Fireworks, Rainbows & Lollipops.....

.....Allegedly, life is too short to go without them?

I suppose it's because they're "Oooh!"...."Aaaah!" and....."Mmmm!".
And I only mention this, because my friend M text it to me the other day.

To be honest, FIREWORKS have never really 'blown my frock up', being more of a 'Sparkler In The Dark' kinda girl. I can't get over how much they cost, (Fireworks, not Sparklers), how brief their enjoyment, and the anti-climactic disappointment I feel when the sky returns to dark, like they'd never been there in the first place.... It might just be that 'I'm A Miserable Git', that we only afforded Sparklers when I was little, or that I prefer a good old-fashioned Mother Nature Sunset, with a chilled glass of.

Whereas, give me RAINBOWS any day of the week, and watch Wellie chase them, in search of that elusive pot of gold. Give me a DOUBLE RAINBOW, and I'm doubly happy, chasing it to the ends of this earth and beyond for the dreams in my heart.

LOLLIPOPS, on the other hand, are like 'A Hug on A Stick'. And depending on the level of Hug you're after, you can have 'A Boring Hug', 'A Funny Hug', 'A Sherbet Hug', 'A Frozen Hug' on a hot sunny day, or just have 'A Moment Hug' and bite its' ruddy ears off if you're that cross Children?!x

So that's where Wellie stands on the Fireworks, Rainbows & Lollipops front, in case you were wondering.

And M left me a little GoodyBag on the front door knob, with a card saying "I'm Missing my friend", a beautifully perfumed potted candle, and a ceramic heart, saying: "Remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you feel, and smarter than you think."

Which, no doubt is true, given that I've been a whole week without my beloved Black Cat now today, this Mothering Sunday.

And one of our lovely Potting Shed Monmouth Customers, bought us a Lavender to plant for BC.
Thank you Susan.x

We decided BC would like to lay down for her Big Sleep in front of The Funny Farm kitchen window, where I can chat away with her, like I've always done every morning and evening.

And I'll be 'Colouring Her Happy' under Mother Nature's Duvet with some beautiful Sarah Raven Mixed Cut Flower Seeds, kind of 'throw'n'grow' stylie - picking regularly throughout the summer to take to The Potting Shed for filling the kiddy-wellie-vases on the tea tables.

I've planted my Special Garden Fairy beside her, to keep her company for now.

I miss you Babe, and love you always.x

Around the world, those of you who are reading my blog once again, Bless You, Thank You, and See You Here Next Week.
X

Asleep Forever in My Broken Heart.....but Never More Loved

I'm devastated to have to report to you all that BC, my beloved black cat, my very special and precious little girl had to be put to sleep today.

Her failing kidneys and latest episode of Cat Flu, were far more than she could handle, and as much love and care as I gave her, when she'd 'had enough' and stopped eating, so rapidly deteriorating, she gave me her permission to end her beautiful life.

It's never an easy call to make, but Marlow Vets came here to The Funny Farm, and she died in my loving arms at lunchtime, just where she would have wanted to be.

As I sit here writing this painful blog update, looking at her next to me, wrapped up snug in my garden fleece, I'm wondering where she'd like her Big Sleep to begin underneath 'Mother Nature's Duvet'....
Perhaps I'll ask Trousers what his thoughts are.x

It's been an incredibly difficult day for me today, but a very positive one too. My friend Medina sent me THE most beautiful text, saying that I could not have been a more wonderful mum to BC, and this is why she chose me all those years ago. In all honesty, I do feel honoured that BC chose Trousers and I like she did, and so very grateful to her for showing me just how deep a love can go into your heart, like hers' did, leaving me with a lasting warm glow within my soul, and a sparkly twinkle in my eyes.

Tomorrow I shall return to work at The Potting Shed with a renewed spring in my step, an extra twinkle in my eyes, and over a decade of fond memories to keep me smiling forever. Bless you BC.....
Mummy Loves You For Ever and Ever.x

MARCH ON........GAME ON !

You know what?  It's been a really tough January/February to come out this side of it into March, but honestly, hang out The Flappy Bunting, the sun is making more regular appearances to kick-start Mother Nature into wearing that lovely Spring Green Frock of hers', and it won't be long now till we're in full swing!

I'm quite surprised that Trousers and I have managed to stay such good friends, having to look at each other for quite so many hours in a day for the past two months!..... Thankfully, the silences have been broken, and the atmospheric 'cutting knife' put back in The Potting Shed drawer, with the slow but steady arrival of happy and friendly customers on a daily basis since the New Year dawned.

That's what I love about this Potting Shed Business - My Customers.
They've been so supportive, and hugely complimentary about the business, spreading the word about us, leaving lovely comments on Tripadvisor about us, and bringing more and more friends and family members to see us when they visit, that they're almost Family themselves to us now.
And with us opening our doors 7 Days A Week again from this Tuesday 3rd March, we'll be pleasing many more of them, more of the time....x

Until then, we enjoyed a day off today with a drive out to Whitlenge Garden Centre in Hartlebury for a bit of a new-season friendly motivational 'hug' from our Friendlies; Fran and Keith, who started their own business there in a similar vane to us, many moons ago.

