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gardening with kids – foxgloves, fizzy pop and photos

cherryade treat after allotment work - nipitinthebud.co.uk
We’ve only been getting to the allotment every other weekend but with the warmer weather we’re beginning to see more rapid change from visit to visit. Since sowing our first seeds towards the end of April we now have carrots, beetroot, runner beans, shallots, tomatoes and lettuce coming up. Kohl Rabi and watercress are still keeping us guessing and we’ve got some plan B plants we can allocate to their seed beds if they don’t ever appear. There’s not much space for anything else but I just couldn’t say no when Dave offered some sweetcorn and potatoes so we planted one of each anyway!
6 year old weeding - nipitinthebud.co.uk

We had lots to do in a short space of time on Saturday but both boys were keen to help out. Euan was pleased that Dave had left out some rubber gloves for us – he’s not yet got used to the idea of mud under his nails! He was pleased to see how easily the weeds came out when pulled up from the roots. Luca was a bit too enthusiastic and I hadn’t thought to point out the fact that we’d finished when I turned to see him pulling up some of our precious few carrot seedlings. He’s still trying to master walking along the wooden plank that separates our growing area from Dave’s blackberry bush so a few things were trampled in his eagerness to help.toddler weeding - nipitinthebud.co.uk
Euan was concerned that a fox glove plant was growing on the edge of our plot and that Luca’s leg had brushed up against it. We had spoken to him last summer when Luca was less mobile about the risks for children and animals if they ingest any part of the foxglove plant. Euan is extremely conscientious with any information like that but I could see he was becoming agitated by the thought of Luca touching it. He was finding it harder and harder to be rational about the risk being in eating them (which Euan knew he would never do but wasn’t so sure about a curious toddler). I asked Dave if he minded us removing it for Euan’s peace of mind and he didn’t and as I managed to dig it out with it’s roots intact he re-homed it down on his plot in the area where he likes to sit on his bench and take a break. They are beautiful plants after all and the bees especially love them.

re-homing foxgloves - nipitinthebud.co.uk

We took a break after all that work and the boys were excited about having Dave’s special drink, watered down Cherryade. In all honesty I think it’s E’s favourite part of allotment visits because we don’t have fizzy drinks at home and he’s always keen to know if Dave will be there at the same time as us! I took some pictures of the boys having their drinks and invited Dave into the frame too. It was nice to also have proof that I’m at the allotment with them when Dave offered to take one of me with the boys.allotment growers - nipitinthebud.co.uk

Mum and boys on the plot - nipitinthebud.co.uk

Euan excitedly asked if he could take a picture too and as he’d had some practice using my camera while we were on holiday I was happy to let him. I think he did a really good job considering he’s much smaller than we are.6 year old photographer's photo - nipitinthebud.co.uk

”Can I take some more pictures of the allotment” he asked shyly and when I said yes he took himself off photographing flowers, plants and other interesting things. He has a lovely eye for spotting things and is really responsible about putting the strap around his neck and holding the camera carefully.
I may have to dedicate an entire post to his photo gallery if he keeps this up!As always we came away from the plot with some fresh produce from Dave. Euan thought the cabbage made a rather good hat!cabbage hat at the allotment - nipitinthebud.co.uk
We’ve also been taking part in two nature challenges this month – #30dayswild with The Wildlife Trust and the #GreatBritishBeeCount with Friends of the Earth, photographing and logging sightings of bees. They certainly love purple and pink flowers especially the foxgloves (although they were too fast to snap them as they zipped in and out of the lovely bells).

#GreatBritishBeeCount - bumble bee on flowers at the allotment
#GreatBritishBeeCount - bumble bee on comfrey

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#myhearty life May 2018 |gratitude| success| beauty|
#30dayswild with The Wildlife Trust – days 1-15

8 comments

  • Peggy Murray
    June 12, 2018

    Its lovely to see the generation gap sqeezed in on the allotment, shared interests and the odd fizzy drink helps! Euan looks quite professional with the camera

    Reply
    • Nip it in the bud
      June 13, 2018

      I will pass your compliment on to Euan Peggy, I totally agree. I love the intergenerational relationships on the plot, I feel so lucky to be back there with all of the fun and a lot less work!

      Reply
  • Carol
    June 13, 2018

    Cute boys and a lovely garden – 2 things that make me smile.

