Sunday 12 May 2013

Here We Go Again

It was not from lack of trying, or any kind of laziness - as my faithful readers know (and thank you for being faithful) I had a bad year, last year.  I kind of let the garden go.  I had some tomatoes in bags to harvest in September, and they were nice, but after July, I lost heart.  I had a hole in my heart so big, it took me a while to get back to normal.

Normal.  Normal will never be the same again, and on this day in the USA, I wish every mother a very Happy Mother's Day.

There, that's done. Back to the garden.

Yikes!





This winter was the hardest I have ever known in the UK since I've lived here.  I worry very much about Global Warming.  I worry that we are losing the Gulf Stream due to rising seas from the polar ice caps melting.  There was not so much snow, as compared to previous years, but it was a long, cold time. And it's not over.  We should have had, by now, some better weather, not just a day here and there, but it doesn't seem to be forthcoming.

But thankfully, the Bank Holiday weekend last weekend was, surprisingly wonderful.

Time to cut the grass!

You may remember how bad it was last year, the first time, when it had gotten so long - and I left it and left it.  This year, I really didn't mean to - I was hoping in March that I would have a window of opportunity to do it, but no.  Not with this crazy winter.  And then, I left for Chicago to visit my Dad for two weeks.

On the 4th of April, I left the UK and it was snowing.  Yes, snowing.  I arrived in Chicago and it was nice - nicer, which was to last only two or three days.  When I left Chicago to return home, on the 19th of April, it was snowing.  Something wrong here.

So, at last, just last weekend, I had the opportunity to cut the grass.  The long, long grass.  Ouch.  Thankfully, my trusty mower did it again - something I don't want to put it through often!





I am left with the need to weed the left and the right.  I'm not sure about the left - it is looking okay.  I thought I might cut back the Ceanothus on the right, which has gone crazy, but perhaps not.  I'm excited for it to flower (it's very late).  The Choisya on the left, again, going mental but that has been there for many years now, and I don't feel the need to cut that back either.  I'm not sure what I can do for the left border apart from some heavy weeding.


And it seems like a long time ago now, that Bank Holiday weekend, but someone else was enjoying that sunshine as well.

May the sun come back again, in abundance and warmth, very soon.

Thursday 9 May 2013

Buy this book

Buy it now.  I have just finished - it's an easy read, but it is very eye-opening, and very enjoyable, and really, it's a must read.  I love this man, James Bowen.  I love this cat, Bob.  It is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

 A Street Cat Named Bob


As my ginger cat goes a little bit nuts on the windowsill.  Why?  Because they are cats.  And our particular cats happen to be (have been) ginger (orange tabby, I guess you would say in the States). 

Ginger Cats Rule OK.

Slightly crazy?  Oh yes.  Unbelievably loving?  Oh yes. 

Go Ginger cats, go.

Back soon with an update on the actual garden!  Finally!

Monday 22 April 2013

Gingerella

Says "hi"





Meeeooowwww.