Pond update

 The pond edging strip arrived and we've installed it in the pond. Two metres wouldn't have been quite enough so I had to buy an extra metre. Rather than waste it we have simply used it to line the entire pond. We took it back out of the pond and removed the black edge  strip as it looked a bit unsightly. I've just discovered that you can grow watercress as an oxygenating plant. The bags from supermarkets are really easy to root and are great as pond filter plants.  Newts will lay eggs in the leaves. I'll get some tomorrow night at Sainsbury's and root it in water before I just throw it in the pond.

Sending seeds

 We don't all need the entire packet of seeds and it's lovely sharing with other gardeners. These are going to my friend Ali.  We're online friends and are unlikely to ever meet but have shared seeds with one another for over a year.

 

And here's a birthday card that I've made for a family friend.  I'm not great at male cards but Phil loves travel so it's quite appropriate 

Our lovely new pond

 The pond is almost finished.  All it needs is the pebble edging which will arrive tomorrow.  Originally we had thought about using gravel and large cobbles but worried that they'd simply slide into the pond. I recalled that a friend had bought a pebble covered edging strip for her pond and to be honest it wasn't much more expensive than gravel and cobbles. I paid a bit over the top so that it would arrive tomorrow. It'll be perfect for frogs and newts when it gets established.  We're going to buy some small pond plants tomorrow and it won't look so bare.

Gutted

 The strong winds through the night have tipped over my mini greenhouse damaging most of the seedlings that I'd been hardening off. I'm so disappointed as they were growing really well. The wind also battered my lovely white nine star broccoli which had just started to produce heads. It's beyond salvaging so I've lost this years harvest. 

Bargains

 Today Tony and I have picked up a couple of bargains.  We called into Farmfoods and bought ten blocks of butter for £10 and then popped into Aldi to buy a couple of veg planters.  I'm making the most of every single inch in the garden and these two planters will be put to very good use.  

I'd hoped to be able to get the pond finished today but we've had gail force winds. I bet they've caused a lot of damage.

The pond is dug.

 Yesterday afternoon I set to and dug the hole for new pond. I had to move a few plants and bulbs to other locations and it's given me a decent size area for the pond. I'm planning on creating a mini village all around the pond. It'll be a nice ongoing project to work on and hopefully will provide shelter for frogs and newts. I'll need to make everything waterproof so I'm busy working out what would be the best materials to use. Today it's really windy so probably not the best weather to fit the pond liner. I'll have to wait untilnit settles down a bit 

Beauty treatments

 I've no idea what's gotten into me but I'm currently waiting to have my eyelashes and brows tinted. I had it done many years ago and I decided to book myself in for a bit of pampering.  Then I'm going home to dig a pond in the garden. 🙂 I've decided that this is the year to treat myself to some pampering. 

It's sunny again

 I've been awake since 6.30 and it's now 8.30. I've wiped around skirting boards and cupboard doors. Scrubbed the freezer and done a wash load. It's just finished tye cycle so I'll pop it into my little spin dryer then get it outdoors on the line to blow for a bit. The sunshine is a welcome surprise as the app on my phone tells me it's going to be cloudy all day.  If you are a veg grower and looking to grow some tomatoes then it's almost the time of year to start sowing them. If you don't have a greenhouse then in truth I'd wait another month or you'll end up with tall straggly plants.  Later sowings soon catch up. 

Two ceilidhs in two days

I've been up since six this morning and every bit  of me aches. Tony and I have danced our legs off at two ceilidhs this weekend.  We joined a country dancing club on Friday and had a really fun evening, dancing loads of new dances. Last night we went to our regular ceilidh and didn't sit out a single dance. Our ceilidh crowd are such fun to be around. I'm letting go of the energy suckers in my life. The ones that do nothing but complain about their partner or their latest illness.  Why oh why do people think you might be even remotely interested in every little ailment that they happen to suffer from.  The people that never think to ask what I've been doing to fill my time.

The ones that do nothing but bitch and complain about other people. I jump down hard on people when they start gossiping.  I utterly detest that trait in people. I'm filling my life with like minded people. The crafters and gardeners. Walkers and photographers. People that can have a proper conversation without being unkind. I'm hosting meals for friends and enjoying being invited to meals. In fact I'm going out for lunch with a group of friends tomorrow.  It'll be nice to catchup with them all. We're going out today to lend a hand at my friend's daughter's house. They are doing a massive renovation project so we'll be donning the gloves and rolling up our sleeves to help where we can. 

Manicure

 This morning I've had my first ever professional manicure. I had actually decided to see if the blisteringly expensive hair salon that is not too far from my house could fit me in for a cut and blow dry today. When I got there it was closed so I popped into the beauty salon next door to ask what time it opened.  Apparently they only seem to open for haircuts that are booked in advance.  I decided to spend some of the money that I saved on a manicure. Luckily the owner of the beauty salon had a free spot this morning so I popped back and indulged in a lovely hand massage and manicure. It was such a treat and though it won't be a regular thing I'll definitely have another in the future.