There's a monster in the house!

 L. Whale had the vet's again this morning and had his dressing removed - healing nicely - BUT he has to wear a cone to stop him licking the foot, and the others are all terrified of him now, and he is terrified of it . . .  I need to be here to keep the peace . . .  Poor chap.  He has to go back on Thursday and I hope he will be able to have the cone removed then.  It rather scuppers my day out, and going to Patchwork too . . .

Some quick snaps taken yesterday afternoon.  My garden is springing into bloom - and I'm glad I saw the chap who cuts the grass on Saturday as it has sudenly shot up.  The Clematis (Montana rubens) has come into its own this year and looking gorgeous.

Self-seeded Aquilegias.

I need to give my Clematis plants a feed but this had a good feed last year and is rewarding me.  Just need the slugs an snails to leave it alone.  This one is The First Lady.

The lovely yellow Tree Peony which was here when I arrived.

One of the wild Aquilegias which has grown once ancient membrane taken off on the bank.

The colour is pale in this photograph, but this is one of two good patches of Red Campion in the orchard.

All the young trees are in bloom.

Water Avens on the bank - they have spread everywhere.

Last night's meal.  Having had Mince Cobbler two nights in a row - and ruined the cheese scone topping because I got it out of the freezer and left it 36 hours in the fridge, during which time all the flour went grey (!) , I removed last of the topping and reinvented the mince into Cajun Dirty Rice, which hit the spot.  Mushrooms and chopped peppers from the freezer.  There are two more portions, but I will probably freeze those.

I did a quick shop in Llandod yesterday, although before I could do that I had to have a nap on the sofa - 5 mins turned into over an hour, as I was whacked from all the hard work.  I unloaded the last of the things in the car before that and that finished me off.

It was £26 in Aldi, as I bought the cat food in there.  Then the same in Tesco, but I had to go back in as I had forgotten my Wenslydale cheese, and I got some Ancient Grains rolls and mixed salad to go with it.  An other fiver.  The cat food was £11.95 for sachets and £4.50 for Purina biscuits (on special offer).  Meat bought - 2 chicken breasts, Back bacon (haven't bought any this year), and a reduced Pukka steak pie, all from Tesco, which is what bumped the spending in there.  I used the small change from the Fair to pay for the Aldi shop, which helped the exchequer.

I have sold two pieces to D, and need to pack and post those off today.  I need to go and fossick in the stables for the loose polystyrene beads I received around something else and kept to post something breakable.

Tomorrow I have my Patchwork class and later in the week am going to give myself a day out.  I need to take my spinning wheel to be serviced and he lives at Ystradgynlais, down by Craig y Nos, where opera singer Adelina Patti lived.  I shall go on towards Ross-on-Wye and the bottom of Herefordshire to check out some churches.

Meanwhile, L. Whale back to vet today to have his dressing off.  He WILL be pleased.