Day 151 - Thrilled to announce.....

Friday 31st May

Another month has flown by as I hang on for dear life.  Where is this year going?  Today has been just lovely as I spent time with my girl.  When Molly is away at university the house reverts to a male dominated space and I have to rely on my naughty dog, Lottie, and my very naughty kitten, Mimi, for female company.  The problem with that is that neither do shopping or tea and cake.  I am, therefore, less convinced of their gender because all girls love to shop and eat cake.  It is in our DNA.

Typically, with Molly, we switched into planning mode as we looked ahead through the summer.  I admire Molly's bravery as she just throws herself into all these placements not knowing where she is going or who she will meet.  It is going to be a busy summer for her but it should reap enormous rewards.  I don't believe it is enough to have a degree these days.  I believe that this has to be balanced with relevant professional experience and this has been Molly's aim from the start.  Last summer she spent two weeks as a RSPB volunteer at Forsinard Flows in the very north of Scotland.  She loved it so much that this summer is jam packed with voluntary placements including her assistant warden work on the Isle of Eigg for the month of July. 

Molly is taking all this a step further this year and has just set up her own blog, Conservation Stories, so she can blog her way through the experiences.  Despite heading in a science direction she decided to take English on to A level and it has been one of her best decisions to date.  It meant that she continued to develop her writing skills and now they are going to come in very handy.  But it does not stop there because I am thrilled to announce that she has agreed to become a guest writer on my new site 'One soul many hearts.'  The title of her own blog, Conservation Stories, is a slight play on words.  Molly believes that she can introduce us to the beginning and even the middle of the stories but she wants to work to change the endings.  She is particularly interested and committed to pulling species back from thee brink of extinction and therefore the ending needs to be changed if the story is to be successful. 

I love the potential of this strategy and so was very quick to get my request in for her to join One soul many hearts.  We spent some time reflecting on how our professional lives are moving closer together and could easily imagine some joint writing projects.  How excited am I?  I consider it an honour to be working with Molly and I am sure the experience will touch me deeply. 

We also began talking about possible fundraising initiatives of her own and campaigns that she might start to align herself with.  Molly will be able to feed some of that through One soul many hearts as she cuts her teeth of leading her very own campaign.  I will, of course, be right by her side just in case she needs me. 

Thus, I am building a really interesting and diverse team for the new site.  There are almost endless possibilities for more people and I did just want to make one point.  As a collection of people we are all very different.  What binds us together is a willingness to share perspectives be that in written or image form.  I don't think any of us would describe ourselves as experts in our chosen field but I think we would all say that we are passionate about what we will be contributing.  If I am brutally honest I am not looking for seasoned writers, photographers, filmmakers or artists.  I am looking for people who have discovered they have something they would like to share that is grounded in positivity.  The site does not have a political or academic context; it is a place to share all that is good about the world.  So, if you have been thinking you would like to share a perspective through writing or image form but thought you might not qualify the chances are you would - on that basis alone. 

When I worked at the university a member of my team once said to me 'I didn't know I had that in me' when referring to some work she had completed.  There lies the essence of this new site.  It is a space where I hope to foster emerging talent and where the journey will be one that we are all pleased to be on.  If I achieve that I will have realised one of my main goals.   Please, please get in touch if you have something you think you would like to share. 

Of course, I balance all of this with the day to day life of managing an horticultural smallholding so I was back in my tunnel after my little jolly.  Yet more hanging baskets filled and yet more potting on but I don't have little green elves to help me.  I am not complaining because I do love my plants and this week of sunshine has blessed them all.  We are charging along now and everything is bursting out of their pots.  What I don't sell at our plant sale weekend will head towards the raised beds for our own kitchen garden and cut flower needs. 

During watering I spied tiny green strawberries emerging and started jumping up and down with hosepipe in hand.  Possibly not my best idea but you all know how I feel about growing strawberries.  We shall soon be into the first preserve making of the year with our strawberry jam making and you may remember that I want to try drying sliced strawberries.  I will warn you that not all my culinary projects work but it doesn't stop me trying. 

If I am this excited over my strawberries can you imagine how excited I will be as the borage flowers?  I can tell you that that will be any day as the buds are displaying flecks of blue.  If you are busy planting up baskets and pots I can share a little tip with you.  If you line your pot or basket with hay your plants will do much better.  The hay absorbs and holds onto water and stops the soil completely drying out.  Also I wonder if I could just mention that avoiding double flowers is a real must.  Our darling flying insects can't access the pollen so single blooms are always better.  Apologies if I am preaching to the converted here. 

I do hope that those of you who love gardening will manage some time in your space this weekend and do share any pearls of wisdom because I do love to collect them!

A super, super day.

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 150 - flutterings with real style.

Thursday 30th May

I simply adore the human spirit when it gives.  Today was a very giving day with my 'A team' round for tea and cake and butterfly making.  Liz, Bev, Angie and Molly gave up their afternoon to make tulle butterflies that are the centre of our fundraising campaign for the Butterfly Tree charity. 

