Visiting and gardening

 I went to Street today, with brother and an artist friend from Yeovil..

We went to see Eddie Daughton, a very tall and very talented..and very wise potter!

We talked for well over two hours...and could have gone on...but artist friend had to go to a teaching job.

Cosmic Chuckle.. although they didn't know each other...he had worked at the same college until 10 years ago...that she has just finishing working at!!

It is great talking with Eddie and his wife...about anything...and conversations range far and wide.

Just great.

Then this afternoon I have been weeding and cutting back brambles for brother...he is always too busy to garden and it had got a little jungly!! 

We always did end up gardening wherever we stayed...just carrying on 

His turn next as his meadow is due for its September trim.

A day of bits

 A day of jobs going one step and others being finished...washing dried, ironing still waiting.

Kitchen mixer taken over to a retired electrician friend of ours to see if it can be fettled...the motor might need new brushes..

Shopping done..in two places, mostly reduced items...

It turned warm today...so was quite hot in the car for a change.

Received a phone call...well a verbal message...how do they manage to just leave an answer phone message instead of speaking ?! At least I know that pension calculation is ongoing....

Picked kale, young beetroot leaves, tomatoes and peas!!

The peas and leeks are looking good.. if windswept!! And the green manure has germinated.

And to finish the day a little mending whilst watching "Time Team" on U tube....they are fascinating!!

And finding some older photos of myself, after someone commented on one that I hadn't changed...

1976..Cardiff College of Art, mature student (23)

2011, the year that Mountain Man died, and I was part of the Black Mountain Circle and the cooperative gallery near Abergavenny..it has now moved into the town.

And 2024....sporting a new fleece gilet, £4 in an op shop today!!

Gardening and sewing and cat

 Today started with sewing 

And cat

After lunch, washing on the line as we now have sunshine and a stiff breeze after yet more rain this morning!

Then some weeding....

I would love a garden like this...but giving a hand is a good substitute!!

Gardening and sky

 A quick dash into town this morning..birthday cards to buy and send..then back again to the fray!! Yet more washing, steadily getting there....and it was a beautiful afternoon...a good reason to mow the front lawn and start work on the paths, weeding and trimming around the slabs...

Worth the effort... although the job is done sitting on a fold up stool!!

Supper from the freezer, watching a video of Saturday's women's Olympic cross country MTB....and doing some mending!!

And again at 10.30....street lights...light pollution... mostly a waste of power, except at road junctions....and why we never see matters astronomical from here.

Sorting and tidying

 Throwing out worn out clothes...his and mine.... sorting which ones I will wear..and filling the bag with those to go to an op shop (charity).

I will probably get these to Shelter.  

Pirate's justgiving page, raised £825, plus the leftover traybakes were sold in the village café and raised £30. Making a total of £855 for Macmillan cancer nurse charity.

Outdoor sorting in the afternoon...tidying the bottom of the garden .

And finding a garden assistant 

I found that either the padlock key is missing..or that the internal mechanism isn't working properly with the key that I am sure is the correct one. This is the padlock to the gas bottle cage...at least I do have time to sort the problem, but one I could do without.

I planned a walk after early supper...but...

They do say that a British summer is two hot days and a thunderstorm....

I have stopped watching live TV.  Thanks to brother I have changed to using my television as a monitor...so that I can relax with programmes that I want to see, when I want to see them. 

I like archaeology..and history...and nature...and proper discussion....and canals!!

It also saves me nearly £180 per year...you can't fault that either..and from the news on the radio yesterday it sounds as if a lot of people are doing the same.

And just adding this view....after the thunderstorm...

Garden tidying

 I started the day with house cleaning... pushing the vacuum around everywhere ....but as the sun was shining..Just went garden pottering...ground cover fleece over bare patches, compost on polytunnel beds and grass clippings as mulch. Getting the garden presentable.

Weeding here and there..plus digging out more thornless blackberry roots ...and shoots that have reverted...it was cleared out as it has rust for two years...so not a lot of fruit. Now it is trying for a subterranean takeover!

If I ever grow anything like that again, the roots will stay in a large tub!!

Then cleaning the rest of the garlic crop...the scapes are still not 100% dry so I can't plait and hang them

And the tomatoes..still rather skinny but beginning to set fruit.

So a low key day in the sunshine...16⁰C....yay!!!!

Garden.. progress

 Bit by bit....with a break to meet friends for a cuppa....should have checked when their ride would be finished....so just had the cuppa.

The garden is crying out for "summer"....I had thought that the squash plants would be well on their way and ready to go out.....

The tomatoes are getting taller...but are rather skinny...

But the paths are just about clear. The grass on the sides needs another cut to be short enough for the mower...but it is ok for now.

The flowers are blooming in the garden...high time I weeded the pots where the roses are growing!!

Garden.. neglected

 What happens when you leave a garden for ten days...

The birds get the redcurrants...the weeds grow...the blackfly get on the broad beans...and the garlic lies down!

This afternoon I mowed the grass, put string supports up for the peas, cut back brambles, trimmed around one bed, lifted the garlic, took the side shoots off the tomatoes and picked a litre tub of gooseberries!!

There are some blackcurrants and alpine strawberries that need picking before the birds get them too!!

Slow day

 But with fast wind!!

The plumber was here this morning..the connection behind the toilet was leaking...that was sorted, but the flushing mechanism has had it..I had  my doubts about it a while ago. Plus it has no overflow! So he will be back with the parts for that first thing tomorrow.

A good excuse to steam clean the kitchen and bathroom floors...as he will be sealing around the pedestal as well...and giving it time to dry by the time he arrives.

Having worked at distance with my daughter..she designed Pirate's booklet for his Celebrations..I ordered from a printer with a good reputation in Exeter..for delivery to Kent!!  Not wanting to risk them arriving here after I had left for there....

Another thing ticked off The List.

No hope of the strong cold wind easing after lunch, so after a rest I did some potting on in the greenhouse. The Onion Squash are coming along well, faster than the Crown Prince, which surprised me. 

I wonder if Crown Prince needs more warmth and light....when the clouds shade the sun , and at night of course, it is still cold..

I have three varieties this year so I am looking forward to seeing which one does best.

I am looking forward also to getting back to being healthy..living on adrenaline so long doesn't do any good, and when you stop you have a mess!

I am working on diet and relaxation..but I'm still itching to get my energy back.

Garden update...

 Yesterday afternoon was fine enough to sit outside and sort through the pots of cuttings which have been sitting there for 18 months...not all survived of course..but those left should be hardier for not being cosseted!

The day's exercise was pushing the lawnmower...safer than going for a walk from the house as it was still showery.l