Well, it's been an adventure -filled few weeks but in amongst it all, I have finished this year's collection of "Fat Fairies - for the more MATURE Christmas tree" in time to be part of Joanna & Friends exhibition at Aberglasney Gardens in a couple of weeks. @helyg.bsky.social #handmadeinWales

I have started planning winter at Scarecrow Cottage. For the 3rd year it's the Log Burner Experience when a select group relax in front of our lit log burners & are waited on hand, foot & finger with tea, coffee & as much cake as they can eat, Christmas wreath making, Annie's Emporium & the annual

For those of you with not much to do this weekend, here's my latest blog: marialalic.cymru/paul/. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social @crikeys.bsky.social @workersgallery.bsky.social @masterwoodchip.bsky.social @julieinstitches.bsky.social #writing #blog #teddybearhospital

Paul is about to be discharged from Scarecrow Cottage Hospital with advice to avoid face chewing dogs in future. @helyg.bsky.social - you won't believe what's next on my waiting list. Clue: put vintage wooden dolls & dismemberment in the same sentence. #tedfybearhospital #scarecrowcottagehospital

It's 3 weeks since Paul was admitted to Scarecrow Cottage Hospital with multiple injuries. Some treatment was simple, some - like his facial reconstruction - has been more complex. If it's successful, no-one will be more amazed than me. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social #teddybearhospital

Harvest progressing nicely. The shelf is filling with bottled tomatoes & blackberry cordial. Today I am blanching & freezing rhubarb, sweetcorn & peas then pickling beetroot. Tomorrow is Bean Day, Saturday is Start Giving Away Apples Day. @robbiehg.bsky.social @suecowley.bsky.social #CottageGarden

After volunteer training in Cardigan Sunday & a lovely time with @marilynl.bsky.social bothering burial chambers & eating too much ice cream yesterday, today I'm heading home via an exhibition meeting in Llandeilo & a stop off in Brecon. I make that in or through 9 Welsh counties in 3 days. #Wales

Been waiting for delivery of prosthetics for Paul's continued treatment. There was a knock at the door & this was waiting outside. Apparently he's heard it's only 3 months till this year's Scarecrow Cottage Hospital Adoption Auction & wants to be included. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social

Just admitted Paul for elective rhinoplasty & hand surgery. Paul is 61 yrs old with multiple co-morbidities complicated by previous botched surgical treatment & what looks like a bullet wound in his right leg. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social #ScarecrowCottageHospital #TeddyBearHospital

@welshbigguy.bsky.social or @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social - do you want some figs? Today, tomorrow or early next week? Reply if possible. No DMs sorry cos I'm not giving age verification data.

Apple maths: if 1 bowl of Bramley apples makes dessert for tea, 4 cartons of stewed apples for the freezer & 2 bottles of apple juice (1 for freezer & 1 for fridge)but today's pick hasn't made a dent in the available fruit from this & 4 other laden trees, how many cups of tea do I need to stay calm?

We had a great day at our Open Garden on Sunday. Big thanks to Chris & Gayle of @workersgallery.bsky.social for the Art in a Box 'Outsiders' exhibition; Ruth, Annie & Angela managed Rock Bottom Tearooms & everyone enjoyed not just the cakes but the 1940s vibe. 70 visitors, £521 raised for charity.

Great news! The signs for the pop up tea room have arrived! And from an independent, local small business too! (Sweet& Nostalgic) @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @workersgallery.bsky.social #NationalGardenScheme #GardensOpenForCharity #PopUpTeaRoom

We have swapped our spare/surplus wheelbarrow wheel for an ongoing supply of 10 year old horse manure. Just collected the 1st consignment so the roses are in for a treat today! Radical economics in action (which is probably where the world is heading). @robbiehg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social

That's 4 hours of my life I'll never get back but on the plus side, there's now 20m of bunting made from donated, recycled fabric up in the conservatory. A couple of your FQs up there @helyg.bsky.social ! All adds to the 1940s look we are making for our NGS Open Garden on 27th July.

Lots to do before we open the garden for the NGS on the 27th July & you might ask is this a good time to start knitting cakes?Well, it is if you've got 15 patients from Scarecrow Cottage Hospital who will be having a picnic in the garden on the same day. @sallyrose.bsky.social @marilynl.bsky.social

Molly would like to offer a more nuanced description of the current temperature near Crickhowell. There's hot and there's falling down and having no shame under the table hot. @sallyrose.bsky.social

I am delighted to say Maisie and Ptolemy Corncockle, the scarecrows who live at the bottom of the garden, have both had a makeover & are looking quite smart. I have altered their seating angle so they are now waving at passengers on the bus that goes up the road instead of car commuters going down.

I ran out out characters to tag local/potentially interested people in my post. No offence meant. @amandahoperogers.bsky.social @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social @stubo37.bsky.social @llangattockvillage.bsky.social@mythwelsh.bsky.social @robbiehg.bsky.social

Here we go again! If you're in the area & have £4 to spare for NGS Gardens Open For Charity we'll let you through the garden gate on the 27th July. For another £4 we'll give you tea & cake. More info on us here: ngs.org.uk/gardens/rose... . @workersgallery.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @

For @welshbigguy.bsky.social , @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social & anyone else who is invested in the scarecrows who live at the bottom of my garden, Maisie has had a makeover and Ptolemy has ptotally collapsed. Scarecrow surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. #Scarecrows #MakePeopleSmile #A4061

My new (used) book has arrived in the post in the same week as I've been booked to do a 2 week exhibition in the autumn on condition I take THE dolls. Some people know the ones I mean. Time to source sequins & feather boas. @helyg.bsky.social @serendipitysilver.bsky.social #IfYouKnowYouKnow

Big thanks to Chris @masterwoodchip.bsky.social for his donation of oak sawdust for the garden paths. Love a bit of recycling, love the fact that slugs don't want to cross it. #wastenotwantnot #ngsgardensopenforcharity #cottagegarden

This time last year I didn't even know what a data logger was. #ForeverFriends #BlueskyMuseums

Had a go at steam bending in the woods using a fire pit. Happy with the results. youtube.com/watch?v=8zdi...