Thank you so much girls and I owe you all a large glass of wine.  The butterflies are not easy to make but once you get into the zone it can become addictive.  For any local readers you can purchase the butterfly in Bev's shop, Bay News, in Whiting Bay.  They cost just a pound and all of that money goes to the charity.  For less local readers we can now open the order book again.  You can order as many as you like and each one comes with a little thank you label from the butterfly tree.  We even pay postage! 


I am blessed with some really lovely friends who all seem to get bound up in my charity work but I couldn't do it without them.  So, it has been a real butterfly couple of days with my nieces making flags for the school room yesterday.  George baked the cake for us today so a big thank you to him as well. 

Now I have a full butterfly tree once more I need to concentrate on the next event which is the plant sale weekend on 8th/9th June.  The boys are now on a weeks holiday while Molly is here so we can make the most of her.  We don't really do the 6 week break in the summer as I am not convinced that is good for their learning.  We take weeks that reflect our family so, for example, we don't have school the second week of Wimbledon so we can all watch the tennis.  We will then push on again until the Athletics world championship in August when we will have another break.  As a family we go on holiday in September once all the schools have gone back and this year we are off to Herefordshire for a week. 

It has been the most glorious day on the island with lots of beautiful sunshine glinting off the sea.  The island is busy with families for half term and has a real buzz about it.  The season is getting underway at last and I do hope island businesses have a good summer.  As a family we are gearing up for the weekly craft market that runs through July and August.  The boys make jewellery to sell and I have my crafts to sell and it keeps us out of trouble.  We also do one off events dotted throughout the summer so there is no real let up now until the autumn.  Come the autumn the island goes quiet once more and we get our beaches back for long solitary walks.  I love seasonal living and use the winters to recharge and plan for the next year.  I will be quite interested to see where my thinking is over the next winter because so much is changing this year already. 

I have already decided that my new site One soul many hearts will be my focus and I will use the winter months to finally put my ebooks and web courses together.  I want to consolidate but I am not very good at that.  My mother tells me to 'stop thinking' on a regular basis.  This was the year I wasn't going to run a charity campaign to just take a break and look what has happened! 

When my boys made prayer flags they wouldn't let me take photos of them so I just took some shots of their hands working.  That has led to a micro project for the campaign.  I am now taking photos of all the hands that are making this project so special.  I have wanted to have a go at a slide show on youtube for ages and now I have the perfect excuse.  I will somehow work out how to do this and hope that the slideshow reveals the many hands blended with photos of the island.  I won't, of course, share the link if I fail at this!  It can't be rocket science can it?

Speaking of rocket science if any of you out there have any experience with making podcasts I need a little hand holding please.  Thanks. 

I have so got to dash to water in the tunnel and then the world and its wife are coming or supper.  Never a dull moment in Fionaland.

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 149 - Jigging, jumping and all bound up in the moment. xx

Wednesday 29th May

Regular readers will know that I am jumping on my little island.  My special girl is on her way home and the family will assume its usual dynamic.  That is another year finished at university and now she has to wait for her results.  Meantime she will sleep, eat chocolate and watch dvds as is her way for the first few days at home.  This time though she needs to recharge as she has a busy summer ahead of her.  I am thrilled that she will be blogging her way through the different experiences and I will set up the link in due course. 

I hadn't realised that those of you in England were not getting the series Hebrides - islands on the edge.  I can not recommend it enough so if they put it onto dvd do treat yourselves.  In school today we watched the final episode which was about the relationship between people and their natural environment.  It was a fascinating glimpse of a time far removed from mainland living.  One of the enormous benefits about living on small island is you seem to have a bit more control.  I am not sure we islanders on Arran have that as so many decisions are made by North Ayrshire Council and not all of them good for Arran.  I think it is different in the Hebrides and it felt different watching the programme today. 

My word for today is harmony.  The people of the Hebrides are in greater harmony with the natural world because, I feel, they are more in tune.  They are just too far away to be influenced by mainland agendas and that is apparent in almost every example shown today.  We were introduced to a range of people who have all learned to live in harmony with their surroundings.  My favourite person was the farmer who has lived there all his life.  Every year the geese arrive in their thousands from Iceland and every year they graze in the cherished lush pasture that the farmer sets aside for his cattle.  20 geese eat the same amount as one cow so they fairly chomp away.  Without a solution this situation can only ever bring conflict between humans and the geese.  A particularly insightful RSPB ranger explained how the organisation had bought up land to make as a protected reserve for the geese but on the Hebrides they have gone further.  The Scottish government pay the farmers compensation for the damage the geese do to the finances of the farming model.  The farmer explained how challenging this balance can be but then said how he loved the geese and looked forward to their return every spring.  He has made his farm work alongside the geese and even understood how they had become a tourist attraction, thus bringing in increased revenue to the island. 


The farming community on the Hebrides know the importance of resting pasture and often leave fields for several years to rest and recover.  Intensive farming methods have so much to answer for elsewhere in the world.

 The Machair on the Isle of Lewis is world famous for its fertile soil and unique habitats.  The fields are fertilised with seaweed from the beaches and this is the result! 

