''on birds'' REPOSTING THIS OLDER POST FROM 16TH APRIL 2007

I recieved this photograph in an e-mail, its an quail, an very unusual bird to have in your garden! and such a fabulous tree full of spring blossom.

and my garden won't get such exotic visitors, due to the continuos ripping out of hedges its rare to see anything at all, a lot of starlings and thats about it.

I'm a Starling. . . me Darling. a poem by Pam Ayres

We're starlings, the misses, meself and the boys.
We don't go round hoppin', we walks,
We dont go in for this singing all day
And twittering about, we just squawks.

We don't go in for these fashionable clothes
Like old Missel Thrush and his spots,
Me breast isn't red, there's no crest on me head,
We've got sort of, hardwearing . . . dots.

We starlings, the misses, meself and the boys,
We'll eat anything that's about,
Well, anything but that old half coconut,
I can't hold it still. I falls out.

What we'd rather do is wait here for you
To put out some bread for the tits,
And then when we're certain you're there by the curtain,
We flocks down and tears it to bits.

But we starlings, the misses, meself and the boys,
We reckon that we're being got at.
You think for two minutes, them finches and linnets,
You never sees them being shot at.

So the next time you comes out to sprinkle the crumbs out,
And there's starling there, making a noise,
Don't you be so quick to heave a half a brick,
Its the misses, meself and the boys!

useful Wildflower links

https://www.growwilduk.com/blog/what-leaves-reveal-about-wildflowers?utm_campaign=354976_August%202019%20newsletter%20-%20Take%20Notice&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Grow%20Wild%20%28Board%20of%20Trustees%20of%20RBGK%29&dm_i=4VE8,7LWG,RK3NN,S48V,1

https://www.growwilduk.com/wildflowers/how-grow-wildflowers/growing/how-look-after-your-wildflowers-end-summer?utm_campaign=354976_August%202019%20newsletter%20-%20Take%20Notice&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Grow%20Wild%20%28Board%20of%20Trustees%20of%20RBGK%29&dm_i=4VE8,7LWG,RK3NN,S48V,1

I signed up for their wildflower seeds and receive emails regularly.
keeping these for reference

EDIT just found a link to their sign up page if you were interested in joining
https://www.growwilduk.com/form/sign-grow-wildflowers-us-autumn-advice-and-seeds 

crop !!

one little ripe cherry tomato. very tasty.
it has about six friends waiting to ripen, poor neglected tomato plants.
the greenhouse is still a mess. the garden is .. one thing at a time... might take years to sort.
I did not build the garden in a day... I cannot fix it in a day either.
hey ho
edited to add.... Permaculture... Obtain A Yield..... well I did. lol

Casper clip

cute

garden gate

friend made a new gate with  ''cat access'', so he can run in and out and not always have to jump.. he can jump, but he is old and stiff so I think this is a good idea for him.

saving for reference.

facebook link to grass identification

https://www.facebook.com/phil.barnett.397/posts/10217635393588099

in the greenhouse

 I took some stinky carpet off to the dump.. and managed to snag these sparkly stars out from the dumpster..... just the thing for the greenhouse

the tomtatoes are needing tied up..they're a bit neglected...  I had some little metal posts but no string... a hunt in the house produced a couple of feet of parcel wrapping ribbon in gold, so the theme is sparkly... ha. 

I started cutting the hedge, its so overgrown, between the hedge trimmer and a pair of loppers I got about eight feet along... now I've run out of space to put the cuttings so need to wait till the current ones are away.. so it goes slowly... hey ho.
I've a second hand wardrobe and drawers coming today, they'll have to sit in a room with no carpet for now. I've not chosen curtains or paint for that room yet, just have to add looking at carpets too.

Permaculture Ideas: Free eBook: Bill Mollison's Introduction to Permac...

