Small giveaway

Daphne's Diary is a fairly new magazine, published in the Netherlands but available world wide, seemingly.

I had not heard of it till I read Brenda's blog, and sent for a copy.

It is a very pretty magazine, with articles on home, gardens, craft etc.

There are no articles about the lives of 'stars', no fashion pages, no 'must have' advice.

Just a peaceful and pretty magazine.

 Whilst I enjoyed browsing through it I felt it was quite expensive, but that could be due to the excellent quality paper it is printed on.

There are little cut out pages for you to make things.

So... I have one copy to giveaway.

Let me know if you would like to enter the draw, and I will pull out a name on May 5th.

Things in the garden.

Strictly speaking , this lovely Pieris isn't in my garden, but in my neighbour's. I think I get the best of it as it seems to turn towards our garden. I love the pinkness of it.

Just a dozen Broad beans are in the raised bed, and being watched daily for slug or pigeon damage.

 Our early potatoes are all being grown in tubs. We did this last year and found it yielded just as much as growing in the ground.

Lastly, my one year old Clematis Montana has set out on its journey along the fence.

It's not huge yet, but I know how quickly they can grow, so I'm hoping for great things next year.

It's almost time to plant the Geraniums and other brightly coloured plants in the big terra cotta pots. Then we'll know that Summer is on the way.

Additions

Just a quick addition to my last post on Cornwall and a reply to some comments..

It wasn't an April Fool! 

It really happened this week.

As yet there is no need for a passport into Cornwall, though I know that some shops sell them as a joke! Who knows, maybe one day......

There is a real Cornish language, some of which you can see below.

There has been a revival in the speaking of Cornish and there are various groups and clubs where people can learn more.

Durdatha whye! Good day to you!

Deeth daa. Good day.

Metten daa. Good Morning.

Darzona! God bless (on meeting).

Gothewhar daa. Good evening.

No, I don't speak Cornish!

Cornish news.

The Cornish flag is flying today.

All of a sudden Cornwall is a separate nation!

The British government have decided to recognise the 'unique identity' of our little county.

You can see that it doesn't take up much of the country as a whole.

Cornwall will have the same rights as other Celtic people such as the Scots, Welsh and the Irish. When making key decisions the government will need to take into account the views of the Cornish people.

All Celtic peoples are now afforded protection under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. (I'm not sure that I want to be seen as a minority!)

I have to say that I am not Cornish, but grew up in the county from age seven, so have my roots here. But I have no longing to speak the Cornish language (yes there is such a thing), or to be very excited about this latest development.

It's a lovely county to live in, and I'm sure there is great rejoicing at the 'separation'.

“

On line shopping.

I'm sure that there are many of you out there who have your groceries delivered.

I haven't ever tried it...till last week.

Being unable to go out for long periods while my husband is still not terribly well, I thought I'd have a go at 'easy' shopping.

The website is fine, with pictures of everything, little reminders of special offers, and pop-ups saying 'You missed a buy one get one free', etc.

It did take me ages to go through the lists, but got there at the end, and was pleased to find that going through the list of delivery times I could have a delivery that evening.

Or so I thought.

When the time had come and gone I rang the supermarket, who checked...and politely, very politely, suggested that I had made a slight error.

 I'd booked it for the day after.

Maybe that will teach me to read the site properly?

The delivery next day was fine, absolutely on time, carried in by the delivery man, and all the order was there.

It took me back to the old days of our small village shop. My cousin and I would row across the creek (estuary) to the shop with Grandma's order book. 

Cheekily we would ask if we could have a ginger 'beer' drink (put on Grandma's account please). Needless to say Mavis who kept the shop insisted on telephoning to see if we were allowed!

A couple of days later the little shop van would arrive, David would carry the box in and insist on checking it with my Grandma. Such personal service!

Hallelujah!

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. 

Blossom.

Crab Apple blossom on Easter Saturday.

Easter.

There are lots of these.

 These keep popping up.

As do these.

 But, isn't this Easter?

Isn't this where our thoughts need to be?

At the Cross.

A new bedroom.

When we moved back from France we knew that the sensible option was to down-size, for all sorts of reasons, mainly to do with health and mobility.

We have worked our way through this little bungalow, putting, as the TV programmes say, 'our own stamp on it'. 

