Home Design Room: Special Event

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Royal Birth On Its Way

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With the headlines now reading that the Duchess of Cambridge is in labor,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I admit I get all tingly about happy beginnings</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo4vOHg1AUuEzYU13yBQN8bcYEJTkTU7JZ6B8-N_YdSRfbD_KgUi7tlHpGaH46iFTfTYpuwKTr0GyX3ee9tZhXThCysunJOq6S3JFP6YcdDV_dbUNz9MJmbiNa4HsEXJ-ss19HKyOaXSS/s1600/23_4_2013_2606413k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo4vOHg1AUuEzYU13yBQN8bcYEJTkTU7JZ6B8-N_YdSRfbD_KgUi7tlHpGaH46iFTfTYpuwKTr0GyX3ee9tZhXThCysunJOq6S3JFP6YcdDV_dbUNz9MJmbiNa4HsEXJ-ss19HKyOaXSS/s400/23_4_2013_2606413k.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/10155628/Kate-Middleton-pregnancy-pcitures.html?frame=2606413">Telegraph</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>It's not uncommon to hear an English person say</div><div>'Now, I'm not a Royalist but...'</div><div>followed by something very complimentary about the royal family<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think the country is happy to have something to look forward to again</div><div style="text-align: center;">after two extraordinary years of once-in-a-lifetime events</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- the Royal Wedding, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although the royal family doesn't rule the country (Parliament does),</div><div style="text-align: center;">the royal baby provides a peek into the future of the country's leadership</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Royal Family provides a stability through the decades,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as Prime Ministers change frequently</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is a fondness toward the Royal Family here</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you watch another family grow up during your lifetime, </div><div style="text-align: center;">you feel like you know them</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For now, Queen Elizabeth II is THE face of the country</div><div style="text-align: center;">What little person being born will be the future face?<br /><br />{ Decided in a recent ruling,<br />this baby will be in line for the throne regardless of gender }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS47V4eZg2HpxGPwifomo0qOuTbLBLfGZDS3biZQHTAPD63yirVz5nvIHEpDScMfkoRaKU3Hq5TZ34DwDBsdPDDyg2Txgu9UnnHHOMuIvd350zpvQ3NVDq3-RpAdxm5oPqPSdVezBui0uB/s1600/20_3_2013_2606418k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS47V4eZg2HpxGPwifomo0qOuTbLBLfGZDS3biZQHTAPD63yirVz5nvIHEpDScMfkoRaKU3Hq5TZ34DwDBsdPDDyg2Txgu9UnnHHOMuIvd350zpvQ3NVDq3-RpAdxm5oPqPSdVezBui0uB/s400/20_3_2013_2606418k.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/10155628/Kate-Middleton-pregnancy-pcitures.html?frame=2606418">Telegraph</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One tradition that won't continue is</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Home Secretary's attendance of the royal birth</div><div style="text-align: center;">to insure a different baby isn't smuggled in or switched out</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although the witnessing was practiced for centuries,</div><div style="text-align: center;">no one would have attended the birth of Queen Elizabeth II</div><div style="text-align: center;">as she was not born heir to the throne</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{ Her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936</div><div style="text-align: center;">which made Elizabeth's father the King when she was ten years old } </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj02v2SJVVr0DqGnhIzCiibCAfjOX9dWdW2jAUduigi2Wj38ab1aThYdlzcyLJwrjfv2v-iCrNY7R_SvNJAHuAp0RPo6xO9Hlb5bPJ1Tt-Yfjnyy19O4ubpB-2qtW-CdQpnpdzSXXzSyb/s1600/betting-board_2619982k+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj02v2SJVVr0DqGnhIzCiibCAfjOX9dWdW2jAUduigi2Wj38ab1aThYdlzcyLJwrjfv2v-iCrNY7R_SvNJAHuAp0RPo6xO9Hlb5bPJ1Tt-Yfjnyy19O4ubpB-2qtW-CdQpnpdzSXXzSyb/s640/betting-board_2619982k+(1).jpg" width="441" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/royalty/10185460/Royal-baby-worlds-media-descends-on-St-Marys-Hospital-ahead-of-birth.html?frame=2619982">Telegraph</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What name do you think they'll choose?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If it is a girl, my vote is for Charlotte</div><div style="text-align: center;">in memory of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Charlotte_of_Wales">Princess Charlotte of Wales</a> (1796-1817)</div><div style="text-align: center;">who was much loved by the British<br />as Princess Diana was</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Regardless of birth name,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the monarch can change his/her name upon coronation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">King George VI was born as Albert,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and there is speculation that Prince Charles</div><div style="text-align: center;">will become King George VII upon coronation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{ because the two King Charles's did not have the happiest of fates }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaffKtGwh66psQsL0afV9kl1fMHFTip_T5nI-SiYBATkK-DrloLPEi6wcRYeo4k9ofNFM1oy7uNCR7KdWsXn4G-mrOQC-D8_jLpxCOmmU3tUOWN02gzjYbNiscAlGwW2sS8MV3nduWmY8/s1600/presspen1_2619900k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaffKtGwh66psQsL0afV9kl1fMHFTip_T5nI-SiYBATkK-DrloLPEi6wcRYeo4k9ofNFM1oy7uNCR7KdWsXn4G-mrOQC-D8_jLpxCOmmU3tUOWN02gzjYbNiscAlGwW2sS8MV3nduWmY8/s640/presspen1_2619900k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/royalty/10185460/Royal-baby-worlds-media-descends-on-St-Marys-Hospital-ahead-of-birth.html">Telegraph</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And so the headlines have been pretty quiet right now,</div><div style="text-align: center;">except for reports about the hot weather</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{ English homes are without air conditioning<br />and designed to keep the heat in,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so it has been quite uncomfortable }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, the world's media descends upon the city once more </div><div style="text-align: center;">and stares at a hospital front door </div><div style="text-align: center;">and an easel at Buckingham Palace<br /><br />Best of luck to the parents-to-be!<br />:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Royal Birth On Its Way

With the headlines now reading that the Duchess of Cambridge is in labor, I admit I get all tingly about happy beginnings source: Telegraph ...

