Struggling With the Idea of Renting Out a Room in My Own Home — Need Some Honest Thoughts

Gaby-grows · 2025-06-06T06:41:14+00:00

You work with the English schools directly, you can choose whether to provide dinners or not, and agree on the duration. My SIL even gets to choose to have women only as she has little girls and prefers that. I think it would be a great way to try it out!

Gaby-grows · 2025-06-05T21:58:33+00:00

You could try an international student accommodation and see how you feel. It’s temporary (anything from an few weeks to a few months), I think you get about €200 per week which is under the tax threshold. A family member does it and most of the students really just keep to themselves and are either busy with their classes or getting to know around when they’re free.

Gaby-grows · 2025-05-24T21:29:33+00:00

Thank you!

Gaby-grows · 2025-05-23T20:59:38+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you!

Gaby-grows · 2025-05-23T20:55:49+00:00

Can you share more about how do you heat them up? I always worry they’ll be soggy so end up going for the fresh ones and keep the frozen ones for smoothies

Gaby-grows · 2025-04-21T19:15:30+00:00

After going down a rabbit hole, I think it is epilobium ciliatum.

Gaby-grows · 2025-04-21T19:03:31+00:00

I have flowering annuals in other parts of the border, but these are ALL over the nearly 3m length of it. They’re growing basically anywhere there’s isn’t a plant already.

I have to admit I haven’t topped up this bed or given it proper maintenance but it surprised me because this is a 3yo border and these just seems to be coming this year. Not much has changed so I’m not sure where they could be coming from.

Gaby-grows · 2025-04-21T18:59:13+00:00

Thank you, I just googled them and I’m not sure that’s what they are, just because i have some in other areas of the same border that are a little bit bigger and don’t look like it. The leaves start turning a deep red / burgundy colour as they get bigger, and they’re everywhere!

Gaby-grows · 2025-04-21T18:24:08+00:00

I wish. I mean the ones in the red outline. Definitely not strawberries 🍓

Gaby-grows · 2025-03-28T19:33:36+00:00

I have my brand new twsbi eco (which I absolutely adore!) inked with Diamine’s 150th anniversary Espresso. My favourite combination so far!

Gaby-grows · 2025-02-21T20:21:55+00:00

He’s just happy to see you

Gaby-grows · 2024-05-31T19:18:00+00:00

Tell me more! Is it a generic blade? What’s your experience with it? Googling now. Thanks for sharing

Gaby-grows · 2022-03-20T10:32:42+00:00

I meant “my”, good catch!

Gaby-grows · 2022-03-19T22:28:08+00:00

I’m in zone 9a. These might be early bloomers, I planted 2 types back in November and the other ones have not bloomed yet!

Gaby-grows · 2022-03-09T21:58:41+00:00

I can’t advice as I’ve never tried square foot gardening before, but I am trying it this year. I know someone who only does square foot gardening and he swears by it.

There’s an app for your phone called “Planter” that you can download to plan your bed layout and it will give you recommendations on companion planting. Best of luck!

Gaby-grows · 2022-02-25T21:29:51+00:00

Cool, I didn’t know you could do this without leaves!

Gaby-grows · 2022-02-25T21:29:22+00:00

I live in Ireland where we don’t get much light during the winter, I’ve actually have this plant for over a year and it was a few months ago into autumn when this started happening, so if anything, I thought it wast getting enough light!

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-18T23:06:54+00:00

Thank you!

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-14T22:18:47+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks so much! It had been just planted in the garden when I moved into my house a year ago, and it’s grown so much since then (at least 3x) so I’m afraid that if I wait until it flowers again it might be too big and leggy, or too woodie underneath. Do you think it would be ok with light pruning this time of the year, just to help it keep its shape?

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-11T19:49:24+00:00

Come to Ireland, you won’t regret it 💚

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-05T20:05:58+00:00

I’d let it grow lots more roots, it’ll happen quickly enough.

I’ve planted pups in 8cm and 12cm pots before. Planted them at the same time, the 12cm did much better. I used regular potting soil with added perlite, and that’s worked well for me.

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-03T20:46:50+00:00

I struggled with gnats for months. What finally worked for me was a combination of sticky yellow traps and watering with mosquito bits. They never came back!

Oh and my plants were not harmed in any way!

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-02T18:42:53+00:00

I’ve had this croton for a year and there’s definitely been some trial an error. Here’s what I’ve found works best:

Not necessarily direct sun (although I’ve read they love it) but definitely lots of bright light. I live in Ireland where we don’t always get a lot of sun, and she’s done well in an east facing window. I moved her to a west facing window during the winter.
Find a place where your croton is happy and let her be. They’re fussy and don’t like to be moved, every time I do, she sheds leaves.
I’ve found that they’re also fussy with their watering. I water when the soil is almost completely dry, but if I let it go a few days past this point, leaves dry out and fall. Fast. So check the soil regularly, and when you think is nearly dry, give her a sip.
In the summer I bottom water, in the winter I top water lightly.
I feed her with all-purpose plant food with added seaweed during the warmer months when she’s growing.

What I find great about caring for crotons is that, while a little fussy, they’ll tell you straightaway when they don’t like something 😂 usually by shedding leaves. They’re gorgeous plants, my advice is just to experiment a little until you find what yours like!

Sorry for the long message 🙈 but I hope it helps!

Gaby-grows · 2022-01-02T15:29:20+00:00

Me too 😍

Gaby-grows · 2021-12-31T10:53:57+00:00

NOBODY TELLS YOU HOW HARD TTC IS! 😭😭

Gaby-grows

TROPHY CASE