The entire programme was inspirational as it showed so many examples of people living in harmony with their surroundings.  Of particular significance to us on Arran was the change in fishing practices.  The COAST team on Arran have successfully preserved whole areas of the seas around the island as No Take Zones.  This is to allow for the marine environment to recover from over fishing.  This was especially important for the sea bed after too many years of dredging for scallops.  Around Arran we are seeing breath taking levels of recovery and the Hebrides are finding the same.  We were introduced to some of their fisherman who catch crabs and lobsters with creels and only collect scallops through diving.  The divers leave the young scallops to mature thus operating sustainable fishing methodologies.  Once again the islanders remain in tune with their natural environment. 

My interest in the Hebrides has been with me for many years but it is now at an all time high.  The boys and I have so enjoyed finding out about the islands and in the next 12 months I will visit the Isles of Eigg and Lewis and will report back.  I feel the need to give some careful consideration to these visits to ensure that I make the most of them.  Obviously my environmental writing will be fed by the time spent there but I also want to understand the people and their everyday relationships with their environment.  I am particularly interested in people who use their environment in some way in their way of life from crofting to art and everything in between.

Just had a text to say Molly and Pete are on the earlier ferry.  Jumping and jigging!

After school I entertained my two adorable nieces while my brother was at a meeting.  My mum pitched in and the girls made flags for the children in Zambia and then began their first journal page. 

They are such lovely girls and they made wonderful flags and enjoyed the experience.  I quietly talked to them about the experiences of children in Zambia and how different their lives are.  'One conversation at a time'.

Watching my mother teaching Rachael how to sew her flag reminded me of my Grandmother teaching me.  This is so important as it is the natural order of things and how we pass skills on. 

My brother arrived and brought his very important looking camera with him so I had a quick go.  OMG do I need a camera like that?  There is going to be some serious saving of pennies here so that I have one in time for my trip to the Hebrides next year.  I do like a target to aim for. 





 Today reminded me how important the 'moment' is in life.  Sitting sewing with my nieces was just lovely and how grateful I am that my teachings in recent years have taught me to live in the moment. 

I am quite preoccupied with living in the moment having just read Earth Pilgrim again.  Anyone that can walk 8,000 miles has to commit to the journey and let the destination take care of itself.  There was a time where planning ruled my life but not now.  I still plan but I do it in a much more organic way that allows projects to find me.  I think this is because I too have learnt to appreciate the journey and to remember it is only one foot in front of another and one step at a time.  For me Satish Kumar is one of the most important teachers to grace our planet and I, for one, am listening very carefully.

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 148 - Don't be intimidated.....ever!

Tuesday 28th May

For once the midges have done me a favour as they drove me in from my planting and made me focus on finishing my activist piece.  When the lovely little darlings are circling your head and forming their own cloud through which to bite you on a regular basis you know enough is enough.  Not even a sprig of rosemary behind my ear worked today so I abandoned my planting and retreated.  For someone who is quite willing to take the fight against malaria to the mosquito I am less successful with the Scottish midge. 

Before I head into this post I must just say thank you to all of you who have messaged me about the two pieces of writing on my personal blog.  For me, writing is a dialogue not a statement.  Writing should make others think and evoke a response and if I am achieving that I am completely thrilled.  I think this is the teacher in me.  I have always been a teacher that takes learners on a shared journey and I think I have moved that across to my writing.  I read a piece yesterday about the relationship between the natural world and humans.  On the surface it was very well written but as a piece of communication it was completely impenetrable.  I am quite well educated having got as far as a masters degree and I struggled with the language and the meaning got all caught up in that language.  In the end the message was lost forever and I struggled to see the point of the piece.  As I home in on a desire to write about the natural world I see far too much of that type of writing.  This is a complete and utter waste as writing that tries to persuade needs to be accessible if it is to have any chance of success.  So, the fact that my writing prompts feedback that suggests the internal messages are clear is important to me.  I will rely on my readers to tell me if I start failing at this. 

Home school was a gentle affair with some of the mechanics of learning focused on such as spelling and grammar.  There were no objections from the boys as they settled to their work and I took my chance to do some house jobs.  Sometimes it is just lovely to hear the silence.  The silence that equals concentration and application.  I know that because I always do a little test at the end of the morning and today the results were stunning.  George can now spell better than me and Max can finally apply himself without any fuss and has proved, to himself, that he can spell.  The nuts and bolts of learning are a strong feature of our home school as we want the children to have all the tools necessary to be all they want to be.  We are getting there. 

After school I continued my planting out before stopping in my tracks remembering that I promised a plant sale in 10 days time!  I reversed the wheelbarrow and put some of the plants back in the tunnel telling them that if they don't sell they can join their friends in the raised beds.  My stocks that I grew from seed are now in a smart row and I noticed that my Livingston Daisies are starting to flower in the tunnel.  If the midges hadn't had their way the little daisies would now be in the ground.  Alas, they remain in the tunnel.  Those plants that I planted out a few days ago are budding and flowering and it is all very exciting.  My snapdragons are nearly all in flower and there are some strong looking buds on my dwarf sunflowers and borage plants.  You just know there will be pictures.

