Busy in the greenhouse

 

It needs a tidy up and the glass scrubbed down, but it is starting to warm up in there and the plants I put in there when it was colder, are doing nicely.  The Hollyhocks were £5 the pair from Tesco, and the Lupins 3 for £12 at the Old Railway Line garden centre.  The seedlings in the centre are Lupins at the back and a tall white perennial I bought Tam the seeds for from Old Bladbean Stud Gardens (I follow them on Facebook).  Their seeds are really sensibly priced and I have lots more to start.  I chose Phlomis Russelliana and Phlomis Tuberosa from the little brown envelopes that Tam had put some seeds in for me.

Other seeds started are two trays of Scarlet Emperor Runner Beans (that is the sort I have grown all my gardening life).  Cosmos - Sulphur (which is a dye plant too), Seashells mixed and Double Click Cranberry.  Scabious, double mixed; Echinacea Hot Papaya - not sure if there were more than two seeds in the little bag of them which has been in the fridge all winter - they need chilling and I didn't know this when I sewed some last year.  I hope they come anyway, but it looked like I had chaffy seed-outers rather than actual seeds (bought on Fleabay).  Then lastly tall Delphiniums (also from Old Bladbean Stud Gardens).  

I didn't go off the premises today as I had a gippy tummy earlier on - it hasn't been quite right since my, ahem, procedure last week, so I guess it will take a while to settle down.  

However, as a positive I did find out how to watch the Cheltenham Festival (horse racing) on my tv.  Since giving Sky up I have had to look for live tv programmes on the Apps for various channels, which is not straightforward.  I have scarcely watched any racing on tv since for this reason and because it reminded me that Keith was no longer here.  He watched racing regularly and if I wasn't busy, I would sit down with him.  We always really looked forward to Cheltenham, and seeing the best steeplechasers and hurdlers in the country competing against one another.  So I spent the afternoon writing a letter to a friend and watching the racing.  Plus I baked a new-to-me cake - an apple gingerbread one using 2 chopped fresh dessert apples instead of cooked apple puree and using treacle instead of syrup.  It is cooling now.  I also baked a loaf which didn't work out as it should - a half and half rye and white flour one.  It didn't rise well but it tastes ok.  I had to guess at the setting as the one it said, on my Panasonic, was going to take SIX HOURS!  So my fault entirely, but I put it on a setting which gave 3 1/2 hrs which is how long it said it should take.

I will nip into Tesco tomorrow, after the Tip (which is just behind Tesco), and get more cat food - they won't eat the fish variety at the moment - and a shopping list 5 lines long for me.  Oh, and a bottle of wine for when the girls are here at the weekend (Mother's Day on Sunday, when we are going out for our meal in Hay-on-Wye.)

Mopre racing tomorrow afternoon so I will carry on with my embroidery.

The delights of . . .

A glimpse of summer (in NZ).

... a car full of absolute crap to take to the Tip for Tam.  It's the remains of their old fence, taken out by Storm Darragh.  I have an absolute pile of junk to add to it, and have requested the aid of a useful tip worker when I arrive.  I will load up my pile of junk tomorrow - unless the forecast is heavy rain, in which case it's best to load it today whilst it's dry.  Wednesday is the earliest I can take it (unless I book in at Brecon, which is a 40 mile round trip, so Wednesday and so Llandod it is).  With the cost of fuel so high, I have to stay close to home.

I was awake at 5.45 this morning and got up.  Now of course, I am feeling tired (4 1/2 hrs later).  I have just been round the kitchen, utility and hall and lower stairs with the vacuum cleaner and my back is now complaining.  Before I rest though I want to get seeds sown in seed trays and put on the south-facing wide windowsill in my sewing room.  One of the things that gets me feeling low this time of year, is jobs not done. I am SO FED UP with constant grey skies day after day - it's as bad as rain. 

Chicken pie tonight I think.  Update: couldn't be bothered to make the pastry so I had a chicken risotto instead.

I have not an iota of energy - I used up the last I had going up the track to bring the wheelie bin back.  But my fault entirely as I have just snacked today and not had a proper meal and very little protein.  Since Keith died, I find it very hard to plan meals, let alone enjoy eating them and my portion size has shrunk so I normally just have a bowl and not a dinner plate.