Permaculture Ideas: Free eBook: Bill Mollison's Introduction to Permac...: Click Here: http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/pdc_all.p df

''PLEASE EXCUSE THE WEEDS, I'M FEEDING THE BEES''

stunning purple poppy in a friends, potted and very healthy with lots more flowers to bloom on it - this is the first, what a colour! hopefully I can take a seed pod when they're ready.
the garden here has some colour, mostly from ''weeds'', rosebay willow herb, cow parsley, forget-me-nots, daisys, hawkweed - I'm leaving them in situ providing some food for the bees , I should get a sigh that I saw on the internet somewhere, which I have made the title of this post.
''PLEASE EXCUSE THE WEEDS, I'M FEEDING THE BEES''

all my garden tools and equipment went into storage in various friends/relatives garages/sheds. unfortunately not all of it has returned. I am having to borrow a lawn mower to cut the grass, nothing has been strimmed as I've no time to keep running about borrowing things. I've bought lopers and a pruning saw, and just bought a hedge trimmer. Of course,  after two amazingly dry warm days which I spent at work, now its a rainy weekend and there is nothing to be done outside. Three mistreated tomato plants did get potted yesterday..... poor things.

Casper is going outside daily now and not peeing inside... however where he has already done so continues to resist being cleaned and I will have to replace three rooms of carpets which is an expense I could well have done without just now.

Garden Cat

Casper is a bundle of energy, he's now been here over four weeks so time to start introducing the outside world, the first day he was out of site for about 5 hours... just as I really started to worry he appeared back. Then the rest of this week, as not as work, I've been here to let him out for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night.
This hasn't immediately stopped him spraying in the house though, was hoping it would...but at 14 years old and on his third home this year... he's probably still settling in and for now I can put up with it. Every carpet in the house needed replaced anyway... and now that they are all decorated with cat pee... even more so.
I have never in my life, and all the cats that have shared that time with me, had a cat that does this.
 
The garden is getting ''damage control'' rather than actual gardening, more large shrubs cut right down. On Thursday I cut the grass and made a start on the hedge... its been allowed to grow to about 6ft and I would prefer it at 4ft at least round the front. Privacy is nice .. but... its too small a garden to have such a large hedge , makes it seem dark and cramped, and when I did garden  people could look over and chat.. now I don't even know who's passing by.
I took Casper out with me when I was pottering that afternoon...  but he wasn't impressed and took himself back into the house.

growling cat.....

he's a talker.
Casper expressing his displeasure at not being allowed outside.
an older cat, 14,  only recently re-homed with me,  he's not going to be getting out till mid June. he has to  settle with the house and bond with me first.

 he's very playful, but pointing the camera at him...

makes him leave and hide somewhere.. he likes under the bed.

Sunday Garden

 the box is being removed, so took some pictures before that was out.. I've already removed a considerable spread of its overgrown branches. likely some will sprout from the remaining roots.

 the tree

 twisted hazel.. and strangely the greenhouse has solid sides...

 minus a veggy bed in the foreground.. allowed to grow over.. and only one cold frame

 constrained by trying to save the azalea behind and the bricks at the front

 I resorted to cutting the roots as I found them with secatuers

 and its out

 massive spider in the greenhouse

dug out.. put back in ... see if we can grow legs and christmas baubles..

2019. and here we go again...........

 

todays picture of ''the tree'' , quite some difference in height. it was planted around 2005.

2008, Tansy attempts to climb it but there's not a lot to hold onto. she would love it now. sadly she passed away a couple of years ago.
for just now I am back living in my flat. the garden is good though overgrown and the soil has no ''life'' and needs attention.
time will see what happens.

Don't Shoot the Zebra Pony

carry on gardening...

 photos sent to me by the letting agents , as the tenants have now left the property. they have, thankfully, left the garden very tidy.

 three veg plots look ok and ready to be used... there used to be another veg plot in front of the post.. and there were two coldframes.. so some changes here and there.

the trampoline will likely be gone by the time I get into it, the shrubs are a bit overgrown. and the tree looks huge now.. it'll be lovely with its leaves on.
I have access from the end of March. inside will need carpets cleaned or replaced, the walls a lick of paint... well that's all they'll get.. lol... and outside will be a project for cutting back and reassessing whats there.. stuff might come up.. likely a lot of the smaller plants have gone. there may be surprises !!
its difficult to think of plans as it might get sold quickly.. it might not.. so I'll just do 'what and when' as I have time for it.
there are notifications popping up about changes to blogger.. to do with google... and widgets and platforms and links.. none of which I understand.. so I've no idea what to expect. I hope the whole thing doesn't dissapear into the ether....

