Genista Tinctoria

I planted twp of these this afternoon, one to the right of the new Lavender the other to its left. It doesn't look as grand as in the picture but as soon as its grown-up, it will.
I also planted a Buddleia, another Red Robin and the second of the rose bushes, Twice In A Blue Moon, (love that name).
So I was quite active this afternoon what with one job and another, but it wasn't all mucky hands and back pain I had a pleasant surprise by way of my neighbour Anne, you remember her, she was the one who asked me to remove my bird feeders which were screwed to my side of my fence... I obliged reluctantly. The pigeons were doing their business and it was colouring her side of the fence....Blah ....
At any rate she went up in my estimations today because as I was pottering out front, she kind of apologized for the bird feeder thing. "Forget it" I said genuinely, eager to get on with the digging, then the bombshell.... she said she had a bird table and would I like it?
"You bet" I said barely able to hide my surprise. And so within minutes the large green plastic bird table was being hoisted over the small front chicken wire fence which keeps my property away from hers.
"It's only a little thing " she said her eyes red with constant tears and sleeplessness, she must miss her husband terribly.
And so as I looked up and down this wonderful piece of kit I wondered what I could do or give her in return. I suggested magazines, she politely refused. So I let it rest and stabbed the green plastic bird table with roof and three cups for seeds and water into my small patch of undulating greenery.
Her kind thought made my day.

On the cooking front:

I made an Apple Cake tonight.

Goodnight All
:)

Lamp post to the rescue

Went for a walk this morning to try and clear my head.

"Hiya sweetheart" the familiar local man yelled from across the road, his crippling disabilities made almost invisible by his large Aussie corky hat and cheerful manner.

"Hello darling" I waved, my sunglasses hiding unmade up eyes. Fell last night into a familiar dark place and this morning, after a dozen bran flakes, I knew I had to step outside. So on auto-pilot, I went to the charity shop by the bakers.


Where I bought a black sparkling dress, white blouse and lamp post style bird feeder. It's about 6 or 7ft tall and a little warped in the middle section but as I trundled home with it there was that old familiar feeling of excitement, only this excitement was watered down, but I drank from it anyway.

After having a cuppa I spent ages trying to get the lamp post in the ground. Would it stand up right? Would it heck? My front garden is slopy with undulations all over the place so wherever I stuck the post in, it leant to the left or right bending this way and that, a touch of rust in its middle not helping...

Then I had an idea..
Dragging a giant plant pot from around the corner I loaded it up with dirt and then twisted and turned the lamp post in till it stood kind of ok. It's resting, leaning, hanging on for dear life alongside a tallish pink flowering tree where sparrows hang out. I hope they find it satisfactory.
Standing back, hands on shorts, I admired the awful kitsch thing. I love it x

(Hope it doesn't get too windy)

Now food...Probably a sandwich and kit kat and more tea.

Being put together tonight:
Corned Beef
Green salad
Crusty garlic bread
Vanilla ice Cream with strawberry sauce

By the way I had my hair cut on Saturday I now look like a Pixie with the hump:)!!!

Little Things That Go Crunch!

After re-filling the bird feeders I turned around and saw three giant snails munching from a small plate I'd super glued to the windowsill. (I like to think they were a family out on a picnic.)

Being a softie with an inquisitive mind I squelched over my muddy patch to watch them.

One of the snails was sticking his head and neck out (do snails have necks?) anyway he was elongated. Being fascinated I took a closer look...His sticky type body having slithered over the small plate had accrued tiny seeds and flakes of corn, I immediately wondered if he would be ok. Immediately coming to the sensible conclusion that with the snails constant, if slow shuffle, the bird seed would eventually get knocked off.

What fascinated me most were his eyes, tiny beady bright things glistening on grey slippery stalks, seeing all, but in what form? Could he see my green jumper with its frilly white collar and pea sized stain? Could he see my eyes behind my glasses and if he could, did I look monstrous? My hair, I expect, was plain weird.
Was he able to sense that I was not a threat?

Then a slight movement, a wave almost and the snail trudged along completely covering the plate. Was my nosiness upsetting him? I hoped not. But not willing to take a chance I left the slow-coach to nibble and, after satisfying himself, wander God knows where leaving a silvery trace in his wake.

I always try to put myself in the shoes of birds and lubricious things. Shoes? I like that! Bit soppy, but soppy or not, I always consider their feelings, they're without qualifications but not stupid.

To say I panic is not overstating it, I do panic, especially if I think I've caused distress. If the creatures could vocalize their upset I'd be ok, but it's the thought of them being silently anxious which upsets me. If I accidentally crush something I kick myself whilst simultaneously comforting myself with the fact that it was a quick death.
Ok 'nuff of the womanly nonsense...I've got bread to bake and cakes to ice and stuff to watch.


Ta Ta!

P.S. I love it when pigeons land on my fence whenever I'm in the kitchen. I like to think they clock me and associate me with nuts.

Birds part 2

I wasn't long was I?
After a buttered crumpet I stood behind my NEW bird table in my jimjams and had my picture taken. It's things like that which keep me young.

Now about the bird table...It's NEW and was bought yesterday from a lady who makes various sizes Bird tables and who has them for sale outside her front door.
I saw them lined up on her drive as we slowly drove to The Factory Shop in Purdey's Way and as I drifted around the shop my muddled mind kept going back to the Bird table...
So after buying a block of berry loaded suet and 2 kilos of bird seed John parked up beautifully and I rung her doorbell.

Out came a blonde. "Hello" I said "I like the look of your Bird table"
"Which one do you like" she smiled walking to the biggest one
"That one" I squinted (the sun was very out) "The one with the extra bit"
"Ok" blondie said "It comes apart so let me take the top off"
She took the top off, money exchanged hands and John and I sweated our way back to the car.
I was so pleased with it that I held the top bit of it in my arms all the way home.
It's things like that which keep me young.