It does feel good to get my activist piece finished and it is now in a moderation queue for publication.  As soon as it has been approved (assuming it is) I will post the link and you must tell me what you think.  I talk about you guys in it which makes complete sense to me.  I have now started having conversations with you in my head so no one can ever accuse me of being out of touch with my readers!

In the end I do, in fact, stake my claim on the activist description but perhaps my claim is less obvious than others.  I was asked to submit my piece and for days I struggled with this.  I didn't see myself as an activist and I finally figured out why.  I associate activist with the protesters we all see on the TV and that is not me at all.  I am not saying that I don't have a voice because you all know that I do.  But I am not inclined to shout and I think, if I am honest, I was a little intimidated by the term activist.  Having re-read Satish Kumar's book I felt more able to contribute to his new site.  Once I had finally buckled down and written it I felt a strange sense of belonging.  What binds all the stories together is a deep love of our planet and I don't think it is anymore complicated than that.  I had made it far more complicated than it needed to be. 

My little butterfly prayer flag made £5.00 so that is one more net to save some precious lives in Zambia and I am pleased.  I have some lovely people joining me for tea and cake on Thursday to make tulle butterflies to ensure we have enough to get us through a few more weeks.  More full cups have been emptied into my tin so we shall be able to make another donation very soon.  The boys have the job of counting all the pennies so thank you George and Max. 


One of those days when the sky merges with the sea in a dove grey hue and a sailing boat is gliding though in all its white glory.  A real stop and stare moment.  It looks like 'silence' to me.
I am sharing a dance piece that I love today.  Hope you enjoy. 

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 147 - soulful musing with a simple message. xx

Monday 27th May

Pete has left the island to go and get my girl via his parents!  I go through a sort of ritual of getting her bed ready and making her room lovely for her.  This summer will be a good summer for Molly with oodles of professional placements sprinkled with some time with us.  George will bake her favourite chocolate cookies and we will all charge out the door for hugs as soon as we hear the car on Wednesday evening.  Lovely!

Today has been a little gentle and I seem to have wafted about the place in a little trance.  I quite like days like this although I have to accept that I get far less done.  I am re-reading Satish Kumar's book 'Earth Pilgrim' because it feeds my soul.  There is a bit where he is asked at what age did he become a pilgrim?  His answer is 4 years old. 

He explains that his mother was a pilgrim and she would take him to her farm which was a good walk away.  She preferred to walk than go on horseback because 'when you are walking, every step we take is a step of completion, a step of fulfilment, a step towards self-realisation.' 

I went for a walk today as soon as the morning rain departed the island.  You get that 'after the rain' smell that I love and all the hedgerows are full of wildflowers.  I have asked my noisy neighbour not to get one of those beastly tools out and cut them all down this year. He thinks he is being helpful and making the place nice and tidy.  Give me a bank of wildflowers any day over neat and tidy. 

I have discovered that there is a natural order to my writing and  don't really have control over that.  You will be irritated to hear that I am still re-drafting my activist piece and I am not absolutely sure what the problem is.  That said, I had another piece floating about in my head and then, this morning, it leaked out!  So that piece got finished before the activist piece which wasn't really the intention but who am I to argue?   Shards of light is published on my personal blog and followed another piece that I published yesterday entitled 'I wasn't interested in the chair.'  The two pieces could not be more different but then that is how my mind works sometimes.  The chair piece was an award winning piece of flash fiction that I wrote last year but shards of light is just a personal piece that I thought might be useful to share. 

It is easy to think you are alone when you struggle with a chronic illness.  I picked up a phrase along the way that I use all the time.  It asks me to 'have a word with myself.'  I suspect it originally belonged to my father.  It sounds like him.  It has been one of the most useful prompts I have ever used and it has helped me cope.  My spirituality drives me towards the recognition of the power of our souls.  My soul just needs a little extra tlc every so often and if that doesn't work I have a word with it.  So, although the piece is about my personal journey living with pain on a daily basis I hope that it might be of use to others struggling with illness. 

I think pilgrimages come in many shapes and sizes but what binds them together is a 'journey.'  Life is one long journey but if we neglect our souls we do so at our own peril.  I agree with Kumar's mother and I agree with pilgrimages.  One day I will do a pilgrimage to a foreign land that needs a little help.  I will do that pilgrimage with one foot in front of the other and one step at a time.  I will ignore the pain and focus on the journey and the sense of fulfilment.  I don't anticipate being alone on this pilgrimage and I suspect some of you reading this will be with me.  Perhaps I will even blog my way through that as well!

Despite facebook's best efforts to stop me I finally got pictures of my flag up earlier this afternoon and gentle bidding is underway.  Bidding ends at midnight so if you want to have a go please do.  All money raised will be donated to the Butterfly Tree charity.  I am still hoping for a few more flag makers so if you have some time and would like to make one do get in touch.  Yours will be much better than mine and I still can't believe how long I took to make mine.  What was wrong with me?  I did set myself the challenge to stay away from the sewing machine because I wanted to think about every stitch and exactly why I was making this flag.  Hand sewing every applique and every hem took the time but I wouldn't have had it any other way. 

