Time to go home

I am absolutely exhausted. I am making a last pitch to get ready for the new potting shed. At the same time I am trying to keep on top of all the weed seedlings, that are springing up far faster than my sown plants, and continuing with the planting.
One more fire before we left meant it was 8pm before we could leave.
I had forgotten what it feels like to hurt in so many places at the same time.
Think its time to shuffle back home to a hot bath, a warm toddy and sit by the fireside.

Mind you I will be back again tomorrow for another shot at the goal.

could not resist this one

It's All Taking Shape

These last two days seem to have made such a difference.
First I decided that the buried problem of last month had to be unearthed and cleared properly.
(There is a pile of builders rubble lurking underneath this heap)





Then I got tired of waiting for my neighbour to cut down the elderberry trees that were killing the hawthorn hedge, so I did it myself.


(I do have a mixed hedge planted up waiting to be transplanted in the autumn to make a new hedge for my wildlife.)









I also grew impatient about burning the rest of the rubbish you can see here. The wind was blowing away from the dwelling houses (which means fires permitted) so that too is now gone. Reduced to the pile of ashes you see in the front of the picture above this one ..

(There is something really primitively satifying about sitting round a fire in the open air)






Sweet peas, Victorian climbing peas, French climbing beans and Runner beans are now planted, with the help of my young friend, under the close inspection of my dog Molly, and all the beds marked out in readiness for the rest of the veg.





All in all it was a satisfying, even if exhausting, two days. The gentleness of the sun as it began its descent washed over us, as we left, like a soothing balm filling us with a sense of peace and tranquility.

Getting ready to greet the tourist industry who are after the fields adjoining our site.

It's begining to come together.

I bought this vintage tool recently and now have the task of trying to find a long handle to fit it.

The splayed fitting eye suggest to me that it needs a shaft rather than just a long handle

This week has been a busy week as the weather has begun to improve. The main problem has been getting out of the wind and dodging both rain and snow showers.

At least the showers revealed that the shed was leaking around the windows so I was finally able (I hope) to seal this with a good layer of silicone sealant.

The bean canes are now in place, the broad beans and early peas have been put to bed and all the fruit trees are in their final resting place.

This little plot of England that I have chosen to make productive seemed at first an overwhelming task. I now find myself scratching my head as to how I will find the space for all I would like to grow. No chance of taking on another plot as they are all occupied and there is a small waiting list developing.

This is looking across the top of one of my blueberry bushes

Looking up the plot across the 'orchard'