5th February 2023 - Sheds & Scenery

Thought for the day :"Decided this morning to throw out all my socks .... but then I got cold feet."

Day started with quite a brisk frost on the grass, hoping that the bulbs sprouting at the moment are not affected....  But we got out to get some stuff done today !!

It seems that January will go into the calendar as a month of rest and hiding inside -That makes a lot of sense and February with the days getting a little longer becomes a time for getting back into the swing of things.. Though the aching of the bones suggests that it may take a few months to get back into the proper mode..

So a plethora of photos from today ...

So we start with the shed as it was before we started..

And at the end of today - we have a work bench and some space...

it is a start !

Meanwhile Susie has cleared the top strata ..   

And Toby approves

and the kiwi is chopped back ..

Strawberry Beds weeded..

Looking at the heather rockery and stairway 

and the Remembrance Garden

and the second strata.. 

In other news the colours for the evening were quite amazing - this camera phone does not really show it off but it gives an idea..

 

And so another week goes by ..

Cheers !

4th February 2023 - Gardens and Paraffin

Thought for the day :"People who wash dishes together will always be in sink"

Mild day today and an opportunity to get out a bit. Susie has done stirling work along all the borders, while I walked the dogs..  

And first it was time to record another day's development on the sprouting in the lower quarter 

We are getting near to the first daffodils coming out...  

and then I started attacking the workshop - it has had nothing done to it in 2 years other than add more stuff into it to keep it clear !!

The before pictures!!!

In other news - decided to test whether paraffin works better than white spirit in the toilet roll beacons and the decision is that they do - this is at the start and one hour later 

It was still burning 3/4 hour later 

So I think that we have the solution for the summer now ...

Cheers !

3rd February 2023 - Around the Garden

Thought for the day :"So when my friend Joyce learned she could clone herself, she rejoiced"

Mild weather and a chance to get out - Susie has been doing sterling work on Meerkat Mountain and all the borders along the lawn, I am still working on the lower quarter and generally brambling around the garden. It seems to be my current task - a pair of clippers in my hand and find some brambles and chop it - they still keep coming back !!! 

Mornings are Wordle, Quordle, Duolingo and breakfast ...
then a look at what we can do - Susie has the fires to clean - I have the dogs to walk ..

Life is pretty simple at the moment 

We really need to up ourselves a gear - but it has been winter so we will start thinking about a little more action as the days get longer.

Looks like only 6 Moonies for the Training weekend - ho hum - and the embroidery man has gone on holiday until the 16th Feb - and has not let me know if he has done the new patches so not sure what to do!

Oh well - a few more pictures from around the gardens 

 

Of course when you are walking the dogs and doing some gardening and also trying to brush up your ritual it is best to know that it is in a deep pocket - got the the bridge and found that the book was missing so we had an extra walk today - as I came back to the paddock to find where I had dropped the book 

Cheers !

2nd February 2023 - Groundhog Day

Thought for the day :"I admit that I sometimes talk to myself. There are occasions when I need good advice"

Another day with no real news.  Two bags of layer's pellets and bag of mixed corn cost £31 today - just for reference in the future!!  Interest rates up to 4% today and shell recorded its highest ever (in all time) profit margin of 32 billion  and the government says that it does not intend to increase the windfall tax !!

I have real sympathy for those not in a position to be ibn control of their finances.. I agree that ours are dwindling faster than in the past - but hopefully they will outlive us!

But a walk down the lower quarter - cleared some ground and did the Donkey Trail

Susie was baking today and did her own pizza base - seemed to work well 

Of course it is Groundhog Day .. 
Of course it is Groundhog Day .. 
Of course it is Groundhog Day .. Of course it is Groundhog Day .. 

Of course it is Groundhog Day .. Of course it is Groundhog Day .. Of course it is Groundhog Day .. Of course it is Groundhog Day .. Of course it is Groundhog Day .. 

Cheers !

1st February 2023 - Spring sprouting

Thought for the day :"Bought a lovely piece of beef for Sunday dinner. Paid for it out of our joint account."

Out and about today to get around the gardens and walk the dogs

Susie also attacked the meerkat mountain and cleared them of the bramble and planted some more heather.  Also pruned the Kiwi and some of the side beds...

I took on the lower quarter again - clearing the branches chopped earlier in the year

Also - some of the bulbs planted seem to be presenting now - thoughts they had all been eaten by squirrels..  

But first - a picture form yesterday - the strawberry raised beds are completed

Toby checks on Susie's progress

But down in the lower quarter there is a sign of life..

 

a few bulbs sprouting 

Lower Quarter Flower bed today 

And the daffodils are almost out

Cheers !