wow, just wow.

how amazing. so talented

Fire Truck Into Tiny Home - this is lovely

FOR SALE

the garden ( see the blog!! lol) and flat/aprtment  will be going up for sale at the end of March this year.
Lennoxtown. postcode G66 7EH if you want to google the area
two good sized bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom. upstairs flat with own front door.
yet to be valued officially.
sometimes word of mouth can make a sale, you never know.

treeless.. back to tree'd.. back to treeless today.

a second hand Barefoot saddle, picked up today. I've had a short ride with it..
things don't change much for me over time.. lol. Quince is barefoot, I rode her in this headcollar today but usually use a bridle with a bit.
herself looking good for a wet muddy winters day.

Repsoting old post...... to go out riding ... from November 12th 2010

''Abbey wears a treeless saddle by Barefoot and a Parelli Hackamore which is just made of rope. and she has no shoes on, I would consider boots if we did a lot of work but as its usually just round fields or in the soft schooling area then they are not needed.''

hang onto this thought from nine years ago... new post coming.. lol

*Earth’s Axis Has Shifted!* And The Sky Has Changed.

The Vectra B

three electrical sensors later..... and this 'future classic' is running perfectly again.
its a shame they make things so complicated. it all runs on sensors, rather that cables and leads... not even got a throttle cable !! who knew ? not me.. lol

5 Tips to Keep Your Garden Pond Clean, guest post by Katie Michaels

5 Tips to Keep Your Garden Pond Clean

Having a garden pond is an exciting new venture for many but when the water starts to turn green and you can’t see a thing, it’s not a good sight for you and it’s definitely not good news for your fish so how exactly do you keep your garden pond clean?

There are several things to consider when it comes to keeping the pond water clean and avoiding it turning into a green and smelly swamp, from the plants you add to the pond, through to how much you are feeding your fish.

With so many elements affecting your pond water it can feel overwhelming but here are five key things you need to think about if you want to maintain a clean garden pond and a pleasant healthy environment for your fish to live in:

1.       Don’t have too many fish

While it might be tempting to fill your pond with beautiful colourful fish you need to make sure you don’t over fill the pond. Fish produce waste products which pollute the water and they also breed, so if you have too many fish your pond will very quickly become an unpleasant environment.

Keep an eye on your fish population and if they do breed you might be able to sell the young to fish stockists to help keep the population under control. Alternatively make sure all your fish are the same sex to avoid any growth in the population.

The other factor when it comes to fish is removing sick or dead fish from the pond as quickly as possible so that you don’t end up with a polluted pond that way either. It’s best to check your fish weekly for signs of any problems.

2.       Don’t feed the fish too much

This is one of the most common problems with new fish owners – the temptation to continuously feed fish when they don’t need it. Fish will only eat what they need so any unwanted food will just fall to the bottom of your pond.

Waste food will then start to rot, polluting the water and causing problems in your pond so don’t over feed, and always remove any leftover food which the fish don’t eat, straight away, otherwise your pond water quality will go downhill rapidly.

3.       Don’t smother your pond with too many plants

Water plants take in oxygen so make sure you don’t allow your pond to become over grown as the plants will end up causing oxygen levels to drop in the water. Too many plants will also result in a lack of light and sun in the pond due to the coverage of the leaves, which again can have a negative impact.

Make sure you regularly trim back plants and clear fallen leaves and dead plants from the water to help keep the quality high. Avoid plants which have a tendency to grow across the water surface and cover it.

4.       Make sure your water pump and filters are working properly

Managing and maintaining your pond equipment is key to keeping it clean. The water pump for your pond is the key to making sure your water is being circulated regularly so you need to make sure it is well maintained and fully functioning at all times. It’s important to have a pump which is big enough for the size of pond you have otherwise it won’t cope.