4:59 AM

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Products & Ideas

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is the second year the Chelsea Flower Show</div><div style="text-align: center;">has housed the Artists Retreat Section</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- one of my favorite areas -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Designers are invited to decorate a summerhouse,</div><div style="text-align: center;">creating inspirational hideaways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Swoon on, my friends...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoKqf5lch_Ju9pBjg5hOCUey9lL6iteI-B_5FQ4qPNYATgaCQqDeLmhpSwe52yXV_Q4K0-tSdWNjhyphenhyphenUGIBuCgkJ9Mblx1hiKol53spGdXQsXDo1L_R2Nd9hx8YTnzopF2_ODkk6WDlrL6/s1600/DSC05925-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoKqf5lch_Ju9pBjg5hOCUey9lL6iteI-B_5FQ4qPNYATgaCQqDeLmhpSwe52yXV_Q4K0-tSdWNjhyphenhyphenUGIBuCgkJ9Mblx1hiKol53spGdXQsXDo1L_R2Nd9hx8YTnzopF2_ODkk6WDlrL6/s640/DSC05925-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mowing path is so creative!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A quintessential English brand,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Cath Kidston retreat</div><div style="text-align: center;">featured handmade paper roses</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's take a peek inside the shack,<br />shall we?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6XeTXE8hX8G72tJBVIHFQfcw5PmN8AYsqeAM17UA2nEgGOpU-8WBeNvKjCDhPf5LH73hk_FmvMPU7pezrboZiwfs89taAQLlzVTRxWk6A0ReXKZbnX-1LwyFRaemcFejzVkZvHfWNpO/s1600/DSC05927-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6XeTXE8hX8G72tJBVIHFQfcw5PmN8AYsqeAM17UA2nEgGOpU-8WBeNvKjCDhPf5LH73hk_FmvMPU7pezrboZiwfs89taAQLlzVTRxWk6A0ReXKZbnX-1LwyFRaemcFejzVkZvHfWNpO/s640/DSC05927-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Across the way, I met Rob Ryan in his workshop retreat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Genuinely, I have been a huge fan of his work for years</div><div style="text-align: center;">so it was a real thrill to meet him<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKLxBRK1hUn5CGvOnZump4xta6ns2rKvi_LSXZLapt_dCgZO9jAehVkYDa3DLh7mASqQF-lCCJ474x9XUxTaqE27FhTSWjIVmPe_TdA2mTjzGQJQTwIfk68laoF0UYk9xJ4Fa0c_R-1M8/s1600/DSC05937-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKLxBRK1hUn5CGvOnZump4xta6ns2rKvi_LSXZLapt_dCgZO9jAehVkYDa3DLh7mASqQF-lCCJ474x9XUxTaqE27FhTSWjIVmPe_TdA2mTjzGQJQTwIfk68laoF0UYk9xJ4Fa0c_R-1M8/s640/DSC05937-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a background in print making,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rob now is known for his papercut art (laser and by hand)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and poetry-like sayings that sweetly speak to the heart</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Transferred onto ceramics and textiles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can find his products online and in some of the coolest stores</div><div style="text-align: center;">(including Liberty)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grabbing things from his real workshop,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's a limited look at his show retreat<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELTn7oQsO-E7-nR3stnDPcNd1NhGwKLsubeq7AzNBHnd0NZ_R_SaH0UflmIBCRid4v63-OCtAFliUtPJEV1mEQmoYH-23huAnLQxiJqh_MXxfZZIvkzEplmcPphERCAC_B3cJqz5P-tX/s1600/DSC05942-013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwELTn7oQsO-E7-nR3stnDPcNd1NhGwKLsubeq7AzNBHnd0NZ_R_SaH0UflmIBCRid4v63-OCtAFliUtPJEV1mEQmoYH-23huAnLQxiJqh_MXxfZZIvkzEplmcPphERCAC_B3cJqz5P-tX/s640/DSC05942-013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A space that oozes creativity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving away from the Artisan Retreats,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought this was a clever peat-free compost alternative</div><div style="text-align: center;">made of wool and bracken from the Lake District<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVthX1OJRKLZnP9VqAQzV4rdv5MXoL97RYc3KrKdJ_6APM_5YBGXG7fCQXd0q7J2vCETyJ1fc3cs4WGc0GXKkboxut8eMX0jssiAiPLUvV1PMwWjWdS9DuMRLAMzrxREtlLyknzhSL0zvA/s1600/DSC05919-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVthX1OJRKLZnP9VqAQzV4rdv5MXoL97RYc3KrKdJ_6APM_5YBGXG7fCQXd0q7J2vCETyJ1fc3cs4WGc0GXKkboxut8eMX0jssiAiPLUvV1PMwWjWdS9DuMRLAMzrxREtlLyknzhSL0zvA/s400/DSC05919-002.