All the little critters.

When not digging holes and moving plants around the garden Lyra, Mum and I have been out and about nature duding. It’s all go out there. Down by the river the whin is already in flower and, as it warms in the sun, there’s the first trace of the the familiar Hawaiian Tropic scent ofContinue reading “All the little critters.”

What’s not to A.D.O.R.E

Today we were promised rain on and off and, frankly, I accepted this sentence with no little relief. What with the early Pilates, a longish dog walk, an expandable “hour” in the garden and some spirited evening knitting yesterday, I awoke feeling not a little achey in all (mostly) moveable parts. I resolved on anContinue reading “What’s not to A.D.O.R.E”

New Boot Reboot

In the way of these things, the best gardening days for weeks arrived and both my wellies and gardening boots gave up the ghost. Nothing for it, I ordered some new ones and persevered with the weird sensation that there was a tortoise inside my boot whilst they scoured the country for a teeny tinyContinue reading “New Boot Reboot”

First flush

At last we’ve had some proper gardening weather. The soil has dried a little and the rain has largely held off. It’s still pretty mucky, so to keep the washing down I am resplendent in my boiler suit, but the game is definitely now afoot. I have been out weeding and “reshuffling” like a positiveContinue reading “First flush”

Spring in our steps

There are finally signs of spring. The snowdrops in the wood are starting to fade and bright green spears of garlic are just emerging. Soon the air will be redolent of pasta and cassoulet and this will doubtless prove fatal to my desultory attempts to be rid of the winter lard. It is cool andContinue reading “Spring in our steps”

Rain did not stop play

It has been exceeding vile abroad. Lyra and I have bravely ventured forth every day, but it has not been delightful. The back lane is awash with puddles and the ditches are running lipping full with cold milky tea. By the end of our daily perambulation my finger ends are numb and Lyra is aContinue reading “Rain did not stop play”

New Habits

The same, but different is the new Ruthven House motto. We finally unpacked enough boxes to enable Mum to move into her new house in the middle of the month. There remain a number of cardboard hold outs, squirrelled away in corners where Mum thinks I don’t know about them, and a vast realm ofContinue reading “New Habits”

New year nip

Things are gradually getting back to normal. All our visitors have gone now and, aside from intermittent confrontations in the battlefield of Mum’s unpacking (usually after a landmine discovery of yet another box of china/glassware/towels), peace has descended. All of the fruitcake and almost all the Christmas sweeties have been snarfed and we are graduallyContinue reading “New year nip”

Almost quarter way through

A twitter compadre has just noted that this is the last day of the first quarter of the current century. So you are probably expecting me to say something momentous and deep about the state of our times. Fear not…… I shall leave you to your own ruminations and conclusions, but hope you find someContinue reading “Almost quarter way through”