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37 Summerheath Rd
Hailsham, BN27 3DS
“They settled down to a little bit of pecking and scratching, and came to say their goodbyes to you all. I was just thinking what a nice gesture this was when, as one, they turned tail and marched off into my flowerbed to do some serious damage. Plus ça change, I suppose…”
Read More“I just love a hanging basket and always have them in the garden, all over the place. Here are my top tips for creating exciting and original baskets and keeping them alive!”
Read More“This is a very old recipe, which originally came from a pre-war cook book. This recipe could easily be doubled to make a full size cake for a family gathering (one day...).”
Read More“I wandered out into the garden to explain to Henbley, Hattie, Chicktoria and The Black Chicken that the whole country was going into lockdown and our little family would be staying at home for the foreseeable future. The chickens looked at me shrewdly, and gave me a glance that said ‘welcome to our world’.”
Read More“Well would you believe it that since I last wrote a blog the whole world is now upside down. We just have to stay at home, stay safe and keep ourselves sane, as Nelson Mandela said 'It seems impossible, until it’s done’.”
Read More“This recipe was given to me by an Australian friend of mine, it's great as it has very simple ingredients and takes no time at all to make. You could happily customise it with whatever you happen to have in the cupboard.”
Read More“Is there anything more appealing than a yoghurt-coated chicken? (And no, that’s not a recipe.)”
Read More“I don't have an orchard or that path but I did spy snowdrops in the garden centre and they were reduced, just love a bargain! I have divided the bulbs up and planted them along the edge of one of my raised beds.”
Read MoreThis quick and easy cake makes a really lovely centrepiece for a tea party - you can keep it simple with fresh flowers, or decorate with pretty icing novelties - it’s sure to please!
Read More“It was during World War 1 that Queen Mary realised the potential of using the practice of decorating sawdust filled hearts as a means of therapy for convalescing soldiers. She organised for kits to be distributed to hospitals where wounded or shell shocked soldiers were recuperating. The hearts were decorated with whatever notions were available and once decorated were sent to loved ones at home, gaining the name Sweetheart Pincushions.”
Read More“I have always loved baking for people; it never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces whether it's at work, your sewing group or instead of a bunch of flowers. Spread a little love this month and bake up some Red Velvet Cupcakes for the lovely people in your life.”
Read More“They soar over the enclosure fence in formation, a little like the red arrows display team, but only if the pilots were having a really really bad day.”
Read More“Plant now and over the Christmas period you could have narcissus in bloom with a delicious scent and wouldn’t that make the perfect Christmas present?”
Read More“Sweet peas, Sweet peas, Sweet peas, my desert island flower! There is nothing like picking a bunch of your own sweet peas, the smell is divine. You can grow them anywhere, even on a balcony, and perfect to do with children.”
Read More“As part of an ongoing enrichment program, I gave the chickens a football for Christmas. I’m sure I read somewhere that chickens will push a ball about, given the chance. Their natural curiosity gets the better of them and they can’t resist giving it a bit of a poke.”
Read More“This is the time of year that calls for simple comfort food and this recipe is just that! Made from store cupboard ingredients, it is quick to rustle up and goes perfectly with custard or vanilla ice cream – it’s like a cuddle in a bowl!”
Read More“This is a great idea for anybody (like me) that is the only Christmas cake lover in the house! One batch makes 24 cakes, so there are plenty to share with lucky friends.”
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I have been collecting these stars for years and they look amazing from the road.
I just love decorating my house at Christmas, my family all come home and I want it to be as welcoming and cosy as possible. I start up by lighting the front room window with star lights that I have been collecting over the years, when people drive past they slow down to have nosy. I also have a wonderful collection of old and new glass baubles and these I hang from the mantle piece, the light from the fire and candles twinkles in them.
I always have a real tree and cover it in redwork!
I always have a real tree but some of my garlands are artificial, I use them as a base and add a few sways of fresh ivy through them to make them look authentic. My tree has all the Redwork on it and as many lights that I can find working !!!! No glitter or tinsel here, the white against the green looks just lovely. I add sprays of gypsophila once its finished to fill in the gaps, this looks like snow. My tree also has as many angels on it as I can persuade to be there!
I change all my cushion covers to Christmas ones and fold themed quilts over the back of the chairs and settee. Wall hangings go up over the pictures. The kitchen has a brighter red 50s theme, a bit more kitsch. I make a bay leaf garland to go across the shelf above the Aga, this is also where we dry the oranges and cloves the Grandkids have made, the smell is amazing. From the garland I hang gingerbread cutters, wrapped cinnamon and jelly moulds. The kitchen is important as it is where everyone hangs around so it needs to be special.
I’ve been collecting paper garland for ever and put these all up in the conservatory, intertwined with lights, they look very special in the evenings. This is where we eat our Christmas dinner so the table gets the redwork treatment as well, placemats, wineglass lights and, our new for this year, crackers!!
My decorations are not complete without a Nativity Scene
It all seems like a lot of hard work, but I love it, I love fiddling and making little vignettes on any surface that’s spare. I know this may be a bit extreme but if you love making things and taking time to show them at their best, it will give you pleasure. Love what you do, love what you make!
Happy Christmas, Mandy xx
Download Mandy’s Christmas Decorations blog here
I like my wreaths to start off a little wild, this is the wreath before I added in the fruit and other bits an bobs
I just love making these wreaths. I love a bit of a wild natural look so I fill them with anything I can find in my own garden and in hedgerows. I also check supermarkets for reduced fruits like cumquats, chillies, and cranberries and will add to it over the festive season.
This will be a messy job so prepare the surface with newspaper before you start!
You will need:
One wire wreath, about a pound from florists.
Florist wire lengths and a roll of wire.
Soft branches from a tree like silver birch
Green foliage foraged from your garden or a hedgerow. Look for ever green but steer clear of the traditional pine trees, I think they are dark and morbid.
A bag of moss
Chillies oranges, cranberries, cinnamon.
Ivy, rosemary, lavender, bay, eucalyptus, geranium
Raffia or garden string
Short lengths of wire folded over to use as ‘hairpins’
Lay the wire wreath on the table, place the moss evenly on top and wrap with florist’s wire or string to hold it in place.
Place the soft branches on the wreath and wire them in, don’t be too tidy we like them to hang over the edge.
Wrap the ribbon around the top of the wreath to hang it up later.
Wrap the long lengths of ivy round the wreath, tuck in the ends.
The tough stemmed plants can be pushed directly into the moss, put them in at 12, 4 and 8 o’clock. The soft stemmed plants bundle together wrap with wire and either push them in or wire then in. Fill in the gaps between 12, 4, and 8. Cram everything green and silver in .
Using the florist wire, prepare the fruit. Push the wire into the middle of the orange fold the wire in half and twist, do the same with three chillies and any other fruits. Wrap three cinnamon together with ribbon or raffia. Attach a piece of wire to the cinnamon.
Make a little coloured cluster at 10, 2, 6 o’clock on the wreath, push the fruits into the wreath and fold over on the wrong side. Push in any coloured berries
Hang up the wreath and stand back to check it looks circular and your foliage is equal. Add more or tidy up if necessary.
Download instructions for Mandy Christmas Wreath here
“A powerful gust will take hold of the chickens over-sized knickerbocker bottoms and make them stagger about. This makes them cross.”
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