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And how about an upside down lampshade<br />as a decorative potting sleeve?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxvi9xIJGLyZ0SAsM_k9dxysXsiv6wpXxkMJJBEayQ7zCRsKSFBTvF1sy0Ox704PnLbbrzUx7zPgxHibyU54DkEWOFSvMmQMPplP8KeaiDkhZyL2T1bfP6OO5mAplqF4aUNIxV7zUpG49/s1600/DSC06185-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxvi9xIJGLyZ0SAsM_k9dxysXsiv6wpXxkMJJBEayQ7zCRsKSFBTvF1sy0Ox704PnLbbrzUx7zPgxHibyU54DkEWOFSvMmQMPplP8KeaiDkhZyL2T1bfP6OO5mAplqF4aUNIxV7zUpG49/s640/DSC06185-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />or an old boot?<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNYTOw5KZdWG-x7dBrUqt24j4UizqGaIgDDopxu-A0eiEMIbkjMoVkbCOjLZZKR4JNR2BCCrlBf4eojCSp3eUjP7CclQ50969s4q14pCe9Fj3QeFn-wfaR1CwEh4XPAKGavb9C53um7K/s1600/DSC06139-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MNYTOw5KZdWG-x7dBrUqt24j4UizqGaIgDDopxu-A0eiEMIbkjMoVkbCOjLZZKR4JNR2BCCrlBf4eojCSp3eUjP7CclQ50969s4q14pCe9Fj3QeFn-wfaR1CwEh4XPAKGavb9C53um7K/s640/DSC06139-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ken Muir exhibit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Typically, 'coloured mythical creatures' are banned from the show,<br />but this year the ban was lifted for charity<br /><br />I think gnomes are having a bit of a comeback,<br />for I spied a few at the show<br /><br />Look at this cutie<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqPg77dlIC3WPSVG_SygiwjTM7Jim1v5lw82mxCBkSi2Sq_qwapmvUf0opc24CfxYptx-l3l_C5PROT_pSfLURNSozctJsgsk-m7ZMA1zyvH9eqrrLjCSKCCab1Im6DF39_-pOqiwO-BM/s1600/DSC06182-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqPg77dlIC3WPSVG_SygiwjTM7Jim1v5lw82mxCBkSi2Sq_qwapmvUf0opc24CfxYptx-l3l_C5PROT_pSfLURNSozctJsgsk-m7ZMA1zyvH9eqrrLjCSKCCab1Im6DF39_-pOqiwO-BM/s640/DSC06182-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Reading exhibit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The University of Reading<br />was promoting the concept of<br />'A New Millawnium' (clever)<br /><br />With proper planting,<br />it is possible to have a full flowering, grass-free lawn<br />requiring mowing just 3x/year<br /><br />Goodness me,<br />can you imagine, lawn gardening?!<br />My, how beautiful<br /><br />Ideal for roundabouts and small yards with light foot traffic,<br />I can see how this could be possible<br />with nonaggressive clovers, yarrows, buttercups,<br />English Daisies, violets, and more<br /><br />According to the university,<br />medieval paintings indicate lawns of the past were flowered<br />while grassy lawns were for jousting tournaments<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFSu7S4SeHTuYhO57nKnVfuBG6uCM4i884A8b-KYPAsxopkqZR6v2ZpDdSHRIggE0cWCwHH0Iobiz4Ra5FmwgOmIHfefcLoSuJHCqcMrkzRV1zT-VGRGo2R6DddsC15E4ORUCx_O7kwzb/s1600/DSC05946-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFSu7S4SeHTuYhO57nKnVfuBG6uCM4i884A8b-KYPAsxopkqZR6v2ZpDdSHRIggE0cWCwHH0Iobiz4Ra5FmwgOmIHfefcLoSuJHCqcMrkzRV1zT-VGRGo2R6DddsC15E4ORUCx_O7kwzb/s640/DSC05946-003.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pippa Small's retreat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Alrighty, I think that pretty much covers it :)<br /><br />I hope you found some inspiration over the last few days<br />through the series<br /><br />It has been an absolute pleasure -<br />can't you just see me twirling in a meadow of flowers right now?!<br /><br /><i>'But yet still inside you there will never be a shortage </i><br /><i>to the amount of love that your heart can grow...</i><br /><i>until it finally blossoms and its flowers cover the whole world'</i><br /><i>-Rob Ryan</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. A few of you have asked about how to buy tickets in the future. I order my tickets online in December/January for the May show - they sell out each year but it varies as to when. RHS Members can purchase tickets for Tuesday (when flowers are looking their freshest), and the public can buy tickets for Wed - Sat. Buy tickets through the RHS website <a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More 2013 Chelsea Flower Show Posts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-gardens.html">The Garden</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-press-day.html">Press Day!</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Products & Ideas