Positives for the day:

Heard back from my bowel screening that nothing was amiss.

Car all loaded ready to go to the Tip. I will be SO glad to get it emptied and the back of the car scrubbed down.  The wet wood makes it smell very fousty.

Recycling done and dusted for another week.

A Totally Different Day

 No photos taken - may hoik an old one up purely for decorative purposes though.  I was away at 8.30 (having woken early again, at 6 a.m.) and I stopped only briefly at Morrisons in Aber for cheese that Tam needed, and sugar (nearly out) and Hendo's relish (Henderson's, a Northern variety Tam got used to in her years in Yorkshire).  I noted that the cheapest fuel was at Morrison's (£1.45 a L for diesel) - even the garage at Ponterwyd which is normally the cheapest place was - this time - the dearest and even dearer than Builth at £157.9.  So I topped up at Morrisons, as it made sense.

So I have spent all day keeping Rosie amused, after helping Tam to move the masses of "stuff" which has accumulated in Rosie's bedroom.  Tam is decorating in there, ready for Rosie to move across as she's 2 in a couple of weeks' time.  Rosie should be getting towards potty training soon as she laid out her changing mat and obligingly laid down on it today, so I could change her nappy.

She borrowed my pen at one point and drew on her hands, and when Tam came down, went over and said "Look, I'm drawing on myself"!  That is pretty good going to have that sense of self and not yet 2.  When I was reading her a book, she was pointing to the pictures and saying Santa Claus (it was a Christmas book . . .), stars, trees, presents etc.  Little Miss Clever Clogs.  What made me smile is some words she says with a definite Northern vowel.  Now, I'm a Southerner, Tam's lived in Wales all her life (bar her time in Yorkshire, and she doesn't have a Yorkshire accent) and Jon is Welsh . . .  As I said before, she's an old soul, that one . . .

I had a low cloud/foggy drive through the mountains, but dry.  On the way back the colours of the hillsides were more visible - the dun colour of the purple moor grass tussocks, the faded grazing, a stippling of brighter green in the hedgerows either side of the mountain pass where it was warmer and Hawthorn happily putting out a good display of leaves.  On the B road to Tam's, there was a covert of Gorse in full bloom - such a stunning yellow and had the sun been out, I am sure I would have smelt the Coconut perfume of it.  I didn't see the sea today, but it was there all the same.

I am glad to be home and not feeling like I was yesterday.  I was listening to Robert Macfarlane's The Old Ways in the car and really enjoying it.  A couple of chapters I had read were what I listened to today, including the Icknield Way, where he speaks of my favourite author and poet Edward Thomas.   Then it was a sea walk - I can remember thinking the same "oh my God, I wouldn't do that" when he spoke of walking The Broomway - a "footpath" which traverses an area of the North Sea off the Essex Coast, near Foulness.  Having lost his guide (due to family matters), he and a friend walked it, despite being warned NOT to if it was foggy as it goes out into the sea and can become disorientating in poor visibility.  Of course, it was foggy when they arrived, but they did it anyway.  Having got to the other end, and heading back, they reckoned they had a couple of hours before the tide turned (and it came in very fast there) yet still walked directly out to sea, thinking of Doggerland and walking towards where it was under many feet of water.  Yeesh - what is it about men, tell them not to do something and they feel compelled to go ahead and do it anyway!  Now I am on the chapters about sea roads.  He quoted from Facing the Ocean by Barry Cunliffe.  I bought this for Keith, but just looked for it and haven't got it so must have passed it on.

I looked at the layout for the table topper this morning and it slipped into place today.  It was sensible to stop when I did yesterday.

Down in the Dumps

 

This is all I have done today.  I have just put it aside as my brain just doesn't want to function to work out the layout of the next row round - despite having it shown on paper in the pattern.  The fabrics are from the charm pack I bought last month and aren't working brilliantly together in this pattern.  Ah well.  The cats will enjoy sitting on it!

I am feeling so low today - I have no energy for anything, no desire to do anything and I just feel lonely.   I had to force myself to work on the table topper.  I have just gotten Robert McFarlane's The Old Ways on Audible, but I wasn't enjoying that either as it required concentration (sadly missing today).  I have several of his books, but have only dipped into rather than read as his style isn't a relaxing one to read.  I felt the same about Hilary Mantel and Wolf Hall. 