Looking out of my window now I can see the Himalayan poppies swaying in the breeze but, if I am honest, I can see lots of weeds.  Not even I can get away with calling these wildflowers so action is required.  Boys!!!!

I do hope you have all had a lovely bank holiday (readers in the UK).  Can I just say a big 'Hi' to my American readers.  You are in danger of overtaking the number of UK readers which is truly amazing.  I read lots and lots of blogs now and many of them are from Americans so it is lovely to know that you are reading my little blog.  If any of you American readers want to make a contribution to my new site 'One soul many hearts' I would love to hear from you.  It will be important to get a range of perspectives on this site. 

It really is the most beautiful afternoon on the island after all that rain.

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 146 - A high pitched squeal......again! xx

Sunday 26th May

A lovely Sunday where I completely lost time in sewing my flag that I am hoping to auction.  I can lose whole days sewing quite easily if I try hard.  I am on the final stages of the flag and getting nervous about the whole bidding process.  What if no one bids?  Worse than that is the fact that I don't really want to sell it at all because I now have someone in mind that I know would like it.  This is getting worse!  I shall photograph it and do a second one to give to my friend and all will be well in the world again.

I had a lovely hour in bed this morning catching up with reading.  I am having to take the Dakini Power book quite slowly to absorb the teachings that shine through each and every woman.  What binds these women together is a complete and utter dedication to others.  They take selflessness onto a whole new level and it forces you to stop and think about previous decisions that you have made. 

I also got an email from the lovely Kev who was a guest blogger for me a few weeks back.  He has started his own blog now, Simply Kev, and it is already a joy.  This is the first writing he has done and the journey is already captivating.  I went to school with Kev and, although we lead very different lives, we share two important things.  We both have children that are flying the nest and we understand just how that feels.  We also have both learnt along the way to 'stop and 'stare' and breathe in the natural world.  We appreciate what nature offers up and we are more than happy to share.

I am completely thrilled that Kev has agreed to become a guest writer for my new site 'One soul many hearts'.  He will be able to share all those 'stop and stare' moments as and when his busy life allows.  Kev works on the oil rigs and it is a world apart from my life but I love hearing about his life.  My new site has three contributors so far and all three of them are old school friends.  Who would have known? 

I could easily have spent some time writing today because the light streaming through the trees was just stunning.  I have a creative piece brewing in my mind and I am aware that I have rather neglected my personal blog of late.  I will attempt to pen it tomorrow and let you have the link.  Most of my creative works starts life at the back of my mind or in corners that I didn't even know about.  Over time it moves to the front of my mind and then I get the impulse to commit to the piece.  This piece actually began as part of a meditation I did recently and those are my favourite starting points because when I start to write I never know where it is going to take me. 

Thankfully I loaded up my flower presses before I got into sewing.  I always pick around midday to ensure any morning dew is long gone.  The meadow buttercups hold their colour so well that I just had to press some for projects later in the summer. 


Of course, once you start noticing light you see it everywhere and I did try and capture the light coming onto my work table just as I was setting up for the day. 

It was a lovely day and I did a lot of thinking while I was sewing.  I did rather forget to drink or eat but that is another story!

Just as I was finishing my flag my brother and two of his children arrived.  They are here on holiday for the week and Rachael and Sarah do love to join in my various projects.  I shall get them flag and butterfly making while they are here. 

To start with it is more important to get on the trampoline.  I must just tell you that I had a bit of a go on it yesterday.  I read somewhere that it is a good non weight bearing form of exercise.  I struggle with weight bearing exercise so I thought I would just give it a go.  Next time I will ban Max from being on there at the same time because his jumps nearly had me off the side.  It is funny what the body can remember.  When I was very young I did gymnastics and we had to use the trampoline to practice some of the somersaults so that our bodies knew what to do off the vault.  Rest easy.....I did not somersault but I did jump higher than intended before letting out a very high pitched squeal.  Me thinks I need to take this slowly. 

I expect to finish my flag tonight so if you are interested you might like to check in with my facebook page as I will put it up tomorrow morning.  Then I shall spend the entire day with everything crossed!

Have a lovely bank holiday Monday and we shall speak tomorrow. xx

Day 145 - lots of chances to sit. xx

Saturday 25th May

A lovely, lovely day of sunshine and lots of opportunities to sit.  Jobs in the morning but then lunch in front of my Hen Hut and a chance to sit in the sun and take in some much needed vitamin D.  Pete is reclaiming some of Hazelbank to make a new garden for cut flowers for next season so this season we get to sit in it. 

Not long after lunch and a cup of tea in the sunshine and now I have promised to be quick before a glass of wine in the evening sun.  There is a bit of a theme here!  I am quite convinced that when the sun shines there is nowhere better in the world to be than this little island. 

Between the various episodes of sun sitting I was in the studio working on my little flag that I hope to auction on my Scottish island mum facebook page.  I am pouring lots of love into it so selling it will not come easy.  It will be made easier with the knowledge that the proceeds will be going to our Butterfly Tree campaign. 

