Transformation?

The lads were here bright and early to get set up and start 'dashing'.

It really is exactly as was described. Mix up a slurry with the stone chippings in, and then throw it on the walls with a small shovel/trowel. If you look closely at this picture, you can even see the wet dash leaving the trowel!
They put in a long day, and were extremely diligent about tidying up after themselves, but by dusk, this:
Had turned into this:

Facelift or Holiday?

After a weekend down in the Midlands, celebrating Mum and Dad's Proper 50th Wedding anniversary (as opposed to the 'official' one that happened in June), we were back into the deep end this morning.
People often ask us if we are going on holiday. Our sickening response is always 'every day's a holiday to us'. However, not having been on holiday for the last two years is justification for spending money on a facelift instead.
The front of our house is not it's best feature. 'Public Convenience bricks' is how husband affectionately describes it. However, the back and one side are already pebble dashed, so we have thought for a long time that this would be a great idea on the front and remaining side.

With an evenings notice, to get everything out of the way (that'll teach us to disappear for a long weekend!), Dougi and pals arrived at 8am, on what has to be one of the best September days in recent history.


25'c this afternoon - hence Dougi's son being bare chested.

By 6pm, all the first coat of plaster is on and everything that matters (like windows) is covered in plastic, ready for the slurry chucking session tomorrow.

Lets hope the forecast for the next few days is right.

Planting a Triffid

You may remember the Acer we brought with us from Lincolnshire - the tree with rather a dodgy heritage. Well since being here, it has been sitting minding it's own business, on the front path. However, twelve years in a pot for a tree that was already over 20 years old when it went into that pot; it was high time it was potted on. The only sensible solution was to put it into the ground. The only sensible place was near the front door, as sheltered as anywhere in Windy City. Sounds easy doesn't it?

We moved it a while back, to see if we thought it had a hope of surviving in that spot.
So having decided that it was going to happen, the back end is the time to do it. 109mm of rain so far in September was always going to make it hard work, but if we don't get on with it - all the other planting that is waiting to happen in the front will be delayed. So, better dig a big hole (again!)

At the bottom of the hole, guess what? We found a rather large stone. As it was below the required level, we thought we'd leave it there. Then Husband changed our minds!

Having dug said hole and removed the stone, it was time to get the tree out of it's pot. That's a metre rule. It's a big pot.

We called the cavalry in. An ex forester and a landscape architect (and winners of the local gardens competition!) - pretty fitting really. After an awful lot of broggling, pulling, shoving, digging, scraping, huffing and puffing. One very pot bound tree was finally minus it's pot.

Loosen the roots, drop it in the hole, twist it this way. No, twist it that way. Back fill with compost/soil combined and then get the Gill the Landscape Architect to add the finishing touches. Voila! All that remains now is to dig up the remaining borders in the front, and replant them all!

Four (Mad) Women on Bikes

Our friend Joan, who owns the best holiday cottages in Cumbria, is in the process of biking the C2C with three friends. They have only chosen the week when Hurricane Katia has decided to makes it's presence in this part of the world.
As they were passing within shouting distance (I can shout loud!) today, it was agreed that we would meet them for a coffee at the local Cycle Cafe.
Timed to perfection, Joan leads the way as they cycle to meet us just as we arrive at the cafe

Suitably refreshed, the four intrepid explorers get ready to start the next leg of their journey. Hope the winds calm down ladies!

Not On Our Patch

It's out 6th Wedding anniversary today. Full of happy memories, and now one unhappy memory. Sitting having an afternoon cuppa, watching 'The View', we were gobsmacked to see a Grey Squirrel hoping towards the garden. (Picture courtesy of Penrith Red Squirrels Group )

As volunteers with Penrith Red Squirrels, Grey control in this area is partly our responsibilty, so to find one on our own doorstep is really frustrating. This is the second siting in the village in the last month. Attempts to catch the culprit on the first occasion were in vain, so at least it has returned to give us another opportunity.
If any of you think this is harsh - then think again.
This information is lifted from the Penrith Red Squirrels Website:

The facts
There are only about 20,000 red squirrels left in England, mostly in Cumbria and Northumberland.

There are over 3 MILLION greys!

The decline of reds is directly attributable to grey squirrels which were introduced from America in 1876 and whose population has exploded.

The bigger grey out competes red squirrels for food but more critically a large number carry the highly infectious Squirrelpox Virus (SQPV) to which they seem immune but is fatal to reds.

SQPV is similar to myxomatosis in rabbits (although not linked) and is identified in the initial stages by poor coordination and lethargy. By the second week lesions around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals quickly followed by a pitiful death. (see the photo ).

They're Not Blueys, They're Mine!

