To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow

Afternoon All,  

You know when you start a task and sometimes regret it almost immediately? Well, that was me, and Mr. Warehouse last weekend. However, as the weekend had rolled around again we found ourselves in the garden, grey skies above, a chill in the air, and threatening rain, despite being gloriously sunny all week.

Why? Well with Bozza Jozza confirming that plans for Easter are underway and that from 29 March 2021, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed and it is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens, it was time to get ours spick and span. So shutting down the laptop for the weekend and delivering the last few Woofty's Dog Treats boxes ordered through my first ever Etsy store, there we were busting a nut to try and get everything done in time for our friends and family to soon join us, some of them for the first time since September last year, or even further back.

Our plans really started as soon as we bought the house back in November 2018 as Mr Warehouse and I had always said the garden, whilst big (the biggest on our whole street by the looks of things) is a little plain and needs a "little bit of spice" (I really need to stop scrolling through TikTok). We had thought about a small extension or conservatory, maybe in aid of making the kitchen a little bigger or just giving us more living space. That type of thing was a great idea although costly. After looking into it we decided whilst we have the space to extend, it is far too risky, considering the planning and permissions, not to mention the fact that as it is a shared ownership property where we only own half of the property, we still don't know if we would get all of the value for the works done to the house or just the 50% of the cost since that is all we own.

So in lieu of this idea, last summer, as everyone was during the first lockdown we decided to take the plunge and get the patio extended. This would lend itself to having more "floor space" but also, in the summer once you pop a gazebo on it, some garden furniture and tart up the garden with some pretty flowers it will soon look lovely and almost as another room in the house. An extension without the full commitment of an extension. But we hit a bit of a brick wall when we came to quotes from local landscape gardeners and tradesmen. The job was going to cost hundreds, and that was just labor. No parts, no cement, no sand, not paving slabs. Just a man. Well, a couple of men. Or women. But for nearly the same cost as we paid for the hard-flooring the whole of the downstairs, if not more, I just didn't know if it was worth it just for parties and get-togethers and maybe the odd sunny weekend.

For the better part of six / seven months, I just couldn't see the real value it would give for nearly £1000 by the time everything was done. And so I consulted next door. She had laid the patio herself, not a huge amount, but nevertheless, she did it. Giving me some helpful advice Mr Warehouse and I took the plunge, purchasing the much-sought-after Buff Riven Tiles. Used in most new builds, these patio slabs come with sightly riven textured paving are functional and durable, perfect for shed bases, patios, and edging around your greenhouse. Nearly killing my car in the process we collected them all and there they lay in our garden for the winter, Coronavirus concreting our solitude plans for two during the remainder of 2020.

But the beginning of the month saw a blinder of a Saturday afternoon and heading outside Mr. Warehouse and I thought it would be a good idea to see just how easy it would be to lay just one row. So we did. One slab, then two. Three and four and then two more. Admittedly it took nearly four-hours the first time (all the while I was literally working in just a bra - And not even a sexy one at that), and a lot of sweat, and lumping dirt and heavy slabs around. But we did it. And before we headed to bed that evening, my future husband beckoned me over to the back door to gazed out over our hard work, lit up by the moonlight as the dogs had toilet time. I was proud. Proud of being able to save me a damned pretty penny and proud of not only gardening, something I didn't particularly enjoy helping out with as a child, but heavy laboring and landscaping.

Now don't get me wrong, neither of us are Bob The Builder or Charlie Dimmock, but we were doing an alright job and since then we have completed a further two rows meaning we are well over halfway done. Just two more weekends and we will be done and ready to host family garden parties (of up to six) and maybe even a BBQ'd lamb to celebrate Easter in a way that is closer to normal than last year. I have already started excitedly looking at buying a nice Gazebo to shelter from the rain, chill, and provide a little shade if it's too sunny. I have found the perfect one in B&M of all places, a luxury Steel Framed Gazebo, perfect for relaxing during those long summer nights. Not waterproof entirely, but shower-proof, the woven polyester canopy, complete with mosquito nets to keep out the bugs and a powder-coated steel frame for strength and durability is exactly what we need.

All I need now is a cute coffee table, some reupholstered and restuffed garden seat cushions, flowers, sleepers, edging, maybe some more pots and gravel. Oh and a fire pit. And a garden rug! Phew, better get a shifty on!

