(no subject)
I had a day without visiting Mum today. As the sun was shining beautifully this morning today was earmarked for working in the garden. So..
The area around the door now looks a bit tidier and a lot brighter. We now have, I think, 7 boxes of bedding plants on windows or around the walls, 3 pots of bedding plants on various places nearby and a giant pot of pink lilies which had to be moved while the buds are still small enough. This makes the entrance to the cottage look cottagy and bright, disguises the metal bin by the door, and when the purple petunias waft their fragrance in through the door it is heavenly. The lilies wont be out for a month yet but they are going to be spectacular, well they were last year.
So then I cleared out the stone trough and sorted out the herbs I keep near the door. I don't usually pick from there but its nice to have them in case its wet - and they look green and welcomimg. When its warm they too smell fresh.
Then I put out the washing. Ok, thats mundane but this summer its been a damn nuisance and its lovely to get the fresh smell in the clothes. Besides they dry quicker on the line.
Of course they were almost dry when it started to rain, but it was short lived and I got a letter written.
I helped Peter put the netting up for the sweet peas, not too much like hard work and then we finally put my tent away after the Fayre. Its been sitting around in a bin liner, dry but unfolded. Today was the first day I've had free when its been fine.
Then the major effort which I had kinda been avoiding. The row of Broad Beans.
We have had a great crop but we need the space for the butternut squashes so I spent a while(it felt like hours but was probably only one)cutting down the beans to leave the roots in the ground and then stripping the pods off.
We now have a washing basket and a half of beans waiting to be podded and frozen. It should last us a while. My back is aching and my legs are all trembly because I could see the clouds getting closer so I was working faster and faster to get the row cleared and all the pods stripped and guess what! I beat the rain. Its now doing what it seems to have been doing all summer but I feel really pleased that it didn't get me this time. I won!
I am also pleased that I have had a day at home.
Its getting wearing all the travelling. If I leave home at 9.30 I get to the Nursing Home at 10.15, spend an hour or so with Mum, leave around 11.45 - 12.00 then have shopping to do on the way home and I dont get back till nearly 2.00. Yesterday I called in at Mum's bungalow to check the mail, sat down to read a letter and fell asleep for an hour. I can't see how I can stop going but I am trying to cut it down to 5 days a week. But if I dont go she sees no one apart from staff.
And at least Peter and I had time in the garden together today.
I am currently writing this with my feet up on the bed, goodness knows if I have the energy to get food ready for this evening but who cares. We have started the harvest, my favourite time, and I feel good.
The area around the door now looks a bit tidier and a lot brighter. We now have, I think, 7 boxes of bedding plants on windows or around the walls, 3 pots of bedding plants on various places nearby and a giant pot of pink lilies which had to be moved while the buds are still small enough. This makes the entrance to the cottage look cottagy and bright, disguises the metal bin by the door, and when the purple petunias waft their fragrance in through the door it is heavenly. The lilies wont be out for a month yet but they are going to be spectacular, well they were last year.
So then I cleared out the stone trough and sorted out the herbs I keep near the door. I don't usually pick from there but its nice to have them in case its wet - and they look green and welcomimg. When its warm they too smell fresh.
Then I put out the washing. Ok, thats mundane but this summer its been a damn nuisance and its lovely to get the fresh smell in the clothes. Besides they dry quicker on the line.
Of course they were almost dry when it started to rain, but it was short lived and I got a letter written.
I helped Peter put the netting up for the sweet peas, not too much like hard work and then we finally put my tent away after the Fayre. Its been sitting around in a bin liner, dry but unfolded. Today was the first day I've had free when its been fine.
Then the major effort which I had kinda been avoiding. The row of Broad Beans.
We have had a great crop but we need the space for the butternut squashes so I spent a while(it felt like hours but was probably only one)cutting down the beans to leave the roots in the ground and then stripping the pods off.
We now have a washing basket and a half of beans waiting to be podded and frozen. It should last us a while. My back is aching and my legs are all trembly because I could see the clouds getting closer so I was working faster and faster to get the row cleared and all the pods stripped and guess what! I beat the rain. Its now doing what it seems to have been doing all summer but I feel really pleased that it didn't get me this time. I won!
I am also pleased that I have had a day at home.
Its getting wearing all the travelling. If I leave home at 9.30 I get to the Nursing Home at 10.15, spend an hour or so with Mum, leave around 11.45 - 12.00 then have shopping to do on the way home and I dont get back till nearly 2.00. Yesterday I called in at Mum's bungalow to check the mail, sat down to read a letter and fell asleep for an hour. I can't see how I can stop going but I am trying to cut it down to 5 days a week. But if I dont go she sees no one apart from staff.
And at least Peter and I had time in the garden together today.
I am currently writing this with my feet up on the bed, goodness knows if I have the energy to get food ready for this evening but who cares. We have started the harvest, my favourite time, and I feel good.