Hot, Hot, Hot - Saturday and Sunday

Saturday:

What a hot one and due to increase in temperature even more.  I have been pottering in one of the greenhouses which is in shade, potting on some more items and trying to get one greenhouse really sorted out and planters done.  Its too hot for the kitchen I might try doing a bit when it chills down a little bit.

It got that hot I ended up going to get some Pepsi Max from the shop to have in pint glasses with loads of ice cubes out of the freezer.  Lovely and cooling and it has done the job.

Tea tonight is to be the rest of the baguette and cheese, pate or ham or whatever we fancy to eat. I do not like wasting anything and I do not want much; I never want much to eat these days my appetite has really dwindled to what it was.

The heat really takes it out of me and I know it does for so many others as well.

I managed to get back into the greenhouses and starting with the Tomato house I have potted on quite a few plants.  There were small cherry tomatoes for gathering and these are going to be used on homemade bruschetta type topping using some of the cherry tomatoes, some Feta I have in the fridge, some fresh Basil and some chunks of bread. Just something simple.  There are still more cherry tomatoes to come and more chilli peppers.  All the rest of the plants are doing really well.  As I have said before  I have had a few casualties more down to me than to anyone else and having more to do than I thought I would.  

I also managed to close the plants up for the night.

Plans for tomorrow:

To get back out there and carry on with sorting out that greenhouse and carry on with the potting up.  I have some planters and a couple of hanging baskets to make up tomorrow using what plants I have which is not many, but enough to add a little colour into the garden.

Sunday:

Very muggy here last night and I ended up being up later than I had planned.  Missy had a more active night last night than she has had for a few days so ended up nodding off when should have been getting up. 

I have used the growing rings on 6 of the Tomato plants which are Roma Plum tomatoes and as a result of using them I have not been able to plant Marigolds, Tagetes or Basil in the bottom of the Tomato planters which is something that I also do.  However there are plants without the ring culture and so I shall intersperse them in the green house to invite the pollinators in. I have found that the Basil does particularly well in the greenhouse at the bottom of the Tomato plants.  I usually have the greenhouse doors open during the day in any event.  I do intend to buy in some more of the culture rings for next year.

Still have not ventured into the stone shed but that needs sorting out in any event.  I think my other rings are in there somewhere.  However before I go in there I need to tidy up the garden a little more than it is as present.

I managed to get to my planters, and have managed to sort them out well some of them.  Have a lot more to go but slowly getting there.

I need to feed the plants tonight to give them a bit more food and also to give me a bit more produce.  This was accomplished.

I also bought some growing bags the other week 10 for £12.99 5 gallon bags.  I have prepped these up for planting my outdoor tomatoes in.  They can be used for potatoes and other veggie crops as well.  I therefore got these prepped for dealing with tomorrow.  I do have another 10 about to land.  I have also prepped up 6 thin long planters in readiness for veggies.  Two longer planters have also been prepped up as well.  I have five other larger planters to sort out.  I have hanging baskets and wall planters to sort out tomorrow or the day after.

I have used all the recycled compost that I had reclaimed.  I am going to have to do another session or two with the riddle as I have another 8 larger planters to reclaim the compost.  Each of the planters I have prepped  up today I have lined with straw as it helps with water retention, and then a layer of the old compost with the top part being new compost.  Out of the 8 100 litre bags of compost I had delivered, I am now down to 4 and think maybe that I may have to buy some more compost in.  It has been good to get my hands in the soil, and ground myself.  I have spent the best part of this afternoon and evening out in the garden.  It has not gone down in a certain quarter.  Missy apparently had been playing up driving G mad and I had escaped and left him to it.  I had mentioned to G that I would cook him his breakfast for his tea and so I came in early, did a load of washing up, and then cooked his tea.  Because he had not get ketchup (and I had forgotten to remember) he then refused to eat it.  I then sorted the dog out because she was upset at being ignored and I suspect because I was not up here with her. Calmed and cooled her down and she nodded off to sleep.  I then proceeded to deal with the idiot in the corner.  Went and got ketchup and came back with his food and told him in no uncertain terms that if I have taken the trouble to cook a meal for him, then at least he should have the decency to eat it.  I also said that if he pulled a wobbler like that again he would reap the rewards.  A little tough love is usually needed when he gets like this.  Needless to say he ate his tea!  The joys of Bi-Polar/Manic Depression.

Kind of spoilt my mood as I had been in my own little world and has not been aware that Missy was throwing a wobbler too. She soon calms down with me - pure trust.  I washed her down to cool her as she had got quite warm.  

I had really grounded from being in the garden just working away and regaining my peace.  Watching the Bees with the Lavender and the Marigolds, am doing something right in the Pollinators are coming back into the garden.  Nature is a wonderful thing very soothing and very grounding.  That is one of the reasons I want to get back into the countryside away from the background noise of the City.  The countryside has its own noise and it is not as harsh as in the City.

The Lavender flowers are starting to fade.

A busy bee gathering the nectar to take back to its hive for producing honey.

I watched him and tried to following with my phone camera for quite some while.

On the Marigolds there was a different type of Bee a little bit smaller.  Next year I shall grow many more Marigolds.  They are such a happy flower.  They are also good companion plants and attract the Pollinators into the garden. I am ever after trying to find the joy in each day that I am privileged to experience.  I am trying to find my own peace and serenity.  

I have consequently spent the evening finishing off my planters and then sitting with a cup of coffee in the peace of quiet of the evening.  Watching the Bats flying around.  When we first moved here there were quite a few, but we are really down on numbers now - not sure where they rest, but it must be reasonably local and I assume they are protected.

I also watched the Lady Moon - a lovely Crescent Moon, slipping in and as clear as a bell. Looked as though she was just hanging out there. Also watching the stars peeping in although you cannot see them as clearly in the City as you can in the countryside.  I am also fascinated by the silhouettes of trees and buildings of a night time as they seem more enhanced against the evening sky. It was lovely sitting out there with just a gentle breeze with no jumper on; extremely comfortable and I was enjoying the cooler temperature. It was truly peaceful that is all I ever want these days. There is so much you miss when you are at work and are cramped up in buildings and offices. So much more to see and experience now that I am retired. FREEDOM on one level.

I sat from about 10:00pm to 11:00pm just sat there drinking a second mug of coffee and just simply being.

When I came back in both G and Missy were out for the count which is probably a good thing.

Now to get ready for another day.  Temperatures are meant to be higher tomorrow.  Think it might be an early start.

Take care peace and blessings for a good week.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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