Their hugely popular Garden Centre & Creative Landscaping Business, with exhibits at Chelsea Flower Show, have won Fran & Keith many an Award.
Whitlenge has a lovely Tearoom/Cafe, where Wellie had a toasted teacake this morning, and Trousers, rather unsurprisingly, had a Big Boys' Cooked Breakfast Boys'n'Girls?

There are crafts and gifts, and it's very Child-Friendly, with designated Play Areas, an extensive range of beautiful garden plants, and a really fabulous private garden for you to follow a seasonal trail through, full of inspiration, and lots of fun for the whole family.  And they can even cater for functions/children's parties too.

When we were last there, we bought some rustic wooden balcony panels for The Potting Shed Garden, and our 'Tame Builder': Gordie, wanted a few more of them to play with in a couple of weeks' time?
In fact, Children, scroll back to my Blog entry dated 11th December, 2011, and see what a lovely Tool Box Gordie has!

With March marching on, and the possibility of our Alcohol License being granted in the next week or so, that potential for new business opportunities opens The Potting Shed Door even wider....with longer Sunday Trading Hours for our Customers to enjoy Cream Teas, or a fruity glass of Pimms in the garden, a glass of wine with lunch, and even 'pre-theatre Suppers', if we want to, having both The Savoy and The Blake Theatres on our doorstep......so keep your fingers crossed for us, why don't you.

And if you haven't yet......do become a Follower of my Blog here, or find us on Facebook and Tripadvisor, and things, where you can Goggle at some photos.
To be honest Kids, I've not stumbled unceremoniously into the land of Twitter yet... (too much compost under my fingernails maybe?) but one of these fine days when I have time on my hands, have made the acquaintance of a three year old child who's been on Twitter since they were born, I'll get them to teach me, eh?!x

Until next time, take care my friends.
x

33,000 Odd Funny Farm Followers

And Counting?
What's THAT all about?... and just WHERE did you thousands of people come from when I wasn't looking?x

I'm not remotely suggesting that you're all 'odd'(!) -  just that there's many MORE than 33,000 of you now -  and quite honestly, whilst I DO think you all need to 'get out more'(!) - I could be 'knocked over with a feather', because I had no idea, until this evening, that so many of you have liked reading my Blog since I last Blogged.

Have you missed me Children?

To be honest, a lot of water has flowed under my bridge since I last wrote -  so I do feel rather blessed to be back with you once again.
And to be back writing my Blog now is the icing on my cake - quite literally.

BC Cat has been a constant supportive ball of fluff on legs............  on my lap, on my mind, on my case, and recently, on my HUGE Vet Bill?  She's prolly about 15 now, and we almost lost her just before Christmas, which was 'THIS' close to breaking Wellie's heart.

She had Cat Flu (picked up from the Funny Farm Cats maybe?) and her kidneys are clearly beginning to fail her.,.  So I took her rather pronto to Marlow Vets in Chepstow, and was overwhelmed by their professionalism and kindness at such short notice, even offering Tea'n'Tissues (for me, not the cat?!)

The next 3 days on a drip, (her, not me?) and antibiotics, kidney tablets, and quite frankly, whatever they could do to keep her stable and alive, and with the utmost TLC.
They also think she has a tumour... but bless her paws, she's rallied really well for now.

Then there's Trousers.  Remember him?
......... Or, as I like to call him these days: 'He Who Mustn't Be Obeyed'...

Last November, he put himself on a No-Carbs diet, has lost about 3 stone, and I'm INCREDIBLY proud of him.
Howevver..... He IS actually now THE grumpiest man living on Planet Earth, and I should know, I work with him every day!

He used to get up every single morning at the 'crack of sparrow *art' to travel hundreds of miles up'n'down the country to work for a rather large company, painting'n'decorating.  Now, he slopes into Monmouth, a 20 minute drive from where The Funny Farm is, at about 7.30am, puts a match to the log-burning stove, chops a couple of logs, onions and things, and for the rest of the day then, creates rather gorgeous meals for Joe Public to take photos of and post up on Facebook.

And ACTUALLY, now then, seriously, what does WELLIE and her Flobalob Flowerpot People do these days you wonder?

Well, here's The Jackanory:
There was a small independent ready-made garden centre for sale locally, but it was way too expensive for what it was, and the location was less than brilliant.  So, thinking outside the box......... I identified a far better location to open, and create my very OWN town centre garden centre that I didn't need to procure £75,000 for.  And with it, invented a Garden Tearoom to supplement the non-gardening 'leaner' months of the year to go with it.

My ideas, which let's face it, if you know and love Wellie, have ALWAYS been this side of bonkers, were to take a step back from the ever-increasing chain of high-street Coffee Houses, creating 'Vintage' in the Tearoom, with pretty crockery, silver cutlery, shabby-chic, and amalgamate it with my love of food, Grow Your Own and place it in my customer's laps.

Paul (previously a very successful Chef before his Decorating Career), left his job in the latter months of last summer to come work with me, in order to further this innovative new business.

