Category: Views & Ramblings

1. How to Make Your Garden Look More Colourful in The Autumn

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 20th Sep 2018

   As I look out of the window today, it just all feels a bit grey and the colder weather makes everything seem a little less brighter. Summer in the garden serves up a natural palette of bright and vibrant colours. Autumn has its own hues to offer, but they are much more muted.So, in order to inject your garden with a range of rich and interesting shades once the air turns colder and the nights close in, you have to get a little bit more creative.

   Whatever your favourite colours are, never fear, Sloane and Sons Garden Benches has a few interesting ideas up its sleeve to give you the tools to really brighten up your outdoor spaces this Autumn!

   1. Red 

   Red, and even brown, is certainly one of the colours you think of in conjunction with Autumn. So, naturally, there are many plants, shrubs and trees that will see your garden full of scarlets, burgundies and crimsons. Here are a few you might wish to try…

   Red Maple. This variety of maple is, as you may have guessed, at least partially red for the whole year. Although all maples produce red leaves at some point during the Autumn, this one is known for its abundantly red pigmentation. It is at its deepest red in mid-Autumn. If you plant a fresh one, you will be starting small, but when planning for it you might want to consider that some varieties can grow up to 50 feet tall!

   

   Holly. These bushes are prolific and do require regular pruning. However, the bright red berries are a dramatic splash of colour and can really lift your garden when they come through in the late Autumn.

   Tulips. They come in many colours, but the red variety has a similar hue to the poppy, and is quite the contrast to the more rustic red tones that occur in decaying foliage. 

   2. Orange and Yellow

   Orange is perhaps the most common pigmentation around at this time of year. However, there are ways you can inject even more of it, other than that which comes from the leaves, into your garden.

   Pumpkins. The bright orange of the pumpkin is a wonderful thing to see. Pumpkins, and other squash, also come in yellow, as well as a bunch of other colours. They grow very easily and to quite a large size. Plant a few of these and you could have a garden decoration that is not only your favourite hue but is edible as well!

   

   Rust. This depiction of decaying metal might well spell the end of the road for your old wheelbarrow, rake or garden chair. However, if preserved, your old rusting kit could become quite the injection of orange if you repurpose them as garden ornaments!

   3. Green

   Green, although it is not a classic colour for this season, is remarkably easy to get into the garden all year round. Evergreens, so called because they retain their pigment at all times, are brilliant additions to your plant collection. There are a lot of varieties to chose from, however, favourites include Daphne, Fatsia and Holly. 

   

   4. Blue and Purple

   These are harder to find in nature in the Autumn, but there are many ways to both blue and purple in if they are what you desire.

   Bulbs. There are a number of Autumnal and Wintery plants that you can put in at this time of year for blooms of this colour. Lavender is an excellent choice as it is not only a vibrant purple/blue colour, but its perfume is amazing, and it is an evergreen, so will produce flowers all year round. The Purple Emperor and many varieties of winter lily are also brilliant.

   

   Bird Food. It is always advisable to encourage wildlife into your garden, it aids both the life and the general quality of your gardens eco-system. Indeed, a tempting bird feeder might also bring a flurry of colour into the picture in the form of a brightly coloured bird, such as a Robin or the odd Blue Tit!

   5. White

   Other than the various plants you could grow in your garden (such as snowdrops and Nippon daisies) to bring the freshness of white into its palette, you might also take this opportunity to get some paint out! Autumn and Winter are darker months, so a bright white shed or fence will make a welcome addition to the place. Make sure you go about it the right way though, it is not as simple as just splashing a bit of paint directly on to the wood! As well as appearing to be uplifting and fresh, it will also help to extenuate the other colours around the garden.

   

   Tweet

2. Eye-related cat injuries & how to spot them : The day the cat got conjunctivitis

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 29th Aug 2018

   Our cat may lack a tail following a childhood accident and likes to bring us unwanted presents on a regular basis, but she is our little bundle of joy and is part of the family. We don't often blog about our pets and trust me we have a few but like any member of the family, it is just as scary when she gets injured or sick, especially as cats often hide their injuries and attempt to deal with them on their own. According to pet specialists James Wellbeloved, there are a whole host of injuries that commonly afflict cats, from broken bones and insect stings to kidney failure and tooth disease. One of the most vulnerable areas to injury for any cat is their eyes. This is hardly surprising when you think about how often they run through bushes with sharp branches or stick their nose in a bed of thorny flowers to have a good smell.

   Our cat was recently diagnosed with conjunctivitis, which is the inflammation of the lining on and around the eye. The white of the eye turns red and is quite uncomfortable for your cat, so, even if they do their best to put on a brave face, you can usually tell something is wrong if they are winking, struggling to open an eye, or have discharge around the eye. You may also notice the eye begins to swell.

   

   Sometimes the cause is easy to spot, especially if it is by a foreign object or irritant still in the eye, or a particularly nasty puncture. However, some scratches can be too small to detect, and invisible bacteria or fungi are also to blame. If you can catch the problem early enough before it does further damage, your vet will probably treat the injury by washing the eye out with a clean solution and monitoring the healing process. Unfortunately, causes can also be viral and seemingly unrelated, including being a symptom of upper respiratory illness, so indoor cats are also at risk. For viral causes, your cat will need a course of antibiotics.

   

   Conjunctivitis is the most common eye injury in cats because it has so many differing causes. However, owners should also keep a look out for other frequently occurring eye injuries.