    Reply
  • Louisa (@LouisaInsideOut)
    June 14, 2018

    How lovely to get the boys involved with the allotment. They look like they are having a wonderful time

    Reply
  • chickenruby
    June 17, 2018

    I love how the allotments appeals to all generations #keepingitreal

    Reply
  • debsrandomwritings
    June 18, 2018

    Hi Nic, I love your photos. Both your boys look cute and Euan looks like he really enjoys it at the allotment. I’d love t know what was going through Lukas mind as he seemed to be planning his next ‘dig’. I bet those carrots wouldn’t have tasted good and he knew it… The foxglove was one of the first plants my Dad ever warned me about and I do remember being quite scared to go near them too. It is good to make children aware of the dangers of eating that grow wild. Many years ago my daughter picked a plate of ‘food’ on our walk to pick my son up from school. When we got home, she set about cooking it, I turned my back and she had eaten the lot! My heart stopped as I couldn’t be sure what she had ingested, luckily no harm was done and she never did it again… I bet that in years to come your boys will remember the watered down cherry aid and Dave as the biggest draw to the allotment!

    Reply
  • gardening with kids: a new growing season 2019 - nipitinthebud.co.uk
    March 26, 2019

    […] wannabe allotment grower needs a Dave.  I’m so grateful for everything our friend Dave does to make life easy for us at the plot.  Gardening is not easy with kids, whether its the […]

    Reply
  • gardening with kids - 2019 round up - nipitinthebud.co.uk
    January 5, 2020

    […] This was only my third ‘gardening with kids’ post for 2019.  This partly reflects the busy-ness of Mum life.  It mostly reflects that sad reality that  gardening has taken a back seat for me since becoming a Weleda Wellbeing Advisor in February.  As usual the produce we were lucky enough to pick this year was not the result of our hard work but Dave’s.  My boys have a very rose tinted view of what ‘grow your own’ means with Dave providing ready-to-sow soil and tending and watering our plants between monthly visits.  Dave supports us so graciously, with no criticism, and warmly welcomes us each time we do pop by.  The kids are always delighted to see him and not just for the cherryade drink they enjoy finding in his shed! […]

    Reply

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9 years of loving this gorgeous soul. Happy Birth 9 years of loving this gorgeous soul.  Happy Birthday darling Euan ❤️
I've spent the weekend mostly indoors attending We I've spent the weekend mostly indoors attending Weleda training and preparing for Euan's birthday tomorrow.  So here's a few pics of a very muddy walk this week at Barnwood Arboretum which included hugging a giant redwood tree 🌳💚
We made origami spiders! Who needs school when yo We made origami spiders! 
Who needs school when you've got Art for Kids hub 💕
.
#childhoodunplugged #gloucesterlife
Silly Sunday afternoon fun with filters 💕 #gl Silly Sunday afternoon fun with filters 💕
 
