Simone's Tuesday Garden Rake No.1

After the success of 'Friday's Cake Bake' I thought I would introduce a 'Tuesday Garden Rake'! This is for people who like to be flowery rather than floury! Everyone is welcome to join in on the Tuesday Garden Rake with hints and tips and anything garden related either here or on your own blog. Hopefully we can motivate and inspire each other with our gardening.

Edited: I used rake in the title as I thought it would be an appropriate gardening word for us to use in gathering our hints and tips, problems and solutions together.


I have sown 3 types of tomato this year one of which can be seen above in its cell tray. Once it looks like this and has its first pair of true leaves is the time that I pot them on.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to get all your old pots together and give them a wash in hot soapy water. I use 3 and a half inch pots (90mm) to pot my plants on.

With tomatoes, I find that they like to be planted quite deep in their pots. I remove them from the cell tray holding them up high underneath the leaves so as not to damage their roots. I put a couple of inches of multi purpose compost in the pot, place the plant on top, holding in place and then filling in and firming with more compost. I keep these indoors in the conservatory or greenhouse until the weather warms up.

On warmer days I will put the plants outside for a few hours a day to acclimatise to the weather, and bring them in at night. The tomatoes I am growing from seed this year are 'Latah' a bush variety, 'Gardeners Delight' (Cherry Vine Tomato) and 'Gold Medal' Bi colour (Tall Vine). I will let you know how they progress throughout the season.

Any idea what this is? I have this plant above growing in my garden but have no idea what it is. It was cut back last year and has come back again bigger and bolder!

Here's something else big and bold that can be found in the garden! His favourite place is the garden (when he's not hijacking a basket or box somewhere)!

Calling on My Friends - I Need You!!!

This is a emergency post! If you haven't already voted for me over at Dorset Cereals I really would appreciate your vote now! I had been at the top of the leader board since the beginning of March until this Saturday when a competitor went up by 170 votes on that day alone!

Everybody that votes gets put into a monthly prize draw to win a case of cereals so it is worth voting just for that reason alone.

Fingers crossed I just may make it to the top of the board again before the month runs out!!!

Normal posting will resume as soon as I get over my anxiety attack!!!

Thanks to all of you that have voted for me so far. x

Simone's Friday Cake Bake No. 10

I have given you a choice today. First up are sultana scones. Light and fluffy.

We can have them warmed through later, split and buttered with a nice hot drink.

Or would you prefer some buttery melt in the mouth shortbread?

These are really crumbly!

I was lucky to win a prize over at Rosie's blog and received them during my birthday week too!

A lovely Cath Kidston strawberry patterned mug and some sweet little wooden heart embellishments.

Thank you Rosie they were packaged up beautifully!

The tulips are looking particularly good at the moment.

They will be adorning the table for this afternoons tea. Shall I reserve you a place? Would you like sultana scones or shortbread's ( I do have a few birthday cake bakes left too!) Have a lovely weekend, whether making and eating cakes or enjoying the garden and outside spaces. See you next week. x

Birthday Cake Bake!

Today is my Birthday!!! I was going to go to the Country Living Spring Fair but decided to stay home and bake myself birthday cakes instead!

I share my date of birth with Sir Alan Sugar (entrepreneur), William Morris (Designer and Social Reformer) and Steve McQueen (Handsome Actor). If only I had the combined talents of all three I would be a very successful lady!

Baking is one of my favourite hobbies (as if you couldn't guess that by now!)

Would you like a pink one with white chocolate stars?

Maybe a blue one with pink sugar crystals? Or how about the hidden tray of misshapes that didn't make the grade for the photo shoot!!!

So far today has been the best of days. I have been pottering about and baking, opening cards and receiving surprises. One of the best surprises was receiving a birthday card from Diana and Walter with Walter on the card! and a beautiful ginger kitty card and button heart gift from Lyn. Thank you so much! How did you know it was my Birthday until now?!!!

I was lucky enough to receive some money for my birthday too. What I buy with this will be revealed on here at a later date. I am so excited I can hardly keep the secret. I' d best go before I give anything away!

Fairies at the Bottom of the Garden!

If you look carefully you will see some fairies emerging from the back of the garden. Amongst the honeysuckle they are gingerly stepping into spring.

They are a little shy at first.

Fern is looking out for Gizmo (the big ginger cat)!

Blossom is looking wistfully at her reflection in a dew drop.

Can you guess this little ones name? All will be revealed over at the shop. Please drop by and say hello!

Simone's Friday Cake Bake No. 9

These are the fairy guardians of the cake. They will let me know if someone tries to steal a piece!

A sugary topping is usually a preference.

Chocolate sponge cake with an apricot conserve and butter cream filling. Shall I get the kettle on? Care to join me? Yes? Delightful!

Other delightful things this week were the package I received from the very generous and kind hearted Michela.

These included huge sheets of beautiful Venetian paper. Much too beautiful to ever be used!

More beautiful delights were these golden yellow tulips. I was unable to buy any golden daffodils as they are on rations around here due to the late coming of Spring!

I hope that all my readers. old and new alike have a lovely weekend with friends and family, cats and dogs or just a book and a cuppa. See you next week. x

Cat in a Basket

I've not featured Gizmo on here for a little while but thought you might like to see his new sleeping place.

He discovered this basket overnight in the conservatory/dumping ground.

I think he has taken quite a liking to it.

I don't think he is going to budge.

Such a sleepy cat.

Such a handsome cat.

A majestic cat.

A scary cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simone's Friday Cake Bake No.8

When you have to satisfy different tastes what can you do? I made a batch of vanilla sponge cake and gave them different toppings. First up is the fresh lemon fondant with sugar flowers for those of a delicate nature.

Next up is the robust coffee fondant icing with chocolate buttons. Which do you prefer?

Fresh lemon delicate iced cakes or...................................

..........................robust coffee iced cakes with chocolate buttons.

Or would you like to sample one of each? I think that is my preferred option. Have a great weekend with lots of tea and/or coffee sipped from a delicate bone china cup or a big chunky workman's mug. Whatever your preference may be, have a good one! x

A Drumroll Please.............................

............for the announcement of the winners of the crochet jam jar covers.

The fairies have been very busy. They put all the names that entered the giveaway into the appropriately jacketed jam jar.

They then did a quick pose for the camera before drawing out the names.

The winners are:

• Michela
• Noa's Libellue
• The Girl
• Louise
• Lyn

Would you please email me with your details so that I can get the covers posted off to you. Thank you to everyone that took part.

Solo Lunch

When eating solo lunches at home it can be difficult to come up with innovative things to eat. It is so much easier just to reach for the biscuit tin or forgo lunch altogether.

I usually try to make a bit of an effort for lunch even if I am eating alone. I am all the more inspired after reading The Philosophy of Lists post on 10 February all about ideas for solo lunches. She even has a list of solo lunch ideas in her sidebar for you to download.

The above open sandwich was quick and easy to do and very tasty too!

I sliced and toasted 2 slices of spelt and rye bread. Drizzled olive oil over the bread and placed on a baking sheet. I then alternated slices of beefsteak tomato with basil leaves and topped with slices of cheddar cheese. A couple of twists from the pepper mill completed the dish. It was popped in the oven just to melt the cheese but you could grill it for a bubbly browned cheese topping too.

Nothing so tasty to eat today though. I have a hard boiled egg ready and waiting in the fridge!

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway on my previous post to be in with a chance of winning a crochet jam jar cover. Good luck!