This is the second year the Chelsea Flower Show has housed the Artists Retreat Section - one of my favorite areas - Designers are invited to...

1:00 AM

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: The Gardens

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">So I quickly learned that on Press Day </div><div style="text-align: center;">the international media</div><div style="text-align: center;">is mostly there for the celebrities</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">which was good news for me as</div><div style="text-align: center;">the garden designers were hanging around their installments, ready to chat :)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVHKr18J8WM7Rvb-McEawMAHD86oj54ELXcFktLoTuookD-FaHfr7TxqiXdIWUEmll1PL0pydzt46EsIYC3OkCxtU5o-kiSHylXTzUWnBvdDkyYvDi6h9wkrpl0nra5cP-I8df8cGmuCJ/s1600/DSC06168-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVHKr18J8WM7Rvb-McEawMAHD86oj54ELXcFktLoTuookD-FaHfr7TxqiXdIWUEmll1PL0pydzt46EsIYC3OkCxtU5o-kiSHylXTzUWnBvdDkyYvDi6h9wkrpl0nra5cP-I8df8cGmuCJ/s640/DSC06168-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birmingham City Council exhibit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here were my top picks...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'A Hebridean Weaver's Garden'<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ffFpEXLk-J2lWMLHETuBdgV4cH7eeGdqcABTsM7aSk2hAuE_CnkHpYFBVfnmtkjFkZAFeDWHCFhNKZX2B9fWeo1ANFdYNO-zjUl8849t__oE5s6yXVgB1NyMs2tGVr1etAtIrXx9V9A2/s1600/DSC05968-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ffFpEXLk-J2lWMLHETuBdgV4cH7eeGdqcABTsM7aSk2hAuE_CnkHpYFBVfnmtkjFkZAFeDWHCFhNKZX2B9fWeo1ANFdYNO-zjUl8849t__oE5s6yXVgB1NyMs2tGVr1etAtIrXx9V9A2/s640/DSC05968-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be set in the 1950's on the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this installment shows the traditional making of Harris Tweed</div><div style="text-align: center;">with hand dyed and hand spun wool</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Notice the crooked tree you would see on the islands due to high winds?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the little brook and</div><div style="text-align: center;">the traditional blackhouse with its aerodynamic roof line and rocks to hold it down </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original theme and attention to detail are magnificent</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another favorite was</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The Garden Of Magical Childhood'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Raise your hand if you'd like to see this in your backyard :)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjJnMTpZ8E6nruaOdI9uxQvkkrlhyphenhyphenfZHAMHVaPqsORCfIpnx6km8Tw00JO1Ft1U1XtJakcJQPCzFknQojCEwvKz-L5v0HJKJSn2Ti5wVYxdMhw_qEiq1Kvs2dPQ8XWa9IkPsZeZ3w6f0o/s1600/DSC05988-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjJnMTpZ8E6nruaOdI9uxQvkkrlhyphenhyphenfZHAMHVaPqsORCfIpnx6km8Tw00JO1Ft1U1XtJakcJQPCzFknQojCEwvKz-L5v0HJKJSn2Ti5wVYxdMhw_qEiq1Kvs2dPQ8XWa9IkPsZeZ3w6f0o/s640/DSC05988-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So loving those wooden mushrooms and </div><div style="text-align: center;">the little pond in the grass with hand painted wishes on rocks</div><div style="text-align: center;">- so sweet -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The garden depicts a tea party taking place under a tree house,</div><div style="text-align: center;">designed to encourage viewers to reflect on the preciousness of childhood</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unlike the Show Gardens section,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Artisan Garden designers cannot excavate</div><div style="text-align: center;">so they placed a horse chestnut tree in the middle of the fort</div><div style="text-align: center;">and built the slope around it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ivy growing up the tree house was planted first </div><div style="text-align: center;">to give it time to grow and look more natural</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think any child would love to spend a few hours in this lovely spot</div><div style="text-align: center;">and this magical retreat looks like it has been there forever</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which is tricky with only 5 days to put it together)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As to the only flower requiring guards,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Lady's Slipper orchid was hiding in the corner at</div><div style="text-align: center;">Le Jardin De Yorkshire<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ukJy11TYYF3BOmXtKkInZUOmCqvqhdb5tQAyAW09tkmVUPKg8VhPfZ4BJ-WdLDmqbniV2ac2lSd4S8WGuQMZnHxvvxg58i-ELTSrXSgnrJdYAl2UailT5hfQLFFDFsIVU2UZWDCx9zAe/s1600/DSC06080-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ukJy11TYYF3BOmXtKkInZUOmCqvqhdb5tQAyAW09tkmVUPKg8VhPfZ4BJ-WdLDmqbniV2ac2lSd4S8WGuQMZnHxvvxg58i-ELTSrXSgnrJdYAl2UailT5hfQLFFDFsIVU2UZWDCx9zAe/s640/DSC06080-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This beauty is a success story of scientists at Kew Gardens </div><div style="text-align: center;">bringing this girl back from the brink of extinction</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The orchid continues to be the rarest wildflower in Britain</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is being reintroduced in the north of England, including Yorkshire</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like the Chelsea Flower Show,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Tour de France is celebrating its 100th year too</div><div style="text-align: center;">and teamed up with Welcome To Yorkshire</div><div style="text-align: center;">to promote the Tour de France riding through Yorkshire next summer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOiaP1ltcPt0KNQ_QmnWvVRhlkA1dg3LYJ9NbIATHc_oL8Kb7UbZd6mWvpRkP7kx14RL3q7tZ9mEVA8g5w7hgQSJxyP-RXOkCqsKNUP2H61mUYEpyCgpFw6pT46sh3ZYrjV1d-Ug2zhns/s1600/DSC06082-0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOiaP1ltcPt0KNQ_QmnWvVRhlkA1dg3LYJ9NbIATHc_oL8Kb7UbZd6mWvpRkP7kx14RL3q7tZ9mEVA8g5w7hgQSJxyP-RXOkCqsKNUP2H61mUYEpyCgpFw6pT46sh3ZYrjV1d-Ug2zhns/s640/DSC06082-0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two guards protect orchid (see arrow)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's now go inside the Great Pavilion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">where I was particularly taken by the unusual hanging amaryllis display</div><div style="text-align: center;">by W.S. Warmenhoven (Holland)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lL3VECfSLEzQuWQZqrznPNje6V2Ygzink4Deuxw7pO9bbRz-2YU0DezGbWybQh3bqLSdVHgjCldKNWW-BJwzTTgqAdd0PmBc_5NwXyfbCfkQ5_Bo54qQHOnv4-tZoA1BrqYahaMNqdhn/s1600/DSC06121-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lL3VECfSLEzQuWQZqrznPNje6V2Ygzink4Deuxw7pO9bbRz-2YU0DezGbWybQh3bqLSdVHgjCldKNWW-BJwzTTgqAdd0PmBc_5NwXyfbCfkQ5_Bo54qQHOnv4-tZoA1BrqYahaMNqdhn/s640/DSC06121-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Attached with metal cuffs and secured with wires,</div><div style="text-align: center;">these hollow amaryllis stems will be hand watered just one more time this week</div><div style="text-align: center;">from above</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't this be a fun idea for a wedding or garden fete?