Frosty Winter Morning in the Garden
Happy New Year everyone. I know I'm a bit slow off the mark and a week in, some of those resolutions are bound to be faltering already. To be honest, I'm not a great one for setting myself targets. Years working in education has left me very much over setting myself ambitious, measurable targets that get reviewed and scrutinised for progress. In fact, I can think of nothing that is more likely to prevent me doing something. Instead, I've replaced resolutions with a gentle feeling of fresh start. Giving myself some time to percolate new ideas. January does give me a renewed vigour though and when those decorations come down after Christmas, I'm ready to clean the house, revisit the junk drawers and get out in the garden again.
What's planned for the new year? We already have a few European visits in the diary. We're travelling to Switzerland in May to mark our wedding anniversary and we have a trip to Sicily booked with friends in June. I'm very much looking forward to those and perhaps a couple of other trips and visits too.
On the home front, I have my eldest daughter's bedroom to decorate now that she has moved to London. It hasn't been touched for a few years and is in need of a refresh. I have a few ideas but have yet to pin down any kind of mood board as yet. I've also raised the possibility of replacing the flooring in the bathroom and the En Suite. When we had these rooms refurbished a few years ago now, I chose a slate like floor finish. I have never been able to seal it properly and it leaves terrible water marks. It is also very dark and gloomy. I need to look into costs and suitable tile options for both. I am hoping that this won't involve me having to learn to tile myself, but it is a possibility.
Outside, there is quite a lot to do this winter and early Spring. I hoping to repeat last year's success with the cutting garden by the greenhouse which is intensive work but in short bursts. Before then, the garden needs a good tidy round with shrubs to be cut back, perennials tidied, and leaves cleared. On top of that, there are a few gaps appearing in the borders which I would like to address with labour saving plants. This can be tricky in a largely flower based garden so I will be looking into that over the course of the next few months. In addition, we removed an old wooden pergola and seating platform from the woodland area of the garden last year and I am yet to address the planting and pathway that's replaced it. It will start with cutting back a large climbing rose and finding something new for it to climb on and from there the rest of the new planting can follow. It's an area of dry shade and so options are limited somewhat, especially as I need a low maintenance approach.
Personally, I am hoping to do more writing. I hope that by finding a structure and purpose to my blog I can keep it more regular rather than searching for topics. I would love to write a book, but I am someway from pinning down my ideas at the moment. I could probably whip out a non-fiction but perhaps a fiction 'who dunnit' is more of the challenge - who knows?
I am determined to eat more healthily in a general way. My downfall is sweet stuff - I love cakes and chocolate. Not being one for drastic action, I shall just try to do things in a quiet way. Nothing too strict.
What's happening this month?
Winter in the Greenhouse - Pot Grown Primula
In January I'm growing: -
The garden is not throwing up much joy at this time of year. Although, I did see a green woodpecker exploring our lawn, with it's little red head bobbing up and down, much of our January weather looks set to be wet, damp and grey. It can be very difficult to stay motivated when everything is wet as it soon makes you feel cold if you do venture outside. That being said, great strides can be made if I can get out between wet days. It makes a huge difference if I can get the garden tidy before tulip season which for me is the start of the main season.
The snowdrops and other early bulbs are just popping the heads up at this early stage of the year. No flowers as yet. But the hellebores are set ready to burst into flower. I'm going to be looking for a winter flowering scented shrub in the next few weeks to add to winter interest in the garden. If I can find one that's not going to break the bank, maybe a hamamelis (Witch Hazel) or winter flowering Daphne.
I've still got a few bulbs left to plant and I must get a move on with that now. They're later flowering tulips and a few hyacinths so I shall get the tulips in the ground - they'll be fine and probably put the hyacinths in pots. I'd like to add a few snowdrops to the area around the water feature if I can and the best way to get those to take is to buy them whilst they're growing (in the green). I'll be looking out for little pots of snowdrops in the nurseries soon.
Snowdrops in the Woodland Garden
The greenhouse does not require a great deal of work at the moment, but I do need to keep the tender perennials alive. Water management is the key and overwatering the killer. My greenhouse has a temperature triggered electric heater so for much of the time is unheated. It is important I find, to keep the door open when it's not cold to let the air in to circulate as much as possible as mould and fungal infections are prevalent in mild, moist conditions as are other pests.
