The Final Furlong

savingholmes

Glad you are taking the opportunity to get out in the garden and relax. A fruit and veg box sounds great too. I've found a farm shop I could collect from - may hunt around and see if there are any other options. I have one online delivery left but after that may struggle.

Dottles1

I'm happy to have found local suppliers Savingholmes, and plan to keep using them if possible when this is all over.  I'm now trying to track down somebody who can deliver compost and bedding plants.  I have found one place but I think he's a bit overwhelmed with orders and hasn't got back to me yet, so I'll keep looking.
I've had 2 lovely, relaxing but productive days around the house.  Housework done yesterday including mopping all floors,house plants soaked and sorted with those that need re-potting put to one side.  I've emptied the pots and reclaimed any re-usable compost which I will mix with feed and use to plant up any self seeded plants I can find in the garden.  I came across a beautiful pale lemon primrose that has appeared in the front garden which I may transplant later.  This is the area that I seeded with wild meadow flowers last autumn.  I can't see any signs of anything yet other than grass but maybe I'm being a bit impatient, it is only April.
I also noticed a pair of starlings in the garden yesterday, so that's now a crow, a jackdaw (I think), starlings, blue tits, a magpie and a robin.  I've also seen several different butterflies and lots of bees.  Not bad considering that it was a barren space when I moved in less than 2 years ago.  It really is a case of plant it and they will come.
I have also been reading,  immersing myself in the story whilst sitting outside in the sunshine.  I'm not unaware of what is going on in the world and the loss, fear and suffering of others but am trying to take what I can from the current situation and learn to live a different, slower life.  Probably my way of coping and keeping worry at bay but also it would be a great shame if we as a race learned nothing from this crisis.
I'm going to make some coffee and spend a couple of hours marking and then the day is mine.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend in what ever way you spend it
Dottles x

Dottles1

Well, marking didn't happen yesterday as IT failed me and I couldn't get into the drop box area.  I tried everything I could think of but no joy.  S*d's law that it would happen over a bank holiday weekend when there is no tech support available.  Well as I can't do anything until Tuesday there is no point in worrying. I'll just have to catch up next week.
I made a start on the front garden yesterday, cutting the lawn after my GS brought my mower back.  We had a chat 2 metres apart and Tilly was able to go between us.  She was so pleased to see him, as she really is a sociable dog,and loves having visitors.  More book reading in the sun followed until it became too hot and I ventured inside.
DD2 is organising a family quiz for this evening over zoom which should be fun and a chance for us all to all get together.  One positive thing from all this is that we are each making more effort to keep in touch and speak on a regular basis.  
On a money saving basis, I ordered some bedding using points from my "for points" credit card and paid the balance from my home pot.  It felt so good knowing that a) it was a needed purchase as my sheets are disintegrating and b) the money had been put aside so it didn't affect my budgets.  I find that I now weigh up every purchase before spending from a pot as I like to see the balances growing.   Who'd have thought it ??   That said, the pots ARE growing because I am spending less with being at home.  No odd trips to the shops where I'm seduced by a bargain and no need to spend much on petrol or work lunches.  My planning skills have improved just because I want to go out to shop as little as possible.
Today I will be cooking a bean and ale casserole for my lunch (adapted from a JO beef & ale recipe as I am veggie) with yorkshire puddings and a h/m chocolate cake for tea time.  I wouldn't usually go to the trouble unless I was cooking for others but it is good to make the effort and I can utilise the freezer for the left overs.  Other than that I may tackle the front borders as I feel the need to be busy today but I will make sure that I have some time to sit with my book.
Happy Easter all
Dottles x

savingholmes

No need to feel guilty about enjoying the sun and a book. If anything this crisis has rammed home the need to stop and smell the proverbial roses far more often. Good to have a guilt-free, work-free weekend too. Hopefully this way you can recharge. Happy Easter