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And for something really different,</div><div style="text-align: center;">check out this red poppy from China</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> - Meconopsis punicea -</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">which is related to the gorgeous and rare blue poppy</div><div style="text-align: center;">(seen in background)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WDEW3VuyZgV4WZJbHeFXjATL0SaRc7D8jjz8mf4lkpOdPCa_ew7YOADZfFiPtJp_iV4PwVzZ7fu3Ch8eGO8cfLwi2JHpSaKaM2yCyEWEtM0ZFC8zELtuSMylnEtehHmxP39EJx-v0x3h/s1600/DSC06176-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WDEW3VuyZgV4WZJbHeFXjATL0SaRc7D8jjz8mf4lkpOdPCa_ew7YOADZfFiPtJp_iV4PwVzZ7fu3Ch8eGO8cfLwi2JHpSaKaM2yCyEWEtM0ZFC8zELtuSMylnEtehHmxP39EJx-v0x3h/s640/DSC06176-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But wait, there's more!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm just getting warmed up :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out this carefully excavated apple tree<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjqwXIQpjpzYxeuOm3gVaH1UhwgHyGfrRbSTzQ-e0WNxnGAWAKu2Sk6cLasS_PLtqi43ZUT4Pl4iIUJWug3QgJuif2F6rExWo-0166WfIYp4ZSBTcxiseTGEDnpHVrJvEghlhBIdGfuBo/s1600/DSC06178-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjqwXIQpjpzYxeuOm3gVaH1UhwgHyGfrRbSTzQ-e0WNxnGAWAKu2Sk6cLasS_PLtqi43ZUT4Pl4iIUJWug3QgJuif2F6rExWo-0166WfIYp4ZSBTcxiseTGEDnpHVrJvEghlhBIdGfuBo/s640/DSC06178-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And as always, a stunning display of orchids</div><div style="text-align: center;">by Thailand's Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMws6WVfTVGIW_PadDig8ZPfMCE5ym9ly6T-2QPOh3Z79aFmRIO-M2aujOijjhVYf6H2rEYif7gc50i5V0XrapbPkPjDWuCloiVizwW-cXdQeSgDuJkftC0bxNR5J9i9Eud5Q6EKKnsfu/s1600/DSC06160-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMws6WVfTVGIW_PadDig8ZPfMCE5ym9ly6T-2QPOh3Z79aFmRIO-M2aujOijjhVYf6H2rEYif7gc50i5V0XrapbPkPjDWuCloiVizwW-cXdQeSgDuJkftC0bxNR5J9i9Eud5Q6EKKnsfu/s640/DSC06160-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Working with 50,000 orchids, lots of Oasis and wire </div><div style="text-align: center;">this amazing display came together</div><div style="text-align: center;">with the help of fifteen people over five days</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nearby, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Paignton Zoo showed their version of past and future gardening</div><div style="text-align: center;">A classic English garden on the left contrasts with an artificial biome on the right</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At Paignton Zoo in Devon, crops are grown hydroponically (soil-free) onsite to feed the animals</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sounding futuristic, trays of crops are placed on conveyor belts to sunlight and feeding stations<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIfBRCWJiDgv4q0I_0h6trkxxsKNBXVp0Kc0QUY1vQGM8UP6onvApoKR_GFjPyXZdav4fTO_h6uZrtpFBhTu_EiBZyfL_5184eUaM19M0eq7wzrPnlcdepJDtQOwoVUnzP9ursgVPO3_l/s1600/DSC06127-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIfBRCWJiDgv4q0I_0h6trkxxsKNBXVp0Kc0QUY1vQGM8UP6onvApoKR_GFjPyXZdav4fTO_h6uZrtpFBhTu_EiBZyfL_5184eUaM19M0eq7wzrPnlcdepJDtQOwoVUnzP9ursgVPO3_l/s640/DSC06127-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But for me, here was the show-stopper...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This dress!!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUkLt7LnlHqRBGZv_Zul1T5potiWlMrGIz_y4tOoU3xUR5fiH3erCgWeFgIJxFWYt3QlDRfaLytf7qGZ0Jrg3aZhITa-63MQFait3qg3i4edZIwOTPrCp_yq6RNdLMqoqWat4hHvZBl9a/s1600/DSC06019-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUkLt7LnlHqRBGZv_Zul1T5potiWlMrGIz_y4tOoU3xUR5fiH3erCgWeFgIJxFWYt3QlDRfaLytf7qGZ0Jrg3aZhITa-63MQFait3qg3i4edZIwOTPrCp_yq6RNdLMqoqWat4hHvZBl9a/s640/DSC06019-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just look at the exquisite detail,</div><div style="text-align: center;">made from fresh flowers, foliage and ferns</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So dreamy<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5cwc7jaOYD0QbqZAZDsO2uO_dDsq43apmYNON9JZxoMsxgCFFngNOP5R8403TG_STp51BqWChWJRF4y87u9kdwe-YLFfPnUth7R-abXNhaHcixtkfgZel4e6UmpguF9VbB9RC1Dm0T9V/s1600/DSC06036-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5cwc7jaOYD0QbqZAZDsO2uO_dDsq43apmYNON9JZxoMsxgCFFngNOP5R8403TG_STp51BqWChWJRF4y87u9kdwe-YLFfPnUth7R-abXNhaHcixtkfgZel4e6UmpguF9VbB9RC1Dm0T9V/s640/DSC06036-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, I will let your floral heart have a rest</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such deliciousness, no?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHumO2D2aob42wzuvZwCRujkXM9mmZBU2T24FiUzg8X3yxKC90SvYRpesRrrJ1LIwmG5qDKQSOzOYOKgfPBWBvyIAhrR1Qsh1j83BiK39TVeDlx4eI59tizHXBlkg6bJm8hu0vLxe-wO/s1600/DSC06042-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHumO2D2aob42wzuvZwCRujkXM9mmZBU2T24FiUzg8X3yxKC90SvYRpesRrrJ1LIwmG5qDKQSOzOYOKgfPBWBvyIAhrR1Qsh1j83BiK39TVeDlx4eI59tizHXBlkg6bJm8hu0vLxe-wO/s640/DSC06042-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have one more Chelsea post coming your way soon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't miss it :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More 2013 Chelsea Flower Show posts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-press-day.html">Press Day!</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-products-ideas.html">Products & Ideas</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: The Gardens

