Take Me Out There, Sit In The Green Garden

I've got a to-do list as long as my arm but as long as the sun's shining I'll make every excuse in the book to stay outside and top up my tan.

There's hardly a weed to be seen amongst those blue bricks (snaffled by Jon for a pittance on eBay) . My poor nails are ruined - I know, I should wear gloves but once I get the bit between my teeth I can't tear myself away.

I loved gardening in my previous homes but this tree-filled, 110 metre long beast is a real challenge. I've learnt to ignore the rest of the wilderness and concentrate on the front bit. If you can't see it then it's not worth stressing over, is it?

We came across this box of encaustic tiles when we were rummaging around it an outhouse over the weekend. It seemed a shame to leave them festering in a damp cardboard box.

 The meat safe was left the cellar of our last house (a Victorian terrace). I painted it a few years ago but I prefer it to look a bit battered around the edges (it matches it's owner). 

The Victorian chimney pot was in the garden when we moved in, I dug up the cast iron railings a couple of years ago and the chimera was a skip find. I've more vintage enamel in my kitchen than I know what to do with so I may as well re-purpose some of it. 

I've no idea if these are weeds I've planted in the terracotta heads (bought from a seconds stall on the market over 25 years ago) - I dug them up from the patch.

The knackered old watering can was another skip find - useless for it's original purpose but too pretty to leave behind.

Jon nearly put his back out carrying this ancient Belfast sink back to the van after we spotted it at a car boot sale years ago for a fiver. I've transplanted some of the rocket and Alpine strawberries that run wild in the borders.

I'm not sure whether growing tomatoes and cucumbers alongside flowers is normal gardening etiquette but it works for me.

Those window-boxes were in an upmarket garden centre's bargain bin - The Guardian declared that brushed steel was over as a garden accessory the same week but who gives a toss about fashion if you like something (and they're £2 each?)

1960s suede waistcoat (Xmas pressie from Liz) worn with a brushed denim feather-trimmed maxi (£6.19 from eBay back in 2011), bone and turquoise wolf choker (50p, Car boot sale years ago)

Don't worry, I haven't gone all ladylike & domesticated just yet, as usual I've left Jon to cook the tea and there's a bottle of lager at my elbow.

See you soon.