More Weeding, More Scaffolding Thursday, 5th March

It's been on and off again today, sometimes sunny then a wind would whip up, the sun disappear and it was freezing. Luckily for the most part it was fine. Martin the builder carried on alone with the scaffolding. It seems like an endless job.

I did manage to finish weeding the bed above the grotto and the grotto bed itself, so it all looks quite smart now, if rather bare.







In the Summer there isn't usually a space to plant anything!




















This is the right hand side of the above bed and it drops down to the grotto, see below.








The grotto. All the new ferns I planted last Autumn seem to be doing well. The Pieris Forrestii, centre of the left half, has white flowers out already, although the new red leaf bracts have not yet appeared.










The Grotto again. This little path goes round the corner, right round the barn.









It may seem like not much of a job but it was all covered in nasty weeds, dandelions, stinging nettles, grass, blackberries and ivy. I have previously cleared all these when I first made the bed, but they keep popping up again. I'll beat them though.
I also took a photo of the sleeping shed from the front, looking smart for a change.



Our little collection of old farm implements is on the right. The green thing is an old milk churn, planted with everlasting sweet peas.







My sign for the fairy garden had fallen from its place, hanging from the hawthorn branch. The chain has rusted and broken, so I have propped it in front of an old tree stump. I quite like it there. I also took a photo from the fairy hill, looking over this part of the garden.





Perhaps I should trim that bit of grass!












It's all coming along.









These lovely double daffodils are in the bank at the side of the sleeping shed. At last a photo with some colour in it.












This pretty deutzia is just starting to bloom







As I was out a bit past the cats' tea time, they hung about round me, another photo opportunity. They were also fascinated by Martin walking up and down.
Sandy looking rather fine in the late afternoon sunshine. He is the cleanest cat I've known. BlackJack can't be bothered to wash much, so in the evening, Sandy washes him too.











Sandy slightly out of focus as it picked out BlackJack and the light was fading.













This is when Martin walked past!








They are very handsome cats I think, but then I would.

Buster made me laugh this evening. I noticed he was licking the underside of my ironing basket (which is much too full). The side of it was hanging over the edge of the chair. I went to investigate and a bag of gold Christmas coins had somehow fallen in there and was dangling out the bottom! He was having a fine time munching them, complete with gold paper. I did remove them as they're not good for him, but he still managed about four. They were some I bought for Jim but I reckon they'll be off by now.

It's Jim's birthday today (Friday the 6th March) and he is still in the UK until at least Monday. So I have ordered something for him to be delivered there. I hope it arrives. He has waited in all day today for a delivery of polythene and bits for our poly tunnel and they didn't arrive. It's so annoying, especially when you arrange deliveries on a certain day because you only have a small window to receive them. The best laid plans and all that.

This evening I've managed to keep Stanley going all the time so it's not quite as cold in here as usual. I still have 2 jumpers on though. I also watched an excellent new 3 part series on Channel 4 called The Yorkshire Riding Hood I think! Set in the 1970s, it had some famous actors in it including Sean Bean as the bad property tycoon who had all the police in his pocket, Warren Clarke and David Morrissey. It was really quite gripping all the way through and I can't wait for next week's episode. I'll probably forget and miss it. Sadly the luscious Sean Bean won't be in it as he was killed this week.

A little sewing now then it's off to bed. Do you like my new blog layout? I've been 'updated'. It's supposed to be easier to manage. I'm all for that.