Thanks for all the good wishes for our garden plans. Although there will be lots of changes going on many of the things that I love about the garden will still be there – the raised beds are being reconfigured and I'm looking forward to planning out the veg garden soon – hopefully in time for spring (if it ever arrives!). We're also keeping the chicken run, half of the herb wall, the table and chairs under the grapevine where I like to sit and knit with my radio in summer and of course Toby's beloved trampoline. I will miss my messy little shed with it's bench and shelves strewn with gardening bits and bobs, though my potting bench will have a new home outdoors so I can still potter at it.
It's the loss of the climbing frame that has had the most impact on the garden and on me, to tell the truth I cried when it came down. It has served our family so well for many years and brought so much pleasure
to Amy and Toby. I can still vividly remember the delight and amazement on Amy's face when she saw the first swing that we put up, and Toby's utter joy at the climbing frame, he was up there before it had even been finished! I have fed him lots of petit filous yoghurts up on the platform – it was always his favourite place to eat them on a summer's day.
I suppose that what I am actually sad about is the ending of a chapter in family life. Taking down the climbing frame has felt like closing the door on childhood and I will miss it because it was loved by the little people who used to play and squeal and
laugh on it. But it has been a year or two since Amy has played on it and Toby is getting too big to be completely safe on it. It is the right time to make a change – a garden is best adapted to suit the needs of those who use it and I'm sure we will come to love our new garden room and I will wonder 'how ever did we manage without it? I am certainly grateful for the kindness and generosity of family and friends that has made it possible.
Over the weekend the work outside had to be put on hold due to a late winter storm and yet more snow!
Snuggling inside with lots of wool was definitely the best thing to do and I started planning how to join the stack of squares for my tiled blanket.
There have been a few false starts…
To begin with I sewed the pieces together through the front-most loops of the edging round. I thought it was going well but when I laid it out I wasn't happy – it looked scruffy and messy and I didn't like the wonky squares
Then I tried sewing through the back loops on the edging round…
…but was still not a happy bunny. I think it was better than the first attempt but still a bit scruffy at the corner joins.
So finally I tried sewing through the little line of bumps at the back of the edging…
…and at last I think I'm happy. I plan to keep on joining the squares like this and once it's a bit bigger I'll take some more photos – hopefully at that point I'll not change my mind again as I'm now heartily sick of unpicking stitches!
little cotton rabbits 
Your new garden plans sound like a super idea to give all of you an alternative hideaway.
I love the colours used in your squares and the sewing together solution looks like a good one and well worth the trial and error process (being a perfectionist-stitcher pays off in the end).
Hoping for some warmer weather soon! xx
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At the risk of causing you to meltdown, crocheting the squares together works nicely too…;0)
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Good morning Julie!
I love the simple beauty of your blossom sprinkled with snow! It’s so symbolic of the constant fight between winter and spring these days but take heart; spring will win this battle 🙂
I understand your tears about the climbing frame. However content I am in this chapter of my life I cannot help but feel nostalgic for the babies which are growing up so fast in this household. Life passes by so fast, doesn’t it? Your garden plans sound so exciting; a wonderful way to look forward.
Happy week to you, and should you have a moment, take a peek at my latest post where spring reigns supreme!
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I was very sad when our wendy house went away – but I know it is being played with by another little girl, and now my two have more space to rush about so it’s good.
The joining of squares is always what puts me off crochet blankets – but your third solution is very neat. It is heartening to see that you have issues with joining too!
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You will have so much in your new garden the pros will totally out weigh the cons. Love your granny squares and I like your last option for stitching together the best. Hope you have a fun week 🙂
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I can understand how you felt about the climbing frame coming down 😦 Your photo’s are lovely although I would prefer to be without the snow now….had enough! I love your crochet squares the colours are great together.
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There are so many phases in life as a mother one door closes and other opens. It’s the closing of their tiny years that’s the most difficult. They emerge as young adults getting ready to spread there wings and fly there own life journey. It is heartfelt when it’s over as you explain very nicely in your writing. And as far as the snow…we too are getting our share this day. Your blanket looks beautiful thus far can’t wait to see the finished project.
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I love your crochet tiles, the pale edging gives them a wintery, snowy look, and then the lovely warm autumny insides warm it up!
