Do you ever get the feeling that you're travelling through life on an escalator going the wrong way and although you're working pretty hard you are just not making any progress? I'm sure you do as there can't be many of us who escape feeling swamped from time to time. I've certainly been feeling that way lately – for every bit of paperwork I fill in another drops through the letter box, for every blog post I catch up with another 2 appear in my blog reader, for every email I answer another 3 pop into my inbox… you get the picture I'm sure.
Not a lot was ticked off my to do list this weekend either. In fact the only tick was vegetable planting with help from Toby and we spent a lot of lovely time in the garden together yesterday (hence the pictures of the chives which were planted last year and are now in full and glorious bloom and attracting a lot of bees).
So far this year I've not sown as much as I had planned to. I did have grand vegetable planting plans but they've been scaled back to more manageable proportions and this weekend Toby and I just planted some beans and peas (a little late in the year but hopefully not too late to get a harvest).
We've also got earlier plantings of garlic, broccoli and lettuce which are coming up nicely.
There are a few little seedlings too which should be ready to plant out soon and with any luck will give us some delicious onion squash in the autumn. Courgette and squash seeds are my favourite to grow. They look just like a childs drawing of a little sprout and they are pretty robust – which is a good thing when Toby is involved in the planting out!
So that's the news from the garden at the moment. In knitting news there is lots going on with pattern writing but nothing yet finished, just a big old tangle of sample bits – the result of testing out different yarns and tweaking bits and pieces. If you've emailed me for an E.T.A on the next pattern I'm afraid I can't give one yet but I am working on the sweaters, the sneakers and all of the other animals, so they are on the way.
This week is the week of Toby's annual school play so he goes to school from 4pm – 9.30pm which throws everything out of kilter in a big way. And hot on the heels of this week is the school half term break, so I won't be getting on top of my to do list anytime soon and my email backlog is already of embarrassing proportions – I really am sorry if you're waiting for a reply from me.
A couple of people emailed to ask about how I constructed the cushion cover – by the way thanks so much for all of the kind comments about the bench in the previous post. Here is a picture of the back.
The crochet top extends a little way underneath where I've sewn it to a rectangular piece of fabric and left one side open (held in place by saftey pins) incase I need to take the cover off to wash it. In terms of advice for fitting the crochet top I can't give much other than to make a top piece the same size as your foam pad and then make side pieces, checking the fit as you go. It was all a bit make-it-up-as-you-go-along but it seems to work and so far it is standing up well to daily Toby use.
Hope you have a good week, see you soon x
little cotton rabbits 
your garden looks gorgeous! glad you found some time to spend in it xxx
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The photo of the chive with the bee is beautiful Julie. So glad you and Toby had some garden time this weekend, good for both of you. I agree courgettes are amazing little plants to grow, sturdy and successful with delicious results!
Don’t get overwhelmed by to do lists, people understand and can wait.
V xxx
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I have never saw chives when it is just opened.
Beautiful as your square garden.
Miss xx
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I just LOVE reading your blog!!! Please, keep writing !
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Lovely you and Toby had such a good time in the garden and you do grow some wonderful things. Here I only manage a few herbs lol
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Oh how I know the feeling! Just keep doing what’s important and let the rest go until another day – that’s my strategy anyway!
Garden looking great, it’s all so exciting at this stage, full of possibility. I seem to have an awful lot of tomato seedlings this year after treating them very mean for a change.
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So not everything’s getting done but in the bigger scheme of things they can all wait – instead you had happy times in the garden with Toby, worth so much more than chores and jobs waiting to be done ♥
I don’t know how I missed your last post Julie … your seat cover is GORGEOUS, all of your gorgeous colour choices and it just looks wonderful. I can imagine it makes you smile evry time you look at it.
Have a good, if busy, week,
Kate x
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What a beautiful little herb garden Julie! I so know your escalator feeling, but over the years I’ve learned to manage it a little better. Patience is the key — everything will get done somehow. It sounds like you’ve learned the key too — and spent a lovely weekend in the garden. I can’t wait for all of your other patterns — especially that monkey!!! ;-D
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Oh those pictures of chives are just beautiful Julie! I always have bigger plans than I can fulfil in my garden. I have managed to sow some cut flower seeds this year though. Let’s see if I can look after them and not dessicate the poor little things through busyness and neglect.
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Hello Julie :o)
Your garden is looking so pretty, this time of year is wonderful with nature exploding everywhere.
Good luck with your dreaded ‘to do’ list and I hope the next couple of weeks is not too stressful for Toby and yourself x
love Jooles x x x
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Yes, I know that feeling too well! And it always happens in May.
Springtime means a lot of work in the garden (which I like to do) but there is never time enough…Soon it’s June and then we can relax!
I like your garden!
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Glorious photos.
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Behind with everything and more piling up … yes, that does sound familiar. I hope you got through play week and into half term without too much more piling up x
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Your garden planting looks lovely… and I’ve only just put my beans in too!
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I looove your garden photos! I think I’d be terribly pleased if I got anything into the ground and growing. I never have, which is unlike most every one in my family. Oh well….
Take it all one day at a time, just hit the most important things, and rein in your lofty expectations. (Listen to me giving advice. Ha! I only mean to give you encourage you, and say don’t beat yourself for what doesn’t get done…)
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