Happy (belated) New Year 2014!

I know I know it's a bit late to be wishing you all a Happy New Year when we already have our feet firmly plonked in to February! But as they say better late than never.

I do apologise for the very long absence but as many of you may remember I started up a new business venture which took me up a new path and unfortunately not the garden one.

The business is going well, as with all new ventures there are ups as well as downs and it has been somewhat a bumpy ride with a wide arc of a learning curve too! You soon learn who are the friends and you know the other part of that saying!

The business has evolved and grown so much this past almost a year. Not only is there refurbished furniture we have workshops, craft groups and a selection of wonderful local crafter's who have their gifts and wares on sale. I have met so many wonderful creative people as well as having made many new friends.

There has also been several other changes in my little world, I am going to see a specialist surgeon regarding the problems and pain in my leg/hip on Wednesday, I saw the consultant last October and after X-rays they seem to be erring on a hip replacement so I shall find out this week what is actually going to be done and to be honest I am petrified! I am unable to walk any distance and can no longer walk the dogs which I really miss doing.

So as you can imagine with the above condition there is currently no hope of any gardening in the near future as bending and crouching is the most painful of all. When I look out into the garden and see how it is all so over grown it is heart breaking but I do have an action plan that I am hoping to discuss with a certain someone but can't say too much as yet just in case they read this first! However I will reveal all in due course.

I am debating on whether to start up a separate blog for the business or to combine it with this one. I want to let people know what I am working on and give tips ect and also keep people updated with what workshops craft sessions are coming up. So if anyone out there is still reading this blog your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

I will leave you with a link to the website so you can have a look at what I have been up to the past year.
I promise not to leave it so long next time x

http://wigglywoocraftemporium.webs.com/

Still alive n kicking!!!

Hello one and all, is anyone there? I had slipped of the blogging planet but have managed to get a few minutes and get my head together to string a coherent, well almost sentence together!

It has been just over 6 months ago that I started on my new venture, and so much has been happening in those 6 months that I don't even know where to begin. However I don't want to bore you all to death either!

So I will try not to ramble on and just tell you the main things that have been going on. The shop has evolved considerably since I first opened, I have about 18 different crafter's that have their handmade items for sale in the shop as well as the furniture I do and my own makes. The tearoom is also up and running and we are also running craft workshops. Every Wednesday we have an open craft coffee morning, where all are welcome to pop along and bring whatever craft they are currently working on and we all craft together. It has been hard work to get the shop to where and how it is but it has been great fun too.

Now what else have I been up to...

Well not a lot really as the business and the family take up most of my time. The garden has been left to it's own devices and is now a sorry state. I did manage to get a couple of hours weeding in about 8 weeks ago but that was it. It is now overgrown once more, but I am determined to get it done and covered over before the end of November! I will probably have to do it by moonlight.

I am sad to say that I no longer have the girls, Bell, Dory and Octavia have gone to live on my Friend Terry's allotment with his girls and boys. I just did not have the time to give to them plus we had a major mice problem and I felt that by sending them to live on Terry's allotment was the best option for all concerned. I do really miss them, even the dogs look forlornly at the empty run, but I am glad that I did have a chance to be a hen keeper and experience the joy that they give. 

Jay is currently recovering from having his appendix removed last week, so it has been even more hectic than usual. I was supposed to be doing some cutting out tonight but thus far have just got that bag beside me with all the stuff in that I need. We are currently awaiting a storm/gale to hit, I put some stuff away earlier in the summerhouse, I just hope the tree doesn't come crashing down!

The photo is of a pretty little fungi that I saw when out walking the dogs early this morning,  a little bit of colour on a drab dark day. 

Well I will bid you a fond farewell, stay safe if the storm is heading your way. I hope you enjoyed reading and I will not leave it so long next time x

To see what the shop is like ect you can view photos on the Wigglywoo facebook page

R.I.P my big bird Matilda

Today Matilda took her last egg laying breath and now joins Perdy in the great big coop in the sky. She had become egg bound again but this time was to be her last.

It has been extremely warm these past few days with a little rainfall but not enough to make much difference to the ground. I had my first blueberry yesterday, it was quite nice not as juicy or blue as I thought it would be. The strawberries are coming to an end now, the peas have also done. The onions have bolted so at some point this week I shall be clearing the ground and putting on some compost and covering it for the winter as I will not be growing anything else until next spring.

A couple of weeks ago I had a lovely post written by Karen at Karen Louise Crafts all about Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium. Thanks Karen you are too kind x To read Karen's blog click on the link below
http://karenlouisecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/wigglywoos-craft-emporium.html?m=1

Well not a lot of news, I hope you are all enjoying the summer so far. Until next time x

Frazzled!

Hello everyone! I do apologise yet again for my long absence. Things have been rather busy and I was trying to keep it all going but unfortunately something had to give and it was the garden that has been pushed to the wayside.

We have had amazing weather these past couple of weeks, my waterbutts are empty. We have harvested some potatoes, peas and strawberries however the onions have gone to seed, the fennel needs thinning out and the swedes are growing well. There are no runner beans, French beans, courgettes or squashes in the garden this year but there is plenty of weeds!  So far this year has been a bit of a blur and has whizzed past at tremendous speed!

The heat seems to have affected the girls as we are down to just one egg a day, they have become very noisy indeed, as soon as I get home and they see me through the door they become very vocal as they know they will be allowed out for their daily stroll shortly. They have been venturing into the kitchen a lot more, even flighty Matilda has taken to a wander around the kitchen.

A few photos of the well erm I suppose growing/disintegrating vegetable garden

Lots have been going on at Wigglywoo's Craft Emporium We now have the tea room up and running as well as the workshops, lots of lovely furniture and locally handmade crafts and gifts. What I love about the shop is that no two weeks have been the same since I opened, there has been changes to the layout and what we have for sale is always changing. 

The first pieces that went on display

adding to the stock

My beautiful girly set that I really enjoyed doing

The emerging tearoom

The tearoom all set and ready to serve

The rear end of the shop as it is now

another section of the shop as it is now

 As you can see from the photos the shop has totally transformed over the last three months. I have met lots of lovely people since I have been in the shop as well as a few strange encounters. It is hard work but I am loving every minute of it. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, until next time and I promise not to leave it so long x