Friday 29 April 2022

Here come the girls

So we finally have chickens again!
We got our new girls just over two weeks ago now and I could not be happier!


All the girls are hybrids so should lay most of the year.
I also picked 6 different hens so that I can get 6 different coloured eggs.
I miss having a basket full of rainbow eggs so it was high on my wish list to get that again.

Agatha 


We’ve named them 
Agatha, Audrey, Lilith, Violet, Hetty and Ivy.
They should lay, blue, olive green, white, brown & dark brown eggs. 
I have two blue egg layers, but they may be slightly different in colour.

Though I think of the blue eggers Ivy may be an olive egger, as I think she is the only one laying and we’ve had two olive eggs. 
So I’m not 100% sure until all 6 start laying. 
I’d say in a week or two we should have all 6 girls laying. 

Olive eggs are definitely my favourite!


I love having them in the garden and from Monday they can free-range as the avian flu restrictions are being lifted. 
I can’t wait to see them wandering around.

Lilith and her fancy feathers! 

I already want to set up another run for some Pekin bantams! 
Chickens are so addictive and they definitely have magic healing powers! 

Along with the chickens and all the gardening that I've been doing my mental health is definitely improving.


I hope you're all ready for lots of chicken-related posts.









Thursday 28 April 2022

Summer Is Just Around The Corner, It's Time To Get Your Property Ready

 

Many families are spending more time in their gardens as the weather improves, kids in the yard playing, and adults having a BBQ with some "bevies." 

Summer is most definitely on its way; now is the ideal moment to consider preparing your garden and home for summer evenings!



Give your garden a fresh look by changing it. If your garden needs improvement, now is the time to do so. Here are a few ideas for getting your property in tip-top condition before inviting guests over the summer:

Considerations When Making Garden Improvements.

Garden renovations may increase the value of your home and make your gardens more pleasant for entertaining.

Add a garden room to your property

Garden rooms/offices are extremely popular at the moment as a result of the UK's pandemic-induced shift in working habits. What about a garden bar? Perfect for summer BBQs! Consider a summer house or gazebo if you don't want to build a garden room. These may be utilized for entertaining guests or as an additional seating area.

Seating Area And Patio

Patios and sitting areas may also be a good place to start when it comes to quick improvements since they are so easy to maintain. For example, patio cleaning with a pressure washer is simple and will greatly improve the appearance of your garden while freshening it up for summer. After being cleaned, you should consider applying a weather sealant to the surfaces to prevent the growth of moss, algae, and lichens in the future.

Enhance your existing UPVC windows and doors

One of the most significant upgrades to your home that may enhance its worth is UPVC Window Spraying. Even though doors and windows on your property are typically one of the most expensive things to alter and improve, window spraying has grown in popularity in recent years.

At the moment, replacing your windows' colour with a more fashionable hue such as Anthracite Grey or deeper tones of grey appears to be an "in" thing. 

According to Genesis Collection's study, changing the colour of your UPVC windows may raise the value of your property by £61,000 in some cases! As this is a more complicated solution it would require a professional spraying company such as Spraylords.

Gardens that require minimal maintenance.

A low-maintenance garden may also add value to your home if you want to sell it. After all, they don't need cutting, so replacing your grass with fake grass is a good idea! There are many different grades of artificial lawns available to suit any budget. 

They do however come in varying qualities and with different "pile" lengths, similar to buying a carpet.

Another excellent strategy to cut maintenance is to be inventive when it comes to the plants you choose for your planters. Here's a list of low-maintenance plants that are great for your garden, depending on the colours you want to use.

Privet hedges, while beautiful, can be a pain to maintain since they require constant trimming. If you want to create a low-maintenance garden, composite fence panels might be a better alternative. Composite panels are generally constructed from recycled plastics that are long-lasting and require no upkeep. The same may be said for decking boards.

