Windy.

It has been very windy all day. The morning began with blue skies over the sea but grey clouds heavy with rain inland. Luckily the wind blew away the clouds and for the afternoon it was blue skies all round.

Poor Peter was not feeling good this morning after yet another bad night's sleep. It looks like he has caught this nasty cold (one that comes with aches and pains) that is doing the rounds. I suspect he may have picked it up at his Spanish conversation group last week as last night I chatted to someone was in the group and she mentioned that she is only just getting over her cold/'flu. I can understand people wanting to get on with their lives but when you're in your 70s it's harder to get over these infections.

 

And on a cheerier note - this is my sunny spot where I have a cup of coffee in the mornings. (When I'm up really early I sit on the terrace to view the world.) A garden kneeler makes a perfect cushion on the wall of the middle raised bed which is just the right height for sitting on.

From my seat I can cast my eye over the garden and look at the sea and the village through the gap in the hedges. Not easy to see in the photo but I am able to see the Cambrian mountains above the hedge on the right and Snowdonia above the hedge on the left. This morning was so nice that I had to have a second cup of coffee so I could enjoy the view for longer. 

Of course since it has been sunny I've spent my time working in the garden. I wasn't too pleased to find more cat evidence in the garden. The suggestions on-line include growing lavender and rue as cats don't like their smell. Hmm, I've a number of lavender bushes and rue growing in the shingle so that's not helpful. I'll see if coffee grounds and citrus peel are any better at deterring cats.

While I was outside I turned my attention to the tiny pond / water feature. I swirled out the blanket weed of which there wasn't too much and then realised that sphagnum moss was growing in the water in large quantities. It wasn't hard to remove though I did check carefully for water snails which I then returned to the water. It's good to know they survived the winter. By the time I had finished I had nearly a whole bucket of moss which is a lot for the size of the pond.

Time now to relax and have a sandwich as choir is starting half an hour earlier this week to allow people to get there before they close the main road.

Almost.

Back to grey but not too cold weather.

As it wasn't raining off I went to the zoo. My plan to fill a dumpy bag in the back of the car with woodchip for the new paths worked - almost. Unfortunately the heap we had thought was woodchip turned out to be just leaves and twigs. Not suitable for putting on the paths. 

However there was the remains of an old pile of woodchip and I managed to scrape together about half the dumpy bag full. The suggestion of driving in through the back gate was a good one as it brought me right next to the old play area. I used the woodchip I had for the spirals and can do no more until there is more woodchip. A shame as it would have been nice to see the whole job done but I think it looks so much better than before. Job done -almost.

When I tried to padlock the gate shut again due to the fence having moved in the last storm the bolt wouldn't go far enough into the post to let me put the padlock on. Not liking to have things not working I whittled away at the existing hole in the post with a table knife I use for gardening and eventually got the bolt in and the padlock on.

I then gave the gravel garden by the wolf-dogs a good going over. There's a tree right next to it which is either shedding leaves or small cones over the gravel. And when it's not cones it's long catkins. The catkins are the worst because as they age they start to fall apart when you try to pick them up. There are still plenty more catkins on the tree (somebody lend me a chainsaw) but either I give up entirely and let the gravel turn into a mess or keep at at. 

There were not many visitors at the zoo, only a group of youngsters from the local college on an animal handling course. It was so peaceful working with just the sound of the birds, wind and animals plus the occasional passing train and the neighbouring farmer on a quad bike in the field of sheep. Much nicer than sitting indoors even if my knee doesn't think so.

Before coming home I drove back up the lane and filled some bags with lovely compost from the 'old' compost heap which is more of a mountain than a heap. I've put that compost on my vegetable beds and around the fruit bushes in the back garden as the soil there is pretty poor.

The rockery is already full of colour. I need to trim back the sedum (more spares for the gravel garden) and the red aubretia at the back needs moving.

Off to Pilates soon.

Stuck!

That was me last night. Even though I use a heavy duty hand cream the manual work I do means that I tend to get splits in my fingers by the nails. So far the best way to keep the splits closed to encourage them to close up and to stop the pain, is with a drop of superglue and a tiny square of tissue. (Vytas told me about that one.) I was regluing my current split last night and didn't notice that the glue had run down between my fingers. My poor fingers were firmly stuck together from the knuckles onwards. It took warm soapy water and a teaspoon to ease my fingers apart - eventually. Better be more careful in future.

Today started grey and brightened up later in the afternoon.

 

In the morning I had to walk down to the pharmacy to ask about my prescription. I had only a day's worth of one sort and there had been no text message telling me my repeat prescription was ready for collection. When I got there it turned out my prescription had been ready over two weeks ago. They claimed to have sent a text but this has happened before. (Peter had got his notification last week and mine goes to his phone as well.) I shall have to make a note of the date and go down and ask rather than wait for a text. Still at least we don't have to go to town to the pharmacy. That would be annoying.

I had a stroll along the beach on my way home.

I spent the rest of the day gardening. More weeding in the front garden which for the moment is weed-free, and one of the large clumps of pheasant grass dug out. It was too big for its spot so I've replanted another two feet away.

Then I carried on with the weeding, this time everything growing between the slabs of the paved path that runs up the side of the house. And of course I carried on weeding in the back garden. Got to keep on top of those pesky weeds.

It was lovely when the sun eventually shone. I took the opportunity to take some more 'after' photos indoors for the photobook I plan to make.

Sun shining through the prism film on the hall window.

New Curtain.

Much as I enjoy chatting and walking with my Sunday group it was too wet and gloomy today and I opted for a dry day at home. 