If you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

Pups first visit to see Santa-Paws

Bonjourno!

Ohh how I wish I was going anywhere where the language is anything but English. I. Need. A. Holiday!!! But following the debacle from last week and the costly bill that Clifford, my Fiat 500L, gave me I am certainly not going anywhere sunny or exotic, I think even Newquay would be a stretch. Nevertheless, I have thrown myself into full-blown Christmas Smish-mas mode and that includes visiting the big man. 

Back in September, I was scrolling through my daily emails when I came across one from a local garden centre, quite well known in the area. Not really reading it properly I thought it was regarding my wedding flowers and some ideas or thoughts regarding styling since I had asked them for a quotation. However, this was not the case and on opening it up I discovered the wonders of what the garden centre could offer at this time of year. 

Reading through the email, it explained how Frosts Garden Centre were opening their grotto exclusively for dog lovers! "You and your four-legged friend can enjoy the ultimate Santa experience" I continued reading, enthralled by it all. With a choice of six sessions available the visit was to be jam-packed with photo opportunities and includes mixing your own doggie treats and of course meeting Santa! As if that wasn't enough, each owner also receives a mince pie as well as a special treat for our canine friends too! 

Wasting no time like an excited parent I booked the visit and text Mr Warehouse to let him know the good news. Anticipation built and as the day got closer I talked openly with my work colleagues what I would be doing on my morning away from the office. They were surprised and whilst most giggled and laughed, a lot of them would (and have) asked where they can get tickets. 

Arriving on the day, all of us in dressed in Christmas jumpers, we finally found the Grotto after much hunting around the flowers and granny scarves on sale. It honestly looked like a shed, but with our elf waiting outside for us, we skipped up to the front gates and were taken inside the magical winter wonderland created. 

Frankenstein was less than impressed by the penguin animatronics, standing to attention and refusing to let the penguins get me, guarding his Dog Mom from the strangely suited birds. I think I even heard a growl and a yap from his nervous stance. The older one, however, was quietly amused by it all, wagging all the way and probably wondering why we have to come to such a place. But our Pooch loved Christmas and always gets a bit nervy and upset when the decorations come down in January. 

Snapping away some blurred pictures of our nine-month-old pup we skipped through the frozen landscape and into the Elves workshop. Here we got to pick and choose a doggy bag quite literally, selecting some treats and biscuits for our little fur babies. Safely squirrelled away we were guided by our Elf through to Santa's sitting room, a full log burning fire awaiting us to warm our toes and even a mince pie for Dog Mom over here (Diet going right out the window)! Standing by the huge Christmas Tree, perfectly lit in lights and beautiful decorations we had some family pictures, smiling for the camera. 

Just as we were about to finish the big man himself arrived. Welcoming himself to us and our pups, he was short for a Santa, however, the awe we were in was palpable. Never had I ever thought I would be this excited to see Father Christmas, and yet here I was, my baby pup and big pup, both ready to have their picture taken for our family Christmas Cards. Posing was difficult enough though and trying to get us all to smile at the camera and not wink or blink or sneeze or turn away was a chore in itself, and that was us human's. Holding Frankenstein in my arms I was certain that was a memory to cherish forever and ever, and, after receiving a gift from Mr Claus himself, Mr Warehouse and I continued our walk through the Reindeer forest and into the gift shop to look at our photos. Choosing one, we purchased a copy and looked forward to sending out the memories with family. 

Would we do it again? Probably not, unless we knew it was maybe oldies last Christmas, but even then I think I would want to try somewhere else. At £9.99 for one owner and dog (plus £1.99 per additional owner and £6.99 per additional dog), it wasn't cheap, combining with the £7.50 per photo not to mention multiple other gift options available and it could turn into an expensive morning out. However, I cannot fault the staff and how special they made it for our first Christmas as a paw-some foursome, although I would say that Frosts Garden Centre could make it a little easier to find Santa's Grotto as it was rather difficult to locate (as could be expected) and therefore we were running slightly late to our appointment and therefore whilst not rushed along, felt as though we needed to speed up our experience. All in all, though I certainly cannot wait until next year and our next photo opportunity. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx