little green fingers

Swing sets, Danish dramas and significant birthdays

Photo Source: Sitting Spiritually

Buy cheap, buy twice.

I employ this phrase quite regularly.  It's a useful way to pretend you are a prudent investor whilst simultaneously spending far too much money on an item.

I've said it a lot recently.

The reason?  A swing.

You see we have an old swing in the garden but it's becoming a bit too 'swingy'.  I know this is like complaining that rain is too wet or a Danish drama about murder is a bit too gloomy, but it is true. Whilst I find it perfectly normal behaviour for the seats to rock back and forth, it becomes slightly disturbing when the entire frame follows suit.

Also, in common with most other play equipment, our swing set is only made for children.  In my opinion this is an error.  Swings, like university, free time and youth, are wasted on the young. If I'm buying a new set of swings I want to make sure I get to go on them.

This (and my aforementioned gravitation towards the pricey end of the market) led me to put in an order last week with Sitting Spiritually.  They have a sturdy, classic design in oak or cedar and, not only do they take adults as well as children, they even have a drinks shelf option. Genius.

Delivery won't be for a few more weeks, but I do get sent photo updates.  This one is of the engraved seats.  I may have to put a copy in my purse - alongside shots of the children.

Sadly, none of this comes cheaply so I am justifying the purchase as my birthday present.  Thankfully it's a significant number this year (let's pretend it starts with a '3' - it doesn't, but, hey it's my blog) which makes  the extravagance a little more bearable. However, a word to the wise: "I'd really like to be able to swing on my birthday" is not such a great phrase to use.

Valentine's cards, book launches and selling your Granny

Who launches a gardening book in early February? I mean, seriously, there is snow on the ground, temperatures are plummeting, and we've barely finished the mince pies.

Oh yes.  That's right.  I do.

On the plus side, there are many projects in Garden Crafts for Children that you can do in the comfort of your own kitchen.  There is even one that is downright seasonal - making a sprouting Valentine's Day card.  At this point I shall hand over to my daughter because she is vastly more competent than me and looks significantly better in front of a camera.

 

 

If you have problems viewing this on the site, you can also see it on YouTube (here) - or even on the book's facebook page.  Yes, you read that right.  My book has a facebook page.  What's more you can "like" it (which quite frankly seems a little half-hearted - I feel Mr Zuckerberg should add a bit more passion to the site and I may well campaign for the introduction of some "adore", "revere" and "would sell my Granny for this" buttons).

Radioactive nuts and lunch for 17

We hosted three of my old school friends and their families for lunch on Sunday.  This slightly rash invitation followed one of our regular girls' nights out in London. The next morning, I woke up, did some fairly basic maths and announced to Reuben that I hope he didn't mind too much but I'd just volunteered him to cook lunch for 17.

Thankfully he is an optimistic soul and muttered something about it being just like a normal Sunday roast "but, with a bit more food".

Along with many small children, interesting conversation, chocolates, a few bottles of wine and some champagne, one of our guests also brought us the object photographed above.

As Rolf Harris might say "Can you tell what it is yet?".

It is in fact a Brazil Nut, bought over (some might say "smuggled" but let's not dwell on that) direct from its namesake. Yes, what we call Brazil nuts are actually the seeds which you find, arranged like segments of an orange, when you crack open the nut itself.

It is now, officially, my favourite present ever given by a guest (and need I remind you that, as they also bought champagne, this is praise indeed).

It is also a brilliant "horticultural show off" item which is going to seriously up our ante at the school show and tell session (this is not hard - Oscar's most recent item was a trophy won two years ago for the village three-legged race).

Here are just some of the incredible things about Brazil nuts:

They are pollinated by long-tongued orchid bees

Brazil nut trees can grow 50 metres tall and, given these nuts are both very hard and quite heavy, walking underneath them can prove fatal

The nuts are radioactive (I'm not making this up, I promise)

But most interesting of all is watching your slipper-clad husband try to open them with a block hammer and chisel whilst guests look on and give amazingly ineffective advice.