So I quickly learned that on Press Day the international media is mostly there for the celebrities which was good news for me as the garden...

10:12 PM

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Press Day!

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">In January I applied for a press pass</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcmZudlvLtc5qPlIPVZ_dXsfGrb-PenjKgCFj7kmVypkZhyvW_H51TihDzPiNCH-wqgPajxdHUeopgOzkYJyTIss9YJFTaCoU4AVkMPoaU_NFTbJdJ7UWNE6EBQ_TL5UrkM5X2Jq6jo08/s1600/DSC05905-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcmZudlvLtc5qPlIPVZ_dXsfGrb-PenjKgCFj7kmVypkZhyvW_H51TihDzPiNCH-wqgPajxdHUeopgOzkYJyTIss9YJFTaCoU4AVkMPoaU_NFTbJdJ7UWNE6EBQ_TL5UrkM5X2Jq6jo08/s400/DSC05905-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to submit previous Chelsea Flower Show articles I had written</div><div style="text-align: center;">(fortunately I had covered it for the last two years on my blog)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And my request was approved in March</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an unforgettable day!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here, pull up a chair :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I bee-lined it to the Press Tent to collect the 'Photocall Schedule'</div><div style="text-align: center;">which listed where celebrities would be at appointed times for photo ops</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It had me running around the grounds like a scavenger hunt - too fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">First I saw Emilia Fox at Prince Harry's</div><div style="text-align: center;">B&Q Sentebale Forget-Me-Not Garden<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KIAClfdd-Gj8f9n9m9LBDvDCk35wGXRxetuZze0SHMVfTN40__1kylbI3bodhWXC3h1eAB4p1sS1c5j_QFpopt-Qyj1W-8HhmMlUWPjGSsh3_BcsiktQejxIaLBND8YOCvajyfqeX2gj/s1600/DSC06000-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KIAClfdd-Gj8f9n9m9LBDvDCk35wGXRxetuZze0SHMVfTN40__1kylbI3bodhWXC3h1eAB4p1sS1c5j_QFpopt-Qyj1W-8HhmMlUWPjGSsh3_BcsiktQejxIaLBND8YOCvajyfqeX2gj/s640/DSC06000-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">then Dame Helen Mirren at the Burncoose stand in the Great Pavilion<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADgWHSGLyUxMYZ_jI1qQWmaN5GtFiec2sAKDLJYaDMvDim0MRQAaajfEXnB1KSVgocYvk3zJvPRIWMxo9LSZFc_VV_pBAlY9b8RK-KWyHEqV31-yrqhv5m1bbvFDxTVptq63nmR82Gw-I/s1600/DSC06047-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADgWHSGLyUxMYZ_jI1qQWmaN5GtFiec2sAKDLJYaDMvDim0MRQAaajfEXnB1KSVgocYvk3zJvPRIWMxo9LSZFc_VV_pBAlY9b8RK-KWyHEqV31-yrqhv5m1bbvFDxTVptq63nmR82Gw-I/s640/DSC06047-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAtveWAO8TmEL5zwJ-z6Paa6CWRptCW4yIPP3nEDpEmTf5ekqBWWBL47VZDtXIDLh9C1uLUk7E3bLPSKavQncqlj6NlPkXgB3cOHvafsACTXDWLglOJjapeyUqTQG0T6lqjqsrjMOK_IK/s1600/DSC06054-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAtveWAO8TmEL5zwJ-z6Paa6CWRptCW4yIPP3nEDpEmTf5ekqBWWBL47VZDtXIDLh9C1uLUk7E3bLPSKavQncqlj6NlPkXgB3cOHvafsACTXDWLglOJjapeyUqTQG0T6lqjqsrjMOK_IK/s640/DSC06054-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">followed by Ringo Starr opening the WaterAid Garden<br />with his wife Barbara Bach</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx15DpRPmEE4FQ8N9hjerRfeDeK0Rf9Dm5UtAi0EVwFZyfyt_H1N-UykOlafOnikvIPrYVtcB3PQbKSekLXcBb8CGgN8NSrgjdfvMUYmo1dbfF1cNo_65hdhGePEpPfgLEiRELLCo0enS/s1600/DSC06078-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUx15DpRPmEE4FQ8N9hjerRfeDeK0Rf9Dm5UtAi0EVwFZyfyt_H1N-UykOlafOnikvIPrYVtcB3PQbKSekLXcBb8CGgN8NSrgjdfvMUYmo1dbfF1cNo_65hdhGePEpPfgLEiRELLCo0enS/s640/DSC06078-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I missed Helena Bonham Carter by a few minutes<br />at the 'As Nature Intended' garden</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of local celebrities were walking around</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a photographer would ask them if s/he could take their photo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx4xKMXY4XBtNd3Gk3t3JZBG_c77obo8yJGOPPcOCl3AcMHLbnCiGqFSTPzekc1qalojB9v5rzYnGo585-_2C55L18i3_h1TQA0DCK8iDaRIGmFPYaYpmmRxaaIKI0cNmRuv9vDtL6TkA/s1600/DSC06192-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx4xKMXY4XBtNd3Gk3t3JZBG_c77obo8yJGOPPcOCl3AcMHLbnCiGqFSTPzekc1qalojB9v5rzYnGo585-_2C55L18i3_h1TQA0DCK8iDaRIGmFPYaYpmmRxaaIKI0cNmRuv9vDtL6TkA/s640/DSC06192-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My friend, Suzy, is my garden partner-in-crime </div><div style="text-align: center;">She usually accompanies me on most of my gardening shoots</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we've always gone to the show together in the past</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year we were separated as I had a solo press pass,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and she worked the gala event at the show just a few hours after I'd left</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although Prince Harry didn't turn up for 'my' Press Day yesterday, </div><div style="text-align: center;">he did show up at 'Suzy's' gala event last night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KnGin3nX5zcclH3faoCNn2pPwD2Zk-USt3MFP0pviFRmP0_Ix4VHtoFwdshenlRAXf7g1-JYYzISMz68n8dXAC9AECoCLV9TAy7Oa_a5saKv0eQz3xZ8P693Nrodbzqs_DhfoZKOPOA8/s1600/photo-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KnGin3nX5zcclH3faoCNn2pPwD2Zk-USt3MFP0pviFRmP0_Ix4VHtoFwdshenlRAXf7g1-JYYzISMz68n8dXAC9AECoCLV9TAy7Oa_a5saKv0eQz3xZ8P693Nrodbzqs_DhfoZKOPOA8/s640/photo-001.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden designer Jinny Blom with Camilla, Prince Charles, Prince Harry<br />at B&Q Sentebale Forget-Me-Not Garden</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL5f88dDR5RUUvZwS9oWL8wxisQul9iu8IREeeFySifgQzcQSmzF3CZZGtga0KJ171s9BdWG1oBcPLK0hpB2Q4buWkq9JBv7nrUEID7yarIvV3aawBHshaeSlGE4QtuqjPqd0xSIFrXJ9/s1600/photo+(1)a-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL5f88dDR5RUUvZwS9oWL8wxisQul9iu8IREeeFySifgQzcQSmzF3CZZGtga0KJ171s9BdWG1oBcPLK0hpB2Q4buWkq9JBv7nrUEID7yarIvV3aawBHshaeSlGE4QtuqjPqd0xSIFrXJ9/s640/photo+(1)a-001.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen looking lovely in lavender</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Prince Harry teamed with B&Q to highlight his charity, Sentebale,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which cares for vulnerable children affected by HIV in Lesotho</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Prince Harry did his gap year in Lesotho)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Jinny Blom not only designed this garden,<br />but also designed the 'Healing Garden' with Prince Charles<br />for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2002</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to show you more gardens<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Watch for my next post ;)<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos 1-6 by me </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">7 & 8 by Suzy Wood -</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More 2013 Chelsea Flower Show Posts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-gardens.html">The Gardens</a></span><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-products-ideas.html" style="font-size: small;">Products & Ideas</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Press Day!

In January I applied for a press pass for the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show I had to submit previous Chelsea Flower Show articles I had writt...

4:40 AM

Reporting From The Chelsea Flower Show...

