We Have Walls..

It's true, we have walls, well, some walls. It's amazing how quickly they are going up. We have a special chap to lay the blocks, 'Blockman' as we don't know his name. It's very exciting seeing the rooms take shape. This was yesterday:






The blocks are all in piles. Martin the builder in yellow jacket, 'Blockman' in my room!









Walls all along now. Gaps for windows. My studio will have patio doors






It's been lovely and mild the past few days so I have spent most of my time on the land. I have still been clearing the bank at the side of the vegetable plot. Almost finished now and I've also been clearing the other side, which of course you can't see. The little stream runs down the other side, but only when it's been wet. I'll take some photos that side when I've cleared away the piles of rubbish I've cut down.

Jim finished the living willow fence and the woven fence. They both look utterly splendid:

















He has the other side to do now.













The woven fence, now with a pole at one end













close up












Artistic Shot











Me and the cleared bank in front of me. The whole area looks so much bigger now










Looking from the other direction. Jim has planted some primulas he bought. His 'twee' garden!











The spring flowers have really started to appreciate the warmth. This will be our first celandine. Should be fully out by tomorrow.
















These gorgeous crocuses are up by our gate











Our first fully open daffodil



























Primroses
















Pretty little wild strawberries








Buster has been a bit naughty yesterday and the day before. We heard him barking (well, howling) in the distance and Jim wandered down our road to the lane and Buster was barking at a new born calf and its Mum. He was a nightmare to get back to our land and we hadn't taken the lead. We put him in the barn and locked him in there for a good while. He howled! We hoped he'd learnt his lesson but yesterday he did the same thing, only this time he was in the field with the cows and howling at them. I have to say, the cows were ignoring him. This time Jim took the lead and dragged him back straight away. Into the barn once more, this time for an hour. So far he hasn't done it again so we are hoping he really has cottoned on. He probably just wants to play with them as he thinks everyone and everything should play but we can't have him barking at cows.

It's so exciting to see the extension actually progressing. At this rate the block work will be finished by the end of the week.

That's about it for us. I ache all over as does Jim. Old age catching up with us.

Mostly Willow Cutting and Wood Chopping

Since our return we've been trying to get the willow fences under control. We have now finished the long fence and have started on the one at 90degrees to it. We didn't manage to get to that one at all last year so the growth is pretty thick and much of it needs sawing. On the bright side, it will provide wood for Stanley.

Buster seemed to have had a good time at the kennels but he did smell! I think dogs always do after a stay in kennels. It seems to have worn off now. He has stayed with us a bit more since his return. Maybe he thinks of it as a punishment.

The biggest woe is that my new computer has stopped working. It hasn't worked at all since our return and the old one (the one I'm using now) is very unreliable and gives up with monotonous regularity. So if I disappear again, blame the computer. Jim's trying to get it sorted but as it came from the Internet and was delivered to our UK address, we may have to take it there and post it back to them.

We did receive a phone call from the builders who have threatened to start work on our alterations/extension. Mind you, they did say this week and it's Friday now with no sign of them! The Irish!

I have managed to get most of my Christmas presents made but still have the cards to do. I've also finished the 'raggy bag', which has turned out quite well I think. I'm taking it to my daughters in December and it will be collected from there.

Good news on the Luisa front. She is over her nasty asthma attack and home and improving all the time. Phew! Don't do that again Lu.

Our neighbours Pete and Sandra appeared yesterday for a cup of tea, so that was a relief. We had had a bit of a row a few weeks before and Jim and I had both been to see them but this is the first time since then that they have come up here. I hate it when bad feelings smoulder on for months.

Jim and his sister in Canada have been tracing their family tree. He's discovered relatives all over the place in the UK and one couple own a rather smart restaurant and have invited us there. Emails are whizzing all over the place between the new found if rather distant relations. All these are on his late mother's side as when ever they try to find out anything about their late father they hit a brick wall.

Life goes on as ever, it's turned rather cold so we're trying to keep warm in spite of Stanley's foibles. I have taken a few photos so will post them if the computer holds out.


Before we went away, Buster just wanted to be left to sleep
















A closer view







The finished living willow fence:

















From the other side with Buster












Buster couldn't work out how to get to me!














This is the longest fence we have to trim, also you can see how thick the growth is on the top.









I wandered around the garden and took a few shots to see what was growing or in flower:




The Kafir lily still flowering and the campanula thinks it's spring










A beautiful red autumn leaf trapped in a bush










The mahonia is looking splendid covered in yellow flowers. It was a horrid tall spindly thing when we first arrived. Much better since Jim pruned it.













The Mahonia close up












Fascinating Fungi











BlackJack escaping from Buster


















A pretty perennial geranium


















Buster decided to investigate my wool! It took some sorting out.















Lastly, Jim and Buster happily cuddled up on the settee