The Knock

Very probably my favourite shoot to date, up 'The Knock' in Banffshire, Scotland. The Knock is a mountain visible from the window of our friends' house, where we stay. Little Ro climbed to the top (despite my best efforts to discourage him from going any higher), all by himself... albeit, he had to be carried down again by his daddy. 

Recycling the Recycling Box & Planting Hanging Baskets

Yesterday, I did something I've been meaning to do for ages. I recycled the recycling box, and turned it into a planter for the front garden. The council provided us with blue plastic recycling boxes, but then a couple of years ago, they changed their mind and replaced them with a large blue wheelie bin. (I should have thought to photograph the 'before' photo of the ugly box for this blog). I disguised the ugliness with some sacking cloth, attached with garden twine (I have also given the same treatment to a plain plastic pot beside it), filled the box with multi-purpose compost, and began potting up shade-loving plants, as this arrangement is destined for my shady front garden. I relocated my hostas and pieris from the south-facing back garden, which is always hot, in direct sun. (You can't see the hostas in this photo yet, as it's a bit early for them, and the pieris hasn't been too happy in the back, so it's not at its best. I'm hoping it will prefer the shadier conditions at the front). I also added some ornamental grasses, an ivy, and a hardy fern. I think the recycling box makes a good planter. I'll update with photos in summer when the plants have got going.

I also planted up my hanging baskets yesterday. I know it's a bit early according to most, but I have no greenhouse, and my plants have been sitting on the outside window hardening off for a couple of weeks now. Some are already flowering, all were outgrowing their pots, and we've had a heat-wave over this last week or so, which has made it hard to keep them watered in their tiny pots, so they were ready. I haven't hung the hanging baskets yet. I've balanced them in plant pots, so that they are off the ground, but still sheltered. By day, I sit them on the sun-drenched patio. At night I am moving them around the side of the house where it's sheltered. We're due worse weather this weekend, so I'll continue to keep them sheltered for a week or so, before hanging them ready for May. There are three hanging baskets (12", 14" and 16"). Each of the hanging baskets contains an ornamental grass in the centre, for height, some creeping jenny, and an ivy. (I'll list the other plants individually below). I also potted up three spare petunia 'Tumbelina' (Joanna, Julia, and Susanna) with another ornamental grass in a pot covered with sacking cloth for the patio.

This is the largest (16") basket, and will be hung at the back of the house - south facing. As well as the grass, ivy, and creeping jenny, this basket contains trailing Ivy Geraniums ('Precision Amethyst,' and 'Precision Burgundy Red'), a trailing Pelargonium ('Blizzard' white), trailing Callie (in purple), Convolvulus ('Sabatius Blue'), and Petunias ('Fanfare Dark Blue,' 'Fanfare Lavender Vein,' 'Tumbelina - Angela,' and a mini 'Double Blue'). I may have over-filled this basket for the back garden, but as this is my first year attempting hanging baskets, I'm keen to see which plants fare best, so if it becomes over-crowded in summer, I may have to separate some of the plants out.

This is the 14" basket, and I'm hoping to hang it at the front of the house in semi-shade. This is potted up with five different Surfinias (as well as the grass, ivy, and creeping jenny). The Surfinias are 'Sky Blue,' 'White,' 'Blue Topaz,' 'Burgundy (Keiburtel),' and 'Sunblu.' I've read that Surfinias should be OK in semi-shade, so I'm crossing my fingers that they'll get enough light at the front of the house.

And lastly, this is the 12" basket, which is also going to the front of the house in semi-shade. This contains just three trailing fuschias (as well as the grass, ivy and creeping jenny). 'Southern Belle Trailing Deep Purple,' 'Southern Belle Trailing Blue Mirage,' and 'Trailing Trudi Davro.' Again, I have read that fuschias shouldn't mind semi-shade, so am hoping they will get sufficient light.

This is a photo of the first of the petunias in flower. Hoping for many more of these!

Chesterfield's Crooked Spire

I developed my passion for photography while travelling the world. It's surprisingly easy to overlook local landmarks, and never appreciate what's on our own doorstep, forgetting that what may be an everyday sight to some of us, is a tourist attraction to someone else from further afield. 

Despite frequently passing Chesterfield's Crooked Spire, I had only ever once been inside the church, and had never climbed the spire (which is infrequently open to tourists). On Easter Monday, I climbed the 144 steps up the tower, carrying a three-year-old (who went off the idea of climbing them himself upon arrival) , and a camera. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I could barely walk for several days afterwards, but I was glad I made the effort to appreciate this quirky, one-of-a-kind church, despite my jelly-legs.

Easter Bunny (and friends)

I stepped up the game on our Easter photos this year, which took a little more preparation. I got very lucky with these costumes, from ebay (which are ex-hire-shop, but never worn, so they are a very high quality). He loves the rabbit costume (and frequently requests to wear this at home). He gets very into character when dressed as the bunny, and likes to eat raw carrot, while in costume. It is an effort to keep the white outfit white, especially while he was outdoors for this shoot. 