Chelsea Flower Show is over for another year and I have mixed feelings.  I have jumped off my fence to finally declare that the show gardens were, on the whole, disappointing.  I am just not convinced by them and I think they were trying to be too clever.  There is a debate about the relationship between garden design and art and I think there is a place for that.  I can see the art in gardening but, for me, it shouldn't lead the design process.  The design process should be led by the need to create a space where plants and wildlife can thrive and us humans can sit and enjoy.  That said, it can push boundaries and speak strong messages but they should be in a context of gardening.  The Mindfulness garden achieved all of that and more.  It was a space where plants were in their natural spaces and wildlife had maximum access.  The garden created a space for us humans to sit quietly and connect with the wildlife and reflect.  It didn't try to be too clever and I think that was to its credit. 

Next year I would like to see a sense of flow come back into the show gardens.  As a grower I know how plants thrive and they do not grow in dead straight lines or boxes.  They grow in drifts and clumps and curves.  On the design side of things I am over exposed to gardens with two different sides to show a contrast.  That, to me, is too simple and lacks imagination.  Messages need to be woven into the fabric of the garden for people to discover as they 'live' with the space for a while.  The artisan and the fresh gardens were much more engaging than the large show gardens and their messages will last longer as a result.  I think a design based on the curved labyrinth that pauses every so often to release another piece of its message would start and finish at a better place that gardens that demand walking in straight line and/or observing from outside.  I want to engage with a garden not walk around its edges.  We have gone way too far along our straight lines now and need to pull back to allow us to engage with the essence of a garden as a space to enjoy plants and wildlife. 

I have found a lovely little spot for my moon garden and I am going to build a seat from driftwood that my poor boys had to carry back to the car for me.  They were the size of small tree trunks but that is why I had boys!  I am going to start cultivating the plants this year for use in the moon garden next year.  During the winter months I am going to paint all the pots and other containers I want to use in dove greys and whites and then we will be good to go. 

I am currently teaching myself how to propagate succulents which is completely new for me.  I have seen a succulent wreath design that I want to have a go at but I know very little about succulents.  If anyone has any experience with these little babies do let me know what I should be doing......many thanks.

I do hope you are all having a wonderful bank holiday weekend and making the most of this lovely weather.  I don't think our sunshine is going to last so I am off to sit in it again!

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 144 - Congratulations to the winner of my competition!

Friday 24th May

Congratulations Natalie from Inverness!  You have won our 10,000 page giveaway prize. I have emailed you so we can chat about your special person and products he/she might like 'with love from Arran'. 

Well done to all of you for submitting.  Quite a few got all the questions right but in case one or two tripped you up here are the answers -

1.      What is the name of the plant that Fiona grows to feed the bees in her garden?

Borage

2.      What exhibition did Fiona rave about in January which featured a new book?

Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit

3.      What is the name of Fiona's new studio?

Hen Hut

4.      What material do we use to make the wings of the butterflies that we sell for our    charity this year?

Tulle

5.      What did Fiona' Grandma teach her to do?

Sew

6.      Who is Fiona's favourite artist based on Arran?

Angela Elliott- Walker

7.      How much money did we make on the Butterfly Tree raffle?

£98.00

8.      What is the name of my guest blogger who is also an old school friend?

Kevin

9.      How does Fiona suggest you condition cornflowers so they have a better vase life?

Sear the stems in boiling water

10.  What is Fiona's favourite colour purple or turquoise?

Turquoise, but it used to be purple!

11.  Does Fiona prefer writing or teaching?

Writing

 

I rather miscalculated as we actually reached 10,000 page views a few days ago but no matter.  Thank you to all who took the trouble to email me the answers.  For thee record it was the last one that caught most of you out.  I love teaching and always will do but, just at this time, writing is my passion. 

 

It has been the most glorious day on the island and I do feel rather blessed.  The morning was spent with the boys working on a pastel study for their spring journals.  Really therapeutic and always so enjoyable.  We do a lot of art and craft in home school because we can!

The afternoon was spent working with Harry to finish his latest assignment before taking off to the studio for some much needed sewing.  Half term is almost upon us and one of my shops has virtually no stock!  This year continues to gallop on with me holding on as best I can.   How lovely does my studio look now all the trees have come into leaf?  I get quite distracted with the bees and the butterflies but that is what life should be about me thinks. 

 

As I set up the table to sew I think of my Grandma every time; it has become a ritual that I love.  I was on a bit of a schedule today so did my best to focus and look what I managed.....

 

 

All filled with our own lavender these little gifts 'with love  from Arran' make good thank you presents for the dog/cat sitter!  I know my customers.  My favourite product is our soother which is designed to make life a little easier when things become a little challenging.   I developed it for me in the first instance and it has been such a comfort I rolled it out to the company quite a few years ago.  I have just sent one to someone who is rather stuck in hospital facing a complex and long operation.  I went to school with her partner and I do hope it brings her some comfort. 

 

I am having to stop typing far too often in search of ticks because I have just hacked back some ferns and they do love to shift from a fern to our skin.  The dogs get them all the time and I am paranoid.  I am driving myself mad here!