The people of Monmouth, surrounding towns and villages, and even much further afield these days, seem to love us for just who we are, and what we offer, beautifully expressed from the lovely comments left about us on Facebook and Tripadvisor.

The popularity of THE POTTING SHED MONMOUTH has evolved such that the garden space has become less garden centre, and more Café for Cooked Breakfasts, Lunches, Teas, Coffees, Cream Teas and Cakes....and totally 'customer-led', we are in the process of applying for a Liquor License.

So that's my news!
Have a goggle at us on Facebook and Tripadvisor.
Until next time, thanks for being here.
Wellie.

How ARE You?!........

Invariably, the reply is: "Top Banana Thanks......  It's just everyone ELSE?!"

Dead humorous, whether it's me or you saying it.  But sometimes, just sometimes, it's far truer than you'd like it to be, and you have to spend time being with yourself, healing yourself from the harm that others have inadvertently caused you. 
Powerful words from Wellie, but never a truer word spoken in jest just here.
So forgive me hugely for having to take this time out on that score.

But I'm back now in spite of all of that in a much stronger personal space and capacity.

And I'm truly looking forward to your company once again, from now on.

With the sun shining so beautifully today, I put some baby Parsnip seeds to chit on damp kitchen paper in a Tupperware box beside the cooker.  It's called 'pre-germinating, or chitting' in the world of propagation, and will ensure that I know WHEN I have a viable Parsnip to sow into the ground?

Wellie hugely needs to pull her horticultural finger out now.  Time is marching on, the weather MAY get more clement if we're remotely lucky, lucky, I should be so lucky? and then it'll be Rock'n'Roll my friends.

Let's be careful out there Children?
Wellie.X

Doh!

I can only apologise.

I took some rather lovely photos this afternoon, and told you a whole Wellie story this evening about our Christmas Breakfast and Presents, and EVERYTHING, and we've had a Computer 'Blip' - which has meant that I know ALL of that story, and you don't?

Again.  My apologies, and we'll try to fix the problem to bring you the story very soon.
XX

HUG WELLIE in 2013......

When I said (in my Cracker of a Christmas blog) that my friend Elsie had visited with bouquet and prezzies, I had no idea that her thoughtfulness went far deeper than that lovely evening..  She had put so much thought into choosing our prezzie, even down to adding my cat BC into the bottom-right-hand-corner of our prezzie to artistic effect, which actually looks far more like BC than BC does herself.  And it's going to look Epic, framed in pride of place in my kitchen Poppet, so Thank You from the bottom of my heart.X

The Sunday before Christmas, we were invited to enjoy breakfast with our friends Ian and Medina.  And were not only treated to a gorgeous brekkie, but a surprise stocking of little goodies to open at the breakfast table. 

They've never quite forgotten when Wellie popped a whole chilli-stuffed green olive into her mouth on their sofa a few months back, and cried with laughter for a good half hour, needing an urgent injection of natural yoghurt from their fridge to kiss it better?  so M cheekily bought me some Waterproof Mascara, some gorgeous mauve nailvarnish, clementines and a selection of NUTS, (like she's in no way trying to suggest that I am?)

 AND, what made me laugh out loud............ A Knitted Sprout with a Christmas Hat on..
I told you I wasn't joking - and here is the very proof that it exists in all its' glory.  The girl is a Crafty Genius.  And that wasn't where the laughter ended, because given that Trousers used to be A Mouse in a previous life.....she made something very close to his heart as well..........

.....a wedge of knitted Cheese!!

Don't you wish YOU had friends like that Children?

You see that's exactly what I love about my life these days....... being utterly spontaneous...able to laugh out loud, completely and utterly at yourself, and with people that you adore, totally being who you are, rather than the person you're expected or supposed to be. 
Laugh, cry, throw teddies out of prams, pick up, dust down, carry on.
SIMPLES.

I'm afraid it hasn't been a productive time though in the Funny Farm Kitchen Garden yet.  The sun rises there, but quickly moves around to the front of the house, so the frost lingers in the back garden, and so too in the creative side of my brain.  I'm not sure about you, but every year I suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  'Trust Me, I'm A Gardener' means that I love being outside in the Sunshine, and hate being inside when it isn't.  So I tend to cook/hibernate/sew/knit/cook/hibernate.
But thankfully, my sense of humour never leaves me.
Nor does my love of words.

So when Ian and M bought me THE HOROLOGICON by Mark Forsyth for Christmas, it meant that I could take my love of words to another level.  His book is superbly written, with such wit as you'd wish you'd written it yourself.

Nor does my love of my Garden Birds. I feed them twice a day.  Luckily where we live, we have a CountryWide Store, and you can get a ruddy big sack of mixed corn for £7.99 for feeding Poultry.  This is FAR cheaper than buying dead expensive garden centre crap in small bags for huge dosh Children.

I AM beginning to get my head around the Itton Village Show, with who M and I would love to help us this year? and what our 2013 Show Schedule is gorgeously going to be....
so if you're interested in local village shows, keep one eye open on ours', and have a giggle at the same time maybe.

My Love for now.  Keep Safe.  Keep Warm, and I'll see you next time.
X