Hello everyone. Well, we've actually had 2 decent gardening days. It's been wonderful and today in the sunshine it felt like Summer. Bliss. After Jim's trip the first thing we had to do was unpack the car and find 'homes' for all the 'stuff' he brought. The unpacking didn't go too badly. We put all the boxes in the kitchen/diner. He had brought his lovely old desk and that just about goes in our 'snug' for now. (Tiny living room). I guess he'll have it in his office later on. Jim also bought me the world! I have , for a while, wanted a world map so that I can see when things are on the news, where exactly they are. And now I can see where all you lovely bloggers live too. It's brilliant and will go on my new room wall. He also bought me 2 new pairs of gardening gloves. One is zebra striped! Sorry Rachel. Sadly no chocolate!
Having unpacked the car, we did much wandering around the place admiring things! We managed to waste quite a bit of time doing this. We went into the extension from the outside and hung out of our bedroom window. It's simply such a wonderful view. I'm a bit disappointed with the size of the guest room's window but it's in now and Jim thinks it's too late to change it. Ah well, I suppose people aren't there that long and it'll still be a lovely room, next to the bathroom and the views through the little window are still super.
Gardening
Eventually we did manage to get some gardening done! Jim pricked out and planted his growing seedlings. I attacked the bank the other side of the fairy hill, where the stream runs down. It had become very brambly again and the sticky bob was taking over too. Sadly after a while I was being bitten to death so gave up and went inside, as did Jim. I worked on Kitty's wall hanging, sewing on a couple of embellishments and it's looking good.
Today it's been even better. I carried on with the bank I was clearing and finished it. It looks so much better. I have to stand in the stream to reach much of it and Jim crept up with the camera!!
Here I am in my best clothes, standing in the stream weeding!!
I thought I'd pose and give you a slightly better angle! I hope you notice my non matching rubber gloves! Both of those have holes in now...
Jim set to and mowed the lawns. In the sunshine, the front garden looks wonderful:
View of the 4 lawns up to the parking area and our car, (Jim thought I'd said 'The forlorns', miserable people..... Ha ha).
The view from the top barn across the lawn towards the fairy hill and the hills of County Clare beyond. I love this one. By the way, Jim had the camera for most of the time today, so he gets the credit for the photos.Boots, Bottles and Shoes
Having finished the river bank, I did some ivy pulling above it. That's an area we've not really tackled. As I dug, I unearthed all sorts of rubbish. This was obviously an area once used as the family's tip! We have collected several unbroken bottles, one for hair dye and one for hair restorer. I will photograph the finds at a later date. We have already unearthed lots of leather shoes in previous 'digs' here and as I dug today, I unearthed dozens of boots and shoes. Maybe the owner at that time was a shoe maker or repairer? Lots of them are work boots with big nails in the sole. Quite amazing how many there are. There was lots of broken pottery and the spout of a teapot. A brown earthenware one. So I wasted much time until the midges descended scrabbling about in the dirt, with Buster's help occasionally. He thought it was great fun and started to eat one or two of the old shoes! Dirt was flying all over when he started digging.
I once did a 'dig' in my garden in Thetford, Norfolk and uncovered the complete skeleton of a piglet. My brother came and collected it and has it to this day, as he is an archaeologist.
Tea Break
We had a break for afternoon tea and Buster joined us. He does love to share a cup of tea:
Can I have some? Jim drinking his tea, Buster watching closely.
Buster gets the last drops. What a spoilt dog!
Back to it and the time seemed to fly by. How wonderful to feel the sun on your back. The swallows chattered away on the telephone line, while whimbrels and curlews flew overhead, making their characteristic melodic cries. In the hedge, an angry robin kept up a vocal attack on Sandy, who was sleeping peacefully below him in the compost heap! Later on he caught and killed another shrew, which Jim and I buried!
Garden Photos
Jim took a few photos of the garden, so here they are:
Cowslips
False Oxlips and a close up below
A stunning photo of the ferns. Some of them are completely out and others not even at this stage
Such beautiful symmetry from this dandelion clock
Some of the sweet peas about to be planted in a half barrel
Sweet Peas planted with natural willow canes for support. They will hide the mucky barn wall!
An orange tip butterfly on the honesty
If you click on this side view you can see its proboscis
Bundle Day
I am taking part in 'The Disintegration Project', organised by Seth Apter, see "Bundle of Bundles":
We had to make a bundle of anything really and hang or place it somewhere where it would be open to the elements. Mine has hung from a tree on the allotment and today I took it down:
My parcel on 17th March, just made and hung in the tree
Here I am, reaching to cut down my bundle
Here I am displaying my parcel. The bee has faded a little but the papers are very tatty.
I will take it apart tomorrow and photograph the contents.
Poppy
A couple of photos of Poppy as someone had requested them!
Jim's daughter Jenny took this one
Big Eyed Poppy!
Ali (Mum) and Poppy, May 1st, 2009
I had to put this one on as it made me laugh so much!
I think that is more than enough. Sorry it's so long but there seemed to be a lot to say today. I will just mention that my son Jason has started his own blog, it's mostly about him being a Dad to Jack, my lovely grandson and has some super photos on his first 2 posts. He has called it Father Jason which I think makes him sound like a priest!! Hey ho! http://father-jason.blogspot.com/
This is it!
I hope all those for whom it was mother's day had a good on at the weekend.
Let the sun shine on.....
