If you are looking for motivation I think you might just like to see the...

Wow! That is inspiring indeed. Your hard work has certainly paid off, Olive. Are there ducks in the first photo? Good weather for then here today, but not for gardening - very wet.

Going muggy and heavy here....

your garden looks bursting with wonderful plants and flowers.....what an achievement for you

Thank you Tuesdaybear and Pam :O) pleased you like my little bit of paradise. lol

Tuesdaybear they are guinea fowl. They used to roam across the grass and eat it, they keep grass really short, but they also dig out plants so they have to be in their pen now. lol. well they were in their pen until the darned fox dug in and at the poor things.

Its bright and sunny here at the minute, but we had heavy showers this morning early on and light showers through the day.

Hello Barbara
Your garden looks lovely a haven of peace.
Marjorie

How lovely Olive just the kind of garden I love, ;0)

What a massive difference you have made - how I wish I had before and after pics.
Yours is one of my favourite gardens on here and I want you to know it's given me hope that I can have a garden as full to bursting as your. Now if it's at all possible - do you have any patience to spare ;)

Hi Marjorie, thank you it is very peaceful x B

Thank you Pansy, its nice to know others like it too :O)

Great day today, few showers but nothing long or hard enough to stop me working outside. :O) Bit cloudy now though. Think we might get a storm later, it feels a bit like that.

Scottish this was the only before picture I could find that hadn't got cows or calfs on - we had all sorts of animals here before I started gardening - gardening is much nicer and much nicer smells too. lol :O) The first picture was taken after a couple of years working on it. I added little borders and enlarged them into bigger borders every year. I spent my winter months knitting and pondering what could be done in the garden come the spring. lol. Never put anything down on paper, just in my head. I have said it many times I am a plonker gardener put it in and move it if it doesn't suit where I originally place it. I hope you achieve your dream garden eventually Scottish - good luck with it, make sure you have fun while you do it. I am sure you will get there in the end. :O)

I love it Olive although it looks good in the first pic as well, it doesn't even look like the same garden now, I'm finally admitting defeat a bit now, as you know I have introduced lots of perenials in the last couple of years so much easier and although I do like the lawns I now have plans to get rid of some grass simply to make life a bit easier for myself, I'm the only gardener here as you know and at the moment I don't mind as its my favourite pastime and I love my time in my garden but I have to think forward and now is the time to make my changes not wait until I find it physically hard..... .

What a transformation! I love it!

Lincslass it doesn't get any easier does it? the older we get the harder it becomes, I thought getting rid of the grass would make my life/gardening easier. Fool that I am. Although I have no regrets really, it isn't easier that is for sure. I have learned though that pacing my self is the way to go. I do not try to get everything done in one day anymore. I do little bits each day. If the weather allows. The darned trouble is I get so enthusiastic about being out in the garden I do get carried away with myself. Today I only intended to trim and weed two borders. Four borders later - oh well they were only small borders the sun shone and the coffee was good and I kept going. Tonight I am cream crackered of course. lol When will I learn! I know exactly what you mean, knees are sore, back is aching, legs are stiff and thats before I mention the creaking back. lol. Oh well you only live once I suppose and I do, like you, enjoy my garden so much. :O) Happy chopping grass out Lincs. little by little says she............. off to bed in a mo need to sleepzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

No doubt about it, Barbara - you did the right thing! I'm sure you must think that when you see the "before" pictures, nice as it was. I changed the shape of my garden about 17 years ago. I wish I'd taken a photo of it in its previous existence - I would be so proud of myself because it takes courage to make big changes.

Today started unencouragingly (is that a word...? - I think I mean "discouragingly"!) but got better and better. Just as well as I'd been to the local Nursery to get my final (ha ha!) batch of plants for containers. I had a lovely afternoon planting and pottering. I have a big family get-together planned for next month and am already starting on my plans (and prayers) for a fine afternoon!

Thank you Michaella its nice to know people like my garden as much as I do. :O) Hope you have managed to get out in your beautiful garden today. We have had a few showers but nothing to stop my gardening most of the day. lol :O)

Wow! I'm so glad you found that first photo. Everybody.....when I lived there there wasn't even a BBQ, and not a bit of border or trellis anywhere...just B****y Geese!!

I bet loads of people will be inspired when they see the difference you've made there Mum! What an achievement!

Thank you Melchi, yes it does take courage to change things but me and courage do not go together. lol I always start a project and then wonder if it is for the best when I am about half way through with it. lol. It usually works out for me in the end. I am hopeless the plans are in my head and if I could draw and put them onto paper I might just be a bit better gardener. lol. although sometimes I think it is far better to just jump in and have a go. After all we can re-seed with grass if we need to. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO chance!