I managed to find ITV live racing on my computer, so can watch the Cheltenham Festival next week.   

I can't face a 2nd night of Tortellini and pizza topping, so have made a Pizza base which has just come to dough in the bread maker.  I can't be bothered to make that either, but will have to force myself and force myself to eat some too.

I must take a leaf out of Sue in My Quiet Life in Suffolk's book and count my blessings:

Mainly the 'oscopy is behind me and no worrying signs.

I am going to see Tam and Rosie tomorrow.

I have kind and helpful neighbours.

Hah - I have a fabric stash to keep me going for years, at the rate I sew!

I have four lovely cats who adore me.

I have a wonderful family who would do anything for me.

I am going to Copenhagen next month and will finally see Bog Bodies for the first time :)

The sun has shone a couple of days this week and I got out in the garden.

I have seeds to start and plants to plant.

Cat Fight!

 Alfie decided he wanted to go out in the night, so obligingly I let him out.  A couple of hours later (5 a.m. ish) I thought I could hear him meowing to come in.  Anyway, I went down to check and he was in the hall and came in happily.  I went back to bed.  He jumped up and settled on the edge, away from me. Ten minutes later and Lulu jumped on the bed and then all hell let loose.  There was a sudden brawl which rolled out through the door and both the girls were fighting with Alfie.  My goodness, they were going hammer and tongs.  Lulu scarpered, but Pippi was determined to get the upper hand (though she is half Alfie's size) and I had to shout at them until they separated.  That was it for me for the night, sleepwise.

Of course, now the order is all upset.  Lulu has been hiding in the Library most of the day, though she did come out for her meal, but then headed back and is now in her safe place, inside the sofa.  Pippi has calmed down, and Alfie seems to have too, but L. Whale also upset and he ran away when I came into the room earlier on.  Think I will have the boys downstairs tonight, and girls upstairs, just until it all calms down again.  Perhaps Alfie met the stray (farm tom probably) tom cat whilst he was out and so his nerves were a bit on edge and he mistook Lulu for the tom cat when she woke him suddenly.  

I have done a bit more clearing out in the garden - another two wheelbarrows full of branches from that shrub, plus ivy and grass from around that area.  Having uncovered the first compost container, I decided I would take up the wet Beech leaves from the lawn and steps to the pond, and put them in the container to rot down.  So I have made a start on that.  I also cleared another stretch at the side of the "path" and put one of the Glen Doll raspberries in, and covered the area with cardboard, more muck heap and the whole length so far with compost.  I'm making sure I don't overdo things and just work half an hour or so each time, and rest inbetween or I will be aching all over.  In my 60s I would work 8 hours a day in the garden at Ynyswen.  Those days are past!

My neighbours invited me to come down for a cup of tea (I took my own Earl Grey) and sit out in the garden with them. It was pleasant to be able to sit outside again and the river runs past the end of the garden (but 30 feet lower, down a very steep slope).  It was very peaceful listening to it. They have been taking out the wall over the porch to put a window in.  It will give lots of light now to the staircase and first floor hallway.  Then they asked if I'd like some lunch - I just had a few of their home made chips, and we had a natter and then Ed came and knocked in the two 6 ft stakes for the tallest apple tree (the Howgate Wonder) and the pear tree, which has shot up this year and is covered in leafbuds now.  It's nice to have company.  I saw how hard they were all working (3 of them) so made a batch of Apple & Banana Chocolate Muffins (which are vegan, just in case B was vegan).  I imagine those went down well.  I had one mid afternoon and it was so light and fluffy :)  It's a variation on my Chocolate Apple Cake.  I have discovered you can turn many cake recipes into muffins, and they are easier to pack if travelling.  All you do is make the cake mix, then divide into muffin cases.  Simples.

I saw this online this week.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I'd love to do that with a plain pine chest of drawers.

Oh, and I nearly forgot.  Another unusual name in the family tree, this time the Birds, from Kent.  Pleasant Bird.  I've never come across that used before.