 

I managed an hour outside continuing to plant out from the stock in the tunnel.  It is grow bag day tomorrow so I need to make space.  This year we will have  courgettes, strawberries, tomatoes and sweet peas in grow bags in the tunnel.  They are all raised off the ground but I quite expect to see slugs jumping this year in their desperate attempts to chomp through my plants.  I have  already had to do the 'slug walk' with quite a few to the bug hotel on a different part of the smallholding.  It will be a well trodden walk by the end of slug season. 

 

I think I might even grow beans in pots this year as the open ground is a complete disaster.  Molly will be home next week and surely all that university education in animal conservation must help her mother deal with slugs? 

 

I have just agreed to do an event at Brodick Castle on 4th August and I want to take the butterfly tree and crafts along as well.  So this is a bit of a shout out to all you lovely people who are helping me make butterfly crafts.  Could I please have whatever you have before then so I can make the most of that day.  We can then make the big push for the butterfly supper in September.  I can not thank you enough for all your help.  I just don't have enough time in the day to make all that I know we can sell.  The total is creeping up and I still have more to add in over the next few days.  I will shout loudly when we reach £300.  I may be tempted to jig again.  We need to remember that this is not a regular campaign.  People are putting enormous efforts into making pretty things and the children in the school will see this for themselves.  I do think this is so important but I never take your efforts for granted.  We are all busy but somehow we are finding time to make the pretty butterfly crafts.  Spellbinding, I think. 

 

On this bank holiday can I remind all my lovely readers that I take orders for the little tulle butterflies.  They cost £1.00 each but we like it when people order at least 5 at a time as that buys one mosquito net which saves at least two lives.  We cover the postage costs.  All you need to do is make your pledge online via my big blue button and drop me an email with your address and I will do the rest.  Every butterfly comes with a thank you label from the Butterfly Tree.  It really does make a huge difference as where nets have been distributed there are no new cases of malaria.  It could not be simpler.  Thanking you all in advance.......

 

 

 

Enjoy your bank holiday and we shall, no doubt, speak tomorrow. xx

 

 

 

Day 143 - Holding my family just a little tighter. xx

Thursday 23rd May

In the spirit of Chelsea Flower Show I am designing a new garden.  I am eating cake while I design as it feeds my brain.  Such a good excuse!  I am having problems deciding exactly where to situate this garden as will be revealed later.

Another very blowy day on the island but with lots and lots of sunshine.  My plants are happy, happy plants as I am.  Facebook friends already know that I have got a place on the writing course in the Hebrides for next year.  The email came in last night and I was jumping in an instant.  7 hours of painting was not going to stop this girl jumping.  I did get stuck in the bath last night so I didn't get away with all that exertion.  I am so excited about the course as its focus is nature writing and that is where my writing finds its natural home.  Every time I pause when typing I look out of the window and every time I see something different that wasn't there yesterday.  Meadow buttercups have sprung into life thanks to all the sunshine and they now pepper the cow parsley that is trying its hardest to compete with the grass. 

For Chelsea to focus on wildflower as much as it has is a triumph and a sign that we are all listening a bit more.  I grew up in rural Cambridgeshire and would walk our dog through meadows filled with wildflowers.  Urbanisation and intensive farming has meant that we have lost over 90% of those wildflower meadows but I sense some optimism.  People are engaging with the benefits of wildflowers for our wildlife and little corners of gardens are being left for wild relatives of our cultivated flowers.  Some farmers are leaving strips between fields for wildflowers and not cutting them back until after they have self seeded.  Meadows do need management but I think the interest and understanding is returning.  Good for Chelsea Flower Show!

Have any of you seen the Hebridean Weavers Garden?  It is set in the 1950s with a cottage on Lewis.  I am going to Lewis next year - did I mention that???  The weaver weaves traditional Harris Tweed cloth using wool dyed naturally from plants growing in the area.  You could just put me in that garden and leave me.  I would be quite happy.  It would force me to get to grips with spinning. 

So Chelsea continues to push my buttons and make me more determined than ever to get there one day.  I want to see if Chris Beardshaw is as good looking in real life as he is on the telly.  These things are important. 

The boys tackled their spelling session with good cheer this morning and then we moved into a creative writing exercise.  This is normally where George shines very brightly indeed.  Today was different as he really struggled and eventually disappeared off to his room for a bit of peace.  Meanwhile Max flew through the exercise with real flair showing that he can do these things when he puts his mind to it.  He is often a reluctant writer but I see a change in him now that his spelling is improving.  I think there are many stories in Max bursting to get out.  Checking on George I could see this was not going to happen.  He had an idea but wasn't impressed by it and therefore couldn't get any flow to the task.  We agreed that he should abandon it as writing sometimes doesn't happen.  Can you imagine that happening in school?  George is a talented story writer but today was not his day and there was no point in pushing it any further.  He could take his level 2 qualifications now as he is more than able to pass them all.  We are leaving it until after the summer because we just feel he needs that extra bit of time to just do what feels right.  He will take them at 16 along with all the other 16 year olds in the country. 