Angie x
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Hi Julie, I agree with your choice of joining, it looks lovely and neat. I can’t wait to see photos of your finished garden it sounds like it is going to be lovely xxBrenda
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Your blanket is looking rather beautiful. You will love your new garden I’m sure but I know how you feel. I was sad when our climbing frame came down… and you know how old my boys are (We had been known to sit on top with a glass of wine looking over the fields behind our house!)
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When change happens it is very hard not to look back and feel a little sad, I do it all the time. Only just this morning I read this quote on a blog “Change is not merely necessary to life—it is life”, I know I’m going to try and remember that.
Your blanket is beautiful Julie, I love the colours and your joining looks great.
However pretty that snow on the blossom looks, it really is time for spring!!!
Have a lovely week,
V xxx
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Change is good…or so they tell us. At least you will have fun planning all the changes.
We are getting March snow in southeastern Virginia too. March is not going out like a lamb.
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Have you thought about joining it with crochet? I like to leave the outer most color off, layout the squares in rows and crochet it together as I do the last round. It’s fast, it looks great and when you’re done, no sewing. I love your colors.
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I was hoping to spend some time in the garden this weekend, but snow put paid to that, too cold to even go in the greenhouse and sow some seeds, I shall be well behind this year.
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Oh your square joining looks so much better than I managed! Maybe I should try to add the white tile edging again and try this method of joining. Your garden plans sound exciting but I can understand your sadness at the passing of a stage of childhood. Our children seem to grow up so quickly these days. Sending you lots of love – keep cosy! Lucy xx
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Your crochet squares are beautiful. Although Winter seems to have been around forever, Time seems to be moving too fast. I guess its another reason to try to remember to live in the moment. Thanks for cheering up my day with your lovely blog.
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I know exactly what you mean with the climbing frame – ours has been obsolete for a while now, and reading your blog made me realise that I have been ignoring it, maybe in denial that our boys are no longer little enough to use it! I think it creeps up on you when you’re not looking! It’s a good thing children (and adults) never grow out of the trampoline!! Can’t wait to see your finished garden, lets hope spring gets here soon!x
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Hello Julie It must have been hard seeing things changing in your sweet garden where the children had so many happy hours of playing….but it will be wonderful when the new plans are in place. (I felt sad when we took my two daughters’ swings set down some years ago now!)I love your snowy blossom photos today, and your new blanket is looking gorgeous…you have found the neatest way to join the squares now 🙂 Let’s hope that the snow goes and the spring arrives very soon so we can all get out in our gardens again!
Helen x
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Your garden will be lovely, but I understand how you feel about the change. We still have a very child-centered backyard ourselves because our children are young, but I’ve already had to face the process of getting rid of baby equipment and clothing, which was difficult for me. Your squares look beautiful the way you ultimately decided to join them.
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Such beautiful colours in that blanket Julie, and I agree that the back loops join is neatest. I’m looking forward to seeing the whole thing 😀
I can totally understand how you felt about the removal of the climbing frame, but it does sound as if you’ve found a way to keep what’s best of the garden while adding your much needed garden room. I do hope the weather allows the work to continue soon x
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Change is always hard for me when it represents milestones passing in my kids’ lives. I keep trying to embrace the new milestones and changes but a part of my heart mourns the closing of doors…… I can understand your shedding tears as the swing set came down. I always wish that I was one of those people who can come up with clever ways to refurbish things like old swing sets so that they are still a part of our lives in some new fangled thing like a bench and porch swing or something but alas……. I’m not clever enough in that regard.
I do think your new respite garden room is going to be lovely and I can’t wait until it is finished so you can start using it for the purpose intended.
I think you’ve just shown another area where we are kindred spirits. I’d have unpicked and redone and redone and redone too. I like your last photo. That does look much better. You’re brilliant for figuring that out. 😀
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The third join looks absolutely perfect! It’s going to be such a beautiful blanket. And this is most definitely blanket weather–brrr! K x
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Loved the snow pics and your blanket squares. I finally sewed together the knitted squares that I had done – my first endeavor. It is okay, but I won’t be doing that again. Nevertheless, my baby granddaughter will still love it. You make it all look so easy!
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I think nature is just as fed up as we all are. I love the snowy blossom picture though – it kind of sums up this season…so far.
Nina x
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There are so many changes along the way when our children are growing up. Some good some will just be hard no matter how prepared we are for them. The garden room sound like it will make such a difference for your family.