Karen I have found a lovely picture today of you with your bike and Sarah sat on it. lol. and also one of Lucy cow with Sarah sat on her back. I had forgotten I had got those pictures. There is one of the cow with her calf as well, all on the grass which is now a garden. lol. Amazing how it has changed in those years. Where on earth has that time gone. :O) I still love geese, we hatched some this spring, one of them was being bullied by the others and we had to put it in a pen on his own, well we did put a few baby ducklings in with him. Everytime I went into the shed he came over to me for a cuddle. AHHHHHHH. They are so cuddly they think you are their mum. lol. You do not hate them really you do not. lol. they are just fur balls with long legs and necks. lol.

You are so mad! ;))

My plans were mostly in my head as well. But you and courage obviously DO go together!!! Let's face it, sometimes just carrying on gardening takes courage! Now, if you gave up on your projects, it might be a different matter...Lol!

What - restore the grass???

Crazy not mad thank you missy!!!!!

Melchi I never thought of it like that. :O) Do not think in my lifetime that it will go back to grass Melchi. just cannot see it happening. lol. :O)

What? Back to grass? Never! Lol!

Imagine that! Being called 'Missy' at 51! Lol!

No - I think that's probably right!

Wait 'til your Mum refers to you as her "poor chicken" and you're 66! (Don't ask!)

;) ok Melchi! I won't! :))

lol :O) off to bed too tired to sit and type anymore my fingers are getting cramp in them now. Night everyone, speak tomorrow if the sun isn't shining - if I am not on here I am in the Garden. :o0)

Good on yer!

Night night! X

Wow what a difference. The garden looked nice before but now it's gorgeous. Definately inspiring photos. Lots of hard work there, but I'd say it's worth it, such a lovely space. Glad you got to enjoy the sunshine.

The weather (despite being forecast as wet) has been lovely today so we've had another day of digging. I'll be so glad when it's done and I can plant.

Looks fantastic. Great planting.

Thank you both! Keep digging Sam!

Thank you everyone, so pleased you like it. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Even the hard work digging out the grass, just wish it burned off more calories then I would be slim. Don't think I shall be out there today, it has just started to spit and spot with rain. :O(

I'm taking a break too Mum, although it's fine here so far. I think we are in for it tomorrow though...you too...and most of England!

I have both of my offspring in residence now, so there's plenty to do indoors! At least they are both at work, that's the main thing at this stage. :)

I hope the forecasters have got it wrong, but I fear the weather is going to be bad on Wednesday, all over the country was what it said this morning. Very dull here but only spits and spots more like damp clouds drizzling. oh well going to have a coffee sat in the garden next maybe it will stay fine for that. :O) Have posted Rachel's birthday card, just hope it gets there tomorrow, if not it will be the day after, nothing we can do about postman pat I am afraid. Hope she has a good day. :O)

Thanks, have just come in from birthday shopping myself. Treating myself to an M&S iced fruit bun! :)) we have same weather as you.

This afternoon has been really lovely - warm and sunny. I picked 46 snails off two honesty plants and one day lily. Oh dear... but there were 10 bees on the thyme when I looked, and I saw a hedgehog trotting across the lawn this evening, so who am I to worry? And OH and I are entertained by a pair of robins who are obviously working themselves silly feeding young in a nest against the house wall. They are so careful to cross from staging post to staging post across the garden - one is more careful than the other. I can just imagine her saying "For goodness sake, get back quicker next time, will you?" !

Nice here this afternoon, rain showers this evening, but the skies were very dark and ominous looking. I fear we shall be getting wet wet wet tomorrow. I was going to plant some more beans in my veggie patch the last lot failed miserably. Ah well I will get out my thick fleece and hope it keeps me dry enough to get the job done. I hate being wrapped up in the garden. We too have robins furiously feeding babies. They are so cute. No hedgehogs they cannot get into the garden since we wired it off so the rabbits do not get in. Swings and roundabouts I suppose Melchi. Some you win some you lose as they say.

So true, Barbara. If you decide to go down the natural route, you've got to take what comes! Like the rest of the natural world...

My baby toad escaped today, and then, miracle or what, I unknowing that he'd escaped, found him in the lawn again! (Thought I'd found another one, but no it was Thomas) I think he must have wanted to be with me, like the puppy! So I took him up the hill to the burn and released him. In the undergrowth....free at last! Bye bye Lord Thomas! (He was a great hit at school this morning).

A pet toad! Wow! I expect he's on a great learning curve in the wide, wide world. Good luck, Lord Thomas!

The children would love him in school. I can just see Rachel trying to keep control of the class with him jumping all over the place. lol. Happy Birthday Rachel, hope you have a good one. :O)

My goodness you have worked hard, and what a difference too, well done, gardening is hard work, but it keeps you fit and is good for the soul .......