Garden Furniture Ready For Summer

Furniture in your garden is an important aspect of making it the ideal location for entertaining throughout the summer. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to garden furniture, if you have children do you need some hard-wearing furniture? Children play in the yard utilizing the table and chairs as "garden forts"...

All of this can make the garden a lot more pleasant to sit and relax on, including rattan furniture sets, fire pits, etc... All of these things can improve the comfort level in your garden.

Weeding and Plants

It is the time to weed. Weeds tend to be dormant throughout the winter, waiting for spring weather to improve so they may burst into life again after it arrives. Because weeds grow rapidly, maintaining a weeding schedule is critical. 

Maintaining a minimal amount of weed growth might be difficult, but it will certainly make your garden and outdoor area.




Now is a good time to begin preparing your flowerbeds for the coming months. Adding fresh mulch to the beds, which will aid in weed suppression and moisture retention, is a great place to start.

It's also a good idea to start pruning any bushes and trees that need it now, which will encourage new development and make the plants appear neater. If you have any climbers or vines, now is an excellent time to begin training them in the desired direction.

Finally, after the winter season, clean up your garden and remove any leaves and debris that have accumulated. This will make the garden appear cleaner and more appealing.

Exterior Painting

Painting your decking, fences, and garden walls may be a time-consuming job, to put it mildly. Rather than spending time in your garden painting when the sun is shining, wouldn't you rather be outside in your freshly prepared garden enjoying that sunshine instead?

Exterior painting is often completed every few years, and it's one of the most time-consuming tasks when taking care of your outdoor spaces and property's outside appearance.

Outside Lights

Even though the hours of daylight and temperatures are increasing, summer nights are still warm. By installing exterior lighting on your property, you may extend the amount of time you spend outside. 

They might be wall lights, decking lights, or garden spike lights, each of which may enhance the ambiance in your gardens significantly. 

Summary

It's time to get your home and garden ready for the summer! 

There are several things you may do to increase the value of your property and make it more appealing to potential buyers. 

From UPVC window spraying to low-maintenance gardens, there are plenty of options for adding value to your house.

There are a variety of activities you can do to get ready for your guests, such as weeding and cleaning up seats, and it's also necessary to prepare to entertain visitors during the summer.

Thursday 7 April 2022

Protecting the Earth with 100% recycled Eco Plush Toys!

Ahead of National Earth Day, Bea has been sent these 100% recycled Eco Plush Toys to help spread the word about being more eco-friendly. 


The super cute Eco Plush Teletubbies Toys are created from 100% recycled material and packaged in sustainably sourced cardboard boxes. 
They have been lovingly produced with future generations in mind.

These are the perfect way to help teach your little one about recycling and all the benefits that come with recycling.


The Eco Plush Toys are super soft and extra cute, Bea adores her Teletubbies Laa-Laa and Po, she loves talking to them as she wanders around the garden.
The Teletubbies is one of the only TV shows that she watches so it was lovely to see her face light up when she saw her new toys.


I love that they are 100% recycled, as when we found out we were having Bea we made a promise that we would do our best to make conscious decisions on toy buying and make sure what we did buy wouldn't end up in Landfill.
So most of Bea's toys are wooden and those that aren't will be saved as keepsakes for her to give to her children when she's older.


National Earth Day is this month and I feel it's important to get the next generation interested in saving the planet by making small changes, such as making better choices when it comes to buying toys.
If we don't all start making better choices there won't be a world left for future generations to enjoy.

Some great National Earth Day activities to spark a child's interest could be,
  • Make a bird feeder out of items that you'd recycle -eg. an old loo roll, and an empty plastic bottle.
  • Litter pick.
  • Plant a tree in the garden.
  • Start a seed jar.
Making fun choices always helps encourage kids to join in, they'll be having fun whilst learning about how important it is to make those right choices.


You can collect Eco Plush Toys in all your little one's favourite characters such as CoComelon, Blippi, My Little Pony, and Peppa Pig.
Suitable for ages 18 months +
widely available online and in-store from the likes of SmythsAmazon & The Entertainer and most big supermarkets.