A Quiet Wednesday

I've had a quiet day today...somewhat reflective and well just quiet.  My left hip and back is a little sore today, hardly surprising with the amount of carpet I have had to dig out of the garden, so probably need to rest in between sometimes.   I did go up the top of the garden and planted two rows of peas, and I will plant another two rows of a different variety in a few days time.    I didn't go out for a walk today as I got a bit put off yesterday with the amount of people I saw, and when sitting on my garden seat this afternoon, I saw more young people out which is a little off putting.  There was a group of three, albeit a bit straggled and a group of two... perhaps I might go for my walk in the early morning.

Because I don't know what the shopping situation is going to be like in a few weeks time I thought I would try a microgreen kit so I have something fresh to have with my lunch.

It is nicely packaged with a book, packets of seeds, earth and pots.

The earth comes in little dried circles.

You put it in 200 mls of water and leave for 15 minutes.

While soaking.

Little cardboard pots.

You put a couple of teaspoons of the earth in and then a couple of feed pellets

Fill the rest with the soil and then sprinkle the seeds on top

Cover with a damp paper towel and then wait!  Watering regularly to keep the seeds damp.

I prepared two pots to start with, Pink Kale and Broccoli, so it will be interesting to see the results in a week or so time.

I sat and read most of the day on and off. It has been another glorious day with a stunning blue sky and nice and warm.  I alternated between sitting on the deck and sometimes in my seat in the front garden.  

From the deck I saw these two robins.

I also saw a wren flitting backwards and forwards across the garden between bushes and shrubs.

A pair of wood pigeons are frequent visitors to the garden and use the pond as their source of water.  I wish I had a bird bath in the garden.

What looks like a Ferry in the distance...transporting goods I hope and not people!

Tadpoles (not the best picture)

Newt.

I have treated the pond today as the blanket weed is starting to take over.  I hope it starts working soon.  It says it is animal friendly so hopefully it is.

Terrific Tuesday

Focusing on the positives, it was a glorious day today.  I got up early and managed to get quite a bit of work done in the garden before 9 am!  I tackled the job I couldn't face yesterday, digging up yet more carpet and digging over the 'new' bit of ground I wanted to extend for the vegetable plot.

This is the area I needed to tackle...  moving the coal bunker, wood and carpet.

I also needed to dig out another bit of carpet in front of the tree.

Getting there...

Carpet moved as well as the wood and bin - hidden behind the tall ornamental grass and fruit tree until such time we can take it to a dump.

Ground dug over - still got to dig up the carpet to the right.

From the other side.  This new patch is 5 foot wide by 12 foot long, so all in all I now have a 10 x 12 vegetable patch up here.

It took me a while.

Carpet stacked up - I can't believe they just dumped all this at the top of the garden!

I spy a beautiful butterfly.

Bluebells, although not the native kind.

Bumble bee

Ladybird - not the usual seven spot, I can see I am going to have to learn how to identify the different types.

After my morning tea, and then again after lunch I did battle with the stinging nettles.

I forgot to take a photo of the pile I have dug and pulled up.

My arms are suffering for it!  Still prickling now several hours later.

Another ladybird on a nettle leaf.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went for my usual walk this afternoon, (same time I often go) and was shocked to see how many people were out walking.  Normally I am 'lucky' if I see two people, today I saw at least 19 (plus two on the cliff path in the distance).  In the end I cut my walk short as there were just too many people out for my liking.

I took this for my records, as I am sure it is worse than the last time...

Not sure what plant this is, but there is quite a bit of it along the coastal cliff path.

The tide was out and the blue of the sea and sky looked amazing.

Just look at the blue in this pool of water.

So I still managed to walk two and a half miles, but was disappointed not to feel able to do more. It is sad to feel this way, but that is the way it is, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. I will choose a different time of day to go for my walk and see if that is any quieter. 

Blue Monday

Well it has certainly been a Blue Monday today in the nicest possible way. 

A stunning blue sky first thing this morning that has lasted all day.

Can't complain at this.

I checked on the seed growth this morning when I went up the garden.

Some are sprouting very nicely.

I planned to spend the afternoon in the garden, but had a bit of a headache, so took myself off for a walk.

Looking down at one of the rocky bays.

I ended up in the Botanical Gardens, no one around which was great.  I did see the odd couple from a great distance, but on a whole I was on my own.

The magnolias were looking stunning.

Camellias looking beautiful as well.

No playground activities.

Not a soul in sight.

So lovely to see colour in the gardens.

Nature continues to delight.

I spent quite a lot of time watching this lovely Robin.

Just look at that fabulous blue sky.

As I was going down the steps to Steephill Cove I saw a beautiful butterfly warming its wings.

I was alone on the beach which was just perfect.

I sat and watched the waves for a while.

I was out about two hours and walked approx 4.5 miles.  

I made myself a lovely lunch when I got home and read for a while and then fell asleep on the arm chair!  I then woke with a very foggy head feeling quite lethargic so I think I overdid things yesterday so decided not to work in the garden this afternoon.