BlogOn Introduce Yourself – about me and why I go to Blogging conferences

Note to self: Don’t join a linkup then move to self hosted two days later – My fellow bloggers is there any chance you could comment on this post on my new site?  – BlogOn – Introduce yourself – and Why I go to blogging conferences/

In a couple of weeks (16th Sept), I’m off to a blogging conference run by the team at BlogOn (BlogOnuk.com) – it’s only down the road at Hotel Football, in Old Trafford, in Manchester – about three miles from my house.

I’d heard about these conferences which have been held twice a year since 2013 – everyone said how great it was.  I went to one of their Conferences in May; it was really well run and very useful.  I learnt so much that day, especially about Pinterest  It was lovely to meet people I’ve known on Twitter/ Instagram face to face too.

My highlight of the conference was hearing Jason Todd from the Art of Brilliance talking about positive psychology in life and work.  For example:

‘Every day is a Special Pants Day – Life’s too short. QUIT waiting for happiness’

• www.artofbrilliance.co.uk
• www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/meet-the-team/jason-todd 
• Twitter: @beingbrilliant Jason: @jasontoddtalks

This led me to attend their first Festival of Happiness in at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester in June.   They’re holding another Festival in Birmingham on 29 June 2019 – info.  I thoroughly recommend following them on twitter and attending their conferences.  Such a wonderful, optimistic and positive day.

 

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BlogOn – Sunday 16th September 2018 – 10-5pm, Hotel Football Manchester

I hear there are some tickets left – Ticket Information

It’s not just for parent bloggers either.  The goody bag was massive with loads of useful things.

Whether you’re a new blogger or been writing for years – There’s so much to gain from attending a blogging conference:

• update your knowledge – technical topics, photography.
• no need to be shy we are a friendly bunch…
• opportunity to talk to relevant brands
• and you never know what it might lead to…

More about me: 

We’ve been asked to write a bit about ourselves and link up… So here goes… You can also have read about other people attending the conference here

Wordless Wednesday – Spring nearly Sprung ;-) snowy Salford

28 February 2018 – day three of snowy Salford – currently minus 6 at 4pm #windchillfactor – #beastfromtheeast

Wordless Wednesday – Blossom in Manchester Sunshine

Wordless Wednesday – spring blossom, blue skies – at the University of Manchester – 16 March 2016

It was windy too – but warm, in the sunshine

Hello daffodils… Not just yet

A house with daffodils in it is a house lit up,
whether or no the sun be shining outside. 
A.A. Milne

Mini daffodils in a pot – 2 March 2015

It was horrible weather here at the weekend so I wasn’t out in the garden at all – which made me feel glum.  Instead, I’ve been thinking about positive things.  I’ve been waiting not so patiently for more bulbs to flower… not a lot is happening though. But every year is different in the garden, as well as in life.

Here are the same pots one year apart in exactly the same place – no sign of daffodils and a lot less crocuses this year than last year.

Yoda and the daffodils 1 March 2014

Daffodils and crocuses – 1 March 2015

If I was a more organised person I’d have posted these pictures on 1st March – St David’s Day. Instead I’ll just wish you ‘Dydd Gwŷl Dewi Sant hapus’.

The Met Office have said it’s been the sunniest winter on record (but not in Manchester clearly – we are one of the grey areas on the Met Office maps) – News release.  It just goes to show how much I know, as I thought last winter 2013/14 was cold and wet and that it had been milder this winter.

Statistics matter.

I’d love to have a meteorological station in the garden, but I’d need it to email me the results as I’d forget to take the measurements every day.    I grew up in a town where people knew a lot about the weather so I’ve always been fascinated by this topic.

P.S. Don’t worry Yoda is still around… he’s been at the bottom of the garden at the moment.  He makes me smile everytime I see him.   I’ll write about Yoda and my other garden ornaments another time.

P.P.S. I gave in and bought a pot of tête a tête daffodils from a supermarket – A A Milne would approve.

*****

Have you got daffodils flowering yet? or do you have different flowers to signal Spring where you live?

Carpe Diem

Love Bec xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring – daffodils and a lavender project

A couple of the tête-à-tête mini daffodils flowered in the garden yesterday (21 Feb 2015) – they look lovely and are definitely a sign that spring is on the way.  We’ve also got a fair few in a couple of pots which should flower soon.  I know we planted a lot of these bulbs around the garden last autumn as I’d never had mini daffs before and I liked the look of them. Not many are showing signs of growing let alone flowering – they might have rotted or the squirrels got them will have to wait and see – oh well.

As I said in my previous post, Spring makes me think of change and new or different things to do.   One thing I decided to do this year was some sewing projects.   I can sew; I did plenty as a child and teenager, it was just one of those things you learnt to do in the 1970s.  My mum made clothes and knitted jumpers for us. She taught me to do a lot of different crafts. I wasn’t any good with a sewing machine – I remember the look of disappointment on my teacher’s face in 1st year of senior school when I made a right mess of a simple blouse pattern.  I can knit and crochet too but not done any for over 35 years and I can’t see me starting again.

But, I’ve not done anything except buttons and hems in over 20years.  I decided to have a go at small projects so I didn’t have stuff hanging around making me feel guilty that I’d not finished it.  I’m pretty sure the last major project was a cross stitch lighthouse picture – in 1989ish.  It’s probably lurking somewhere at my mum’s house.

