Mostly Garden...

One of my favourite parts of The Deenery garden.


William and Kate's Wedding Day

Did you watch the wedding? I did and thoroughly enjoyed it too. It was fun seeing all the guests arrive and the fashions. Then William and Harry looking splendid in their uniforms. Finally, the moment we were all waiting for - Kate and the dress! She looked wonderful with that waist nipping flattering choice. The pretty lace top showed just enough and her hair was beautifully natural. A lovely ceremony. I have a feeling this royal marriage will be a total success.

Around The Deenery

Our washing machine finally gave up the ghost, so we had to buy a new one. I love new white goods! Then our fridge/freezer (which was here when we bought the house) started leaking water over the floor, so that provoked a rethink of our kitchen design. As it happens, we had a larder fridge up in our barn, which Jim manfully cleaned until it sparkled like new. We thought we'd try it out in our utility room, which is just off the kitchen, and see whether it's too much of a pain going in and out of there. It fits a treat next to the new washer and it's no trouble to use, so there it will stay.

We took the old washing machine and an old big television to the tip on Thursday, just the old fridge/freezer to go next - then we'll have more space in the little lobby off the kitchen/diner. Jim has plans for that area.....

New Knitting Group

Jim spotted details of a group of ladies who meet up each Thursday morning in Scarriff (not that far from us and where the tip is), to knit and sometimes do other crafts. We went along 2 weeks ago. It's a lovely flexible group of women who simply knit and chat and learn new things. I loved it and bought some ridiculously expensive wool and a pattern to make with a cable running down one side. I've never done cable stitch before so I've now learned a new skill already.

The 2 'leaders' of the group also do other courses and in 2 weeks are starting a course on mixing felting and fabrics, which I have signed up to join. It's for 6 weeks and should be great fun. The weather's been so gorgeous that we've sat outside for the 2 weeks I have attended so far.

The Garden

Again, because of the weather, we have spent a lot of time in The Deenery garden. The biggest project has been the back 'yard' area, left in a complete stony mess after the builders had finished the extension. We have kept putting it off because it seemed such a daunting task.

Easter seemed a good time to attack this job and after 4 days of hard shovelling, mattocking and stone shifting, a new lawn has been made and seeded. Here are some photos - no grass yet of course!


A 'before' photo! The rockery (also part of the project), was half built here but we hadn't done any levelling or brought any of the many many barrows full of our home made compost down from the allotment area. Jim did the barrowing and dumping of the compost and I sorted it and spread it out.



Jim had just moved a large stone for the rockery. Can you see Sandy on it? Since BlackJack's death, Sandy spends a lot more time with us. He's more like a dog and if we're working outside, he's usually not far away!


Me working on the lawn - about half way.



The grass in the foreground leads to the arboretum. The rockery needs some plants now!


The view across the extension.


There's me at the end of the house to show some perspective. We also have a new bird feeder - that pole on the right!



Here is the view from the other end of the extension, from behind the wall we built last year! Jim's also finished the steps from the 'patio' to the gap in the wall. I am now on the bench at the other end. We had a large sherry to celebrate! Now we have a large pile of stones to shift then we can finish the corner where the stones are. We may gravel that area as the ground there is very solid and my washing line is also there. I can't wait for the grass to grow!

Other Garden Stuff!

We have moved the arch from the centre of the arboretum to the side. It's much better there and already has a clematis growing up one side of it.


The cherry tree on the right has been absolutely weighed down with blossom.

Jim's Photo Session

Lots of photos as Jim had a walk around the garden a few days ago.


Dazzling scarlet tulips and pretty narcissus


The Fairy Hill on the right and path down to the arboretum


Beautiful lilac - and it smells wonderful too.


Rose bed, rhododendron bed and cherry tree bed


The rhodo flowers are enormous. They start pink then gradually turn yellow.


The cherry blossom


Gorgeous new maple leaf


A lovely pot of bulbs. The white and green tulips are particularly special


I love my black tulips


Tulips galore and yellow alyssum


A bee on the white cornflower

I think that's enough for one day. I do hope you've enjoyed this garden catch up.

On Wednesday Jim and I are off to the UK until the following Tuesday. My granddaughter Kirsty is getting married to her partner Kerry on Saturday May 7th so it's a big occasion for all the family. Oh what a lot of photos there will be!!

Just a final note. I am thinking of all my blogging friends in the South of the USA. Such awful suffering from the 'twisters'.

Chichester Photos, Catch Up

Gosh - almost a month since my last post - that's terrible. The trouble is, once the weather improves and the days get longer, I spend so much time in the garden, there isn't much left for blogging.

I spent 2 weeks in Worthing, travelling to Chichester and back each day on jury duty. It was a very interesting if rather harrowing time. The case to which I was assigned was domestic violence - and pretty nasty. Still, it was good to see how the British justice system worked and how different it all is from the tv court cases. The jury were a lovely bunch of people from all walks of life and mixed ages.

The weather the first week was amazing. Really warm and I had to buy some new clothes as I was too hot in my jeans! I took advantage of the late afternoon sun to take some photos around Chichester, which is a lovely old Sussex town. Here are a few examples:


An unusual view of Chichester Cathedral.

Behind the cathedral is a lovely garden, called 'The Bishop's Garden'. I spent quite some time walking around it:


A tower in the corner of the garden.