You should check your pump regularly to make sure it is not clogged with debris and to make sure all the parts are working effectively – if you notice any wear and tear make sure you replace the parts straight away to keep it running well.

You should also make sure your filter system is the right size for your particular pond and make sure it is working effectively. Change and clean your filters regularly to ensure they don’t get clogged with debris and dirt.

5.       Always clear debris from the pond surface

Ponds tend to attract all kinds of debris from dead leaves falling from nearby trees, to rubbish items blown in on the wind or even dropped by birds so always make sure you clear debris daily from your pond surface, before it has a chance to sink to the bottom and start to rot and pollute your water.

If you can, use netting to cover the pond to help catch any falling debris so that it never reaches the water in the first place – this will go a long way to helping to keep your garden pond clean and your water sparkling and healthy for all your fish.

These five tips will go a long way to ensuring that your pond remains a clean environment for all the family to enjoy all year round and by following simple regular maintenance outlined here, you should never be left with any huge pond cleaning issues. 

guest post by Katie Michaels

interesting post to read

https://www.vox.com/2015/7/16/8961799/housekeeper-job-clients

I cleaned. I have to say I never snooped, not interested.
but I'm totally with the 'not bigger than you can clean yourself' . that would be 40 minutes worth. so its small for me.
and as I'm of mostly 'no fixed abode', thats still a dream

Pooping in a Car, Van or RV: Review of Thetford Porta-Potti

shadow horse

shadow horse , shadow trees. loving the winter sun.
first ride of this year today.

Bella plays

wee dog at the farm playing with a hoop toy. frosty chilly day

car update

I did manage to sell the little Corsa the first weekend in December. very glad about that.. this Vectra is 17 yrs old .. its now developed a slight fuel problem and bunny hops as you drive... eeeek... coming up to Christmas week means there's no chance of getting it fixed till early January.
it was really bad on Sunday though I managed to get it to the farm and call out the AA rescue service who changed the spark plugs, its better but not cured. its also been to a local garage but no time to get it fixed. 
''luckily'' (??) I have driven old bangers most of my life so babying the car past a bit of bunnyhopping is almost second nature.. I know people who call out the rescue services for less... haha...

found a good blog to read

THE SMALL THINGS: The Making of Mistakes: ‘Make mistakes,’ is one of my war cries. Embrace your mistakes, cherish your mistakes, lean in to your mistakes, because it is only...

I'm not a salesperson

to update on ''car overload'' .. https://clairesgarden.blogspot.com/2018/09/car-overload.html

I am still a two car owner. I advertised the larger one and only got two offers to swap it for equally large , expensive to run, other cars.. now if I have to keep a big car at least I know whats been fixed and what hasn't on this one.
the smaller car was advertised and drew a phone call, a text message or an email .. approximately every five minutes for a week. even at 3am..... two people did look at it when I offered to take the car to them... but never called back after ''thinking about it'' and lots of other people engage in furious messaging sessions.. never actually call to talk. arrange to look at it and DONT' TURN UP.

I have removed advert . I'll put it back up later this week and specify to view on Saturday morning only.....

''rain rain go away...'' reposted from 7 years ago.

I love the uspside down reflections in the drops.

the mystery plant turns into a Knifophia, its a tight clump which probably needs to be separated out a bit more as there was only this one flower. this was a rescue from a garden that was bought by someone who wanted to changed things. my other rescue was a Jacobs Ladder in white, now I'll need to get a blue one too....

this is a cultivated vegetable bed, honest... looks a bit like a jungle!! this is peas and beans, but there is only one bean stalk...in the foreground, I planted them twice and didn't get any growth from them at all. this photograph looks a funny shade/tone, it seems greener in real life, but its earlyish and very gloomy cloud. also I think my camera is possibly on its way out.... the disadvantage of electronic stuff I suppose. or maybe its my computer screen? also possibly on its way out... it took about half an hour to get into my emails this morning.

top right is snap pea Sugar Ann which I've been eating for a couple of weeks. not quite ready for eating are left-Alderman is which is the very tall pea, it was trying to grow along the washing line but got blown off and beaten down in our lovely summer weather.... and right-Waverex. they'll be ready soon.

