Raining - oh no!

First day of spring and its raining!


aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh!


I have organised a 40th birthday bash for my husband at home and I dont want it to rain, well, not tomorrow anyway. I bought a gazebo, we are going to light the chiminea and I have a chilli simmering away! His birthday cake has a picture of Y Ddraig Coch (the red dragon) our welsh flag! I have the beers stashed in the childrens playden so shhhhhhhhhhhh dont say a word.


Just pray and pray and pray that it doesnt rain!

My Town Friday Shoot Out - Favourite Things

The theme for this weeks shoot out is "Favourite Things" but was described as the first Christmas theme. However, I couldn't do a shoot out about favourite things without including my new car, my Mini Cooper, my pride and joy, my baby..... Actually, Cooper is a sort of Birthday/Christmas present anyway so its right that he should be included in this weeks theme.

When thinking of what I should take pictures of to feature the theme, I was on my way into Wrexham town to take photos of the Christmas lights, when I stopped myself and ended up at the Grosvenor Garden Centre in Pulford just 3 miles from my home. Why? Well because whenever I think of Christmas and Christmas decorations, my mind always roams to this place. It has been an important store for me this year because on the days when I needed to get out or needed to buy a gift but didnt have the energy to venture far..... this store was my saviour!

The picture above is of the entrance into the Garden Centre. They always have such wonderful displays no matter what the time of year!

The decorations at the Grosvenor are in plentiful supply, you can buy just about anything you want from here. Fibre optic trees, false trees, real Christmas Trees, Christmas Wreaths, cuddly toys, Santa Stop Here Signs, Christmas food, Christmas gifts...... I could go on and on and on.

I love the models of Santa scattered around the store, some are even life sized.

Robins are my favourite birds because whenever I feel a bit down or sad about my late brother Peter, a Robin always seems to appear and cheer me up. I love these fat fellas in the pottery section of the store.

I adore Squirrels too..... not the grey ones but the endangered red ones. This ornament is so clever and I love it to bits.

You cannot celebrate Christmas without the Nativity scene and this is only one of the many types available to buy here.

Christmas is all about the children and I love that concept. This metal red fire engine is the sort of thing I would have loved to have bought my sons when they were toddlers but too expensive I am afraid!

This is a life sized Charley Bear! Anyone who knows me, knows just how much I love my collection of bears. My collection includes Herman, Merrythought, Steiff, Charley to name but a few and includes some vintage pieces.

Santas Grotto is always a special place with very fond memories. I remember Harry going to see Father Christmas when he was 3 and struggling to get away from him, crying!




Again, anyone who knows me knows how much I love my Chimineas. I really like these pottery ones but ours is metal because we decided it was more stable with having the dogs and children around.

If I had £200 to spare, this is what I would spend it on. I love this limited edition print. I love it not only because it is of a dog, but I love dogs noses (weird I know) and I love the concept of this picture.

So If you are ever in the area I would definately recommend that you visit The Grosvenor Garden Centre www.grosvenorgardencentre.co.uk because not only does it stock just about everything you need, the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable and the feel of the place is so special. I love shopping there.

They also have a grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat coffee shop called The Blue Planet and the produce home made pastries, cakes and food. Next time I go there I will take some pictures just so that you can see how special it is. The coffee is delicious and I must admit I spent a very pleasant couple of hours there this morning with my friend Clare.

What doesn't this shops stock? Garden furniture, garden appliances, garden plants, shrubs and trees, pottery, sheds, gifts, walking sticks, wellington boots, indoor plants, books, cards, confectionary, cakes, biscuits, eggs, meat, drinks, cutlery, kitchen implements...... the list is endless.

Friday Shoot Out - Garden Furniture

Well, this week hasn't been particularly good for me. Post Chemo 1 and I have been a physical and emotional wreck then once I managed to get my act together it started to rain and I have had yet more chemo. Excuses to one side, I decided to look through my archives and decided to share some "odd" types of Garden Furniture!

The above picture is of the grave of Greyfriars Bobby located in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. It is the story of a brave little dog who refused to leave his masters grave until the day he died himself. He was awarded the freedom of the city.

This is the grave of the master John Grey, who Bobby guarded until the end of his days.

The little bronze statue to mark the spot where Bobby used to patrol, leaving his grave side vigil to visit his designated food and shelter stops, always returning to John Greys grave before the Kirkyard gates were locked for the night.

This is was taken in the gardens of Erddig Hall in Wrexham where I live. Indeed, before it was open to the public and when the old Squire was alive, I used to ride horses there. Now, we visit it regularly as a family and although it is wonderful to see the Hall, estates and gardens restored to their former beauty, I feel a saddness that this was once a family home and that part is over.....(you can just see my boys running towards me in the distance!)

This is the tent erected in our garden just over a week ago..... I suppose you could call it "temporary" garden furniture!

The tea lights are hanging around our patio area, and this particular one is at the base of our pagola which is splendid at the moment. As I step out of the doors I can smell the perfume of honeysuckle and Jasmine..... devine.

My favourite piece of garden furniture..... my chiminea!!!!!! Not only does it offer warmth on summer nights when the sun is down, it gives a cosy glow and the smell of burning logs. The other day, we chopped our Eucalyptus tree back and burned the leaves, the smell was devine.

And now, I apologise for the poor quality of my photos. I am not a photographer and my camara is an old Olympus point and shoot. So please be patient with me....