It had previously been owned by an elderly lady who had firmly remained in the 70s era.

Now every room is light, bright and plain, in other words, no swirly Anaglypta wallpaper. Anywhere!

My bedroom was the last to be decorated, whilst my husband was in hospital.

Previously there had been two large wardrobe spaces hidden behind two tiny narrow doors. I wish I'd taken 'before' photos.

Now I have new doors, the interiors have been properly fitted with hanging and shelving

 I love the ceramic rose painted door knobs.

They go so well with my French bedlinen.

Like my friend Connie, I love roses, anywhere, everywhere.

New cupboards, new paintwork, new carpets...what more could I possibly want?

Just one more thing, my pictures need hanging on the walls.

So I wait for a son with a drill to visit.

Then it will be perfect.

Palm Sunday

The beginning of Holy Week is here.

Palm Sunday, celebrated all over the world, remembers the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

The crowds feted him, waving branches of palms

Matthew 21.

The disciples brought the donkey and placed their cloaks upon it. 

Jesus sat on them.

 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them in the road. 

The crowds that went ahead of him, and those that followed shouted;

"Hosanna to the Son of David".

Today we remember with these little Palm crosses, that will be given out in many churches.

Splashes of garden colour

All over the garden there are little splashes of colour, here and there.

In one bed a patch of forget-me-not nestling next to Wanda primroses.

On the edge of a little wall, Aubretia and white Arabis. I'm hoping they will eventually form big cushions of flower. There are also a couple of Nigella seedlings from last year!

 Then a little clump of pink Saxifrage with more white Arabis.

These were all planted last year.

 And a rather blurry photo of my Cowslips surrounded by Grape hyacinths. I love the mixture of blues and yellows together.

As the Spring continues, we shall see more and more colour.

Maybe blossom on the fruit trees soon.

Queries.

I bought myself this little book recently.

I have been reading many of the stories written around the lives of the Amish and Mennonite people. Their cookery always sounds so appetising.

But, here is a problem.

The book is obviously written for the American kitchens, and I need some help with substitutions.

Molasses...can I use black treacle or is it quite different?

Buttermilk.....can I just use ordinary milk?

The book has no pictures apart from on the front cover. I so want to make Shoofly pie, but have no idea what it is supposed to look like!

Any comments would be helpful, thank you.

Update on invalid ...a little better every day.

Update on Tess  rose....she is planted next to Dancing Queen, which could be interesting!

A new rose.

I think I am the person at whom Special Offers are aimed.

I couldn't resist this one in Country Living from David Austin.

For some time I have been wanting/needing a new rose for the front wall.

I love red roses and so far we hadn't got any, so this looked perfect.

She is Tess of the D'urbervilles, and can be grown as a shrub or as a short climber.

I'm hoping she will oblige, and climb a little way, not too far as this is a bungalow.

I have never seen roses like the ones in the South West of France. They soared over huge stone houses, they clambered over gazebos and sheds.
Even in my own garden in Brittany roses grew well.

 Very often they were red, and since then I have wanted to have the joy of a red rose of my own.

Now if it stops raining, I might be able to plant it.

Summer planting.

Two good things happened today.

Firstly, a wobbly invalid is home, and hopefully after a few days will begin to feel more 'en forme' as the French Drs used to say.

Then two packs of plantlets arrived from Sarah Raven. I'm getting the feeling that it's time to plant for Summer.

 One is a lovely mix of Scabious, such a pretty flower.

The second is a pack of Cornflowers, yet another wild type flower. I just love the blueness of them, and mixed amongst the scabious, lupins and roses I'm hoping for a lovely display this Summer.

Early night.

I find I'm going to bed really early whilst my husband is away. It's a little strange just being one.

So, having watched the Sewing Bee on Television, I'm off with my favourite things to a cosy bedroom, taking with me........

My pile of books, because I can never decide which one I'm going to read until I have 'tasted' each one.

 My favourite Laura Ashley mug, with hot water and honey...very relaxing.

This absolute essential item, furry hot water bottle, filled as hot as I dare.

 ..and a small friend to sit on the end of my bed.

Perfect.

(I should say...my husband's bed, because while he is away I'm having my bedroom redecorated. Then there will be NO more Anaglypta in the house, and I will be very happy.)