I like the third option for joining. Are you doing a single (uk) crochet stitch around the edges? and have you done five in the corners? Sorry, it is just it looks so lovely I would like to join my squares like that.
Have a lovely weekend.
Colette
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Isn’t it strange how a simple thing like joining crochet tiles can cause such indecision! However, the third try is the best I think…so neat and it looks effortless (!!!). Happy Easter to you and your family Julie…lets hope we can all get into our gardens soon! Love Jenni xx
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Spring will come! We are finally beginning to get a taste here in the northeast US, just in time for Easter, the season of Hope.
I like your granny square joining. I know how to make granny squares, but I’ve never tried to make anything with them. I used to think there was a “right” way to join them, but I guess you just figure out what you like best by trial and error. Sooner or later, I’ll jump on the granny bandwagon and start a blanket. Maybe next Fall, when the crisp mornings and evenings remind me of the coming chill, I’ll feel inspired.
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Found your blog today and it was a great read. Thanks Jo xx
http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hooray-stripy-hoody.html
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Hi Julie, Love your blog and all your bunnies! Just wanted to tell you I mentioned you on my blog!!! Thank you for your inspiration. Hope you have time to visit. Happy Easter!
xoRobin
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The garden respite sounds a lovely transition – good luck finding spring to help with all the work! And what lovely people to have around you to help – I hope it all builds up quickly. The squares are beautiful colours x Maggie
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The benefits of your garden room will soon outweigh the funny feelings change sometimes brings. You will have fun planning the interior and we’ll have fun seeing the photos I hope you’ll share with us, as it progresses.
A bit of Spring wouldn’t half help all round, tho’!
Hope the Easter Bunny hops in bringing you a peaceful weekend.
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Yes I agree your final sewing up is much neater – although I can’t crochet and think your work is fantastic haha.
It is an end of an era when the climbing frame comes down. I felt the same 5 years ago when ours was sold. 🙂 Hope you blog your garden when it is finished? I’m so nosy. hahaha.
Happy Easter. 🙂
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You have a lot of patience…. But yes it does look better in the last picture.., gorgeous colours
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Lovely colours you have chosen there, very pretty ..
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gorgeous squares…you remind me of when i first started crocheting and was trying to figure out the best way to join my squares…your’s look amazing.
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Oh the snow is getting very frustrating now! The tiles look lovely – I’ve only ever made one tiled crochet blanket and I struggled with how to piece together the squares (although it looked ok in the end).
It can be very hard watching out children move on from certain things – but the respite room sounds like it will be of a huge benefit to you all too 🙂 x
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I can understand how you feel. My daughters have just vacated ‘the nest’ and we are downsizing our family home to a much smaller one. Change is hard but sometimes necessary as we enter a new chapter of our lives. I am trying to embrace the changes with mixed feelings of nostalgia and excitement. I miss having little ones around and it will be a while before mine have some of their own to come and visit.
I am sure your new garden will look wonderful and I look forward to seeing it take shape 🙂
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ciao ,scusa ma non so l’inglese .
il tuo blog è bellissimo. i tuoi lavori perfetti.
auguri per il tuo Toby.Patrizia
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Hi, may I transalate the comment before mine? I am half english and half italian, so it’s easy 🙂
Patri said :
Hi, sorry but I don’t know english.
Your blog is lovely. your works perfect.
Best wishes for your Toby.Patrizia
And, may I add, best wishes for everything from me too and thank you for all the enjoyable moments spent reading your blog.
barbara
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The last attempt looks great! I am attempting to catch up with my favourite blogs (sod writing one, really) and I’ve got so much to catch up on here! All looking divine, and peaceful, and as a hub of creativity as usual. T looks so grown up too! Glad that things are well in Little Cotton Rabbit land. Must put myself on the mailing list as I think our boy needs a bunny 😉
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Those squares are looking good. Makes me want to crochet!
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Missed you posting is everything ok?
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I look for you everyday and hope all’s well and that you’re busy making your new outdoor room…love to you and family!
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Hi,
Hope you are all well and have had a good Easter.
I love your blog and hearing all about your life and
appreciate how knitting helps. Hope your garden is coming
on now we have a little better weather at the minute.
Love to all, Mel xx
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I read your blog regularly and love hearing about your family and your garden. I hope everything is ok and look forward to your updates!
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That is some seriously gorgeous crochet going on. Love the colors you chose! Change is always so hard, isn’t it? Hope you are well…
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