Back to my new garden.  I am designing a Moon garden and apart from knowing it has to face the sea I am not sure where to locate  it.  There is nothing like a full moon on the sea and I want  to create a space where we might sit and enjoy the view at night.  I think I will create a container garden around a central seated area.  You can see my thinking on my Pinterest board.  I am obviously looking for the silver and white flowers and foliage but I am also looking for night scented plants.  When Pete reads this post  he will no doubt groan as yet another project rolls off the conveyer belt.  Who would be married to me?  If any of you have any words of wisdom on moon gardens do share....

Of course, it would be difficult to end without making mention of the terrible incident in London yesterday afternoon.  It shocked me deep into my soul and I have carried it around with me ever since.  I can not imagine what would drive anyone to do such a thing to another human being.  It is stirring up strong emotions but I do hope people remember that a family have lost a very dear member.  I am sending prayers to that family at this time.  I would just say one thing.  I was cross that the Sun newspaper captured one of the killers ranting and then this went out on the evening news.  It is beyond comprehension that, as a society, we would want to give this air time.  Our focus should have been elsewhere. 

Perhaps we should all hold our loved ones a little closer for a while. 

Until tomorrow. xx

 

Day 142 - one of my favourite people in the world. xx

Wednesday 22nd May

Happy Birthday Pete.  The joy of Skype meant we could all sing Happy Birthday together and watch Pete blow out his candles.  A croaky Molly sang in Lincoln and we did our thing on the island.  Molly clearly needs to come home for some mummy tlc as she is suffering a bit.  Pete leaves the island on Monday and will bring her home on Wednesday.  Is it too early to start jumping?

I was doing more than jumping last night as I watched my analytics creep towards 10,000 page views.  Right in the middle of Chelsea on the telly the 10,000 mark was reached so down went the ipad as I jigged a merry little dance around my sitting room.  I like to share so I took my jig around the house with only the odd raised eyebrow from a teenage son.  Max, as always, said 'Well done Mummy' as I jigged back to my seat.  I will have to get into video making so I can share these moments with you guys because I am sure you feel deprived! 

Needless to say I am absolutely thrilled at reaching such a remarkable total and that will be all down to you guys.  I am aware that some blogs get that total a month but these are often the type of blogs you click on and read once to retrieve some information and then never visit again.  This blog is different because my 10,000 represents people visiting over and over again.  It represents more than that though.  People have engaged with this little blog and contributed to projects a long the way and that is very special indeed.  I am still redrafting my activist piece trying to figure out quite why I have been asked to make a contribution on this subject.  In the end it is probably quite simple.  I am environmentally aware and I live as sustainably as I can and I use this little blog to share some of that.  So, my activist credentials are limited in scale but perhaps not in depth.  Maybe the world can change one blog post at a time and even one conversation at a time?  In that little space, maybe I have a place?

I am working on the new site 'One soul many hearts' at a refreshing pace.  Instead of my usual break neck pace I am putting gentle feelers out and attracting some truly wonderful people to contribute to the site.  I won't be launching until later in the year when I hope all involved in creating this new piece of virtual space will raise a glass at the same time.  I like that idea but I can see a slight problem.  50% of my readers live in the USA and they are obviously in a different time zone.  The obvious solution is for me to raise a glass at two different times.  I think I could squeeze a second glass of wine in if I really put my mind to it. 

One of my personal little theories is that we all need a mentor in life.  Mentors are particularly useful towards the beginning of your life as an adult or your career.  They help to guide and gently shape the person you then become.  I had the very best mentor on the planet.  Her name is Janet and we are still in regular contact today.  There is no one in the world like Janet.  She is all the things a mentor should be and then some....  I first met Janet when she interviewed me for the lecturing job at the university of Winchester.  It was one of those dreaded interview days that takes all day and you 'chat' in various contexts.  Except Janet didn't chat very much as she was far too busy observing all the candidates.  One of the candidates obviously decided the way to get this job was just to talk over everyone the whole time.  I was the youngest candidate and a bit out of my depth and too quiet as a result.  But there was a moment when the chatty candidate chatted once too many times and I heard an irritated sigh from Janet and in that moment I knew I would like her. 

Working with Janet was a complete and utter joy and a lesson in how to communicate with people.  When Janet spoke you listened but you were just as likely to see her listening carefully to others.  I went on to have a successful career in lecturing and I owe a huge amount of that to Janet.  I was fortunate to work with another fabulous mentor after I left Janet's team but I have carried her wise words with me always. 

Janet was involved with charity work in Romania before most of us even knew there was a problem with orphans in that country.  She has dedicated her life to working to making the world a better place for children in Romania and I am completely thrilled to announce that she will be sharing some of that with us.  Janet has kindly agreed to write a couple of articles for 'One heart many souls' and these will lead the way as I launch the site.  The rest of the journey will therefore be easy.....we shall all just follow Janet's lead. 

So, you have now been introduced to one of my favourite people in the world and I did think that was a far better use of my post today than telling you about the delights of house painting.  I am covered in white paint and very aware that I will pay for these efforts today.  I am not sure this body can cope with 7 hours painting - we shall see what tomorrow brings.  It will not matter because I now have a shiny white house again. 

I am off to have a cuddle with my kitten.

Until tomorrow. xx