Leaves!

On the walk to work this morning.

Catch up.

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. My temporary job ended recently so I've been busy looking for something new. I've also been battling with a chest infection which has slowed me down.

On a lighter note I've made some progress with Bitey Brian who hasn't tried to bite me the last three times I picked him up. Yey!

About a month ago I had to give up my allotment due to time and energy restraints, which means I have taken quite a step back from my self sufficiency goal. But my health comes first... I guess. 

Dogs and drought.

I'm making the effort to get more photos of the dogs together.

Yes, she does have to wear a muzzle, she's very dog aggressive with dogs she hasn't met.

I'm so happy they love each other. It was hit and miss at the start.

Hobbiton.

And the woods. Today really was the most perfect day for a walk. 

Busy morning before the rain hits.

Quick trip to the plot.

I had a quick trip to the allotment today. The boyfriend and I dropped off 250 litres of peat free compost and I weeded the brassica bed before adding the compost.
All of that compost covered only about 40 % of the bed! Thankfully I covered 40% of it last year too so hopefully one more bag of 125 litres should cover up the rest.

I need to make some smaller beds.

Three trips in one week is pretty darn good though. Hopefully I manage to keep it up. I want to make some serious progress with it this year.
 

The garden.

We've had some really sunny days recently and it's causing everything to flower or speed up which is lovely. As you can see I have some serious de-cluttering to do, we're meant to be getting a skip once we have some spare cash. 

It was so hot that I filled this bowl with water for the dogs and cat. I filled a similar one for the chickens too. 

This is the most weedy and in new of attention part of the garden. I'll aim to get around to it at some point soon. 

I planted some broad bean seedlings out here under and around the lilac and red current bush.

And I did some weeding too.

The broad beans look sad as they had been transplanted only thirty minutes before. The two lacecap hydrangeas (good in shade) that I planted are either side of the lilac and should hopefully create a bee haven and background of green and blue. 

The lilac is finally flowering for the first time in four years or more. :D

This is the full price hydrangea that I bought, I am pretty smitten with it. 

This is the reduced hydrangea that I rescued. Hopefully they both do well. 

I have two oriental poppies growing very nicely in the border. They should bring in some lovely bees. 

As you can see (yes clutter) I have enlarged the compost to double the size it was last year. This will allow me to turn it over more easily.