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am off to the Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Celebrating its 100th anniversary,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the grandest flower show on earth is this week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtlYkw9OillTiVcmlNuquNM5qQrxRESrjvE6W4B1YjOObF2bVoguyFPbUhW3suOAhdn0XtUOH5Hy0KdX2f6HGldr2vrI-cB8kzvPCtCAMlMGJO6hEmZ2wvJ9o_XMKJOIj5AFqNuAWetNS/s1600/IMG_2119-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtlYkw9OillTiVcmlNuquNM5qQrxRESrjvE6W4B1YjOObF2bVoguyFPbUhW3suOAhdn0XtUOH5Hy0KdX2f6HGldr2vrI-cB8kzvPCtCAMlMGJO6hEmZ2wvJ9o_XMKJOIj5AFqNuAWetNS/s640/IMG_2119-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(photo from last year)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Armed with a press pass in hand for the private 'celebrity day',</div><div style="text-align: center;">I may catch a glimpse of Prince Harry due to his involvement </div><div style="text-align: center;">in Sentebale's 'Forget Me Not' Garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">and who knows who else I'll see :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is speculated that due to Prince Harry's participation,</div><div style="text-align: center;">tickets sold out in record time this year</div><div style="text-align: center;">and scalpers are asking a whopping £500 per ticket</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm excited to view the Lady's Slipper, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Britain's rarest orchid, which has security surrounding it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And there are sure to be stunning and innovate installments</div><div style="text-align: center;">which never disappoint year after year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to share it all with you :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned over the next couple of days</div><div style="text-align: center;">for unforgettableness :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photo by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelseaflowershow/10036597/Prince-Harry-makes-interest-in-Chelsea-Flower-Show-bloom.html">The Telegraph</a></span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">More Chelsea Flower Show 2013 posts:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-press-day.html">Press Day!</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/chelsea-flower-show-2013-gardens.html">The Gardens</a></span></div><div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reporting From The Chelsea Flower Show...

I am off to the Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the grandest flower show on earth is this week (photo from l...

4:13 AM

Day Out With The Girls

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">A friend and I had</div><div style="text-align: center;">the perfect day with our daughters</div><div style="text-align: center;">last week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not a fan of musicals,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but <a href="http://uk.matildathemusical.com/">Matilda</a> is the best one I've seen EVER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxS15Q4kcpcP2DJ_aYWQZpxX2pFdUeDA2a9mf0hu0I1fmAN8OyTfYqIk93JOi2m19qceH4UrxeAYZmOQPkvfSlskeGxqbpZORMRDepcCnJZWkgR0mQT_FVJz65nSILZ7qtizSXohOQqiJ/s1600/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxS15Q4kcpcP2DJ_aYWQZpxX2pFdUeDA2a9mf0hu0I1fmAN8OyTfYqIk93JOi2m19qceH4UrxeAYZmOQPkvfSlskeGxqbpZORMRDepcCnJZWkgR0mQT_FVJz65nSILZ7qtizSXohOQqiJ/s400/photo+1+(15)-0021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Based on a Roald Dahl story,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this musical oozes talent and creativity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">About a girl who is mistreated by her parents and headmistress,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this dark story has a happy ending </div><div style="text-align: center;">with snappy tunes, amazing sets, and delightful choreography along the way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started our day off right at Sanderson Hotel</div><div style="text-align: center;">with their <a href="http://www.sandersonlondon.com/en-us/#/explore/?id=/sanderson-london-mad-hatters-tea/">Mad Hatter's Tea</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5bxI8nuVvb_k8qBav88ldntDJT-w1MGIIbsQAHXLGkCQIsDo28XyjNrFjljUtHg1cu9JtJwC3AqeeIuXd972NjwJmmNl0m1aaDslEmwnlVKa1yFOjmBHHeWcnIhwaLoryou_eNHsWT0o/s1600/TeaCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5bxI8nuVvb_k8qBav88ldntDJT-w1MGIIbsQAHXLGkCQIsDo28XyjNrFjljUtHg1cu9JtJwC3AqeeIuXd972NjwJmmNl0m1aaDslEmwnlVKa1yFOjmBHHeWcnIhwaLoryou_eNHsWT0o/s400/TeaCollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Complete with marshmallow mushrooms, 'Drink Me' juice, and other fun (and delicious) bites,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my daughter had a hard time deciding if she liked the musical or the afternoon tea best</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd say it was a tie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a great day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laura Porter's review of Mad Hatter's Tea <a href="http://golondon.about.com/od/afternoontea/fr/Mad-Hatters-Afternoon-Tea.htm">here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Day Out With The Girls

A friend and I had the perfect day with our daughters last week I'm not a fan of musicals, but Matilda is the best one I've seen EV...

11:18 PM

The Lambing Season

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the dearest things to do in Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is visit a farm during the lambing season</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if your timing is right,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you may see one being born</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDMmA5RuY2oi7Ue6TkZ-YrDibq2YEa4r41eb9_fEEa6hvyOzBcnHeQh7TpSra1AHBS_82I9LU3oggkRjE3rUVVbi55Oy4CEOuuKW_ecBBdOkP2MSc13IVI1AhxZ60WXEzrjsr_7TdfxDB/s1600/DSC_0273-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDMmA5RuY2oi7Ue6TkZ-YrDibq2YEa4r41eb9_fEEa6hvyOzBcnHeQh7TpSra1AHBS_82I9LU3oggkRjE3rUVVbi55Oy4CEOuuKW_ecBBdOkP2MSc13IVI1AhxZ60WXEzrjsr_7TdfxDB/s640/DSC_0273-002.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to ultrasound,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the farm sorts the pregnant ewes into different pens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">according to how many lambs each mama is expecting (usually 1 to 3)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The more babies she is carrying, the more help she may need to deliver safely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once born, the mama and babes are painted with a number on their backs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so the staff can keep the family together</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhoN2Lf1R6wJ1dcb8shAWoYBoQpSqRzaMVNYBFNrm3iO3BBNhHd7I8c7qEM_f94cFUyYU552u4e_0zpILa0PfSVmJ5FngxEiKyXXd2uDrBLS6QVr_tZo6aprbvFw-KzQbJL8aKZsXEARr/s1600/DSC_0305-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhoN2Lf1R6wJ1dcb8shAWoYBoQpSqRzaMVNYBFNrm3iO3BBNhHd7I8c7qEM_f94cFUyYU552u4e_0zpILa0PfSVmJ5FngxEiKyXXd2uDrBLS6QVr_tZo6aprbvFw-KzQbJL8aKZsXEARr/s640/DSC_0305-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More going on at the farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbakaVuZXdvF9WRIZ3QDd_a_mXWKa2Pggw0rlEPHo8ZNp-Y-h9-tDb7JKcspeIbEsBbnJNJqpAYNNuyOvcbutMH0j15WpttqOH_ofhoQp3HCUdjaGQCF5C_q6ee1CK3lGUdMbvFTVY8Q8Q/s1600/DSC_0280-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbakaVuZXdvF9WRIZ3QDd_a_mXWKa2Pggw0rlEPHo8ZNp-Y-h9-tDb7JKcspeIbEsBbnJNJqpAYNNuyOvcbutMH0j15WpttqOH_ofhoQp3HCUdjaGQCF5C_q6ee1CK3lGUdMbvFTVY8Q8Q/s640/DSC_0280-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Definitely the season for newborns,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of other babies are seen on the farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRTotYjTDkVPc6qYjMOjzysURu3jKBTWxoTI-5w8urqKDMt-sgWzyylY5sKnHt1vF56wB1a-nvFfTk2yaBxNdBIUeBrqqmFKWiGNIYoGaNSc_G9QIiX5rF9zIYIJzi9Mb3IaQB8n50x-U/s1600/DSC_0320-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRTotYjTDkVPc6qYjMOjzysURu3jKBTWxoTI-5w8urqKDMt-sgWzyylY5sKnHt1vF56wB1a-nvFfTk2yaBxNdBIUeBrqqmFKWiGNIYoGaNSc_G9QIiX5rF9zIYIJzi9Mb3IaQB8n50x-U/s640/DSC_0320-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With sun, blossoms, and the lambing season</div><div style="text-align: center;">England is at its best right now :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Lambing Season

