A Nice Walk

Yesterday morning we met sweet little Westies Charlie and James.
We haven't walked with them since before lockdown
and also because their mum gets up earlier than me!!

Living where we do we have a number of lovely walks to choose from.

Don your walking shoes, apply some sun cream and join me on one of them.
From my house, up the drive, round the corner and onto the fields.

These have just appeared growing in the hedgerow. I think it's salsify.

past the horses

up to the Badger sett. There are three now. The first and largest one is where Rufus is, another one to the left of the picture and the third, smaller one just above Rufus' head.

Across the bridge and over the stile 

into the grass field. The grass is harvested once or twice a year, I think it's used for winter feed.

It smells so nice when cut.

I did the video for the pleasure of enjoying the silence and the birds.

Across the field and through the open gate which was always closed when horses were in the field.

you can see how long it is since the horses were there. We used to climb over the stile, and the dogs crept under that lower beam of wood to the right of the stile. It's all grown over with nettles now.

into the next field that usually has wheat growing in it, but this year it also has grass.

A pit stop for a drink. Buster likes this one, but Rufus doesn't often go in it.

onwards to bluebell wood

no bluebells now. It's a cool oasis

Out of bluebell wood heading towards  

the bonfire that never goes out, and it's not in lock down!

the farmer who owns this land has a sense of humour. Two  years ago (was it really two,

I thought it was only last year!) these teddies were lounging around for weeks.

 up to the farm

 turn right and head back to the field with the open gate.

Through the first grass field and back to the bridge and stile.

This is where Rufus likes to go in for a drink and a cool down when the weather is hot. 

We pass it on the way out but he never goes in then, only on the way back.

Buster never goes in this one, there is a network of tangled tree roots at the edge of the water,

I think they spook him.

Back along the field, past the badger sett and the horses and back home.

I hope you have enjoyed the walk.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

A Well Earned Break

An hour of concentrated work in the garden deserves a well earned break

and what better way than with a raspberry jam doughnut,
brain food for planning what to do next ☺️

Cutting a few roses to fill the room with their beauty and exquisite scent. Is there any fragrance more legendary than the perfume of the rose? And it doesn't get any better than David Austen roses.

My garden isn't small, I bought this when I did have a small garden,

but it's a favourite, a treasure trove of lovely ideas and information.

We have a mixed bag of weather today, this morning was cloudy with sunny intervals, and mild, ideal gardening weather for me. It's looking a bit cloudy now so I think this afternoon will be spent watching The Handmaid's Tale. It's grim, and makes me angry. It's amazing how fictional programmes can get right into the mind and senses and create strong emotions. The power of story telling. 

~ Happy Gardening ~ 

Be safe and well 

Polly x

The Joy of New Life

Isn't this adorable

I saw them last week on my way to a nearby nursery

Went back for more plants and was lucky to quickly snap these

The sun was in my eyes and I wasn't really sure if I was pointing my phone in the right direction

 thankfully most of the time I was.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Miss Claire Voyant's horoscope for Gemini

You share your Gemini birthday with; Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Marilyn Monroe, Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Nicole Kidman, and a few million others.

Your Personality
Expressive and quick-witted, Geminis represent two different personalities in one, and you will never be sure which one you will face. They are sociable, communicative and ready for fun, with a tendency to suddenly get serious, thoughtful and restless. They are fascinated with the world itself, extremely curious, with a constant feeling that there is not enough time to experience everything they want to see. There is never a dull moment with a Gemini.

Your Prediction
Many people will be looking back on happier times, and going forward could present a challenge, a challenge Gemini that you will meet head on, to forge ahead catching up with things that have been on hold. But be cautious, some things will need to be approached in a different way to what you have been used to. Now is the time to plan what needs to be reworked and reviewed. 

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

What Day Is It?

"Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?"

Seen recently on a blog I was reading. Really appeals to my sense of humour.

What day is it? how many times have you asked yourself that question over the last few weeks? The only days I'm sure of are Thursday - rubbish collection, and Friday, the day after rubbish collection.

I like watching 'The Farmer's Country Showdown' on beeb 2. Today there was a family who produce biodynamic fruit and vegetables, and a young couple running the Cornish Gouda company. Both businesses rely on farmers markets to sell their produce. Afterwards I got to thinking, I wonder how they (and many, many more) are coping at the moment. I feel sad, they produce excellent produce and they can't sell it. I hope maybe they are trading online.  