The price of groceries

 It's getting ridiculous.  I did my "main shop" - for just a few things too - in Aldi.  It came to £29.10, including £3.49 for a bag of compost.  The two priciest things were chicken fillets £3.99 and Cheddar cheese £2.49, oh and cling film £2.39. Strawberries £1.99, Filtered milk £1.75. I got two packs of Loratadine as it's now time to protect my body from various pollens. You are meant to start taking them a month or so before they occur.  Then Tesco - wait for it - £47.99!!!  Big items there were cat food £14.95 for sachets and biscuits; 5% steak mince (500g) £5.19 and my little Friday bottle of wine, £2.80.  Worcester Sauce - special offer, "only" £2.  Panadol Advance £2.15 - as Paracetamol are a waste of money and don't work at all for me.  Tesco's own Panadol are £1 but I prefer the branded for strength.  Tam tells me that Panadol is just Paracetamol under a fancy wrapper but hey, they work.  The final bill had £4.48 off for special promotions.  

The "little things" were a tin of Apricots, Tissues, Ravioli tins x 2, Peppercorn grinder (£2 on offer), fruit and veg, 4 Ancient Grains rolls for the freezer; Cadbury Caramel bars (on offer) and Diet Coke.  They soon add up though. The meat - I would say I would have perhaps 10 meals out of all of it - doesn't seem so expensive when I think it's about £1 a meal, and a bit extra allowing for other ingredients.  l have just forced down the other half of the sausage roll from Tuesday, and had the other half of the (lovely) Cornish Pasty for breakfast yesterday.  Gabby forgot the cheese, so I have that still in the fridge.  It comes to something when a cheap tin of Ravioli (the £1 Tesco ones have actually got tidy ingredients and no nasties) becomes a main meal . . .

I was especially cross as I had a weak moment (and no breakfast as I went out first thing) and bought myself 4 Hot Cross buns but I DID buy ones that were reduced to 84p, only to find them as stale as anything so if I eat them, I will have to toast them. The use by date was today.

I have just been out in the garden, as I went and bought another 5 Raspberry canes whilst they are still about.  I should have enough now.  I bought an American one, Glen Doll, which are meant to be prolific.  I came in to eat, and now it's raining.  May put a jacket on later and go and cut right back the shrub by the original compost bunker. There are compost bins behind it, completely covered by the shrub now.  The photo shows me digging and weeding around a Plum tree, which now has a nice blanket of aged muck heap.    You can see the "pathway" up to the Polytunnel, where I have weeded - and where I haven't got to yet!  To the left of it is where I am digging and weeding for the Glen Doll raspberries to be planted.  Challenging.

I could hear gunfire up on Sennybridge Ranges, where they train soldiers from around the world.  May hear a Chinook in the distance this week too, as there is Operation Agile Warrior 26 taking place over Herefordshire and it was noisy over Leominster last night apparently.  Needless to say its about testing our ability to defend the UK in the event of an attack . . .

Round 2 - find the compost bins!

Ta-dah!  I am now having an energy-boost with some cheap (59p) Aldi peanuts.  There is a LOT more to do there (everywhere, tbh).  Good for me though.

I survived . . .

 I am so glad this procedure has been done and is behind me.  Unpleasant but not painful until I was driving home full of wind (which they pump you up with) and I felt like the Michelin Man and since I had over an hour's drive was really worried about making it before I exploded!  The Dr said that she could see nothing worrying.  Phew.

The motte (or where it was) and bailey of Builth castle, long gone.

The girls are on their way home and just stopped to stretch their legs and get coffee.  I will be glad when they are back here, and even more glad when Tam is back home in Aber.

I stopped at Oakchurch Farm Shop on the way there.  This is what good food costs.  The couple in front of me had bought carrots, parsnips, sachets of custard, bread, and a couple of other bits - came to over £43!!!  The sausage roll was my lunch, but I chose it on size (smaller) and didn't read what was in it and only had a couple of bites before leaving it.  Remember the 100s of ingredients on that other Garage sausage roll last year?  Well, I looked at the back of this one, out in the car, and dang me, if there weren't just as many!!!

Perhaps marginally healthier . . .  The Cornish pasty is to keep Tam going and the cheese is for Gabby, who is a proper cheese hound.