"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

I've decided I'm not going to think about the hospital until nearer the time, although I've just had a reminder to fill in an online form that I've already filled in... so may need to call on Monday to let them know. 

Curtains in my bedroom are now the right way round, and my swimming stuff and gym kit has been sorted and put away. There's a pile of fleeces/waterproof running tops to try on and see whether they might be useful for dog walking. If I could sort the utility room out there's more chance they'd actually be used.

Two barrow-loads of logs are now on the porch, and there's not that much left in the log store - so hopefully I'll get the log splitter fixed, my mum's logs finished, and it back over here before I run out! Several barrow-loads of leaves raked up from the veg plot where I want to weed/cardboard/mulch and put in the leaf composter (which I must ask the gardener to leave rather than mixing into the compost bins). I leave them on the beds and grass (wild areas get left completely the rest gets picked up when mowing), but need to weed where they were in the veg plot. I also hacked back a viburnmum which won't thank me for it, but was getting out of control. So no cardboard/mulch done, and no planting of garlic/onions/beans/peas. Those will be a priority tomorrow, and I'll start pulling stuff up on the paths so I can deal with all the perennial weeds in one hit and then get the cardboad and bark mulch done. The strawberry bed is probably going to be one of the biggest challenges as it's hugely congested (and full of weeds) and there is still fruit (and flowers!). 

I picked a pepper, a tomato, and a padron pepper in the greenhouse. There are still a couple of cucumbers to pick, but I've turned off the water so will need to clear it soon (particularly as I want to start sweet peas). 

Dog has had a second walk, and he and the cats are now claiming it's food time...

I need to light the fire, and I'm not expecting to do much more than read my book and maybe have a bath and potter about moving things upstairs this evening. 

greenbee

Fire lit. Animals fed. Food in oven. Oil ordered (as I'm not currently using much, I've just ordered 500l as I know there is space for it, but done it on a long lead time to get a lower price). 

greenbee

I've also ordered 4 climbing roses - one for the new trellis, and three for some obelisks by the patio. I was sent a 15% off code, so it seemed like a good time to stop thinking about it and get on with it!

greenbee

And finally worked out how to make sure the hospital knows I've updated my online data... 

greenbee

Chilly this morning when I let the dog and one cat out. Dog emptied and back in for his pre-breakfast biscuits (he watches carefully as I wrap them in towels and blankets for him to find, so it keeps him busy for a few minutes), then back to bed with Fatty who wanted cuddles. Read a bit, gave them all breakfast, and am back in bed with coffee, admiring the sunshine through the window. Battery is charging (thankfully), and I hope to get the cover for the new electric blanket washed and dried today, and another load of laundry done too. Along with some of the many other things on my extensive list…

rtandon27

Your furry alarm clocks sound like they at least make up for the unreasonable hour with some softness and love!

greenbee

They do, but I feel guilty lounging around in bed with the cats when the poor dog is downstairs desperate for a walk/food/cuddles/attention of any kind... 

The cover of the new electric blanket has been washed while we went on a lovely long sunny walk. After drying the dog and shoving him in his dog bag and putting on non-doggy clothes I hung it on the line and put towels and flannels in on a quick(ish) cotton wash at 40C. I may be able to get them through the TD while the sun is shining without depleting the battery. There are cleaning cloths and dog towels that need doing, but with trades due during the week I suspect those will end up not being done for a while. 

Still trying to tick things off my unachievable list, so once I've had my coffee I'll put gardening clothes on and take the dog out into the garden so he can be bored watching me plant veg rather than being bored watching me sitting on the sofa typing.

greenbee

Planting of garlic, shallots and onions was interrupted by racing Fatty back to the house in an attempt to stop her bringing in a mouse. She beat me to it, but I managed to swap the carcass for treats. I'm very happy that she's catching mice, but I really would like her to leave them outside.

Stinky did get bored, but I cleared one small and one large bed. The small bed has a second variety of garlic in it, and the large bed has the remainder of the shallots as well as one row of red onions and one of white. I've also managed to cover all the beds with offcuts of plastic netting/chicken wire to discourage cats. The two beds I did previously need the chicken wire cutting to size - actually, what I really need to do is build frames to fit each bed as a cover, but that's a long way off!

One garden waste bin is almost full, and lots of nasturtiums and calendula are on the compost heaps. I felt bad about this as the bees were still on them, but it was impossible to weed otherwise. I've mulched all the beds as I've gone, and left in calendula seedlings and nasturtium seeds, as well as a spinach plant that has somehow survived from the spring.

There are onions left, and two beds that need part clearing (chard in one can stay, leeks in the other), and two that need clearing completely. So enough space for the rest of the onions and garlic, as well as more beans and peas. I'm also contemplating moving a blackcurrant and a gooseberry to live with the others. 

Electric blanket cover didn't dry on the line, but is now on the heated airer. Towels and flannels are washed and dried. Stinky is getting restless (despite having been outside all afternoon, so I think I'm going to have to take him for a quick walk before it gets dark. Then light the fire, close the curtains, and potter round and tidy up a bit more. 

greenbee

Washing up done again (I'm avoiding using the DW in case it has another tantrum... I'll have to eventually though), and Stinky walked. He met a friend, but on the road, so there was no playtime. 

Closed curtains upstairs, lit the fire, filled the sitting room log basket from the hall basket, then filled the hall basket from the porch (which means I should be able to get the rest of the logs in the log store onto the porch next week). 

Downstairs houseplants watered while trying to avoid tripping over cats who were insisting it was food time 90 minutes before it actually is. Upstairs ones need doing sometime - they look nice on all the shelves in my office and on the bookshelves upstairs, but are a PITA to water. 

Now on the sofa with fennel tea, in front of the fire, ignoring all the starving animals. I'm glad I've managed to spend a decent amount of time outside, and I need to think about booking a few odd days off to use up my annual leave and spend time in the garden. 

greenbee

Starving hordes fed. Cats went out (Fatty is now back - she demolishes 100g of venison in the time it takes me to feed the other two). Stinky is dozing on his bed. I've managed to cobble together supper from some bean & veg soup/stew, eggs, and feta. I must extract something else from the freezer for this week (or make some more soup, or both). 

I'm really struggling to get anything done in the evenings. Once it's dark, and everyone is fed, and the fire is lit, I just want to lie on the sofa and read a book/watch rubbish on TV.