There's coal in them there hills!

All this rubbish came out of the hole you can see. There's no need for it, is there?

Well, this mountain of ours is certainly keeping us busy.

Yesterday I filled 3 more black bags with rubble, and between yesterday afternoon and this morning's work, I have collected a plastic stacker box and a half of glass.

I've uncovered yet more shoes, tights, carpets, clothes and general junk, not to mention feet and feet and feet of coke. And coal. It's a real shame we don't know anyone with a coal fire. it's an even bigger shame that we don't have one.

My finger nails are black, I'm scratched from head to toe again with brambles, and thoroughly enjoying it.

The railway sleepers are in place, we've made a big dent in levelling the one area, and it's coming along nicely.

Last night, I made a really good head start on the Mother's Day presents too - and I'm knocking up another couple for some very deserving friends, but that's a secret(ish!); there'll be photos to follow!

Dear Superstar ...

Shattered again after just a few hours on the mountain clearing rubble and brick and stone hunting.

The reclaimed railway sleepers have arrived and it looks like I'm going to get my planting tier soon indeed. That is, when I get off my rump and order 5 tonne of topsoil, which, I'm told, we need.

Talking today to my very favorite artist Liz about my year and my blog, I said that self sufficiency is a big claim. I don't ever think we'll be self sufficient, but sustainable would be good. I need to put a bit more effort into my planting diary too, so I get things going in at the right time.

Mother's day is looming on the horizon and I'm kicking myself for not being more organised. 4 mother's day gifts need to be made, I have some ideas, but not yet ready to put into fabric. Thinking about my favorite artist too, I need to fashion a suitable gift for her by way of thanks for the effort and skill she's put into my artwork that I love more every day.

I think the gift may resemble those being made for mother's day, and involve some intricate bead work - but not tonight, I'm shattered after last night's rock and roll shenanigans. My new Dear Superstar halterneck top went down a treat and I also had an idea for a bespoke top for download comprising of an existing t-shirt/top turned halter neck, with the word EVIL beaded on the front in big bold letters.

Sums me up nicely, don't you think!

"Morning Jerry!" "Morning Tom!" "Morning Margot!" "Morning Barbara!"

I ache from head to toe. The Husband and I have spent 2 days clearing our land.

Anyone who has seen the land we're lucky enough to get with our house will know that this is no mean feat.

The Husband borrowed a Brash Cutter from college and we've worked our butts off clearing. We had a lovely bonfire yesterday with a load of the brash, and there are going to be a lot more of those to come.

The top part was fairly straight forward, raking up the brash, but the next tier down was horrendous. The waste we've had to clear through has been incredible.

2 mattresses, a gate, a kids sit on fire engine thing, a washing basket, bags and bags of clothes, buried in the earth, more shoes than you can imagine, several carpets, old tyres, scrap metal up the ying-yang and more broken glass than I could ever imagine. There was even a crochet blanket there. I was really annoyed about that.

Someone, probably out of the goodness of their heart, has sat with a hook and yarn for hours and hours making that blanket, for someone to chuck it onto "waste ground". Trust me, if I could have rescued it and given it a new lease of life, I would have, but it's beyond repair. But the sheer wastefulness I've had to deal with is just incredible. I now have to physically shift it all the way down the hill, calling in on every bonfire we have every 100 yards or so.

Exactly what do people who dump stuff like that think is going to happen to it? It doesn't just just disintegrate. But I guess that's just it, isn't it, they don't think. I've found some lovely bits down there so far that I can reuse and turn into something once again loved. I've found lots of little old jars and glass bottles that must be years old, they'll be scrubbed and used for something, probably decorative.

Because that's what this labour of love is all about really, I guess. Turning something that we already own but has been ignored and neglected for decades into something useful, loved and purposeful.

I really am going to have the best garden in the world. An orchard, bee hives, an ornamental area, and a tiered vegetable garden. I wonder if I could squeeze a pond in there? I'd have everything I've ever wanted then. As of now, we've only spent money on the fuel for the Brash Cutter. All the unearthed bricks, rock and rubble is being re-used creating the tiers.

And my "Indoor Propagation Centre" (kitchen window sill) seems to be getting excited at the prospect of being transplanted into my newly created vegetable patch. "The Good Life" here we come!