For anyone that might’ve just swung-by VintagePretty.org you may have encountered a nasty ol’ WordPress error message - sorry about that, something at the back-end of the website decided to make everything crash spectacularly, and as I’m only a techie-novice I had to do everything my husband could tell me over the phone from work! We are, for this little episode, blaming MySQL (I’m told it’s important), and we’re hoping it’s not going to happen again anytime soon!

For now normal service should resume - oh the joys of running your own website!

Among the newly-opening tulips and the fields of crocuses, starting to unwind and open, I found something rather special. It caught my eye merely by chance - a dash of colour against the deep brown soil and a contrast to the dandelions and grass around it. Sssshhh, it doesn’t like noise. It is a rather shy little thing… Do you see it?

Now, what do we have here? Another one? Goodness gracious, two in one day! This is a treat - see how it’s growing up amongst the blackcurrant? A rare formation of a perennial favourite!

Oh my, not another, it can’t be…  Can it?  It IS!  I cannot believe it!  In my garden, how wonderful.  Dare I pick one?  What an amazing little brooch it would make, don’t you think?

 Coming to a lapel near you, soon!

e·mer·gence [i-mur-juhns]
-noun
1. the act or process of emerging.
2. an outgrowth, as a prickle, on the surface of a plant.
3. Evolution. the appearance of new properties or species in the course of development or evolution.

Emerging life has always amazed me, from watching chicks hatch from eggs, to little tiny seeds - seemingly inert - putting out roots and leaves. If you’ve ever had sea monkeys you’ll know what I mean.

A few days ago I checked in on my seeds (planted last Saturday) and the radishes had germinated and were starting to break free from their seed-cases. That afternoon, a mere 3 hours later and they were just under an inch high and each had a pair of leaves. By then the marigolds too had germinated and had put up tiny little leaves. Since then I’ve been taking photographs of the marigolds every hour, and you can actually watch them growing! Which is, really, pretty amazing.

Every time I walk out into the garden there is something new. Yesterday’s walk through the garden found me gasping at the sight of this year’s first tulips and crocuses already in bloom - and today yet more have appeared, seemingly from nowehere at all. Which just goes to show that although the land looks pretty green and brown, there is heaps of activity going on below!

• If you’re a keen gardener and like to be in touch with Countryside issues (and anything ecologically-friendly) then I’ve found the Podcast for you!  Seen on Lisa’s website, the WigglyWigglers podcast is informative, funny, a little bit of the Archers mixed with a good dose of Dawn French!  Presented in an easy-to-digest format, there are debates about very pressing issues, tips and ideas for anyone from the budding farmer to the ‘humble’ gardener!  Well worth a listen!  You can type “Wiggly wigglers” into the iTunes music store to find and subscribe to their podcast or you can find many free “podcatcher” softwares around the ‘net that will allow you to listen.

• I’m a lucky girl because as soon as I got paid I bought some wool, and whilst looking around the ‘net for a decent supplier of quality yarns I found this little shop called Cucumberpatch.  I ordered very late on Sunday night and by Wednesday morning my yarns were here (talk about prompt service!).  I bought 8 balls of varying Rowan yarn (for some ideas I’ve got bubbling) in their sale section and the whole lot came to £15 (inc. P&P).  They sell everything from Rowan to Bergere de France (love their wool!).  Their service is great - go and have a look!

• Now when it comes to music, everyone is different - but having a long love affair with a band is one of the wonderful things about music.  Listening to an album over and over you form your own ideas about the band themselves and the music seeps into your very being.  Having said that, I’ve fallen head-over-heels for a band I first heard way back in 2004.  I’ve had some of CocoRosie’s debut album La Maison de Mon Reve (2004, Touch & Go) since it was released and listening to the bizarre use of toys in their instrumentals and eerie, beautiful voices portraying sad, emotive songs I was hooked.  I challenge anyone not to hear “Good Friday” and feel something stirring.  The sisters CocoRosie have since released a couple of albums most notably Noah’s Ark and it is definitely worth listening to.  Visit their rather surreal website.

• Still keeping on the musical theme, a band who once said it was too painful to ever get back together, and my favourite band of all time, the Smashing Pumpkins, have not only reformed but are releasing a new album and going to be touring around Europe this summer (unfortunately not England!).  Their music might not be to everyone’s tastes - but I for one am ecstatic that they are back together and making music again.

• Keeping ecological issues at the forefront is a blog I just found through the Worsted Witch called One/Change, a blog dedicated to the eco-movement and providing up to the minute information on a plethora of eco-issues.  Well worth a read.

• If you, like me, love anything to do with trees then The-tree.org.uk might be your Mecca.  The information contained therein is immense and very cogently put together making it a joy to read and peruse.  It also serves as an Internet Tree Encyclopedia, with more spiritual, yet still very educated information contained rather than Wikipedia’s rather sparse “factual” and etymological information.  Good articles include “Conserving & creating decaying wood habitats - A practical guide for arborists by Mark Robinson” to be found under the “Enchanted Forest” link at the top - and the British Trees link, also at the top.

• I don’t know about you but I am a lover of tearooms and coffee shops, but not those commonly found on high streets.  I like small independently-run shops tucked away in little back streets.  But the problem is, they’re not always easy to find.  Or they weren’t, before the wonderful Delocator was brought to life (with a UK version too!).  Now you too can find a decent coffee shop or tea room on your own front door.  Do you know of a good coffee shop?  Spread the word and let others know!

• And finally, for this week at least, here is a blog I’ve been reading for the last 6 months or so, and I love to pieces.  I think it’s wittily-written, funny and now with added-pregnancy!  Go have a read of Something So Clever!

If you’re planning to grow lots and lots of seeds indoors, like myself, then you’ll need to keep track of your marrows from your marigolds and your tomatoes from your turnips. This is a must if you’re a greenhouse grower (or even, like myself, a back-bedroom grower!), otherwise you could be a little lost as to what you’ve just planted where!

And as I love using the three Rs as often as possible - I started saving money (and hopefully, the planet) by making my own plant tags. All you need is a yogurt pot and some scissors…