Restrictions are being eased, places of work are slowly opening up, but I think it will be a long time before we will be able to eat in a restaurant, go to the cinema or visit the library. I phoned the coach company that M and I enjoy day trips with, they don't expect to start operating again until September.

When the lockdown started I wasn't unduly concerned about not going out, I had plenty of hobbies to keep me occupied, and I threw myself into enjoying quilting, reading, dolls house projects, and with the glorious weather in April, lots of gardening. But as soon as the weather turned to cloudy and cool all I've really wanted to do is binge watch Netflix or read, and that's ok, I don't need to beat myself up about not doing anything. I think it's just after all the activity I'm now feeling lethargic, and frustrated because I don't want to do anything, I've got more time to achieve less at the moment! It will pass though.

I have two nurseries near me, both independent, one very small and the other quite big, 
but not garden centre big.

I bought these plants from the small one.

There was only me and one other lady there, and then a couple arrived,

we were able to keep well apart.

Oh dear, that plant top left needs cutting back.

I like this nursery, his plants are good and prices very reasonable. His place is down a lane off the main road. He has loads of stuff lying around, very old rusty farm equipment, old metal bird cage feeders, a red post box on a wooden panel, an old plough, the kind that was pulled by a horse. I don't know if it's just stuff that has just been left lying around, or if they are for sale. I will ask next time I go, and take some photos.

I'm keeping as fit as I can. After walking the dogs I do 10 minutes Joe Wicks for seniors.
After that I have breakfast, it's the same breakfast I've been eating for decades, All Bran, for reasons I won't go into, mixed with my home made granola, milk, yoghurt and fruit - mangos, blueberries, frozen cherries, tinned pink grapefruit, strawberries, apples and pears, not all at once! I love it.
My granola is rolled oats, chopped hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, ground almonds, turmeric and cinnamon. Bake for about 30 minutes, add sultanas when cool.

I take vit c and zinc tablets to help my immune system
I try to drink lots of water, especially when working in the garden
I try to get 8 hours sleep. Hot flushes wake me up but I do manage to get back to sleep.
I wear an eye mask, I'm sure it helps.

I've been keeping the plants in the shed at night time, tomorrow I will plant them in hanging baskets. The weather is set to improve and looking good for next week.
I've just remembered how to tell which day it is, my statins tablets have the days of the week printed on each blister pack! ☺️

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

Aussie Mother's Day

Before I get to the flowers, I've just opened Blogger and ........ meltdown ........ it's different ......... I don't like change, but I will have to get used to it. I still don't like change though!

Anyway, a couple of days late but here are the beautiful flowers my beautiful Aussie daughter sent me.

It wasn't until I took them out of the box that I noticed the cute little bees on the cellophane wrapper.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

VE Celebrations

At the beginning of the year, our village hall committee had planned a diary of festivities, one of which was a glorious celebration of VE day. So instead of coming together to celebrate, many villagers celebrated in their front gardens. 

I used my 35mm camera, I haven't used it for a long time and didn't check the lens,

it was in a bit of a state, hence the blurred patches

I made some salmon paste, chicken paste and egg mayo sandwiches, I bought the scones, 

and made a Betty Crocker vanilla sponge cake, mmm delicious.

Complete with Absolute radio's all day 40's music. It was a lovely day.

The weather was glorious, I was going to wear a dress

but then decided to wear my red and white stripe top with navy trousers - 

patriotic red, white and blue :-) and to top it off I wore a nice red lipstick.

The church was decorated, along with many houses around the village.
It was lovely to walk around talking to people at a distance,
everyone was so positive and having a good time. 

And finally the Queen's 75th anniversary speech. Her Majesty's speeches are always succinct and sincere. She knows her people and  she speaks from the heart. She is fantastic, I love her.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

Tulips

If, like me, you have a hankering to get out and about, or you're dreaming of a holiday; want to climb a mountain or hike a scenic route; click here for some inspiration for when the lockdowns end.

When I took these tulips out of their wrapping and put them in the vase I was disappointed

with the way they drooped but thought that once they had had a drink they would perk up.

They didn't, but I think they look nice, almost artistic :-) and I love the colours.

I've applied different colour schemes to each one just for the fun of it really :-)

I hope they make you smile, and maybe, if you need it, cheer you up a bit.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x