Wednesday 7 July 2010

Finished at last!

You need a magnifying glass to see the plants round the edge, but when they have filled out a bit more the hard edges will be softened.
It's all coming together nicely and the sabbing around the edge only needs to weather a bit for our new pond to look more natural. I think maybe a couple more marginal plants might help too, to disguise the shape of the liner. I am really pleased with it but still need to build up more soil behind the 'waterfall' to integrate it with it's surroundings, then I think I will be satisfied.

I can't believe how much work it has involved, considering we got people in to do the work for us! I had to dig up loads of plants around the old pond to make room for the larger pond as well as creating some working space for the men do the work. The patio was lined with pots which had to be watered daily through all the hot weather and then, of course, they all had to be replanted. While I was waiting until I could do the replanting it was a golden opportunity to lick the rest of the garden into shape so there has been much compost making and tidying. Now it is all done I have a lovely place to sit and relax, and rest on my laurels.

Last Saturday there was a Vintage Textile Fair in Chipping Sodbury - not far from us - and I bought these lovely yarns (not exactly vintage). The silk ones I will use in my next project, which I am not supposed to be thinking about yet as I haven't finished the current one. I bought the purple wool to finish a jacket I am knitting. I am reknitting a previous one and the new pattern is using more wool than I had originally - panic stations. I'm not sure the purple is the right colour so will have to find something else to do with it and find a better shade.


I did find this vintage lace and shared it with my daughter who will use it on some of her costumes for the re-enactment group she belongs to. The Fair had so many beautiful old fabrics that I wished I was a quilter.

My daughter has loaded the photo of my grandmother on the previous post for me as it goes with my poem. It is a favourite of mine, of both my grandparents as you will see, and I believe it may well have been their wedding photo. They make a handsome couple and were both lovely people.

13 comments:

Heather said...

That word in the second paragraph should of course be 'slabbing'. My proof reading is not what it should be.

Carol Q said...

beautiful pond Heather. hope you get lots of wildlife in it. you made some good finds at the vintage textile fair. lovely photo of your grandparents - look at the tiny waist she had!

Gina said...

Your pond is looking good Heather. I love the colours of the silk yarns and what a super photo of your grandparents!

Unknown said...

Thanks Heather, that's the trouble too many toys not enough time :)

your garden looks wonderful

sharon young said...

The pond looks wonderful, Heather, what a great space to sit in and relax.
Lovely goodies from the fair, the purple wool is a stunning colour.
Great to see the pic of your grandparents. Aren't daughters udeful:-)

Heather said...

I couldn't manage without my daughter Sharon. Sons are pretty useful too - our came to shift the rockery stones around for us as some of them had been partly buried under the spoil from the pond and needed to be excavated.

Julie said...

Your pond is looking wonderful Heather and very natural already.

Your grandmother sounds like mine, a formidable lady but I loved her to bits and still miss her although she died 30 years ago at the age of 80. The photo of your grandparents is a wonderful memory to keep.

BT said...

I was a bit confused by that word Heather!! I think the whole effect is lovely. It really is peaceful and I'm sure as it weathers it will look as though it's been there forever. Super. I love that purple wool and the vintage lacey bits! Fabulous.

Robin Mac said...

Your pond is looking super, I am glad you corrected theword sabbing, I was wondering what it meant! I love all the goodies you bought at the Fair too. Cheers,
Robin

Aussie Jo said...

Sensational pond Heather. Have you put in fish or are you encouraging frogs and tadpoles? My school children were excited when they spotted what they thought were tadpoles in our frog pond; I think they might have been mosquito larvae though!! Bit cold for tadpoles here yet.

Heather said...

The pond is just for wildlife Aussie Jo, though there are two very small goldfish in there. How they got there I've no idea. I've nothing against fish but they seem to eat the frogspawn and I'd rather have frogs and newts.

Downunderdale said...

Garden is looking good Heather. Will try to send you some rain for it- dale

Linda Vincent said...

What a special corner you have there in your garden...a lovely sanctuary for you (and the wild-life). Hope you get lots of frogs and newts etc!
You are so good with words I trusted you with 'sabbing'.....I just thought it was a special type of rockery :-)