This post was made on the 13th August 2011. Seven years ago but seems longer. I no longer have the garden or a good camera to record things with. I'm sitting inside with  my view of chimney pots on the roof of the nextdoor house and looking at the rain. Very heavy rain yesterday and today , so nothing going on to post about . Enjoy old memories, glad I have them to look back on. 

NEW ZEALAND -A TIME LAPSE OF NATURE-

a friend sent this to me.. sharing .. just stunning.

loving watching the ideas for van living.

car overload

 Corsa versus Vectra..... one was purchased while the other was being fixed, and I can only keep one. and I really like them both. both old. both drive really well.. adverts being created for both and the first one to sell will go and the other will stay... 

photos are misbehaving in this post.. I don't know why.

the MOP has been CROPPED

 EEEEEEEEEK

and its done. xx
 my friend is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. just so she doesn't feel alone.. my hair is gone too. I've been raising money with sponsorship and the link to that is in the post below. I'll try to copy it up here.

Crop the Mop

on 10th September I am having my hair cut off... buzzed off, not shaved... to support a friend who has cancer and is being treated with chemotherapy which causes hair loss.
she is being supported by a charity called Breast Cancer Care so I am asking for sponsorship donations for this charity. photos to follow...
this is a link to Just Giving where you can make a donation for which I thank you .

playing with ponies

building blocks....
training from the ground up.
its not all about riding, its getting used to different things, its accepting that when you're asked to walk past something scary you can trust the rider and go...
she's learning trust, sometimes very sceptical...

sunny summer

having a great lead horse is so important in training others. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to help me. Quince did not leave the farm environment till she was 9 and then spent two years in a quiet out of town place though she did get used to cars and bikes there. for the last six months she has had to get used to going past houses and people, and all the mad things they do. scaffolding to re -roof, cutting grass and hedges, washing cars, putting up new fences and just as she gets used to that they paint it a different colour. a childrens play park and the children who run screaming to see a horse. .... just beyond the houses we have lovely off road paths to wander, only a few miles but I love it.
on the subject of houses... I am still camping in my daughters spare room. I sorted through some boxes this week that have been packed in a hurry in various places over the years. there was a few surprises in there. I got from six boxes down to four, a bag of stuff for the charity shop and some stuff to sell on ebay. and a few good finds to use, some t-shirts and a waterproof jacket. I need those.
I'm not feeling too great today. I came home from work early last night not feeling well. either sun-stroke , food poisoning or a combination of them both. I left Quince to cool down before getting a feed.. myself? I was rushed into the farmhouse and given a wonderful lunch containing a lot of mayonnaise , eggs, cream , fruit.... I usually don't eat that much during the day particularly before going to work as I have heavy duties to do.
and my work has a policy that if you have been ill you cannot have an extra shift. so I am not allowed to work the shift that was an extra today.. that leaves them short staffed and me short of money.

reposting from 12 years ago.. 12 !! ''Sunday morning''

this little black viola has self seeded. these are meant to be edible but its too pretty to pick.
Cerinthe major purpurescens, grown from seed.. I am sure I planted seeds for a yellow one as well but they have not appeared yet.

sweet pea 'Borderline' , lovely colour and good scent too. there's no point in haveing them unless they're good and smelly!
this is a funny plant, Parahebe perfoliata, common name - diggers speedwell, its kind of spidery and creepy with these lovely little sprays of flowers.
and here's the cold frame still full of stuff which should have been planted out by now? and I do believe there's a fine crop of dandelions growing up the front of it too.....
I am going to an open garden this afternoon so will hopefully have some nice pictures from that to put on through the week.

fat shiny pony

summers here with dry weather. lots of buttercups in the field. .. looks pretty but not really what you want . still plenty of grass as all ponies putting weight on.
looking forward to a week of warm weather so I might give Quince a bath, not sure what she'll think of that.,,, got some citronella shampoo that helps to keep the flies off.