real idea where to put them. I need to know that I'm not alone....

Leanne xx

Hello to new followers!! You are most welcome here. I love that you pressed the follow button.
Thank you xx And if you haven't come across Jennifer's, CJ's or CT's blogs before, I advise you have a gander post haste. They are three of my favourites. I think you'll love them too.



27 comments:

  1. I'm getting in a flap about my veg patch. Last year was my first year, it was late in the year and I just stuck in what I could get in the garden centre. This year I am trying to plan it. I bought a note book of course (any excuse to buy stationary) and this afternoon I divided it into months and went through the seed packets to make a note of when they should be planted. Going to lie down in a dark room after all that planning! Whether it will be put into practice..........

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  2. I'm ok at planning sketchy at following through, my husband is much better.

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  3. Thanks for the mentions and your kind words and the allotment photo, yay! You're making good progress, I can see delicious bare soil, ready for spring planting. I'm exactly the same with organisation, flying into things with wild ideas of how it will all be. I like to think I'm organised, but the reality somehow doesn't quite match up. I have a pile of lists in the kitchen and a notebook for every eventuality, and several in reserve, in readiness. It gives me the illusion of being about to be organised. CJ xx

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  4. I have lots of lists - but I cheat. I only make lists of the things I am likely to complete and then I get in a flap about other stuff that I find overwhelming. Clearly that's the stuff I should put on a list. But I fear that wouldn't be so much fun. I love writing in different colour pens, and scoring things off the list, which perhaps isn't the main point of list making. x Great photos by the way.

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    1. I do that too! "Complete passport form" is not on a current list, although I must do it, instead it's full of easy wins. :-)

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  5. Thank you for mentioning me. I'm glad you like my blog because I wait on the edge of my seat for new posts on yours. It looks so much like spring there already, amazing! Flowers blooming and everything. I'm fairly organized but I get carried away with it sometimes, which isn't good. I think you seem like you have things together pretty well.

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    1. Jennifer that's such a lovely thing to say, thank you. So chuffed. Why can't you live closer?!
      Leanne xx

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  6. One of the best things that I have learned from blogging is that there are indeed other people like me out there, so yes, I am sure that you are not the only one clutching handfuls of lupins and having no idea where to put them! A bit like me clutching balls of wool and having no where to put them! At least yours can go outside, mine have to fit into the house! As a gardener you know well that plants will grow no matter what and don't care about planning! xx

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  7. What's your latest whim, what's your latest whim?? I'm dying to know now.

    You don't have to be organised to craft - I am proof of this! Xx

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    1. Ha ha. I may enlighten you if I actually do something about it ;))
      Leanne x

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  8. I am a planner and an organiser :o) But life would be boring if we were all carbon copies of one another, eh? Thanks ever so for the mention my dear. I grinned at the thought of me hibernating in your house- it has a definite appeal, especially when I'm up to my neck in grumpy teens and piles of washing and mucky dogs! xx

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    1. Ah, well you'd be right at home here. I am going out of mind with damp towels in boys' bedrooms.

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  9. Last summer we took an inherited beech seedling out of a pot. I say seedling, it's six feet high. Mike followed me all the way round the garden with it in tow. Then all round the woodland. Even outside our boundaries (I'm not beyond a bit of sensitive guerrilla planting). It took over an hour. Did I find anywhere? No. It's back in its pot.

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    1. That actually makes me feel much better, because I always think your garden is so beautiful. Your knowledge and planting schemes are gorgeous, and I find inspiration from your blog all the time.
      Leanne xx

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  10. I like to think of myself of organised with lists & such but I can easily assure anyone that I'm not. I'm sure I flounder with the best of them. You are certainly not alone with fistfuls of plants, I quite often find myself staring at the garden willing it to give me some spare space to plant latest additions! x

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  11. I give the impression of organisation but it's all smoke and mirrors - or notebooks and pens. I often leave things until the deadline and then I'm stressing (internally - outwardly I'm calm) to finally get it done. It's not very easy to finish when you have no deadline (so I find)...I am a champion list maker though. Love to cross stuff off and often have to put a few extra ones on that I've done to get an easy win :-) xxx

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  12. Really interested to see what everyone else does...I got as far as getting all my seeds out yesterday...

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  13. Hi Leanne. I do so want to move to your part of the world, beautiful! I have mental checklists, no diary or paper lists. I sometimes write things down but it is more of a demonstration of 'look how busy I am' rather than a aide. Silent call for help maybe? I have missed the odd dentist appointment and taken the wrong child for an eyetest but usually, all falls in place. Somehow. Christina xx

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  14. I meant to ask, is that grey stone house yours? I love it!

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    1. Unfortunately not. It was for sale last year, but out of our price range :(
      Leanne xx

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  15. Was hoping to see butterflies on the wing today - it's glorious - but no joy! Got a honey bee instead.

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  16. I agree with you about that house. It's wonderful! When my cousin and I do our walks in the UK we always pick our favourite house from the trip. Mine have looked very much like the one in your picture.

    As for being organized, yes I would say I'm fairly well organized. I think it's because we have five children. This family's ship was going to sink if I didn't stay on top of things. :-)

    That isn't to say I don't buy way too many things for my garden though. I always end up with way more plants and seeds than could ever fit into the space I have.

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  17. Hmmm even list making has fallen by the wayside so no I'm not much of a planner! I'd like to be more organised but tend to go with the flow (not always in the right direction). Excited to hear about your planting though, I wonder if it will be this year that we'll take the plunge and get some colour into the garden. I might be popping around for some advice soon, Antonia x

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  18. Yes! I feel like that in my garden ALL THE TIME. There are at least ten things to do as the preamble to actually getting the lupines planted (find trowel, dig up the thing that is already in that spot, think about where the thing should go, etc. etc......and by the time I get to the actual planting, it's taken the whole day. I totally get what you are talking about. Love your blog. Sandra

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  19. Oh, Leanne.. that house! I'm enjoying catching up here. Yours is always the first blog I return to after a spell of absence. Hope you are well xxx

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