   * A cloudy, milky eye lens is a clear indicator of a cataract and causes impaired vision;

   * Excessive eye rubbing and squinting is a sign of pain and may mean your cat has glaucoma — a build up of pressure in the eye;

   * A nasty fall, bump or fight can even result in cats’ eyes protruding from the socket.

   Whatever the symptoms, eyes are delicate and need to be treated with care, so you should see your vet for the best advice for how to treat your cat.

   Just remember, like our children, we can’t always keep our cats from injuring themselves (as much as we would like to!). So, instead of wrapping them up in cotton wool all their life, make it a habit to keep a close watch on your cat, have regular bonding time, and always check their eyes for anything unusual.

   Tweet

3. Why friends are like furniture

   Posted on 4:00pm Monday 20th Aug 2018

   Ok, so this sounds like a weird blog post. Strange title, and all. I know. But bear with me, hear me out, because I bet a lot of you ladies – and men, for that matter – will be in the same boat. Just a few hundred words in, and you’ll be considering whether Carol is an dark oak console table, I promise you.

   

   I just want us to think how much time we invest into our homes. Sure, you may not be the obsessive type who hoovers five times a day and always keeps an immaculate home, but once you own your own place, we all become a little more house proud.

   We care how things look, we want it to be as perfect as can be. We design the décor, we take care selecting colours, we choose furniture that is built to last.

   We ditch the convenience of the cheap flat-packs and opt for pieces from higher end retailers such as Cox and Cox because you can rely on it, it’s going to do you good. It’s not going to bend and bow, and it certainly isn’t going to fall apart when you use it to support your stuff.

   Can the same be said for your friends, and likewise, could your friends say the same of you?

   As we get older, it becomes harder to make new friends. Friendship circles tend to grow smaller. We all go off, get married, have children, build our careers. There tends to be less and less time to fit in friendship. The flat-pack friends are the first to buckle under the pressure, and that’s when you realise who your solid friends are.

   When you’ve less time for gossip and trivialities, as adults we start to realise whose company we truly cherish. Who we would do anything for. Who would do anything for us. Who is going to bear the weight of our problems in the tough times, and who we will do the same for when the tables turn.

   After all, we choose furniture that is comfortable and makes us happy, and so surely our friends should be chosen in the same way?

   While we realise these things, it’s important to make time to care for these relationships. Go for a coffee, share a bottle of wine over a home-cooked dinner, take the kids on a playdate.

   And I guess that’s food for thought.

   While it’s trusty and always there when you need it, you must care for your favourite oak cabinet. Dust it, polish it. Don’t overcrowd it with your clutter, without being willing to take some of that away again to see it gleam. In the same way, although our dependable friends may always be there, we must make time for them too.

   Choose wisely and nurture the friendship. Invest in friendships that are built to last and care for them for years to come.

   

   Tweet

    

4. How Taking a Staycation Benefits Your Family

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 13th Aug 2018

   Summer has arrived and now is as good a time as any to start making plans for the upcoming months. Whether you find yourself with some holiday hours you want to use up, or just desire to spend some time with your family doing something different, a staycation is a fantastic and affordable option.
   
   What is a Staycation?

   
   A staycation is a combination of staying at home and going on vacation. If done right, it can be comparable to a wonderful, relaxing expedition to another destination.
   
   Just like a vacation where you travel to a new place, a staycation is about enjoyment and relaxation. In fact, a staycation can also be about trying new things. After all, how many people have truly explored everything in their city, town or the area surrounding it?
   
   While a staycation may not have the exact same draw of setting up shop in a new and exciting location, it can be much less stressful than one in many ways, allowing you and your family more time to just enjoy the time you have together.

   

   
   Benefits of a Staycation

   Save Money - The beauty of a staycation is that you can avoid spending an abundance of money on air travel, gas and hotels. Being as a staycation is an inexpensive alternative to a tradition vacation, it is more likely that you will be able to take the time to enjoy one more often. Not only that, but any money you save can be put towards day trips or activities instead of expensive accommodations, making your adventure that much more fun.
   
   Get to Know Where You Live - Taking a staycation gives you the opportunity to explore parts of your community and its surrounding area, that you may not have otherwise enjoyed. Visit a new museum, have lunch at a restaurant that you haven’t tried yet or just go for a stroll at a nearby park.
   
   Relax - These days, families have extremely busy lives. Between extracurriculars, work and school it can be difficult to find the time to relax together. A staycation provides the perfect opportunity to lay back and just enjoy each other’s company, giving you time to truly connect and relax.
   
   Comfort - There is nothing more comforting than being able to sleep in your own beds, enjoy the comforts of home and just lounge in your pyjamas. A staycation allows you to enjoy all the perks of a vacation, without the discomforts associated with staying somewhere else.

   
   

    

   There are many benefits of deciding on a staycation with your family this summer. You will be able to save money, get to know where you live, relax and enjoy the comforts of home, and you get to do it together without interruption.

   Author Bio

   This is a guest post from my lovely blogging friend, Sarah Anguish who is a thirtysomething-year-old northerner who now lives in Norfolk with her husband and three children.  Previously working for the NHS in various roles for 15 years before being made redundant in 2016.  She is now a work from home mum who showcases family life, home decor, travel and everything in between on her award-winning blog www.boorooandtiggertoo.com. Whilst working from home may not have been part of the plan, it allows her the greatest flexibility around the needs and activities for her children.