Other People's Gardens - February 2020

It's been a very damp few weeks in the gardens and everything is looking very lush at the moment.

These beauties, I think, are the only residential snowdrops I've seen this year.  I don't know if it's been a bad year for them?  It shouldn't be as snowdrops like damp conditions.  Perhaps I just haven't been paying attention!

Sadly, my old gardening coat has finally given up the ghost - it had plenty of tears in it from brambles and holly, but in the end the zip stopped working, so no good to me.   It had lasted a good while though - it was about twenty years old and had been walked in up hill and down dale before being consigned to gardening, due to the pocket zips breaking.   Shame though, such an old faithful.

Although it's actually been very mild so far this year, I've still needed to be wrapped up against the wind and storms - we've had a number of named storms so far this year, Ciara, Dennis and another big one, whose name escapes me right now.

It's got to be good for my complexion though, right?!

Seeds and Stuff - February 2020

I didn't actually get around to sowing any seeds in February, but am pleased to report that the leeks and tomatoes I sowed in January are coming along very well - I think it's because I've brought them into the house for the first time and they are nice and warm!

I wish I could say as much for the carrots and lobelia, but can always sow more at a later date if they don't take.

My potatoes are chitting nicely - Pink Fir Apples and Anyas this year.  And the bonus is that they have reminded me to harvest last year's spuds which are still in their tubs.

Odds and Sods - February 2020

February was all about knitting and Finn - pretty much the same as every month I guess!

I am so proud of this scarf - this was a Marie Wallin fair isle pattern - which should have been knitted in fourteen colours.  However, I had a lot of Smith and Jamieson wool left over from all the mittens I made for Christmas, so I actually knitted it in twenty-seven colours!  It is beautiful and I think I might be making a few more this year.  This was my god daughter Katherine's birthday present.

I made myself a hat.

I made some boot tops for Pam.

This is a baby blanket commission - it's all knitted up, but the ends still need darning in. I need to get a move on with it as the baby is due in April!

Amanda has designed this hat and is selling the pattern on Ravelry to raise funds for Cancer Research - we are doing a sponsored walk later this year and it's a good way of fundraising.  I can't design to save my life, so I'm making hats for donations - going well so far!

Finn has been quite poorly lately - I admit to thinking we might have lost him by now, but he seems to have made a miraculous recovery which is wonderful.   I have been making extra special fusses of him which is probably really getting on his nerves!  And of course every time he looks cute - all the time - I whip the camera out for more pictures.  Poor thing is getting very bored of it now!

I love this, look how pissed off he looks!!

And here we are, having a lovely sofa snooze.  Love this boy!