It was gloriously sunny when I got up at 6.30am on Friday morning (day 112), after my Wii Fit session I went online and booked another National Trust slot and bought something fabulous that had just been listed on eBay as a Buy-it-Now. After our fruit and yoghurt breakfast Jon popped out for a few supplies (there's no queues if he opts to use basket in the supermarket as opposed to a trolley but it means he's limited as to what he can carry hence the reason he's been shopping twice this week.)
When I'd seen the sunshine this morning I'd decided that I'd sort out the front of the house, outside the gates - that's the area on the left as opposed to the right, which needs serious work. By now the sky had clouded over, there were a few spots of rain and a cold breeze but I pulled on my boots & jacket and set to work weeking and raking.
Once Jon was back and had sanitised the shopping, he planted the Dusty Millers I'd saved from the previous day's windowbox redo. Hopefully it should act as a deterent for the dogs with inconsiderate owners that have plagued the avenue since lockdown.
After lunch (noodles!) we drove over to Liz & Al's as they'd offered us some skirting board they'd discovered on their woodpile. We spent the afternoon sitting outside drinking gin and eating rock buns with our coats on one minute and off the next. If life had gone to plan we'd have all been working at the Cornbury Festival this weekend as Liz & Al had volunteered to be Kinky Melon staff - oh well, maybe next year.
Nothing new to see here, this kaftan pops on my blog with alarming regularity.
Back at home Jon made a paneer curry which we ate with a coriander nan and mango chutney. We drank rum and watched Gardener's World and Bettany Hughes' Greek Odyssey.
On Saturday (day 113) although I was awake at my normal time I stayed in bed until 7am. I loaded the washing machine as I'd done no laundry for a week (too wet to dry it outside), fed the lads and brought mugs of tea back to bed where we read until 8am.
Jon went downstairs to start breakfast while I stripped and changed the bed. I pegged the first load of washing outside and started the next then gave the houseplants, which had been soaking in the sink and bath overnight, their fortnightly feed before putting them back.
Breakfast was veggie sausage, poached eggs, sauteed mushrooms and baked beans which would keep us going until teatime.I pegged out the rest of the washing while Jon popped to the vets to pick up Stephen's repeat prescription (he's been on steriods for an on-off skin condition for years).
When we watched Gardener's World last night I'd made a note of the jobs they suggested were done in the garden this week and, as we'd been unable to do much outside this week due to the rain, I added a list of stuff we also needed to get done today - make hay while the sun shines and all that.
- Plant the new sedums in the border
- Empty the stone trough by the pond ready to be moved nearer to the house
- Repot the French lavender, ivy and mosaic plant and pot up some of our latest spiderlings
- Rescue the fennel growing in the cracks in the brickwork and pot them on.
- Cut down the diseased clematis
- Move the passionflower growing under the kitchen window to a pot and stake to the wall by the front door
- Prune the fruit bushes
- Plant the squash Liz gave us yesterday in the veg patch
- Backfill the potato plants with compost
- Pot up the bargain cucumber plants bought from the garden centre on Thursday
- Cut back the delphinium
- Vigorously prune the wild geraniums
- Stake the crocosmia
- Empty two of the chimney pots and move them to the mirrored wall
- Move the rope lights from the pond to across the lawn and reset the timwer switch
- Mow the lawn
- Sweep the patio
- Water the patio plants
- Cut a pathway between the trees at the top of the garden
- And clear up all the mess we'd created.
Whilst we slaved away the lads took it nice and easy. We treated ourselves to a coffee in the sunshine at 4pm. No lunch, no tea break - a bit like working at a festival except we were surrounded by colourful flowers rather than colourful vintage clothes.
Tea was ciabatta with tapenade, salad and cheese. After a shower we'll spend the evening sprawled out in front of the TV accompanied by a huge glass of rum (or three!), everything on the list is ticked off so I think we've earnt it!
Huge apologies for falling behind with blog visits and replying to your comments. Normal service will be resumed shortly, I promise!
Stay safe & see you soon.