Dottles1

Good morning all
Welcome to another sunny day here in the North East.  I found myself awake and unable to sleep in the early hours so faffed about for a couple of hours, made a cup of tea and read a few emails which is not conducive to sleep.  Anyway I eventually dropped off around 5 and awoke at 10 feeling refreshed, ready for the day and only a little out of sinc.
I managed to sort my IT problem yesterday and so completed some marking and plan to do some more today to catch up.  Little by little I am getting there. I don't really mind and I find between 6 and 8 pm is a kind of dead zone for me.  Too early to watch a film ot series on catch up and not usually when I like to read.  However to day I a going to take a leaf out of Foxgloves boo ad set myself an hour aside to see how many annoying little jobs I can get done.  You know, the ones you walk past on a regular basis and think "I'll do that later".
So today I am about to have some breakfast then do an hour of marking after which I will take Tilly out for a long walk.  That will give me the afternoon to potter in the garden.  I have some bags of top soil that I got free from FB last autumn to bulk up the beds at the front.  It sounds like a simple task but they are full of clods that need breaking up and grass removing as I go so can be time consuming.  Firstly I need to tackle the weeds in the garden and I have a bench I want to move to the front of the house.  So, I'd better shake a tail feather or two.
Enjoy your day all.
Dottles x

savingholmes

Let us know how you get on. Great to have some free soil on hand to use.

beanielou

Hope your day went well 

Dottles1

Afternoon all
I can't believe that it has been 3 days since I checked in to update.  Anyone would think that I don't have any time to spare  Thanks for he encouragement Beanie and Savingholmes.  The top soil/weeding is still a work in progress though I have completed one side of the borders which looks so much better.  I've also ordered some plants online to put straight in as well as some seeds of annuals.  This is my new mantra now, "a bit at a time will get me where I want to be" and I like it.
I have finally confirmed that the bird coming into my garden is definitely a jackdaw and not a crow as my son tells me.  I'm really happy with the increase in wildlife as it was only last August that I was lamenting the absence of anything other than white butterflies.  Tilly has tried her hand at chasing the pigeons, who are becoming increasingly cheeky, but with no success.  They just look at her as if they know she can't jump that far.  Most of the time though she spends lying inn a sunny patch (unless the postman arrives).
I've spenta few hours marking to day in my kitchen with the radio on.  I'm a fan of radio 4 these days but I have to turn it off (as with the tv) when discussions of Covid 19 are on.  I don't know how many ways there are to discuss the subject and say the same thing but I don't want to find out.  A daily update will do for me.
I did a fridge audit this morning and have enough in for about 18 meals which should take me to next pay day and beyond with only the need to top up with bread.  My only purchases have been my bedding ( much needed and vouchers used) 4 birthdays (2 presents for little ones, cash into bank for GS and a promise of a day out when this is over for friend A) and a small gift for friend P's new grandson.  I ordered my bedding from M*S to be collected at the store on the local retail park as it's easier to get to and park.  To keep to the rules I thought I would but the gift for baby, birthday card for GS and get bread and a couple of other bits whilst there to reduce contact.  Well, after queuing  for 50 minutes to get ito the store a member of staff went to get my order while I queued for a further 45 minutes to get into the food hall.  At this point I couldn't get out of the queue without brushing past a long line of other hopefuls and so just got on with it.  Needless to say I won't be doing that again in a hurry.  I also bought a cheesecake (it fell into my basket, honestly) which I then ate not doing the increasing waistline any good.  It was lovely though
I have also ordered some plants for the garden online using a 15 % discount code.  So, even though I paid a bit more than I usually would, the discount did cover the delivery.  I've also found a local farm shop that is having a delivery of compost on Tuesday so I am going to buy my fresh veg at the same time to justify as I'm sure that it won't be classed as an essential purchase on it's own.

right I'm off to write some quiz questions as it's my turn to hold the family quiz tomorrow evening.  

Enjoy your weekend all

Dottles x

beanielou

Blimey.
That must have been some queues. I can't stand for more 10 minutes!

Seasidegal58

Just caught up with your diary dottles.  Pleased to read that you are enjoying your garden and the wildlife - it must help to take your mind off the what's going on in the outside world.   I've reduced BBC news to once in the morning and evening and I read my paper online but that's it.  I find that quite enough at the moment. I have the radio on throughout the day and have been trying out different music channels since WFH but luckily the hourly news results are very brief and I can turn off my brain to them!

I hope you and Tilly have a nice day. 🌺