Henny Pennys fly the nest!

When I make decisions

I make them fast and act fast!

The other day I decided that

my garden was just too shabby looking,

and I'm not meaning chic!

So...

I asked a dear friend of mine if she would like to

increase her flock and she willingly said yes!

So now Wendy, Delia, Pearl, Mabel and Olive

have gone to live here...

'PECKingham Palace'

Gorgeous isn't it?!

You should see the rest of 'Sam's' pad,

it's just perfect!

Bye bye henny pennys

Can you believe that these are the chicks we hatched?

See my post about the happy event HERE.

 Even Toby-fat-cat wanted to get in on the action,

yes he has only half a tail!

Everything lives happily together,

bunny, hens, cat and boys!

(and rugby balls if you look closely)

Cochins are a breed that are very much like

Orpingtons but with 'bloomers' on

I'm sure they'll be more than happy,

no more dodging that rugby ball eh girls?!

#

Sam is a collegue of mine and

whilst chatting one day on the playground

we discovered our shared passion for

hens and sewing.

So more talented then I am,

have a look at her goodies over at her place

'Bert and Doris'

I was relieved to know that most of my flock

was going to such a fabby home

(I kept just 2, Sarah and Daisy)

but when Sam gave me this chap in return

I was thrilled!

He won't make a mess and

he won't keep me and the neighbours awake!

He just needs to find a shelf to call home now...

Thank you Sam!

So now, we just have the task

of tidying up the disgrace that I call the garden!

That I think deserves a post of it's own.

Maybe this time next year I will post it hee hee.

Love C. x

How does your garden grow?

Probably a lot better than mine!

But I bet you can't grow plants like these...

Is this how you get 'Poached egg plants?'

I love these kind of seeds,

you just 'sow and go!'

EASY!

Except...

not in this garden.

NAUGHTY PIE!!!

Hence why I have been and bought some

'Chicken wire!'

I shall cover up what I plant with this ugly stuff now,

so hopfully things will have half a chance

from now on.

But how cute is this?

Safe and warm under Mummy's wing.

Until tomorrow that is

when it's

BYE BYE BIRDIE BYE BYE BYE

La la lah la dee la lah!!!

6 of them are off to live on a lovely farm.

(you don't have to mad to live at this house,

but it helps!)

Enjoy your weekend everyone,

I know I shall, mine has started already!

Love claire.

Gateway to.....

Who needs a man?

If you want a job doing properly,

infact,

if you want a job doing at all,

do it yourself!

Hmmm,

what are you thinking after seeing that photo?

That I have gone all feminist and DIY on you?

Look, if I do DIY in pink ballet pumps,

and wearing lip-gloss,

that won't make me all

butch will it?

NO,

thats what I thought,

so

after being fed up with brushing and

rinsing the flags free from hen poop

for far too long.

Putting up with the girls begging for food when

we eat outside!

Plus, Pie the cheeky bunny

really needed his space to be a bit more secure,

a gate was the only answer.

So I dug out my un-used,

dusty drill.

Leant how to use a saw...

...and finally

Hung a gate!

Plus it works!

I only broke 5 drill bits,

lost 3 screws (??? mystery???)

cut myself several times,

and have a splinter!

Phew!

Clean flags and safe bunny.

I promise to stop now,

I shall go back to girlie me.

Love Claire. xxx

P.S.  I debated whether or not to tell you about the

FOUR trips to Wickes

asking for a really long screw

for an erection!!!

But thought it may be

pushing it a bit for all my

lovely followers!!!

Plus the chap in Wickes now

thinks I am some mentalist stalker!

P.P.S.  A girlie crafty type post next time,

I PROMISE!

x

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...ENJOY!

Today the boys and I are going to try and show you

In true 'Blue Peter' style,

how to make life easy on yourself

and how to be kind to the planet!

You could also add to that list

that you're going to get something for nothing too!!!

Like the sound of that?

Read on!

 

We have planted some sunflower seeds

in homemade recycled newspaper pots!

First...You need to gather together

Newspapers

Stapler and staples

and an

Aerosol can

(hmmm that last one isn't very eco friendly is it?)

Next you get one sheet of newspaper

and tear it down the centre.

(Notice how easy this is?

Even the kids can do it)

Take 1 of the sheets and fold it down

top to bottom, like this...

and then fold over the 2 flaps back about an inch.

Thank you Jacob!

Next you take your can,

that has to have a 'concave' bottom like this...

and place it on the paper like so...

Roll the can along, keeping it tight and lined up

along the edges as you go.

Now then, the bottom of the can needed to

be shaped that way so you can fold the ends in and

sort of squash them in it...

Try and be neat and fold and squish as you go!

(Did Blue Peter presenters use the term 'SQUISH?')

Nearly finished now!

I told you it was easy!

You can adust the depth of the pot

by messing around with the size of the

newspaper, or how you fold it down.

OK

Next you need to stand your can up and

crush it down on a hard surface.

Remove the can and secure the loose flap

with a staple if you wish.

It only takes a few seconds to make 1

once you get used to it.

They stand up OK once filled with compost.

But I put mine in a tray.

We moved outside and filled them with compost.

Watered them, and planted

our sunflower seeds in to them.

IF you thought that was easy...

Wait until the time comes to plant them in the ground.

You just make a hole,

and plop the whole thing in!

EASY!

The roots will push their way through the paper

even before you plant them out,

and the paper will break down

easily in to the soil.

They are particulary good

for things that need a deep root,

Sweet Peas,

or don't like their roots being disturbed,

Parsnips, Carrots and Sweetcorn (?)

Try not to keep them too wet,

but obviously wet enough.

You can tear off the paper from the bottom

before planting if you so wish.

The peat pots you can buy will

obviously cost you money,

and are they as friendly to our plant

as these?  I think not.

You may save and collect spent loo rolls

but I believe the glue makes them develop mould

and not break down as well.

I hope they work for you!

I cannot take full credit for these

brill pots..

I read about them on a fab forum I use HERE.

Maybe it is a few weeks too late in the season

for you gardening experts,

but what started off as something to do with the children

has turned out to be quite an enormous post.

At last i've banished bloggers block!

Have fun.