Monday

Good morning, everyone.  It's not exactly sunny outside but it is bright so fingers are crossed for an OK day today after a bit of rain yesterday late afternoon/early evening (great for the garden).

I really was in a bright and breezy frame of mind yesterday morning - it's something I'd love to be able to bottle and sell to make my fortune!  It lasted too; I enjoyed yesterday very much!

I went out early to start on the weeding and worked steadily through, just stopping for loo breaks and a drink of water.  It wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold, it was just perfect out there and I managed to get all the side and across the back done (which is what was needed).  It was terribly overgrown although steady ongoing work by Mum in past years meant that there weren't too many weeds.  Give them a few years more and they would have taken over though!

This is a task I can take on once I get to Dad's every fortnight.  I've been looking for something since most of the things I used to do are now in hand and done.  Keeping those two strips in good order will add to Dad's quality of life.  He's been a fine gardener, ever since he was a little boy being 'mentored' and taught by his grandad and those strips were bothering him.  He has a gardener for most of the garden - it is a very big garden - but that particular bit wasn't a priority.  I can make it mine!

Here's some of M's vegetables.  Looking good, I think.

After lunch, we set off to Bickerdikes.  It wasn't as crowded as we thought although there were plenty of folk there, and the plants were lovely.  Dad mutters about prices but they're not particularly expensive, no more than anywhere else really.  He was looking for a clematis as the Nelly Moser he has had for decades is now on her last legs.  She flowered this year but the flowers are washed out and not a great colour and the plant is generally not great.  I'd told him about my Ooh La La and they had some in stock so that's what he got.  He also bought a lovely, bright leafed heuchera to go under a tree where it looked a bit bare after I had cleared it.

Here's the clematis waiting to be planted and the heuchera in its for ever place, one hopes.


As for me, I was very restrained and just bought what I went for, an old fashioned lavendar with that wonderful fragrance they have plus some anti-cat pellets.  I also have, in a bowl of water ready to wrap in newspaper and bring home, some lily of the valler, one hellebora and a bit of euphorbia, gleaned from my weeding and clearing.  I had a euphorbia from Mum but it died after a few years so this will replace that one, the lily of the valley will join the other bit round the front and the hellebore will be in a container (I think I said most of that yesterday but never mind!)

Here's what I came home with.  The cat had left another little message so the pellets are now down (and they stink!)

I'm back home this morning, leaving right after the milk run.  I'm wondering two things - will there be any strawberries and have the runner beans come up yet?  Fingers crossed.  Apart from that and the usual 'back home again' stuff, I have school this afternoon and then some tuition.  I think I am up to date with my planning but still need to go through everything.  This evening is free but I will have ironing after the weekend away and some telly to catch up on.


Have a super day.  xx