How to build a raised bed

Morning!

Here are some pretty self-explanatory pix on how to build a raised bed. The bits which are missed out is the hours and hours it takes to fill it with hardcore first, then the wheelbarrows full of earth. I thought I'd spare you those bits, they weren't much fun for us so they won't be fun for you!

First, if you're building on concrete or loc block, you have to create drainage holes.

Railway sleepers from a local building centre.

Screw bits of wood to the back to keep them together.

Line it with black plastic so the earth doesn't escape to the front, and tack the plastic to the sleepers.

Hard core goes in, then weed-suppresent fabric on top, followed by a layer of good stuff for the earth (pellets of smelly chicken poo, if you must know!).

Then lots and lots and lots of sifting earth from the back of the garden, and wheelbarrowing it over to the raised bed.

There you go! If we can do it, so can you.....

Thanks for dropping by and more pix to come of the green stuff planted into the raised bed. It's near the kitchen so that should give you a little clue!

Karen x

(Man + fire) v stump

Hi

We had a stump to get rid of in the back garden. We could've hired a man to come round (expensive), rented a stump grinder and do it ourselves (still pricey), or use firelighters, kindlers and a match which we already own (virtually free). However, there was a lot of digging to do first to get under the roots.

But once you start that fire, it's good. 

After two days of burning, this was all that was left of the stump.

(Man + fire) won. The stump didn't really have much of a chance!

We have been busy in the garden, so more posts this week including some more of those green things (plants I believe they're called?) in a new raised bed. It's all go!

Karen x

A Cool 1966 Car

Good morning!

My husband has been doing up this car for about 18 months and it's now on the road, passed it's MOT and driving lovely. It's a 1966 Volvo Amazon and, while she's not built for speed, she's certainly a looker.
The other do-er up-er he has though, a Volvo P1800, will take considerably longer to do it - it's needing   a lot of work and is going to be made for speed. I won't ask how long it'll take, as I suspect I wouldn't like the answer.....

We took the Amazon out to our cottage for the weekend for her first long run - she looked lovely against the backdrop of the blue skies and seas. Don't worry though, she's going to be garaged when it's raining or snowing, so she should stay pristine.

What do you reckon? Would you prefer an older car with character, or a modern one with more conveniences?

Karen x

Front door before and after

Hi

Hope you're well and dandy! I thought you might like to see what a new colour of paint and some glass can do to transform our front door. It was inspired by the new front door with glass our former neighbours-round-the-corner the lovely Sarah and Neil had.

I loved the red colour of the original door, but thought a black front door would suit the house better - what do you think?

Here it was before, sorry there's no close-up of the door by itself. 

              

Here's the inside. Brown, heavy-looking and very, very dark.

It was even more dark behind the vestibule door.

The first stage was for a glazier to put glass into the top two panels.

Then I painted the back of the front door white to reflect more light around.

Behind the vestibule door gets tons more light now!

A proper undercoat for the front, before the black. I actually really like this grey so maybe next year, it might change colour again.....
You can also see here the glass stickers I put on, for a bit more privacy and they also make it look better.

Finished! Do you think black is good, or a grey like the undercoat would be better? Decisions, decisions.....

Thanks for stopping y - I'll do more house 'before and afters' in the coming weeks. The pix might also help me to remember that through the long saga that is the back garden, it will turn out good in the end!

Karen x

Friday views - beach

Good morning!

It's the best weekday day! Well, if you work Monday to Friday it is, not so much if you do shifts over the weekend. Here are some pix of our local beach in Aberdeen which is pretty stunning for a city - I still pinch myself sometimes that it is a walk away from our house. There's also a big harbour which is good to watch the boats come in and out while eating ice cream. Not too shabby for a city!

The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm here so fingers crossed there might be a nice long walk - maybe with a pub visit at the end!

Have a great weekend!

Karen x

New colours

Hi

The paint firm Farrow & Ball has unveiled a set of new colours and they are rather lovely. We only have a couple of rooms painted in F&B colours as they are a bit pricey compared to 'normal' paint, but the depth of colour and tone is excellent. The names given to the colours are a marketing dream - Elephant's Breath, Mouse's Back, Savage Ground - and are a lot more romantic than 229, 40, and 213.
Here are the new colours.


This one is Wevet, the old Dorset name for a spider's web. From the pic, it looks like a silvery grey, with a touch of mauve.

This is Ammonite, the colour of fossils found on the Dorset coast. A subtle off white/cream, I'd say.

Purbeck Stone, a stronger neutral colour. I LOVE the pop of yellow from the broom against this colour.

Mole's Breath. It's supposed to be like Mouse's Back but without the slight greenish tinge. I reckon it would be really good in a dining room - could be made very dramatic with some red or black accessories.

Dimpse, the colour of of twilight, according to West Country dialect. This is a light grey, according to F&B, but looks a lot more creamy in this photo - it might just be the lighting.

Nancy's Blushes - how many young girls are going to love this in their bedroom?

Yellowcake. I think the name says where they got this colour from. I hope they got to eat a lot of cake to get just exactly the right colour....

St Giles Blue, a lovely bright turquoise-looking colour. The white and green of the flowers stand out against this one.

Stiffkey Blue, which is a more blue version of the smokey grey Down Pipe.

The only thing wrong with these gorgeous F&B photos is that is does make you want to paint a room and start again. Hmmmmmmm.......

Karen x