We love Blue Tits. I think they must be one of the most recognised birds in the UK. I can remember them feeding from the coconuts Mum hung outside the sitting room window at home, We do the same here outside the sun room and are always really pleased to see them hanging upside down on the shells. In an effort to provide them with more varied feeding opportunities, we hang monkey nuts around the branch of the tree for them (and the Great Tits and Coal Tits) to peck at.

There was a loud drumming coming from the tree. It sounded like one of the many Woodpeckers we get

But no, it was a Nut Hatch, very determined to get hold of Blueys nuts.

Pecking with all his might to prise the little brown jewels from their shell

It looks as though someone else has suddenly found them too......
Looks like the Blueys are going to have to stick to the feeders in future

Wildlife in August

Highlights this month have to be the young red who has been visiting us. I don't think anything could ever have more appeal than a Red Squirrel (Please fogive the reflection from the window, it's the bane of my life at the moment!). A first in the village was a pair of Ravens circling overhead as we walked up the road. We had heard of a breeding pair nearby last year, but it's good to get confirmation.

Red Alert

Today has turned out to be a damp affair, the sort of day when you really appreciate the wildlife in the garden. Especially when they are as entertaining as this youngster.
'Hey, Look what I found!'
'Now I'm just going to run off an bury this in the lawn'
'Oh no, they've spotted me in the front as well'
'Perhaps if I bury it in this nicely dug bed they won't notice'

We Just Can't Help It

It's been feeling very backendish this last week. Cool, dewy mornings and evenings, I've started riding out again (and we had two winners this weekend) and things are changing in the garden. Now is the time to resume landscaping. The Big Plan was to tackle the front corner this autumn, so after clearing out the Achillea which had taken over and digging out a few (more) hostas, it was time to start digging over the area around the Buddleia. The trouble is, whenever we start digging in this side of the front, we hit stone, and then we start wondering; is this where the well is?

And the further down you go, the more promising it seems, especially when you find what appears to be a side wall.

But after much digging and trowelling, getting down to about 4 feet deep - we finally decided that this wasn't where the well is. You wouldn't believe how quickly you can fill a hole that big.

Down The Allotment

Whilst we will miss our Friends From Across The Road, they have made damned sure we won't forget them!
We agreed a some time ago that we would look after their veggie patch/orchard whilst the house is rented out.

It will be good for us to have a bit more room for veggies, whilst still knowing that we don't have the long term tie of a big garden.

It will keep us busy in the meantime though.
So if you call in for a cuppa and we're not here; have a look down the allotment.

Going, Going, Gone

The house is empty and VERY clean, Roger, Lois and Buddy have spent the last couple of nights staying with us whilst they packed all the last bits away and set to with the polish.
Loaded up the dog (bye bye Buddy)



And set off on their adventure.




We're hoping it won't be long before we are invited to the Come Back tour!

Farewell Tour

Our neighbours are moving to France. Not anything to do with us moving here, it's been planned for years (or so they say!).
The Farewell Tour started nearly a month ago, with the 'Night Before' party, the night before Roger's retirement 'Do'

Since then there have been all sorts of occasions, hosted by all sorts of friends, to wish them Bon Voyage. Saturday 20th, it was our turn. 16 of us gathered for supper and a 'few' drinks.
Guests of honour, Roger and Lois

and some of the rest of the crowd.

All that's left is the clearing up..........

Two Years Later - In The Back

About this time, two years ago, our predecessors made a very wise decision and put their house on the market. The photos they had taken for the brochure are a really useful way of looking back to see what we have done. The house isn't tidy enough to show you the changes inside- maybe another day! But by taking pictures in roughly the same spot as the agent, we get a fairly good idea of the overall changes.
The Back garden has changed the most. In our opinion, it was a bit twee with the two rocket launcher patios and a couple of 'sort of rockeries' which didn't look too bad in August and September, but had nothing of interest the rest of the year.
That was then

And this is now.

Don't Count Your Chickens

Me and my Big Mouth. I've helped some friends out with their sheep a few times this summer and when Fran tentatively asked if I'd be willing to look after the poultry if she could persuade Andrew to have a holiday, of course I said yes. They've not had a day off in over 7 years, and looking after friends livestock is something we are well used to. I used to keep a few hens myself as a girl. Not quite this many though! Last week was a steep learning curve, getting to grips with the systems.

Thankfully, husband also enjoys looking after stock, although I don't think either of us fully realised just how many eggs we were going to be handling. 6000 hens = pretty much 6000 eggs a day. That's 6000 eggs to be sorted, packed accounted for and recorded. That's about 42,000 in a week. We'll be getting the hang of it by the time they get back.

Just to make sure we don't get too tunnel visioned, we've also got a few other souls to tend to. Merlin the Shetland Pony - I'm not a pony person, but this one really is a sweetheart.



3 calves........


And not forgetting 6 puppies, 4 working collies - Nell, Fly, Jess and Meg and Jack the Russell.

I know there are a few missing on the picture - but you try getting them all in one place at once!