A pal at work was making lavender ‘bags’ sell for Red Nose Day so I asked if I could make one or two.  Here’s some my pal has made – aren’t they great. Lovely material too.

Lavender bags – my pal made these

I made this lionheart lavender bag – Feb 2015

To make:

• 1 heart cookie cutter – 10cm long or more
• Cotton material – anything you like really or one side could be felt.
• A length of ribbon – I have a ready supply of ribbon
• Kapok
• Dried lavender
• Thread and needle

Cut two pieces of material pin inside out and hem carefully 5mm in from edge. Start sewing from left side. Double over a piece of ribbon so that loop is inside the material and ends sticking out.  This is because it’s turned inside out before you stuff it.  Sew all the way round leaving a 3cm gap.  Turn inside out with pencil.  Then stuff with kapok – make sure you fill in all the edges and it feels solid. Spoon in a couple of tablespoons of lavender.  Manipulate it a bit to make sure it’s not lumpy. Carefully sew up the gap you’ve just pushed kapok and lavender through and you’re done.

And hang up on a door knob or in the wardrobe (or sell it for charity?). I think I’ll make some more…

This took about 45mins to make – though there were lots of us chattering away.

More about lavender
I’ve always loved lavender – the plant and its scent – it’s supposed to be old fashioned but I prefer to think of it as timeless.  The scent also helps you sleep too; I have a lavender oil spray as I have a problem with insomnia. Traditionally, it symbolises devotion and was often included in bridal bouquets especially in the 19th century.  There are lots of different kinds of lavender but you usually find French and English Lavender in garden centres.  French has fat looking flowers and English tends to have thinner flowers.

Two summers ago, I planted English lavender along the edge of my front garden which gets full sun all day.  The plants have thrived and it’s surprising how much scent comes off the silver/grey foliage throughout the year.  It flowers from June/July through to late August depending on how sunny it’s been. I love coming home and smelling the scent and seeing the flowers – purple is my favourite colour after all.

I’ll take some photos this summer I promise. I think I’ll also write more about lavender another time too – lavender biscuits anyone?

I really must have a go at drying lavender this year – it looks easy.

Tips from an amateur gardener

• lavender likes full sun and doesn’t mind drought / lack of water.
• bees absolutely love the flowers -so please do your bit for the bees and plant some.
• it loves gritty, poor quality soil but it needs to be free draining – so no compost.
• it will grow in pots but be careful where you put it especially in the winter. It’s hardy but I’ve had plants in pots die over the winter when it’s been below freezing for a few weeks.
• trim scraggy looking parts in the autumn after it’s flowered.
• If you want more information – have a look on Royal Horticultural Society website – lavender – they’re the experts.

Have a lovely week

Carpe Diem

love Bec xx

Bulbs are up – spring is nearly here

I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older. ― Virginia Woolf, Jacob’s Room

Crocuses flowering in the front garden – 15 Feb 2015

When I was younger I thought Autumn was my favourite time of year – it’s when my birthday is after all.   I like watching the leaves change, kicking my way through piles of leaves on country walks and relaxing next to a real fire.  I love crisp autumn and winter blue skies as long as I’m wrapped up well – I hate being cold. But over the years, I’ve got thoroughly fed up with months of rain, overcast skies and dark evenings. I’ve never been diagnosed with SAD syndrome but I do think I have tendencies towards this.   I find the Autumn and Winter make me glum a lot of the time – though I have all strategies to try not to sink further into gloom.  They don’t always work – for a start I miss sitting in my garden in the winter – and that doesn’t help much either.  Maybe this year we’ll get a fire pit.

So I’m definitely with Virginia – I love Spring. It’s all about new beginnings, opportunities and change.

I don’t do New Year resolutions either; I make all my changes on in mid-February usually – I do it on my terms and just get on with it.  I don’t beat myself up about what I don’t change or keep having a go at and not quite succeeding at (getting into smaller jeans, for example).  I do believe that if something didn’t work out today have another go at it tomorrow.  But, it’s also just as important that I need to do things differently or look at the problem differently and try to find a new way to do something.

As  I make changes at a different time of year there’s no pressure from ‘new year new you’ articles and no smug celebrities flogging books, new wonder drinks or food.  And as for ‘detox’ with this or that juice? Don’t even get me started on this – it’s tosh.

There are quite a few things I’d like to change or try this year and this is one of the reasons I decided to write a blog.

There are many things I love at this time of year:

• It’s NOT dark on the way home from work
• It’s not January anymore – Hurrah! I really struggle with January
• The snowdrops are out – though I can’t get them to grow in my garden.
• Crocuses are out in OUR garden – only purple ones so far
• Planning trips out – the National trust card is going to get some use this year

So spring is definitely on its way – here’s the crocuses came up in our front garden – it has really brighten my mood. We’ve even booked a holiday – to Cornwall in May.

Tips from an amateur gardener

• Usually I buy my bulbs from Wilko – there’s a great selection at a good price.
• Buy your bulbs in the winter for summer flowers like lilies and in September for Spring bulbs
• Plant them in little clumps not in rows and check the depth!
• Have fun! And if you don’t like where they are you can always move them for next year.
• Label them if you dig them up

*****

What would you like to change from tomorrow? and what are your favourite bulbs and why?

Carpe Diem

love Bec xxx