The cathedral from the Bishop's Garden. The sun has turned the bricks a wonderful colour.


The bell tower is close to the cathedral.

Also in the town is the Market Cross - a splendid piece of architecture with lots of carvings around it:



The Market Cross. Below are some of the carving around the cross:



There were plenty of super shops in the town. This pretty window caught my eye:


I stayed at our Worthing house, where Jim's daughter Jenny, husband Matt and son Sonny are staying. Poor Sonny had an awful cold that went to a chest infection and felt very sorry for himself:


He slept a lot on the settee. The day I left he was showing signs of improvement thank goodness.

I also saw Poppy, Ali and Jo and we went and fed the donkeys, which Poppy loves to do:


Poppy has grown quite a lot and is a real charmer:


Ali and Poppy. We indulged in rather a splendid cream tea!


In stark contrast to our 5 acres in Ireland, this is our tiny little garden in Worthing! It goes as far as the large pink flowering tree. There is also a paved area at the side of the house and a small front garden. I spent the time I was there rediscovering the front garden, which had disappeared under a sea of weeds! I took this through the upstairs window so there is some reflected light, but you can see the results of my labours:


Jim and I have been very busy in our garden here in Ireland, but I'll leave that for another post. I'll try and make it soon!

Holiday to UK and Athens

Hello everyone, I know I know, it's been ages since I posted. I haven't been able to get organised since my return from holiday - mainly because the weather's been good and I've been gardening most days. Plus I had another rag doll to make for my son in law's Goddaughter! Now it's finished. I'll try not to make this too long...

Worthing

First up was a trip to Worthing, Sussex, where we stayed until we flew out to Athens. I did take a few Sonny photos! Here are just a couple. He is such a charmer but mum Jenny says he has turned into a toddler overnight with his behaviour!


He is such a character. He now does a 'smile' on demand for photos - it's very funny:


I spent quite a time taking photos around Worthing as the sun set. Here's a couple of them.


Worthing Beach and Pier in the warming evening sun


Beach huts and the promenade. Joggers going home.
Athens

The trip to Athens, as I've mentioned previously, was to celebrate Jim's 65th birthday. Jim has been twice before and it was his choice, whereas I have never been there. On the whole the weather was OK - a cold wind sometimes blew in exposed places and on the last day it tried to snow! But we had our fare share of sunshine and wrapped up warm.


The Acropolis from our hotel balcony. What a view! The hotel was quite central and just what we wanted. I'd recommend it. It has a roof garden, where I took the same view at night:


The streets around our hotel were really busy and bustling with life. Street sellers were on every corner. There were the newspaper and sweet stalls, the ones selling gloves, hats and scarves (they did a good trade) and the fabulous ones selling bread and huge iced doughnuts and Danish pastry type things. They were really cheap too.


This stand was in the square near us every day, selling strong Greek coffee. You can just see the brass urn in front of the bald chap walking past.

We saw colourful market stalls:



And a horrid smelly fish market full of my most hated food! Also a huge meat market with lots of 'heads' for sale. I did take a photo but won't post it here!

Lots of lovely Churches:


(this was taken from our hotel window).



This one was actually a mini church where ladies sold 'God' things, statues, etc.


Many many ruins!




The huge amphitheatre below the Acropolis.


The Temple of Olympian Zeus

And a close up of the pillars:


The weekend we were there was carnival time so we saw lots of people dressed in strange garb. At one point we met a whole group of cyclists all dressed up and holding up all the bad tempered car drivers!

We had a meal in a different taverna each night. The first one (recommended in Jim's super Athens book) was amazing. It was run by a young couple and the meat was cooked in traditional large metal containers. The menu was all in Greek so the couple took us to see all the food and made recommendations. It was all delicious. A group of mostly men was on the other side and one of them played an instrument like a dulcimer and also sang. He was very good. The owners suggested we move over to sit by them, which we did. Another 2 chaps fetched guitar type instruments and we were royally entertained for a long, lovely evening. We did get a bit smoked out - even though smoking is officially banned in public places - many Greeks don't take any notice.


The star player.

Jim's Birthday

On the eve of Jim's birthday we tried a restaurant off the main square. It was fast, full and great fun and decorated for the carnival. We sat for a long while and a large party of Greeks came in but couldn't all fit around the table. We moved so that they could all squash together and received a bottle of wine for our trouble. At just gone midnight I went to the head of the large gathering and asked if they could sing 'Happy Birthday' in English. I started it and everyone joined in. Jim was chuffed to pieces! The waiter then brought us a couple of shorts - and the bottle (40% proof). A few minutes later the waiter again appeared with a cake and a candle (purchased from Starbucks down the road) and we had the whole 'Happy Birthday' again! It was excellent - a perfect birthday celebration for Jim.


The waiter with cake and candle! The table behind joined in our celebrations!


Jim and me on his birthday.

One of the things we noticed about Athens was the amount of graffiti. It was everywhere and a real eyesore. Also the lack of money with many houses in a very bad state of repair.


Now I have picked some of my favourites! I loved the stuff by 'Sonya', the black and white but as you can see, most of it was just the usual rubbish. It's a problem they really need to solve. Even some of the statues had it on them.

I'm going to make a Facebook album of all my photos a there are many many more! Do pop over if you have time. I'll pop a link on later.

All in all it was a great holiday and I loved Athens. Jim had a super time too, which was the most important thing.