Danny visited today. I took advantage of this fact and got him to plant the Cox's apple tree in the orchard. I couldn't find the fold bar (with Tam?), had to borrow a spade from Chris (mine with Tam, along with my mattock) and we broke the rotten handle on the ancient mattock (probably pre WWII in vintage). Ah well, the tree's in now and has a healthy covering of ancient muck heap, as do several more of the other fruit trees. Just a couple more to do now.
Before he came, I went into town for my weekend paper, and got a card and gifts for Chris (birthday girl), and went round to hers with them. Then I set to and pruned my Buddleias - one has died completely so will have to dig that out when I get the other mattock back. I pruned Jude the Obscure too, and hoiked up dead leaves of the Monbretias on the bank. So it's a bit tidier, but my back is complaining now!
I've shucked some saved peas which were grown last year (Emma's) and will get those started in the greenhouse tomorrow. That feels a positive step.
Dan and I had a walk too - just a couple of miles but at the speed he walks I almost had to jog-trot to keep up with him. He did notice, and slowed down for me. We saw one of the neighbours and I was able to ask how the funeral went yesterday (his aged m-in-law). 120 people there, in and outside our tiny church. A good send off by anyone's standards.
I have had a couple of hours trying to count the blessed stitches for Peter Rabbit and have given myself a break from it. Back to hand quilting this evening.
I nearly forgot - last night's talk was brilliant - exactly the topic to interest me (Celts to Christianity). I was all fired up when I came home, and had managed to ask some intelligent questions.
I will reply to personals in the morning as tired now.
I love how your family tends to you. How is little I doing?
ReplyDeleteSo do I. They are all so good to me. She stayed at her school when they moved a few miles up the road, to a village house (flat in). Danny's taking her to Folly Farm today - they are hoping to get more than a little glimpse of the elusive Red Pandas. He's taken out a year's ticket, as after three visits, any others are effectively free.
DeleteI am so envious of you being able to get into your garden. We are still under lots of snow. I have the same problem when I walk with our oldest son.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Well, it is pretty soggy out there, but I can at least potter - SO much tidying up to be done, but a I worked yesterday I thought to myself that I would be able to just get on with it now. With Keith so ill last year I was hardly able to do anything much.
DeleteGardening and walking. good boosts to the system!
ReplyDeleteMy back is disagreeing with you this morning! It was good to be out though, and walking at Danny's speed burnt up the calories!
DeleteHow lovely to have a visit w Danny. Your family is so good to you. I remember my mother pining for time alone like that with my brother and he did his best but lived a continent away with a high demand job. I visited three times a year, but just wasn't the same as a day with her son.
ReplyDeleteYou sound good! Trip will be wonderful, I have forgotten when it is?
lizzy
He was at a loose end as E away in Birmingham on a course. I made a huge pan of chilli-ish soup, only to find he'd made himself a chilli and had eaten it for two nights running, so didn't want it 3 days in a row! What a shame for your mum that your brother lived on another continent. I am used to not seeing so much of Danny, ever since he went travelling the world.
DeleteMy trip begins next Saturday. The suitcase is out of the attic now . . .
Next weekend you go on holiday - that is so exciting. Do you know BB in all the years I have been reading your blog I think this might be your first holiday so bless Gabby and Tam for organising it for you. Hopefully this will start a trend. Certainly I had no idea that going to Crete last October would lead to me going again in April and now I am looking at going further afield. Travelling without S is very liberating as he is such a fusspot about everything and high maintenance whereas I’ll be travelling to Crete with just a backpack. I was away travelling in my gap year for seven months with just a back pack so I know I will be fine. Right, I’m just waiting for S to get ready as we’re off to the Weald and Downland museum where they are demonstrating 16th century knitting.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had a busy morning. I’ve taken compost down, spread two sacks of puckamuck, planted a pot of spent tete a tete daffodils which have been brightening up my kitchen table. I dug them up from the meadow bed, potted them up and now they’ve finished flowering they’ve gone back in the ground and I dug up another clump for more kitchen table cheer. Then I warmed up by making aubergine lasagna and a pan of celeriac and apple soup. Have a lovely day, it’s sunny but chilly here. Sarah x
There's an idea for a post . . . Enjoy Crete. I'd love to go to the Med, but cant "do" heat, so it would have to be spring I think.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it's been warmer with you than here. I stood chatting to my friend, whilst we looked at her new horse earlier - 5 - 7 minutes only - and it took me two hours to thaw out!
I can handle heat but wouldn’t go to the Med in summer (far too much going on in the garden) but April and October are perfect and S and T will be at home to eat the asparagus. Checking in to tell you we watched a pair of Percherons ploughing at the Weald and Downland. Slow painstaking hard work and puts my mowing with a battery mower of my wildflower meadow into perspective. The Percherons are bred in France, imported as foals and trained in Ringwood. I missed the knitting though, they packed up and went home at lunchtime. No staying power evidently, unlike the two horses and one ploughman on foot who ploughed all day long! I found time to look through my children’s books today. I wasn’t sure beforehand but was so happy to see I had kept our copy of “Poppy’s Babies” in which the mice do patchwork quilting! I hope I am not leading you astray by mentioning this BB! S x
ReplyDeleteWell, you knew exactly what I would do didn't you?!!! For a total expenditure of £2.93, one is now winging its way to Rosie and Gram. The Percherons earned their nosebag of oats today then. What a shame you missed the knittin.
ReplyDelete