Finally, the Igloo has been installed

Thursday 28th May, weather -sunny. Well that gave us the push to get our task for today done, install Igloo, Install water pipe and fill in trench and plant both the tree and some more Plants that we had purchased.

So, just laying the water pipe and filling the trench in was a big land mark, as it had been open for at least 2weeks. What a differance that made, to the look of the garden, with just that done, then this was topped off with the installation of the igloo into the garden, (pressure was put on us to get it out of the nursery hallway), so from the following pictures you can see the igloo from both the front and back........................

We have finished the raised borders, so they can now be planted

After delays in getting the raised borders fitted, thanks to the weather, we finally got the last 2 fitted, even though we had to work under a canopy at time.





















Above : Finishing touches to the
last of the raised beds.

pic: He you can see two of the raised borders

The following picture shows what one looks like planted up :

Update: It is hoped that the igloo. which has had all the panels fitted by washing line to give it a unusal by great effect , will be installed next week after the bank Holiday, as some more ground work is still required before installation.

sewing for men

A while back in early 2008 , I had lessons with a sewing machine, which believe it or not, found it to be fun. The reason for this was that a series of masterclasses incorporation with VSM and Craftspace, where set up for a number of members to attend and each being run by artists who are well known in their fields of media. The Sewing one was labelled to be called `sewing for men`,but their was only two men on it , but that did not stop us to have fun and learn a new media and techniques and all under the guidance of internationally known textile artist Karina Thompson.

Raised borders started

Thursday 14th May was the day to hopefully get the igloo installed, as well as the three raised border and start on the water pump............. Well, it did not quite work out like that,,as you can see from the picture below,

pic Gabi inside the igloo

work is taking slightly longer than we thought, even with a team of 5, was not enough to get it finish, so tuesday is hopefully the day the igloo can be set into the ground in the garden.

So watch this space........

As for the see-saw pump, we managed to do a test on a pump design , which to my amazement worked. So the next step is to take it further and get it attched to a see-saw to work as we want it to.......

Filled with confidence from the see-saw, we then went onto starting on the raised borders, as you can see from the pictures belows it was not a easy job..............

pic : Kath & Mike pic : the first border in and planted

I have also attached another picture of the wooden man.

Working on the Igloo

Where`s the sun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wed 13th May 2009, was the day the frame of the igloo arrived and a team of members was to come down and lace the panels that we had manufactured at pennants in Oswestry. We started of well until the weather changed for the worse, luckily we were able to move the frame and panels inside to do, which was a great help.


As you can see from the picture , many panels have been fitted and laced up, with Gabi and Arron posing for the camera.













One question I have been asking myself is..........


I just hope that we can get the igloo out once completed.



So that`s what a vacuum is for !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pic below .Gabi doing a good job with the vacuum Cleaner










Weather permitted, It is hoped that we can get work done on the see-saw water pump, install the raised borders and if the lacing is completed, the igloo can be concreted in.

Installation of talking flower and Woodenman

May the 7th, dry sunny weather and wind,- prompt work by steve, who made the Talking Flowers helped us to be able to install both talking flower and wooden man. as you can see from the photo below is one of the talking flowers stems:

The picture below: All 3 stems are showing just behind the water channel. The middle one, will be inside the igloo that is still being worked on. Thats, due for delivery to the site on the 12th of May, where the panels will be fitted.

The picture on the left, is of the woodenman structure after being fixed into position, awaiting the setting of the concrete. Once set a small flower border will go around the legs of the structure.

Pic Right: Down tool time, no, just the team having some down time and taking stock before tackling the wooden man. (well, thats what they said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) could be they just wanted to top their tan up!!!!

My plants are flowering...............

A visit to the nursery garden on Tuesday 5Th, to get another border planted, brought a nice surprise to me ..... one of the plants I planted has started to flower. (I`m easily pleased) especially that I am not very green fingered.

One of the borders being planted below:-

Nursery update

As we get into the 1st May, and we take stock as to where we are, items still awaiting for the project are :-

• The Igloo, which is away being coated, the panels for it have been cut, which will have foot prints added to them.


• The wooden man is awaiting fixings, so that it can be fixed into the ground, also braiding to be added to the trunk.


• Talking flower, this is going to be made up with it being available at 3 points. the channel has been started to install it, some work on the units still to be finished and painted.


• See-saw water pump, this is still in the infantsy stage, but it purpose is to be able to pump water to the top of the water channel. It is hoped, the with the movement of the see saw two pumps will be able to draw/pump water with each movement.


• Mosaic stepping stones - still some to be set into cement.


• Gate for the abacus barrier.

So there is still plenty to do before we get to the opening date of the 25th June 2009. Let`s hope that we get good weather to help us along.......

Another day and more progress ..............

Being the last day, to be able to get to the Nursery this week due to other activities, saw another flower border to come to life. (Picture to follow). Progress was also made in getting the water channel set in, so that next week the moasic can be finished. Then work started on a channel to take the pipe work and post for the talking heads

Installation of the water Channel

Today, Tuesday the 28th April, the welding of the water channel took place, to join the 4 sections together before being set into position in the garden. Once set, the final pieces of the moasic can be then completed........

picture below:- Shows the water channel joined together.

Nb : click on photos to enlarge