The pugs have returned home
Seraphina collected the brothers pug yesterday. She arrived laden with vodka and tobacco – to feed my naughty vices. She had been to stay with my big brother in New Zealand. She’d had a fabulous time – he has a happy and large extended family. Through my brother, I’m an aunt and a great aunt too! The pugs waited by the front door on their first day – expecting Seraphina to return. Then they gradually got into the cottage routine. Inca our youngest Min Pin became Goody Two Shoes, pointing out when the pugs were sunning themselves...
read moreThe Royal Wedding
I was planning to give the Royal Wedding a miss – I was delighted that Prince William had found someone that he clearly loves and trusts. But to sit glued to the telly for the morning – nah! I woke early for me – couldn’t resist a peek at 8.30 and from then on I was hooked. Rather scary looking guests in hats and fascinators were intriguing. Some people I recognised some were just interesting to watch. Adjusting their suits and hair. Knowing that they were going to be on telly and not realising that they were already being displayed on...
read moreWatch out Pugs about
Years ago when I was living with Seraphina,, a colleague of hers came to stay. At the time she had a black pug called Titus. Her colleague – who also owned pugs declared, “pugs have two overriding passions. Food and sex. Our pugs love a slice of apple, does yours?” We had never tested out apples on Titus. But agreed wholeheartedly on the passions. Pugs are generally very gentle and loving. They are not into conflict and I reckon tend to avoid fights and arguments. Ignoring aggression and just carrying on is a powerful stand to take....
read moreThe mystery plant is revealed in all its glory
Danny is puffed out with pride. He reckoned that the mystery giant curly leaved plant was a dock and he was right. And I’ve learnt a good lesson too – however much that you know there will always be learning curves with everything. Actually I don’t know very much at all so my learning curves are pretty constant however much I research a plant or project! That’s supposed to be one of the fun elements of gardening. I must admit that I was a bit miffed this morning when D had clearly identified an intruder. He has no interest in...
read moreDivide and conquer. Well actually wrecking to rebuild the same!
Next week two square metres of rich Fenland soil is being delivered from Madingley Mulch. Some of this will fill a couple of new raised beds that we are going to set in front of the cottage. The rest will be a tonic for a particularly stony and dry herbaceous border. I bartered decorating work for the raised bed wood about two years ago. The wood is substantial – roofing joists from years ago when wood was a very different animal than wood is today. I also acquired some oak stakes at the same time to keep everything in place. I...
read moreHow to win when you have the irritation of small stones in your borders
As you know, most parts of our garden are very stony. Not just bricks but smaller stones too. A few days ago I finally twigged that if I collected the smaller stones as I spread my concentrated manure and bone meal mix, I could actually add them to the gravel in the driveway. This needs topping up in parts. It has been seven years since we spread a bit too much gravel on the driveway. It was a nightmare to prepare the ground. Luckily D and Tony did this. I was there to spread the gravel. Even though I was doing a very physical job at the...
read moreThe first Cottage Smallholder annual get together
Danny and some of his friends on the forum have plotted and planned our first Cottage Smallholder get together. It will be a chance to meet people that you’ve met in cyberspace and the excuse for a jolly good party. The date is Saturday July 23rd 2011 and I’d like to extend the invitation to all readers of the blog. It seems a long way away now but if you’d like to come and meet other bloggers and us and our cottage menagerie make a note in your diary and email me through the Contact Us tab above. Secretly, I suspect that D thinks it’s...
read moreForum software update glitch
Today I (Danny) updated this blog’s WordPress software to the current version. That worked fine – we know because you are reading this! Unfortunately, the forum required a corresponding upgrade that has failed. Hopefully we will get it all working again within 24 hours. Sunday 09:15 it appears to be OK now.
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FD