4 weeks till we open the garden at Scarecrow Cottage for charity (it will cost you £4 to the NGS to get in). Today I have been colouring in the mother of hand drawn garden maps AND doing some early baking auditions for the pop up tea room. The vegan shortbread has passed quality control.

Shearing over for another year. Before and after pics of Leroy Brown and Prince Arthur. Welsh Units. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @olgapecorelle.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @themerl.bsky.social #DaftSheep #ReadyForHeatwave

Anyone on here live in #Somerset near #BishopsLydeard?

I saw this in a garden in Cefn Cribwr yesterday and now I want one going around my vegetable patch. Would it deter the pesky squirrels? @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @masterwoodchip.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @lifeisamazing.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social

Visited some gorgeous local NGS Open Gardens (Llangeinor & Cefn Cribwr) over the weekend: beautiful gardens, lovely people, amazing cakes. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social #NGS #GardensOpenForCharity

This what happens when the local nursery (that offers work opportunities to adults with ALN) decides to do buy one, get one free on bedding plants and you pop in for a single tray of marigolds. #BLeaf #BryngarwCountryPark #ShopLocal

Just went to put bread in the freezer and realised that Jimmy has been in the Decontamination Unit since his rescue from Treorchy last Thursday. He's had a good fur brush & is now sitting outside in the sun. @sallyrose.bsky.social @helyg.bsky.social @marilynl.bsky.social #TeddyBearAdoptionAuction

Sketch of the woodland garden at Bryngarw Country Park is now half done. In other news I walked 5km to the library and back, weeded the garden for an hour then spent the afternoon writing 1931 words on making braid with a lucet. I declare the vertigo experience over & done with. #FieldSketching

There being a first time for everything, for me this weekend it has been vertigo. What an unpleasant sensation. Even though I have stopped swaying, I am having a writing /stitching/gardening- free day and sketching in sun dappled woodland instead. #BryngarwCountryPark #LoveWhereYouLive

I declare the garden at Scarecrow Cottage is now back on schedule. I also declare that never again will I work away from home for most of March & all of April.Now, back to writing about that unlikely combination - early medieval women pilgrims and lucets. #cottagegarden #craftwriting #heritagecrafts

Many people were sorry to lose Virgil the fig tree last year but his demise has led to a renaissance of the old rose he was smothering. In other news between some dry weather & a man with a strimmer, I am now just one week behind schedule in the garden. @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social

Recently told (by a re-enactor) that I can't include a lucet in my book on early medieval crafts in Wales cos lucets didn't exist before 11th century. I am not a historian,an archaeologist or a re-enactor;I am a craftsperson & I say if you have fingers, you have a lucet. #earlymedievalcrafts #MYbook

It's National Volunteers' Week & the best thing about being an habitual volunteer is that every so often someone takes a photo of you that is very cool.

Polytunnel is ready for planting on Monday so I am now only two weeks behind schedule.

Probably one of the best posts on BlueSky.

What did I do on Bank Holiday Monday? Well, remember the time a few months ago when @romanpalace.bsky.social posted a pic of their data logger & asked if anyone could craft them a replica? And only 1 daft person replied to say "yeah, I could." Be careful what you ask for cos you might get it.

Started furnishing the doll's house I rescued from the Last Chance Before Landfill shop a while back. I am only buying things that I can't make & that I'd want if I really did have my dream home on the West Coast of Scotland- like a range cooker & set of new saucepans. @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social

Aw, thanks Steve! You might enjoy before you order the polytunnel @romanpalace.bsky.social

For those who used to share my blogged experiences elsewhere & others who may be interested in whaccy baccy sniffing sheep. @serendipitysilver.bsky.social @amandahoperogers.bsky.social @mountainwriter7.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social @cathamclarke.bsky.social @yewfemia.bsky.social

If I've been distracted of late, my new blog will explain why. marialalic.cymru/blog/ Enjoy @helyg.bsky.social @sallyrose.bsky.social @welshbigguy.bsky.social @sonsiethescottie.bsky.social @workersgallery.bsky.social @masterwoodchip.bsky.social @marilynl.bsky.social #Schadenfreude #StressedEmoji

Right, @helyg.bsky.social , @sallyrose.bsky.social & anyone else who finds joy in order,the final solution to my workroom storage issues as well as my procrastination tendencies. Baskets for each craft skill WIP in book, separate desks for writing/making & seat for thinking/hand work #proudofmyself

Lots of people said we could have done this ourselves but we absolutely couldn't have. James & co were amazing but even they took nearly 6 hours & they're experts! Now, where's my yellow felt - I need to make a data logger effigy. @romanpalace.bsky.social

Stopped off in Narberth en route to Carto Cymru Symposium in Aberystwyth. Bad news is castle is now so ruinous that it's completely fenced off, good news is I sketched Llanddewi Velfrey instead. Then I made mistake of answering phone & find I now have to be home tomorrow not in Aber talking maps.

If you can be anything in the world, be someone who appreciates googly eyes! I didn't have any lead hanging about so he's got 2p pieces in his feet making sure he will always stand to attention.

@helyg.bsky.social - here you are.