#gloucesterlife #lovemyboys💙 #photogrid
Seeking meal planning inspo. What are your favour Seeking meal planning inspo.  What are your favourite recipes to cater for all tastes and ages? 
The open book is the Bosch recipe book so really interested in vegetarian/vegan suggestions too x
We went for the muddiest walk today but it was so We went for the muddiest walk today but it was so good to get outside.  Luca did a spectacular welly boot save when the mud suckered it off but he managed to land his foot back inside it without falling over.  The boys were wet through by the time we got back to the car.  They soon warmed up at Grandad's sat in pants watching cartoons and eating crisps.  A pretty stellar day all in all!
front view: back view courtesy of big brother 😘 front view: back view courtesy of big brother 😘
Running off some steam after a few days indoors. Running off some steam after a few days indoors.  We're lucky to live in a fab city where historic sites, green spaces and waterways are all within a 20 minute walk from home.  It seemed the perfect day for getting a few pics to round off the 2020 album.  According to G the days of "normal" smiles in photos are long gone.  We live with a pair of comedians! 
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#childhoodunplugged #gloucesterlife
Starting a new Christmas tradition with a 1000 pie Starting a new Christmas tradition with a 1000 piece puzzle.  Turns out the tube makes it really tricky to look at the picture and the pieces are pretty small.  Could be here a while - see you in January!
One of the jobs I didn't get round to before Chris One of the jobs I didn't get round to before Christmas was freeing up space on my phone for photos 🙈. So rationed to just one picture you get 50% of the Moorey's wishing you a Merry Christmas.  Sending love and hugs out to all corners of the world and sharing the stories of Christmas past to remember those no longer with us.  Lots of love x
Not your usual shopping list for Christmas Eve eve Not your usual shopping list for Christmas Eve eve but loss has been such a big part of this year and the opportunity to remember loved ones together is so comforting.  We don't have candles at home since a near accident with a cat tail many moons ago so  Luca and I dashed off into the rain this morning to get some beautiful vegan plant wax candles from @idunspirit .  We'll join the circle of light remembering loved ones tomorrow at 7pm. 
.
My Mum passed away peacefully at @sueryderleckhampton 2 years ago and I was touched by the idea of a shared remembrance on Christmas Eve.  I bought a candle for my Dad and dear friend who will be missing her Mum too. 
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Sending love and courage to all who are heavy hearted missing  loved ones this Christmas.  Especially to those who are missing a parent, sibling or child.  3 friends have lost Dad's in the last week and the pain of wondering how to make sense of life without them is the journey they now face.  Lean in to support and feel all the feels.  Huge hugs dear ones x
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(Please comment below if you're remembering someone.  The boys have asked to join me to remember Nana as well as their beloved cats Poppet and Mikey and we'd happily include a tribute to your loved ones in our thoughts)
We went to our favourite local gardens yesterday a We went to our favourite local gardens yesterday and my friend said "ooh I'm just going to pick up some of the fallen greenery for my Christmas wreath". What a good idea I thought as we've never made one (with a house opening on to the pavement i always presumed it would soon  disappear if I did make or buy one!). 
.
Using a couple of ivy twines to make my egg shaped circle I just used some multicoloured yarn to wrap around it and secure the foliage.  It looked pretty ropey until I sewed on some of the dried orange slices from my friend Lisa's home made pot pourri.  Transformed and ready to hang on the door when I work out how! 
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#gloucesterlife #christmascrafting #wreathmaking
Happy Solstice everyone. If you take a walk down Happy Solstice everyone.  If you take a walk down our street over Christmas this is the view of our downstairs window.  Isn't it gorgeous.  George's contribution to the #kingsholmadventwindow
Who recognises the woods and the hilltop view? Su Who recognises the woods and the hilltop view?  Such a gorgeous bright day yesterday for a walk, made all the more lovely for the company of a dear friend
#nofilter #lovenature
For the last few weeks kids all across Kingsholm h For the last few weeks kids all across Kingsholm have been on the hunt for painted advent pebbles.  Each Sunday parishioners from St Catharine's church have hidden them and a buzz begins about where they might be found. 
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Today after school we went up to Hillfield Gardens to find an angel for Luca.  We'd already resolved to make some ourselves if we weren't lucky enough to find one.  We now how our official @stcatsglos nativity set and our newly growing Moorey version which includes a duck and a rocket (of course!). I love how this act of community is sparking new conversations and growing friendships through rock swaps and rehides. 
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#kingsholmrocks #communityspirit #stcatsglos #findingjesus
= New blog post = . Find out what happened when L = New blog post =
 .
Find out what happened when Luca was let loose on a Boredom Bag (link in bio) 
.
He made:
* a worry doll
* a glittery pine cone
* a flower out of scrap
* cheese twists to eat 
* a bean bag for catching games
* a moustachy disguise
* an animated chin video! 
We still have activities to work through!  For more details visit Ellie's page @boredombagsuk 
.
#gloucesterlife #boredombags #childhoodunplugged #creativity #craftingwithkids
Oh what a lovely morning I've had at Charlies Canc Oh what a lovely morning I've had at Charlies Cancer Support and Therapy Centre in Gloucester.  Jo who runs the centre is the first person outside of my family to receive an aromatherapy massage from me.  Jo  experienced the soothing effects of a wild rose facial and hand massage in the tranquil surroundings of her own treatment room! 
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I don't have a therapy space at home so Jo is kindly letting me use her treatment room when Charlie's is closed on Fridays.  If you'd like to take advantage of free hands-on wellbeing support I'm asking for a £10 donation to Charlie's in exchange for the beautiful space.  I already have my 11am slots booked out but if you're local and can be in the centre of Gloucester at 9.30am do get in touch (I'll be working my way through my volunteers list so don't worry if you've already told me you're interested). 
.
What a lovely way for Jo to start a very busy day.  Today she treated the volunteers to a pre-Christmas lunch while drawing the annual Charlie's raffle.  Over £2000 was raised and hundreds of prized gifted.  Christmas come early for some today x
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#aromatherapystudent #practicingselfcare #weledalove #loveyourskin #loveyourbody #organicskincare #naturalingredients
I came back from college on Saturday to this lovel I came back from college on Saturday to this lovely gift from Euan.  He'd spent most of the day making my "Happy Messages" advent calendar.  How lucky am I to have such a kind hearted boy 💗
Billy's favourite spot on George's lap ❤️🐾 Billy's favourite spot on George's lap ❤️🐾
Lockdown with a 4 year old - saying yes to extra t Lockdown with a 4 year old - saying yes to extra telly, treats and a blue hair cut to make up for the forced confinement.  We made the Christmas wreath from our library craft bag but all agreed it made a much better lion's mane! 
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#gloucesterlife #isolationwithkids
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