43 Comments

I always go out in my jammies and croc sliders (although it’s getting a bit fresh on the toes as the weather changes) mug of coffee in hand. Best way to start the day…

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18 hrs agoLiked by Jo Thompson

I like This is Unfolded - an ethical company that makes to order to avoid waste and supports education in India they have great pyjamas. The downside is they can take a while to arrive.

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I've just taken a look - they do look great!

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Gathering all the helpful info about boots as I am in need too! As for the early morning tea and dressing gowns or pjs; I think possibly my happiest memory of my mother was seeing her returning to the house with her empty cup, the sun barely up, and a look of total joy on her face. Always in her pale pink dressing gown, and often returning with dew covered feet. How could I not do the same, when I had witnessed the gift of this simple pleasure.

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What a beautiful memory - so simple, so evocative...

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Oct 31Liked by Jo Thompson

I've been known to pop outside in my bathrobe with a coffee in the mornings.

I have ordered a few more reblooming irises as they are currently blooming up a storm. For Canadian readers, Breck's Canada still has some. Veseys may have one or two.

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That's good to hear, Rosey - I'm not alone!

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Oct 30Liked by Jo Thompson

I’m thinking of buying one of those stomach hot water bottles (like a bumbag but HOT!) for early morning garden visits. Has anyone tried one?

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Hi Jo 👋

I bought a Yuyu water bottle and I love it! Not worn it in the garden, but I might if it gets really cold! I'd just caution putting too much water in it if using for anything other than sofa comfort as it can feel quite heavy. Mine's in a lovely dark green velvet cover - luxe-y! Umm second thoughts, that probably wouldn't fare well in the garden....might stick to thermals!

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Oh my daughter has one and she LOVED

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I’m so with you on not ruling out being outside right now. It’s so important for our mental and physical health. The boots like fab Jo.

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However hard it is to drag ourselves outside, it’s so worth it once we’re actually out there

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

Recently bought Merry People. Very comfy but not easy to slip on/off as Anne W says. Can’t vouch for their long term waterproofness.

PJs - I’m very tall, cannot stand a half mast leg. Following up the recommendations in the comments myself!

Planting some bulbs this afternoon - the Peter Nyssen order arrived 👍👍. I’ve bought some Corydalis - a first for me.

Best thing in flower here is an inherited hardy fuchsia. It was here when we arrived 20 years ago and will flower right up till a bad bad frost. Have a fab new hardy chrysanthemum too. Ruby Mound.

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Glad the comments are useful - I’m thinking of collating these for next week!

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Merry People Bobbi boots in blue for me. They slip on and off no problem. A tip I was shown is to use Olive Oil on kitchen roll to protect them, probably do this regular if wearing in the garden. I’ve never ventured in to the garden yet with them as I had a pair of Joules garden clogs but they are now in the bin and I have my faithful wellies. I want to get another pair of Merry People first then I’ll start to wear the old ones in the garden. It’s that old saying - I want to keep them good 🤣 PJs - I buy from Cyberjammies. The Autumn leaves stay where they have fallen. Albeit, last year I made a teepee of bamboo canes and filled it up with leaves for the wildlife to use in the Winter. There’s nothing nicer than going out in the garden (weather permitting) with your first cuppa for a wander and potter 💚

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That is so funny Jo! 🤣

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I just love that feeling of the first potter....

I like the olive oil tip - the trouble is, there's a certain four-footed hairy yellow thing who would be constantly licking them, as I've found it when I hung an oiled chopping board on the outside of a kitchen cupboard, and caught him in the act RED-HANDED

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

Jo, Your post reminds me of the old joke about the female neighbour who knocks on a lady's door and says: "Do you know that your husband sunbathes naked in your garden?" The lady replies: "Yes", but then adds: "but it's not possible to see into our garden from your house".

"Oh yes it is!" says the neighbour. "If you go up into our attic and stand on a chair and look through the velux window"😂

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🤣🤣🤣

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

The search for pyjamas is real!!!!!! Every year I search for the holy grail. Ideally a ‘Tom’s midnight garden’/James from ‘The snowman’/Goodnight Mr Tom vibe. Champion makes good quality wares, available on Amazon. The men’s are less twee, and the fly could easily be sown up.

I feel too overlooked to venture forth in my brushed cotton Jim-jams. However I’m hoping that won’t last forever. I have taken the excellent knowledge gained from last year’s ‘small garden design’ course, and planted a multi stem crab apple. Although, deciduous I’m hoping it’s built in winter baubles with interrupt the view enough. I should have probably gone evergreen, but I love crab apples.

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That's EXACTLY the style of pyjamas - you describe it so well, Lou!

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

The old school brands would be a good shout, Somax etc. This could be a good thing place to look https://menspyjamas.co.uk/

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Off to look NOW!

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

There is a new Merry People style called Andie which is a but taller and wider than the Bobbie so easy to slip on and off. And they do good clogs too.

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I am going to study the website....

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You won't slip into Merry boots on your way out - you'd have to sit down and force your foot in, in my experience. Not a casual thing at all. Crocs. Live in them. Garden in them.

Don't wear pyjamas but I do wear a fleece all in one which like Crocs takes me in and out in almost any weather.

Limitation: snow coming over the top of a Croc. Then have to resort to a wellie.

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Anne you made me laugh so much re the snow - I love the fact you've tried venturing out in Crocs in absolutely all weathers including snow...

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I think some of us lose all sense of boundaries……

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🤣

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

Hello Jo, I have just bought some Town and Country Buckingham neoprene gardening shoes at my local garden centre and they are really comfy and easy to get on and off. After years of wearing old trainers and getting wet feet it has been a revelation!

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Aha! I need to investigate...

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I wear Blundstones as my winter boots. They not as good as they used to be, but better than anything else I’ve found. I used to fall every winter and I never have in Blundstones. In deeper or wetter snow, I use LL Bean Duck boots. Not as comfortable, but definitely waterproof. Beware that the sizing is weird. My boys kept stealing them until finally they outgrew them, so now I have them back.

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I've had my eye on LL Bean Duck boots for dog walks for years .... thank you Celia for prompting me to take another look at them

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

I bought exactly that colour of boots from Merry People and they are very comfortable! And warm. I’m very tempted to get another pair in yellow… and blue… for every mood . For me they had to be easy to slip off and on and they are both. I recommend them.

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Well that is a great big recommendation indeed! Thanks Britta

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Oct 29Liked by Jo Thompson

Hi Jo. Firstly I am very jealous of anyone who still has dahlias as mine were destroyed in a frost just as they were hitting their stride! I have Merry People boots. The first pair are slightly less waterproof than they should be! So I got in touch and they honoured their one year guarantee and sent me another pair. I now have mustard and magenta! I think they’re perhaps not as comfy as people say but I’m probably a half size too big/small (I have chosen smaller for the second pair) and they do need to be cleaned with silicone spray to keep them waterproof. Odd for rubber and neoprene. Anyway I don’t think I can 100% recommend them but they certainly come in groovy colours!

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Ah, the being treated with spray puts me off a bit as I know I won't ever get round to it....

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