Mini Greenhouse

As written on 28/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
        You can see the task I set myself today, erecting the mini greenhouse. This brought together all my DIY skills of which I am fairly limited!

This all looked a little daunting. Had I allowed enough time?

Perhaps a view from another angle would help me understand the instructions.

Actually, all came together quite straightforwardly until I came to put the door hinges on!

 

That nearly defeated me, but hey I'm really pleased.

I've simply put down six of those left over kitchen tiles I told you about for a base, and a sheet of weed suppressor over my dug-over space.

 

What a pleasing sight, all complete. Enough work for today I think.

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

Butterfly Panels

As written on 27/ 4/2014

 Dearest Ruby,
        Yesterday was to be a relaxing day with no particular intentions. Grandad thought he'd like to take me for a drive and out for coffee in Hythe. From there we went to explore the area around Deal where we came upon a garden shop. There was I Ruby, just one second, to admire a Butterfly panel before my eyes, much to Grandad's dismay. He patiently waited out on the pavement. We'd be back at the car in no time. Oh but Ruby, I found myself in conversation with the owner who was quite prepared to reduce the price down considerably if I was interested in buying the panel. Perfect for screening in your lovely garden thought I but happily resisted his offer saying that No, you see I would have needed three. At which he responded by reducing the panels further, to half their original price! How could we refuse now Ruby, I was in a spot because how did that happen. I never have courage to barter. Well, needless to say, we found ourselves on our way home with our three Butterfly panels in the boot of the car, and then had to buy some little plants to go in the hanging pots. Grandad and I chose these together, miniature violets, cream and yellow with a tinge of purple.

 

Grandad loves these as much as I do Ruby. The violets are an ideal height for you to water with your very own red watering can. Do you like it?

 

        When we bought the violets, we bought a few other bedding plants as well, Marigolds and Antirrhinums. So, I've tried to get these planted as soon as possible.

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

Remembering Great Grandpapa

As written on 24/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
        For the last few days, I have been marvelling at the abundance of Forget-me-nots growing wildly in your garden.

In all their vivid blue and glorious splendour, how precious it is that they bloom at this time of Great Grandpapa's passing. We have his Service of Thanksgiving next week when you will be there with Mummy and Daddy, no doubt bringing a smile to everyone's face. How can we be downcast when we celebrate the wonder of life across four generations present. Great Grandpapa was the oldest and you are the youngest. He was one month short of his 94th birthday and you Ruby are just turned 1 yr old. I don't suppose you will remember this day but together we can be reminded of your Great Grandpapa everytime you see the Forget-me-nots in flower.

Here they will grow and go on seeding themselves in years to come !

Love and hugs, Nana x

Garden Quilt

As written on 23/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
       I haven't been in the garden a while. Dear Great Grandpapa has gone to be with Jesus, but just before he died I told him about your garden Ruby. I'm sure he heard and would have smiled inside. He would have loved to see it grow and develop with the changing seasons. He would have loved to see you play and enjoy your little world of new discoveries. We will remember him in our hearts and one day you might ask about your Great Grandpapa, and we will tell you our stories of what an amazing, loving, caring father he was to me, grandfather to your mummy, and Great Grandpapa he was to you.

       Yesterday the weather wasn't so inviting to venture outside. I had found
some fabric which sparked off the idea of making you a picnic garden quilt.

 

 

       As you can see. it was a panel for a waistcoat, but if I'd made that up for you, it would have swamped you! Looking through my fabric stash, I found some fabric to team it up with. Perfect!

 

 

        So, in the evening, I started cutting it into manageable pieces and we will see how it will come together in due course.

 

      Butterflies, flowerpots, blue check and ladybirds - it depicts everything we imagine your garden to be about, a sunny quilt for sunny days. You can can enjoy your dollies teaparty or teddy bear's picnic on the lawn, because a little birdie tells me you are still uncertain of the grass, feeling it under your feet. Mummy and Daddy took you for lunch on Sunday, in the Memorial gardens in town. It was Easter day and the grass appears to puzzle you with its different texture. Before long, I expect you will be running around and we will have to call you back, but for now you're content to remain on the safe and very soft island of the picnic rug.

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

Day of Birthday Celebrations

As written on 5/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
       I was up early to make the most of today with plenty to do. There I was adding to the Foxgloves, transferring the primroses and planting the summer bulbs.

 

The opportunity then arose to chat to our neighbour over the garden fence. We find dear Ruby, that their granddaughter Alice, celebrates her 21st birthday today just as you are celebrating your first. Her birthday itself is also on the 1st April, how lovely is that!
      Well, the stepping stones are now in place.

 

This afternoon, after having had lunch with you at Dobbies, I have marked out and since laid the circular lawn which grew from the intended 4'6" to 5' in diameter. I need to rest now though, so anything else will have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

First Explorations

As written 3/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
      We enjoyed a day together today and so a perfect opportunity to see our 'work in progress'!

I'm not sure what you made of it quite yet. The path was the safest place to be and even then you not surprisingly didn't like the feel of the soil.

