Christmas Preparation 2018

I've got most of my Christmas preparation done early this year.  I made my own pastry for the mince pies.

 Had a trial run on Christmas bark.

 Made a big experimental batch of cranberry and Limoncello fudge.  (It is sooooooo good!)

 Was creative with some of the wrapping adding pine cones and tartan ribbon.

 Found a use for the jar of pom poms.

Enjoyed myself in the process. 

Happy Christmas to you all!

My Plants Are Regressing

 

A few weeks ago I bought a couple of dahlia plants to cheer myself up as the garden was so barren and void of colour.  I bought a beautiful deep velvety pink one and one that was red and white variegated - a bit like a raspberry ripple effect. The one above was the first I had my eye on.  Out in the garden its leaves quickly became ravaged with snails and slugs so I thought it would be best to bring it in at night.  I have watered and fed and tended it.  It stays in the garden during the day and comes in at night.

  

I recently noticed that one of the blooms had become two tone - or rather a few of the petals seemed washed out of colour.  Most strange.

The second dahlia I bought was the one shown above.  Beautiful quilled shaped petals that opened out into bi-colour.  I noticed that very quickly the flowers began to turn brown around the edges and die before they fully came out.  I deadheaded them hoping for a quick recovery.

Now look at what has happened.  Very strange salmon coloured flowers with a few red ones.  I wonder why just buying two random plants has resulted in some bizarre happening.  I wonder if some sort of cross pollination has gone on.  Any thoughts?

Give Me Something

I want to blog but have writers block.  There is nothing interesting going on in my life right now - well nothing worth noting.  I am in a room surrounded with possibilities; paper, fabric, paints, pencils, brushes and yet they rarely get used.

I feel like I need to wipe the slate clean and reinvent my life (dramatic eh?) I have real apathy going on here and am really trying to get my act together but don't know where to start.  Any nuggets of wisdom to share?  Give me something; a metaphoric kick up the bum, a new hobby suggestion, a suggestion for work, a topic to research?  What gets YOU excited about life?  At the moment I feel like I am going through the motions but not really living.  I want to wake up in the morning and be excited for the day ahead.

Help yourself to a chocolate biscuit.  I feel this could be a long chat across the table.

To Every Thing There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version 

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

A time to bid adieu to the Linden Grove Blog:
A time to say thank you, a time to be grateful;
A time to be bound, and a time to be free;
A time to be seen, and a time to hide;
A time for hellos, and a time for goodbye.

Thank you for reading over the last ten years.  I hope that the blog contributed in a positive way to your life and perhaps provided some food for thought?

Cheerio!

Update 22 May 2018

If I am not out in the garden at Sybil's Plot, I will be at my hobby blog PolyHobbyRous and you can access it here!

Edited 6 May 2018: I have re-activated my gardening blog Sybil's Plot.  I am getting back out in the garden again after the protracted winter and looking forward to growing a whole new range of plants and sowing some tropical seeds too!  I would be delighted if you could join me over there.😉🌱🌴🌺🌿🍓

Paper Flower Bouquet

I saw images of wrapped paper cut out flowers on li.la.o instagram account and decided to do my version.  I splodged watercolour paper with paints and when dry drew on some flower shapes with a fine-liner pen.  I then cut them out and wrapped individual pieces into bunches of flowers.

It was a great warm up project for me and it has given me some creative ideas that I want to explore further. 

Blinkered

I want to see different view

A new horizon

Wider than my limited space

Confinement bores me rigid

Frozen

Frigid

I want to see a different view

A new perspective

Bigger than my limited space

Simone Whipp 27 Jan 2018

Itinerary

I have a day off from work next week.  I am so excited!  Rather than just waste the day by staying home I thought I would come up with an itinerary to follow to squeeze the most out of my leisure time to optimize (my word for the year) the day.

So far my itinerary is at the planning stage but I know I want to go here and experience breakfast or lunch or coffee and cake!  Whilst in the Covent Garden region I may have a birth chart reading done at The Astrology Shop and have a look at the crystals and gemstones they have for sale. To satisfy my baking urge, I really want to try making a cake using chestnut flour and 'the' place to buy it is in Lina Stores in Soho.

If I get time I might even immerse myself in some culture and art here.  I must remember to take my camera for any photo opportunities that may arise.  I look forward to blogging about the day on my return.

Optimize 2018

I know some people think having a word of the year is a bit 'naff', but it helps to keep me on track and gives me a sense of direction for the year.  Last year's word choice was consolidate and I did manage to consolidate many areas of my life. 

My word for 2018 is Optimize, which you can see above means to make the best or most effective use of (a situation, opportunity or resource). I hate wasting time and since getting a job earlier in the year I hardly have time to think let alone do.  I am going to make the best out of every day, utilizing it to the full! 

The last couple of weeks have passed on like a whirlwind and only now do I feel I can settle down to some kind of normal routine again (or plan to anyway).  I am eager for the new opportunities that 2018 may bring but apprehensive too.

Sending my readers' wishes for a happy and healthy 2018.  I hope it is all you want it to be and more.