Friday

I'd love to have a garden full of peonies but I don't have room, so treating myself to the occasional bunch of pale pink peonies is the next best thing.

It's gardening day today. M will be here later and there's loads for her today, starting with planting up some more pots - dwarf sunflowers, busy lizzies, petunias and, in the centre bed, plant some more sweet peas as the first lot disappeared never to be seen again! The weeds are taking over in places, so lots more ground cover is needed sooner rather than later - I'll ask her for suggestions and then go and buy them while she is here so that whatever I get can go in the ground today. The two existing roses need to be moved off the trellis, which is broken, and trained along wires instead. The rambling rose is looking lovely but the white rose next to it is suffering from the attentions of the previous gardener who pruned out the centre of the plant and it now looks rather sparse. I'll see what M suggests to sort that out. 

The vegetables are not doing as well as I'd hoped but look as good as any of the neighbours efforts - I asked D to check them for me and he couldn't see a problem, except for the obvious damage caused, we think, by a cat who has climbed up on the pots and crushed one pot of mangetout and a couple of the tomato plants.  Again, I'll see what M suggests.

This afternoon it's the nutrition class but I'm not worried if I miss it this week as it is a recap of carbs, fats and proteins. Once M is finished for the day I'll make a start on reorganising the freezer, and then make some more meals to be frozen in portions - cauliflower cheese, savoury lamb mince, vegetable curry, and a bottom of the fridge soup. That'll take up a good part of the afternoon so I'm not likely to get out for a photo walk today, but never say never as there is nothing I want to watch on TV today so there's at least a chance of a walk around the marina tonight. 

Comments

  1. Will you be watching the England vs Scotland match this evening? I'm not normally a fan of football matches but I watched Wales win and was thrilled when they scored their two goals. Neighbourhood cats are a menace in our gardens aren't they. I'm glad you treated yourself, your peonies are lovely. You have a busy day ahead and it sounds a good one.

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    1. I'm not really a football fan. I used to watch matches when my partner was alive but don't enjoy it on my own.

      The cats are becoming a problem so I'm looking at what I can plant to discourage them. I'd love to encourage birds into the garden but it's just not safe while the cats are around.

      It's pouring with rain here so only the essentials will be done in the garden today, but I will have more time in the kitchen as a result so I'm not complaining! Hope you have a good day.

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  2. Your peony bouquet is lovely. I often think about cutting a few from the garden to bring in but my indoor cats would tear apart. While I am a cat lover, roaming cats annoy me, a lot. If you look for remedies please please do not put out cayenne pepper, as many people suggest, if they get into their eyes they will rub their eyes raw to get out as it burns ever so painfully, plus if any other creature gets it on them they do the same. I usually just chase the cats away or if the hose is out I spray them. My wise old sage lady puts out rages soaked in ammonia & she says it works for all creatures. A frig/freezer clear out sounds like something I need to do this weekend!

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    1. Don't worry, I have no intention of using anything that will harm a cat. Some don't like citrus scents so I will get some lemon balm or similar and see if that discourages them as my first plan of attack!

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    2. Oh I like the idea of lemon balm - I have some growing behind in the farmers field, an escapee from a neighbour's herb garden - great idea!!!

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    3. There's also lemon thyme to try, and some don't like lavender so I'd be happy to get some more of that!

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  3. Those peonies are gorgeous, I love them.

    It's a very good idea to cook some meals when you have time and keep them in the freezer. It saves a lot of time and you don't have to worry about every day meals for the family. We often cook at the weekend and just take out something during the week.

    Enjoy the time in the garden with M!

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    1. I do a lot of bulk cooking as it saves me money and is easier when only cooking for one. Today's effort are cooling ready to be portioned up later this afternoon.

      It's rained hard all day so far so it was a very wet garden session. We have planned for the next stage though, so I have more things to buy! 😀

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  4. Those peonies look lovely! I am wondering if you have room for a peony plant in the front area, next to where your buddleia is growing? Would that be a possibility? Not sure quite how big that area is, but, from the photos you've posted, it looks like there might be some room?

    I hope you were able to get some gardening done in the rain; although, with all that rain you've been having, I'm sure the plants are doing well!

    Hope the rest of your day goes well, Eileen, and you have a lovely weekend to look forward to. :)

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    1. In theory there is enough space at the front but in practical terms, there isn't because of the inspection hatches and the need to allow free access to them. I'm looking into the possibility of growing one in a pot but not just yet.

      M did everything on the list except positioning the wires for the roses - that needs a dry day! The plants are loving the rain!

      Thanks Bless. I enjoyed a productive afternoon, cooking up 3 batches and portioning them for the freezer, and have spent the evening searching for suitable plants for the next stage of the planting.

      I hope you have a lovely, and especially pain free, weekend too.

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