Love and hugs, Nana x

Ruby's First Birthday

As written on 1/4/2014

Dearest Ruby,
       Today marks a very special day - your First Birthday! We measured your height from head to toe. You stood so tall at 27", and we will mark this somewhere to record your growth. Maybe I should say 2'3". That sounds much more grand!
       I pictured your Willow tree today Ruby, which may one day look like this one in my neighbour's garden.

I pondered upon a verse in the Bible which says:
'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' James1:17
and
'I the Lord do not change' Malachi 3:6

The willow tree is raining down all the 'perfect gifts', creating a canopy of wellbeing and wholeness under which you and I can shelter 'in the shadow of His wings' (Psalm 91:1)
On Sunday it was Mothering Sunday and Mummy spoke about God our Father being 'Fiercely Protective' of us out of His love for us, His children. God knows what is the perfect way for you and we pray that you will 'walk in His ways', know Him as your Heavenly Father and nestle in His perfect love receiving all His blessings for you.

What a special day this is for you Ruby Hope Rose, all 2'3" of you.
'May the Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.'  Numbers 6:24-26

Love and hugs, Nana x

 

Summer Bulbs and Sunflower seeds!

As written on 28/3/2014

Dearest Ruby,
        I've been thinking of those summer bulbs and Sunflower seeds, so been out browsing the shops today and come home with Gypsophilia called 'Baby's Breath'. I shall plant that behind the Willow tree. We'll experiment also with a Dahlia, Mixed Sparaxis, Neapolitanum Allium and Gloriosa Daisy, and of course the Sunflower seeds. What a lot of long words, I won't remember them myself! So here are the packets to show us what to expect.

 

We can start the seeds off in the mini greenhouse I'm going to put together. Fun times ahead Ruby but not without a lot of hard work!

 

Love and hugs, Nana x

Playing with Whirligigs!

As written on 27/3/2014

Dearest Ruby,
        A beautiful china birdfeeder arrived today in the post. One a little more unusual, it hangs upside down. We will be able to hang a fat ball from inside the cup and put bird seed on the saucer. I wonder what birds will feast at their table? Do you like the butterfly bracket the bird feeder hangs from?

 

 

       I hope to introduce quirky things to find around each corner. So, I've been crocheting Whirligigs out of odd balls of wool Great Grandmama and Mummy gave me. I saw the idea once at Rydal Hall Gardens in Cumbria. They will add colour and a sense of fun on a grey day.

 

 

 

       Also, what do you think of these dancing butterflies. I love them and hope you will too.

 

 

 

This is just the beginning of our ideas forming but I'll let it all unfold before you, and one day soon we can plant our bulbs, grow our seeds and watch the flowers grow.

 

Love and hugs Nana x

Early Days

As written on 26/3/2014

Dearest Ruby,
        We emptied our green china apple of all its £2 coins and found we had a tidy sum.

So, off we went to the garden centre. I felt sure we'd find a rose. Indeed. a Ruby Rambler and then a Cherry Tree called Ruby.

 

 

Names took on a significance we aimed for, though I particularly liked the Willow and Grandad chose the Cowslips. So, a few of our favourites found their way in there too. Some bring back childhood memories of my own, a field covered in cowslips neighbouring our home.

   

 

 

        We had some rocks in our garden I knew, so I loved the idea of creating your very own rock garden. We chose Peter Pan and Little Treasure along with another couple of alpines to grow in the crevices.
        Goodness me, those rocks were heavy. I tried to lift them on my own. One at a time, into the wheelbarrow, which had seen better days. The rock, each one, nearly went through the rusted metal. I had to wheel the barrow backwards up the garden to the path but oh dear, a mishap occurred, I fell over a flower bed and landed on Grandad's raspberry bushes, legs in the air. I had to laugh at myself whilst no-one else was looking !
   

 

 

  We couldn't resist the little bird bath Ruby, which I stood on a tile, and surrounded the base with pebbles from the old pond. Its very satisfying to reclaim pieces otherwise made redundant. The tiles are a stack of rather good quality left over from our new kitchen we did in our little house we had in Sedbergh. I don't suppose they thought they'd ever land up in Ruby's garden!

 

 

        My work of digging and weeding is done for today. There are foxgloves to keep and are they marigolds?

Love and hugs, Nana x

Just an Idea!

As written in March 2014

Dearest Ruby,
       The idea first came to me one week in March 2014. I was staying in Norfolk at the time with Great Grandmama and Great Grandpapa. Great Grandpapa loves his garden and the birds that he can see from the window. He will look up at the sky to see what weather the day would bring and often comment on how there was not a cloud in the sky, how blue and clear, or rain was on its way. It brings him so much joy I thought how special that would be to create a garden for little Ruby to enjoy, to share the delights that gardening brings. We had just the patch of earth that could be transformed over time. Grandad wasn't so sure as we had talked at one time of the vegetables he would grow, but as he chose the plants with me and saw the plans develop, he too has caught the happiness our garden project brings.

Love and hugs Nana  x

 

 

The patch of earth intended with all its weeds. From this dear Ruby, have faith, you are going to see a grand transformation but you may have to wait a while!