A New Year and a Winner!

I thought it would be wonderful to start the new year off with a blog post, a sort of sign of my good intentions to write more in 2017. I also have a longing to get more in touch with my readers so I have also set up a Facebook page for the blog (I do hope you'll join me there). 

AND of course I hope I can do more giveaways!

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A new year, a new day and the same horrid battle with my poor mental health. An ill brain doesn't care if you wanted to go for a cobweb blowing hike in the Mournes or a few productive hours at the Allotment. So here I am, still in my pyjamas sort of watching TV at 6pm.

I'm so lucky though as Toby has been asleep and ever so cuddlesome all day, up on the sofa with me. He stayed up really late for a pup and saw in the new year; he's paying for it now.

Andrew has declared today to be an official films and pyjamas day with much herbal tea and naps. He demands I do as little as possible. What did I do to deserve him? - he's so understanding.

And then there's my giveaway and giving gifts lifts my spirits. Thanks to those who entered!

Here we go with our winner -
Drum roll please!!

CHELSEA

I'll be in touch xxx

Hugs and best wishes

Carrie x

Another great reason to garden

I hope by now that all of my fabulous my readers are aware of my support for ecotherapy as a way to reduce stress and bring about feelings of achievement and hope. Okay so it didn't work out that well for me yesterday but on the whole I do find it extremely therapeutic.

If you don't understand what I am on about read the page above entitled 'Allotmentherapy ~ the wisdom of plants'.

I've always known it can be a tremendous workout too as evidenced by many a sweaty t-shirt and long afternoon nap. But yesterday I learnt about this side in more detail: the amounts of calories we burn off doing different gardening tasks.

I know we all wear crappy clothes when we're knee deep in the mud and compost, I know that secretly (like me, you too dream of a pair of funky dungarees to work in), you maybe don't even wash your hair some days and make up seems like such a joke but...what about those date nights out? We want to feel good then too, don't we? Well our plots/gardens want that for us too - to burn calories, to get fitter, to look sexier!!!

These eye opening statistics are brought to you by the Gardening Express website and I for one love reading them :)

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'Weight watching Brits can burn almost 1,500 calories simply by spending a few hours doing the garden. That's according to a new study by online garden centre GardeningExpress.co.uk who asked a group of amateur gardeners to keep a record of their gardening chores over a week.'

'Among the weight busting activities were hedge cutting and clearing, mowing, edging and raking the lawn, digging over flowerbeds and watering.  Others which happen less frequently but were noted by the group included painting the fence and shed and trimming trees and big shrubs.' 

I for one am the mowing, digging over and painting type of person so but I fear I may need to more of the other stuff....let's see

'Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “The group of gardeners we followed were fitting their gardening activities around jobs and other household chores so while this gives a good indication of how much you can burn, you can certainly burn even more calories than this.

“Gardening is great exercise for lots of reasons – clearly you can burn calories, it’s great for toning and you’re out in the fresh air enjoying all that nature has to offer.” '

So get out there, do something good for your soul and that tummy - then you get to eat an extra biscuit with your tea. That's what research like this is all about, right?! :)

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Oh and don't forget my giveaway - there is slowly, more being added to the package - now some seed packets are happening too with some fave seeds for you :) So that's a book,  a book plate (like in school prize days), my photographic greetings cards and seeds!

Just gotta leave a comment below and a way to contact you!

Much love

Carrie

So much news

First may I say to you all...

Happy National Allotments Week!

http://www.nsalg.org.uk/news-events-campaigns/national-allotments-week/

The society only covers England and Wales but I am not about to let that stop me from celebrating my Plots! Okay so there are lots of events lined up for those who do live in those countries but it doesn't mean we can't all love our little patch even more and maybe allow ourselves a bit of cake so something ;)

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In fact, though it was in hindsight a really daft thing to do, I visited my plots this very morning. I got a great haul of broad beans and some flowers for posies in the house. Was it worth the horrendous panic and now the exhaustion?? The jury is out. But in Maggie's case Yes, yes it was worth it, so much to sniff :)

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It's this very blog's 6th anniversary on Friday and I am hosting my very own giveaway. My giveaway isn't too fancy, I'm really not great a approaching companies for freebies. So this is a much more personal affair. I shall be giving a lovely book 'How to Grow Food - A wartime guide' with a personal book plate to glue into it, also a few of my own little greetings cards (from my online shop).

 The entry for it starts today and the winner will be announced on Thursday. The competition is open to  all - simply leave a comment and an address of some sort to help me contact you should you be victorious.

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This humble blog has also been nominated for blog award alongside some fabulous people. I am not one who goes all into for these things but just once in a while it feels nice to feel you're good at something. Everyone chosen is good in their own right and no matter who wins I shall be happy that easysheds.co.uk has done this for us.

If you do feel the love however... Here is where you can vote for my work.



*blush*

Love and hugs
Carrie xx

Giveaway Winner and the front garden

Hello everyone, I'm in a good mood today as I get to cheer up another fellow lady by announcing that she has just won herself  £30 worth of loveliness from serenataflowers.com.

Just after midnight last night all the entrants names were placed a terracotta pot and jumbled up. Andrew was out walking Maggie (her wee back leg is healing!) and so when he came in I got him to randomly pick out a name without even looking.

Our winner is thus ~

Hoorah and congrats to Cherie!!

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For all my other dear readers I thought I would show you something a little special ~ our front garden. It's somewhere I wouldn't usually go out and take photos off as I am a little self conscious, but for you guys, anything....

 The main body of the garden is the hydrangeas (yes they glow pink! - not a photoshop trick) and the box balls. We're so glad they're growing and flourishing now as eventually they should all meet up and the balls will be pruned into beautiful flowing shapes. It's bold but we think it suits a small front garden. We also have a tree in the corner but it's difficult to photograph it without looking like you're spying on the apartments behind, haha.

The big black pot was initially there to stop the postman from using that part of the garden as a shortcut - he has changed his ways and it may stay or go - not sure, but I love that lavender. Every year for goodness knows how long, we have had red geraniums on our window stills, even way back in our old home. Yes it clashes but I still love it.

So there you are and you can even see a little of me in the last photo - bonus! hahaa

Love and Hugs
Carrie

£30 giveaway from Serenata Flowers!

I mentioned at the weekend that those lovely people at serenata flowers had sent me a stunning trough of mini pink roses to review. Well, as I sit here looking at them I am delighted to inform you that you too could have the same type of beautifulness in your home!

YES! Serenata flowers is giving away £30 for one lucky winner to spend in their website shop. If you are that winner you would simply have to choose what you'd like to send to a loved one/ receive for yourself. That includes the gorgeous flower bouquets and the plants - what would you pick? Look at all the loveliness here -  http://www.serenataflowers.com/

The only restriction is that the delivery address for the item must be within the Mainland of the UK. Sorry if that throws a spanner the works for you but that's the rule. Though don't fear as I have more giveaways to do for my blog anniversary that can be shipped anywhere, but that's all still a secret.

* In order to win dear reader all you have to do is simply leave a comment on this question.

What's your favourite plant in your garden?

* Make sure there is a way to contact you too as I will need that to pass on to the lovely Alexander who is holding this giveaway just for my blog readers. All names will go into a terracotta pot (it's only right) as of today through to Thursday evening and the winner shall be announced on Friday :)

Example of comment entry - 
Jasmine
email - borntowin@fakemail.com

Good Luck!!
Love and Hugs
Carrie