It’s been bone dry around these parts for weeks now, so it’s been a struggle trying to keep the gardens watered, especially as it’s been so warm. Just watering the courtyard, back garden and greenhouse takes three hours. I always leave the front garden to fend for itself. Finally, today, it rained, all day, with …
Red, pink and white blossom are exploding right now. This clematis montana, growing through the honeysuckle, is just beginning to open. The scent of vanilla is delicious. It’s been a strange old winter this year, I’ve lost several clematis and even a potato vine, all of which have previously been indestructible. It hasn’t even been …
Every time I’ve thought that, Elvis Costello’s, Good Year for the Roses, runs on a loop in my head! Yet it has been a marvelous year for the roses. I’ve never known so many, so early, these are just a few, it must be down to the wall to wall sunshine we’ve had for the …
Finally, it’s raining! I couldn’t be more happy. It’s been scorching hot around here, well by UK standards anyway. My pond has completed dried out and animals and plants are sulking and yearning for shade. On the farm at the rescue, Wilma has taken to holding up the wall, while Daisy and Maisy, along with …
It would seem that summer is slowly departing and autumn is sneaking in. Today, I saw Christmas cards on sale in a charity shop. I shuddered, averted my eyes and promptly left the shop! Hubs and I have finally managed to paint and stock the new woodshed we had built, you wouldn’t believe how many …
Each day, I trot into the garden to sort Herbie hog and his hutch out. A few days ago, to my abject horror, I found his hutch empty! Last time this happened he’d dug himself out, and after a frantic search, was found sleeping in a hedgehog house in one of my borders. Since then …
This last week has passed by in a bit of a blurr… We had our open day at the rescue and made a princely sum despite the fact it poured down. I was face-painting but had a secret weapon this time….. my mother-in-law hand knitted these FABULOUS hedgehogs and they sold out within the hour, …
Well, it’s all about the good life this week. Elaine expressed her horror surprise on my last post as I told her I had never made jam. That was past tense! Due to my glut of plums I have now made POTS of the stuff, and I must say I was shocked to see how much sugar …
As Christmas draws ever closer I suddenly realise how much I need to do. Presents need to be bought, cards written, get togethers attended….and being the last minute type, I’m finally launching myself into action….well…after a fashion! The decorations are up in the village and charities are collecting everywhere. This skiffle group are hilarious. They collect …
I like bees, especially bumble bees, which sadly, are now becoming threatened. I heard last night that their numbers are dropping drastically in the North West. But the good thing is that we still have hundreds of bumble bees bumbling around our gardens. This hole in the wall under the kitchen window is always a …