He was less keen on the ducky costume (which was also a fraction too small, despite the fact that theoretically, they are both the same size). I still managed this one shot. I don't like to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do (and the best photos are always when he's enjoying himself anyway), so the duck remains relatively unworn, while the rabbit is most definitely in his 'favourites pile' until it is outgrown. I don't think either of these will still fit next Easter, but I loved shooting this set of special Easter photos... And next year, I already have a sheep outfit lined up. (No, seriously!).

Just for fun, click the 'Easter' link beneath this post, for a comparison of our Easter photo shoots, as Little Ro has grown older. The Easter Bunny has grown up a little since he was three months old.

Easter Festivities

Continuing my resolution to celebrate all the seasons of the year, spring is well under way, and I have bedecked my kitchen in Easter decorations. Most of my seasonal decor finds its way onto the piano. Music features heavily in my life, so it seems to make sense that the piano (which resides in the kitchen/diner where we spend most of our time), becomes the focus for my themed trimmings, and it seemed to work particularly well with my Easter artefacts. My post-Christmas blues have passed, and as the weather warms up and the garden comes to life, I feel my spirits rise. I really enjoyed putting this display together, and will probably extend it from year to year (there were some ideas I didn't have time to complete this year). Easter is one of my favourite times of year, with its own special atmosphere. I always feel there is a sense of peace and tranquility over the Easter weekend, and these little celebrations provide a cheerful motif to look forward to each year.

My decorations began with an 'Easter Tree.' I still haven't found a little twig tree with fairy lights (I liked the idea of re-using one throughout the year with different seasonal decorations). In the absence of finding one I like for a reasonable price, this variation on a 'tree' is really twigs of forsythia and flowering currant from my Dad's garden, arranged in a vase, with Easter decorations adorning them. I think these decorations are by Gisella Graham, who does a wonderful seasonal range, differing each year. You can usually find them online, or in 'crafty shops.' 

As well as the 'Easter Tree' I added some green organza fabric, and lots of other spring-themed tokens. I usually try to avoid chocolate (this year, there was more forth-coming than usual), and many of these items make great substitutes. Several were gifts for my little boy, new to us this year. He was very excited to see them on Easter morning. Included in my Easter arrangement, there are duck, rabbit and bird soft toys, some eggs decorated with tissue paper, a little primrose in a teacup and saucer (technically a Mother's Day gift, but I included it because it seemed to fit), rabbit ears, a bowl of daffodils, and various crafts my son made in an Easter basket. The two chicks in the nest were new gifts (one hops, one cheaps - both were about £1 each), as well as a hopping rabbit. These were intended as chocolate substitutes, but we did end up with some chocolate eggs, too (as you see).

There are also two variations on a theme that I made using string and a balloon. The first is the nest. This is just made using garden twine, dipped in PVA glue, and wrapped around the balloon to create a nest shape. Once dried, it is reasonably sturdy and convincing (as well as very easy to make). The second is the 'grass basket' (which contains some small chocolates). This was made using a similar technique, draping cut lengths of wool dipped in PVA glue over a balloon. This was more time consuming, and I didn't have time to add as many layers as I'd have liked, so it isn't as sturdy, but I like the overall effect. 

Outdoor Easter Tree

I had not one, but two attempts at Easter themed activities this year, because we were away in Scotland during the run up to Easter. So we had an Easter outdoors, prior to making my indoor display over the weekend. I've heard that some villages adorn their trees with Easter ornaments, which I think is a lovely idea. They looked beautiful hanging on a moss covered tree, with the sun shining behind them (I don't think they'd have liked being left out in the rain, though).

Easter Wreath

Lastly, I made this wreath for Easter. I saw some beautiful ideas on Pinterest, but had minimal time in the end, so this is rustic and simple! It combines symbols of a mish-mash of different faiths. At the end of the day the Easter we have come to know is based on a combination of different cultural traditions. So here we have a rustic wooden cross (this was bought from a Palestinian charity). Some baby chicks on a mossy twig, on a straw wreath. And a couple of sheep purchased on my travels (these also come out at Christmas - I think they were from Peru, if memory serves). There is yellow organza fabric tied around the top of the wreath, and draped behind, which looks like sunshine shining through the window all day long.

Children's Easter Book Recommendations

And finally, for parents who, like me, are looking for alternatives to chocolate for Easter (albeit some chocolate seems to have crept into our household this year), I have a tradition of giving a book to my son for an Easter present (preferably something vaguely themed). Though none of these are specifically about Easter, they feature Spring-like story-lines and pictures, and seem appropriate for the season. These are some of my recommendations:

For the under twos (from age 0+), 'Hello Bunny,' and 'Good Morning Bluebird,' both Peek-a-boo adventure board-books, by Parragon Books.

For age 3+ :

'Rabbit Ears' by Amber Stewart, illustrated by Laura Rankin, Bloobsbury paperbacks.

'Pig's Egg' (my son's current favourite), by Katherine Sully, illustrated by Sam Chaffey, published by Cupcake.

'Frog on the Log' by Leyland Perree, illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy, published by Cupcake.

'Everybody Loves Butterflies' by Tanis Taylor, illustrated by Masumi Furukawa, by Parragon Books.

Recommendations welcome for Easter themed books for older children, as I intend to continue this tradition as my son grows older.