Just a little update

Sorry it's been so long since our last post.

We've been really busy with lots of viewings which is great, and little bits here and there have been occurring in the meadow itself. We're just waiting on some materials and then the rest of the pond edge will be completed and the entrance to The Meadow will begin to take shape.

Here are some piccies...

This is what will be the "Orchard" where the bride will make her entrance down the aisle walking through the adjoining Wild Flower Meadow

 

This is a Tractor! It's got a Power Harrow(!) attached which basically hammers out all the lumpy bits of earth to make it walkable! But now the Power Harrow is broken so we need to mend it to make the ground Stiletto Safe!!!

Ripping all the dead wood out of the lake by The Orchard

GRASS! From our seeding extravaganza a couple of weeks ago

The Trees are starting to Green up

If the Bride and Groom are marrying in the Church this view is fabby for pics :)

The most exciting thing is that all the grass seed is springing into life and we're finially starting to get rid of the "mud look" which we'd adopted for so many months. We need to do lots more seeding but started in the woodland area. We're getting some more topsoil and then we'll seed everywhere else! It's actually quite a fun job. Since whining about all the rain a few months back now we're wishing we'd have some. We had to go and buy a sprinkler as our grass seed was just sitting there for days doing nothing. We've also had to pump water up to the trees as they were looking too dry too. If it's not one problem it's another - but still, WE ARE GETTING THERE!

We've got a photo shoot planned for 2nd May which all being well can take place in some of our newly green areas. We've got a Bridal Boutique on board as well as our Caterer friends at Home Gurr'own and of course Steve from Cap2ure photography.

Lastly, we have our fingers firmly crossed that we'll be able to provide some top notch structures for all 2012 weddings. Nothing more can be said at the moment as it's very early days, but cross your fingers. We are!

We'll keep you posted. Happy Easter :) xxx


 

Another productive weekend commences...

My poor big bro, he works all week long, the sun shines and then we get him to work all weekend too - but this weekend he's already had payment in fish and chips and cake! Surely that makes up for it?!

Today, he's been building bridges. We have now separated the two ponds with an earth bridge. Without being to boring and technical (I leave that to the men) we now have an earth bridge fully piped with wooden sides for a nice finish, plus, we really don't want it to wash away :) It's amazing the difference it makes, for one we can access the other side of the main lake without getting a welly full of mud and water, but it's really brought the "space" together (and not only is a physical sense). It needs a few finishing touches to say it's completed but you get the idea....

Whilst he was doing that we thought it'd be a bit rude to sit around a watch so we started sowing some grass seed in the "Woodland" area. It should have been easy, we had a proper "grass seeder" and everything, but the top soil is so lumpy and bumpy we scattered a lot of it by hand. When that area "greens up" it will look much better. I also had a go on the quad (yes, be scared), I actually did some good though and zoomed (kind of) up and down another area of top soil to try and remove some similar lumpy bumpy bits. It was actually quite good fun in a very strange way :o/

Last but not least this morning the lovely, mad hatter, Neil came along to plant some more Oak trees for us, this time along the hedge row of what will become the "Wild Flower Meadow". I'm pretty sure this area is going to fast become my favourite!

 So the plan for tomorrow? To clear the way for the next batch of tree's to be planted in the "Orchard/Brides Entrance".

We're getting there. Slowly, but surely!

P.S. Note to self, I must stop these late night blogs and get a life!

Still going strong...

With the sun continuing to shine we have even more updates for you...

The woodland area is now fully planted, the trees are already beginning to green up slightly and this will make a huge difference when we get a bit more colour out there. We have a gorgeous weeping willow planted on the edge of the pond which I'm really excited about, can't wait for it to reach the water!

We've got top soil going on the edges of the banks ready to sow some grass seed.

Our lovely landscaper Neil, at Gardens for Pleasure, has been discussing some plants for the lake today. We're getting lily pads, iris' and marsh marigolds, to be planted in the next fortnight or so, except the lily pads as they can't be planted until May.

Also today some more of the barn has been cleared out and I'm hoping to get out and shine up the windows this week too!

What's more, its so lovely to have the lighter evenings. Whether it's to walk the dog or to let the kiddies have a quick game of footy before bed, we're loving it!

Can't wait to share it all with you lovely people xCx

I love you Mr Sunshine

Thanks to Mr Sunshine we now have...

+ Trees Planted - Oaks, Maple, Ash, Silver Birch and Flowering Cherry Blossoms
+ A path way at the top of our woodland stair case
+ The edges graded around the second smaller pond
+ The pathway cleared for the first avenue of trees which will create the Bride and Grooms entrance.

Tomorrow we are having the new piece of Oak fitted to the door frame in the barn, and hopefully some more of the barn emptied out.

So our "to do" list is slowly getting shorter! HORRAH!

Also, we're loving all the great comments and feedback that we're getting from couples interested in booking The House Meadow as their venue - thank you :)

The Old Kent Barn...Stage 1

Our Old Kent Barn is blessed with character and charm but there is no doubt it needs a bit of a make over!

Today (whilst the sun was shining brightly, horrah!) our friend Joe started phase one of developments. The old weatherboard has started to be removed and replaced with new. The door on the right hand side is also being replaced, as are the main opening barn doors at the front - all wooden of course and hand made.We have hand made trellis being positioned in front of the barn with climbing clematis and wisteria  which will really make the barn a cut above the rest...countryside rustic WITH flowers, it goes hand in hand! Next on the list is to get the roof painted (sadly we cant afford to have it thatched, but it is something we'd love to do in the future to take it right back to its original state), and then voila! It won't be recognisable!

We're applying for change of use on the barn, hopefully the council will be sympathetic and help us make the most of this building. We have to diversify, and fingers crossed we can get their support with this development. I just know it would look amazing with fairy lights wrapped around the oak beams, bales of straw as seating and a scrummy yummy hog roast cooking away....so please everyone cross those fingers and toes! All letters of support are greatly welcomed by all :)

And then we could even get The House Meadow licensed for Civil Ceremonies...maybe then Rob and I will actually be able to get married (imagine that!).....haha!

Anyway, I've gone of track....here are a couple of piccies I took today.  

Stripping the weatherboard off

Stripping the weatherboard off

Shiny new weatherboard..!

Shiny new weatherboard!

Trash the Dress - Feb 23rd 2011

Here we go....

Great pics, from such a fun trash the dress shoot.

Come on ladies what are you waiting for? Get your wedding dresses out of the box and come and play!!!!

Thanks again to our very game model Sarah, and of course to Steve at Cap2ure for braving the rain and producing such amazing shots - especially with "Big Dave" the cat!

Behind the scenes at our "Trash the Dress" photo shoot - 23rd Feb 2011

Today was toooo funny! At the last minute our model let us down, so panic reigned this morning as we sent out Facebook pleas for any willing female models to come up to the farm (in the pouring rain) and do a spot of modelling....this is where friends you've know for years really do come up trumps :) My friend of over 20 years, Sarah Vincent, kindly answered our pleas and rolled up at the farm with a smile and a bloomin' great attitude...the pics will explain all. Here are a few behind the scenes images to give you the idea!

Proper pics from Steve at cap2ure will follow shortly.

No one can say we don't know how to have fun :)