One of the dearest things to do in Spring is visit a farm during the lambing season And if your timing is right, you may see one being born ...

10:59 PM

England's Literature Festivals

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In such a small country,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it seems a famous author (dead or alive)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is never very far away :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisJmJY1598KGyLKG4FO3tVmTaUNfsYty934hN16c7DE7t7mYdyxjAJQnouhfGQk9R6VvtVxz8yxnmSib3LK-2wKxOzboVckyWm1WhVOW_U23KdSVIC4ZGRaCC0Un3NvIjlcTd-yU18krg/s1600/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisJmJY1598KGyLKG4FO3tVmTaUNfsYty934hN16c7DE7t7mYdyxjAJQnouhfGQk9R6VvtVxz8yxnmSib3LK-2wKxOzboVckyWm1WhVOW_U23KdSVIC4ZGRaCC0Un3NvIjlcTd-yU18krg/s320/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Purses handcrafted from books by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86160369/alice-in-wonderland-book-purse-with?">Novel Creations</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And periodically,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a lot of them congregate at literature festivals :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check these out</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://issuu.com/bathfestivals/docs/bf12_literature_brochure_online"><b>Bath Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 1 - 10, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Bath will host over 150 events for 10 days in March</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Featured authors include </span>J.K. Rowling<span style="background: white;">, </span>Hilary Mantel<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">P.D. James<span style="background: white;">, </span>Kate Mosse<span style="background: white;">, </span>Pat Barker<span style="background: white;">, </span>Harriet Walter<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Darcey Bussell<span style="background: white;">, </span>Sandi Toksvig<span style="background: white;">, </span>Robert Fisk<span style="background: white;">, </span>Gavin Esler<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A.N. Wilson<span style="background: white;">, </span>Allan Little<span style="background: white;">, </span>Ben Goldacre<span style="background: white;"> and many more</span></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVWm0mev2Dcv1n7ioUyE1uLpMYVYFnWhu0P79z5PptH26vPwnSfIAmkONbIt920MFyuBkd0Irxp6vLARubHA4pCmuD6otg8OflklHEnExJ0Vi3lZyzqaLXtnd67YCEnSptrbtqlcnPyIl/s1600/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVWm0mev2Dcv1n7ioUyE1uLpMYVYFnWhu0P79z5PptH26vPwnSfIAmkONbIt920MFyuBkd0Irxp6vLARubHA4pCmuD6otg8OflklHEnExJ0Vi3lZyzqaLXtnd67YCEnSptrbtqlcnPyIl/s400/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" width="322" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Graphic art available via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hairbrainedschemes?ref=seller_info">Hair Brained Schemes</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/"><b>Oxford Literary Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 16 - 24, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over 160 events are now listed, with more to come<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some big names include Booker winners Julian Barnes and Hilary Mantel,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">former Cabinet minister Jack Straw, novelist Alexander McCall Smith,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">broadcaster Nick Robinson, Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">children's novelists Cornelia Funke, Anthony Horowitz, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and Sue Townsend of 'Adrian Mole' fame</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hayfestival.com/"><b>Hay Festival of Literature</b></a> (Wales)</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May 23 - June 2, 2013</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tickets now on sale to see John le Carr</span><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">é</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, Carl Bernstein, </span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elif Shafak, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Christy Moore and Dana O'Briain</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More event details to be released in April</span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bath Festival of Children's Literature</b></span></a></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">September 27 - October 6, 2013 </span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No current information available<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature"><b>Cheltenham Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">October 4 - 13, 2013</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">No current information available</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SBlr9Rkb4FiyE9xViEZ9idbrkzcb3kD2pKlRR2EBYmF15UA8w9y4cS60Bm_b224s-6djO6XrIwoc2g5KmMYvtNC0O_dNu1OHAz3qKpNZxvpsObPgPkYjNLWmCheqNlMDo_ShAkSTIypc/s1600/DSC04522-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SBlr9Rkb4FiyE9xViEZ9idbrkzcb3kD2pKlRR2EBYmF15UA8w9y4cS60Bm_b224s-6djO6XrIwoc2g5KmMYvtNC0O_dNu1OHAz3qKpNZxvpsObPgPkYjNLWmCheqNlMDo_ShAkSTIypc/s400/DSC04522-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookmark I made the other day with the kids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An English mom recently told me </span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">classic literature <span style="line-height: 150%;">is not being taught </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">in their school anymore</span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and being replaced by modern books to grab students' interest in reading</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have mixed feelings about that</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I see their point of nurturing the love of reading (so important),</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> how can students not be introduced to <span style="line-height: 150%;">classic literature, </span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">especially in England, the birthplace of so many famous written words?</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(An unsponsored post)</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

England's Literature Festivals

In such a small country, it seems a famous author (dead or alive) is never very far away :) Purses handcrafted from books by Novel Creations...

11:03 PM

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