Instead of walking in the rain I spent the afternoon making a new curtain for the wardrobe in our bedroom. Being very aware of my lack of skill when it comes to sewing I worked carefully. Lots of pinning and checking to avoid major re-dos. 

Mindful also of my ancient sewing machine's vagaries with tension and the plate that moves I took the precaution of doing some trial runs using offcuts of the muslin and cotton fabrics. There was also the fact that the sheeting I was using for the lining was wider than the muslin fabric. I suppose I could have simply trimmed the sheeting but instead I made some folds to save having to sew yet another seam. 

It all turned out okay though I am aware of a slight difference in colour with the wardrobe doors. Which are themselves slightly different to the woodwork around the old shower that I painted. The doors remain unpainted since we moved in. I guess the builder thought they were close enough to the wall colour I'd chosen. I'll get round to giving them a fresh coat of paint one day.

This was the curtain I took down. Although it matches the curtains at the windows (and I have fabric to lengthen it) I much prefer having a plain curtain there.

After sewing with all that kneeling and then twisting to hook up the curtain my knees and back were aching more than if I'd been riding. And I know which activity I prefer

A Work In Progress.

From what I hear half the country had warm sun while the other half shivered under overcast skies. In the morning we seemed to be right on the divide. Out to sea all was blue but look inland and it was the usual unremitting grey. 

I got some washing out on the line but by the afternoon the clouds had spread over the bay and it turned cold and miserable.

 

My job of the day was to make a start on my 'Paddington' scarecrow. The first thing was to strip down an old breakfast stool stand and then screw on wood to make a support for the head. That done I taped on plastic ball and added bubble wrap. I used the fabric I'd dyed to make the outer layer and added details. The hat is a bit small but will have to do unless I find something better or make a wider brim. 

By the time I made some arms and added the coat I realised that my first attempt was a bit short. I suppose I could have turned up the coat but instead I remade the wooden support to make him taller. 

I'm regretting not buying a pair of red child's wellies that I saw in a charity shop the other week. I'll buy them next week if they're still there. If not the old chainsaw boots will have to do. I can't make the legs or fill out the body until I know what size the boots will be.

Eventually I got fed up and had a coffee break before heading back out into the garden. It was much nicer outside than it had seemed from indoors. I spent the rest of the afternoon picking leaves and stalks and the occasional weed seedling off the shingle. The downside of being aware of very small details is ...... being aware of very small details. Hence the need to remove leaves and stalks from the shingle. But I do like to leave flowering stems on plants and to have clumps of swaying grasses, nothing regimented in my garden.

It won't be long before we get to watch the sun going down from the terrace.

A Little Snow.

The day began with blue skies and a dusting of snow on the mountain tops.

As I sat outside pondering the world the air was filled with the sound of garden birds singing. Not so melodious are the seagulls stomping around on the roof of my study. 

After loading the car with bags of garden waste for the dump I set off bright and early for the stables. The ponies were only just being brought in and I was asked to tack up Tex (of course). I had hoped to have an indulgent time bushing his thick mane but when I ran a brush over his body prior to putting his saddle on I noticed a number of muddy lumps on his belly right where the girth goes. Getting those out was my priority as I spent time leaning on Tex's side whilst gently teasing the mud from his thick coat. Tex's comfort was more important than looking pretty.

Katie was teaching us today and she had already laid out an arrangement of poles to encourage better shaped 20m circles (are we that bad?) which we did in walk and then in trot. (Sitting trot for some of us.) We also practised changing direction by doing half of one circle and then half of the other in a kind of S-bend. Tex did a lot better at getting onto the bit and I'm working on straightening my shoulders which is not so easy with my bent spine. 

The bonus for today was that there is a 4 hour ride at the beginning of April which naturally I have booked myself onto.

After the dump I called in at Hahav. There I found myself a pair of extending loppers, rather sturdier than the ones I've already got, for £5 and a couple of other little bits.

Next stop was Morrisons. I didn't have much on my list but found some nice things in the reduced cabinet. As well as salmon fish cakes and smoked salmon I got a couple of racks of spare ribs (£2 each) to go in the freezer. 

Town today was teeming with children which was unusual for a Friday. Small ones with their parents and gaggles of teenagers on their own. It turns out the schools were having an inset day as many roads were closed for time trials for a cycling festival.

I went up to Boots to tip a bag of empty blister packs into their recycling box. Then I struck lucky in the Oxfam shop where I found a new chip basket for £3. Just what I need for blanching vegetables to put in the freezer.

At home I got a Bara Brith into the oven before my shower and afterwards ironed the duvet cover I washed yesterday. Now all the outstanding jobs are done and I have the whole of tomorrow free to get on with my projects.

Wet Again.

There was a promising start to the day with a hint of blue in the sky and a definite feeling of warmth. But it didn't last. It turned grey in the afternoon and I had to make a mad dash to bring in the washing in the middle of our Welsh class. And from then on we have had some very heavy showers.

After our busy day yesterday I felt quite tired in the morning and didn't do much before class. The class itself was intense, more work on the verbs that take a following preposition where we don't have them in English and of course each preposition conjugates, but differently. 

My brain felt totally fried afterwards. Peter has gone off to practise some Spanish conversation with friends while I had no energy to do anything. I blame that partly on the change in weather. When the sun shines I can do lots but when the sky is grey I feel cold and tired.

I better not be too tired as I'm off in a while for disco aerobics. Here is a video of us from last week. I'm a creature of habit which is why I'm always in the middle of the front row. Mind you quite a few people choses the same spot each week. I may have to take it easier tonight as my knee is tender after I over enthusiastically demonstrated some our kettlebell moves to Pete.