It sure is an inspiration - makes me tired just to think about what you've achieved. Our garden was all grass when we came but I'm not up to huge transformations, just creep and go. And am I the only one who actually enjoys looking out at a lawn? That's my excuse anyway. Our next venture is a wildlife pond - will blog progress when it happens.

Definitely good for the soul, but as for keeping me fit, not sure about that Dd. lol think I eat too much to keep my weight down, although I suppose for nearly 70 I am not doing that bad. lol. and I am the only gardener here, Paul hates it. lol but he doesn't know a weed from a plant so I like it that way. lol.

Stera thank you - I do like lawns but you could not have called this lawn it was just a grass field. lol. with weeds etc. as fields do have. I always admired cottage gardens and could not resist having a go myself. I am pleased with it especially when the sun shines. I love the perfumes coming off the roses just now too. Amazing even when it has rained hard. Look forward to the wildlife pond blog. :O)

I am trying really hard to have both lawns and cottagey garden here! Scott has just cut the grass! I did the edges with my new super tool!! AND...the MAN has just been re. the concrete base for the summerhouse and the greenhouse! He is booked up about a month ahead...so guess what I shall be ordering very soon!! :))))))))

Now I understand why Karen keeps referring to you as Mum, Olive! I thought it was a short form of your first name, but as others were calling you Barbara, I was confused! It just didn't click until now, reading about the photos you have of Karen as a little girl etc. How foolish do I feel! Pity you can't post the pics, Barbara -, or can you?

Lol Tuesdaybear, they've been on here before!

Search Oliveoil's photos, then! (You can't keep a good Mum down!)

lol :O) they have been on here somewhere in the past, think I left them on too. lol :O)

Exciting news then Karen, greenhouse here she comes. lol :O)

Tuesdaybear, my real name is Barbara Olive hence why the title. lol :O)

Melchi a few have tried but none have succeeded. lol :O) well not for long anyhow!

what an amazing transformation, I love all of it :)

You wouldn't know it was the same garden, what a transformation! It's lovely having somewhere to feel at peace isn't it, surrounded by beauty and sweet scents ... and all the hard work is worth it :-)

thank you Grindle pleased you like it :O)

Its great Ba to sit out and smell the roses and watch the birds and bees in the flowers. Been watching a robin family feeding and cleaning up after their babies, they will be fledging this next week. :O)

Wonderful garden and so much of it! You've worked wonders and it's a credit to all your labours :)

Well, I searched the photos but couldn't find the ones you mentioned, Barbara. I did find a nice one though - of Karen and her sister feeding lambs, which was rather sweet. It sounds as though your family had an idyllic childhood.

don't think that is her sister, nope it is her best friend who now lives in America, they were never apart from being 4 years old until Jilly went off to America and Karen went up to Scotland. lol still in touch the pair of them. Great photograph though, they are kid goats that they were cuddling. lol. I will try and find the pictures of the calves and cows and Karen and her sister when they were much much younger for you. Watch this space!!!

Thank you Gee pleased you enjoyed your visit !!! :O)

Kid goats - it just gets better and better. I obviously can't sort the sheep from the goats! Will watch the space with interest. Thank you, Barbara.

Have added the pictures to the end of the Blog Tuesdaybear! Enjoy :O)

Top row left to right:

Sarah 2nd daughter riding Lucy cow about 1985
Sarah feeding Domino shetland pony about 1985
Lucy cow with calf and cottage in background before the garden was made.

Bottom row:

Left to right:

One and only son, Mark think this was his 18th birthday picture and you can see no garden flowers at all. lol
Sarah riding Lucy cow.
and last but not least, Karen Sue with her bike and Sarah learning how to be a big girl. lol. as you can see just a bit of a rockery. lol

Hope you enjoy the rest of the before pictures everyone.
Missing from the pictures because she was just a twinkle in her mum and dads eye is Sammie who was about three years away from being born when some of these were taken. lol :O)

Wow that really is a transformation Barbara! I love the old photos at the end too :o)

thanks Annie, have you seen the pictures from yesterday, not a pretty sight. It's looking better today though. Pleased you liked the oldie photos. lol Sarah loved her cow and loved to sit on her back she was such a sweet cow even when she had her calf she was no trouble at all. We used to walk her from our house for a mile to another field to graze for a few weeks and she walked as good as gold, just like a pony on a tether. lol. oh those were the days, now you can hardly cross the dual carriageway for traffic. lol.

Just seen them, I hope you can get it all cleared up quick :o)

its just mud now Annie will be better later on if it stays sunny, thank you :O)

It was a funny evening here yesterday, very hot with light rain and storms in the distance :o)

Wow. Inspiring. I rip out & start again,again,again....stuck.
Impulse buying & experimentation work in the short run.
I learn....

Thank you Bramhallbill, pleased you like it. :O)