Inside the Packed Overwintering Greenhouse
Inside, the houseplants are struggling for light. Many need a spell on a bright windowsill to get them through. It's unlikely they are growing at this time of year, so watering needs to be sparse but not entirely non-existent - a tricky balance at the best of times. I timed my amaryllis bulbs perfectly for Christmas this year, saving on the purchase of cut flowers. One valiant bulb is set to have another flower for January which will be very welcome and I hope the Christmas cactus might just throw out another set of flowers too. There is very little colour from the garden available save a few colourful cornus stems and a bunch of catkins from the field.
In January, I'm styling: -
This month is such a good time for moving things around. Furniture and smaller items. With the decorations down, it's easy to see an area with fresh eyes. A shelf that's over full, a set of pictures that don't work anymore or perhaps what I'm tired of seeing together on the side-board. I like to embrace this feeling and change things up where I can. If things are left too long, they become the normal again and that feeling of instinctive change is lost. There are lots of little things shifting about in the house at the moment.
I'm leaving up some of the fairy lights in the kitchen and dining room as has become a bit of a tradition these last few years. It cheers me up to put the lights on when the weather is grey and gloomy. Having the extra lighting in the kitchen has made me think about a standard lamp behind the soft chairs in there for reading and to add a softer light other than the overhead spots. I have started looking at an Anglepoise style lamp which I think will fit in perfectly.
Whilst away with friends at New Year we stumbled across a shop selling large colourful portraits amongst many other things. I admired the pictures at the time, but it would have been impractical to make a purchase due to travel arrangements. I've since been trying to find something similar online but have yet to source anything. I think the picture I have in mind would look great in the dining room or possibly in our hall. Either way, the bright colours would work well and the lighting in both is very good. Do get in touch if you know of anything similar, otherwise I'll have to set my stall out to visit Stroud again (a four hour round trip).
This month I'm hoping to be inspired to create the mood board for my daughter's bedroom. It's a lovely square-ish room with windows on two sides, facing both north (to the back overlooking fields) and south (to the front of the house). She has some build in furniture which I shall keep - a set of drawers with shelving over and a wardrobe and other bits (a desk) that I shall take out for more space. In addition, there is a large airing cupboard which we have never made best use of and an En Suite both with doors on to the room. I am currently considering a wallpaper, perhaps a small pattern in a pastel shade but I haven't started looking just yet.
In January I'm cooking: -
As little as possible is the answer! I'm not a great fan of cooking everyday meals but I do like to cook for occasions or for fun. I'm craving soups and light meals that are warm rather than heavy meat dishes. My favourite tomato and lentil soup has become a staple and a go to not least because it is quick to make.
Tomato and Lentil Soup (Recipe on my Instagram page)
My youngest has bought an air fryer which is ensconced on the kitchen side. It is hers to use mind you but should give me an idea as to whether I actually need one in my life before she moves out (probably later this year). I'd love to hear how you all get on with them if you have one.
I'm hoping to make marmalade this month. I am expecting to find the lovely Seville oranges in the shops, and I certainly have the jars ready. I'll post more details of that on Instagram as it happens. I'm a big fan of marmalade and would love to try a lime version too.
In January I'm wearing: -
The simple answer to this is all my coats. I have made a conscious effort this year to look out for and acquire more coats so that I have a suitable coat for every occasion. I think I am gradually getting there. The trick is to buy classic styles that won't go too far out of fashion and of course, each one needs to have a quirk or point of interest. I'm not one for just a boring coat (although I have at least one of those). I do think we play it too safe with winter coats. They are after all and expensive purchase. It tends to make us too safe in my opinion. I've opted to inject a burst of colour to my coat collection this year.
Coats!
Day to day though, I am wearing corduroy trousers. I have several pairs that are very comfortable in a few relatively neutral colours - one is an eye-catching purple so as not to let the side down. I've opted for wide leg and although not always helpful in the garden (catching on the odd rose bush or getting a bit muddy) they are perfect for wearing with boots. But so much more comfortable than jeans in my opinion and easier to wash as they're simply not as heavy.
Cords!
I'm yet to make any purchases in the January sales as I've not seen anything that has caught my eye. That said, I did stumble across a mountain clothing store whilst in Stroud at New Year that was closing down. I picked up a pair of salopettes for £20 which will serve me nicely if I get to visit the slopes in Europe at all this year. (A girl can hope).
Winter in the Cutting Patch
As the winter wet envelops the day again, my motivation for activity fades around 2pm along with the best light. It can be a long month if we let it and I think it's important to give ourselves a bit of a break from the relentless treadmill of life when we can. Escape in a book, a film or TV programme. Get outside whenever possible and try to do what enjoy. There really is no need to set myself targets and resolutions; I'll get where I'm going in my own good time. I hope you get there too.
Wishing you all the best start to the new year,
Love
Claire