Nettles

I think most people know that I love nature. I love being out in it. I love almost everything about it. I say almost, I’m not mad keen when nature fights back.

As it was a nice day, I thought I’d mow the lawns and have a bit of a tidy up of the borders. Great plan I hear you say…

This is me, so it wasn’t going to run smoothly. But even by my standards, I excelled myself. There were a few rather large nettles. No problem, I have protective gloves for them. Unfortunately, they don’t protect against ineptitude. I am now the proud owner of many stings. I peaked when I managed to pull one up and smack myself full in the face. I can confirm that flipping hurts!!

Bert tried to come to my rescue, but ended up taking me out with his cone. We’d been doing well with the body suit. Till he had an accident. I wasn’t quick enough with the fastenings (the clue is there). It needed to go in the wash. So we were back to the cone of shame. My legs are covered in scrapes and bruises from him bashing into me.

I managed to mow the back lawn after nearly falling over him several times. Then it was onto the front. Where a dog rose decided to attack me. Seriously?! They hurt too I can tell you.

Thankfully a full brown bin ended my gardening efforts and I headed to the yard. Buddy had excelled himself in the poo stakes. So that was fun!

Even though I covered him in fly spray, he spent the whole ride trying to get the flies off. There were so many today.

All in all, I’d say it was a draw between me and nature today. My face is really sore. Not as bruised as Bert’s Crown Jewels. He keeps rolling over to show me…

Gardener

I came across some photos from when I moved into my little house last night. It seems like a long time ago now. Well it was over a decade ago. The garden looked so neat, tidy and manicure – a far cry from the lived in version now. I know I’ve let things grow a bit too much. It’s gotten quite out of hand. I love gardening. But in recent years, I haven’t had as much time or inclination to get out there and keep on top of it. I’ve prioritised other things I guess too.

The photos were a stark reminder of how bad it has gotten. The former owner is probably turning in his grave at the state of it. So this afternoon I made a start by mowing the back lawn. I’m going to try and spend a bit more time out there. I really need to weed my driveway. It’s more grass than gravel.

Having new neighbours is a bit of an incentive too. My garden won’t ever look like a Chelsea Show Garden. I’m not that good a gardener. I do prefer the more natural look. I do think it needs some more hard landscaping though so thinking about that.

I spent a fortune on my last garden. I absolutely loved it. I was gutted to see that the people who moved in had ripped it all out.

Still today it was Lawn 0 – Pip 1. Which was a better result than the football. So glad I rushed to get everything done before kick off…

Ragwort

Two exciting things happened today. This was one of them. It’s by far the best thing I’ve found for pulling ragwort and weeds. It can be a quite onerous job. But this makes it so much fun! I think I was having too much fun. Buddy was very interested and followed me round the field.

Definitely didn’t fire the ragwort into the barrow like I was loading a shotgun. Almost certainly didn’t do my own sound effects. And my horse most definitely didn’t canter round his field…

Might have got a bit carried away when I got home too. Let’s just say my ‘lawn’ looks more like Swiss cheese after my efforts.

Is it a measure of how dull my life is that this makes me very happy?! Good job I can laugh at myself.

The other exciting thing that happened was that I trotted Buddy under saddle for the first time. Just to see how he felt. He was a bit tense for the first few strides – as was I! We both soon relaxed into it. Now I know he’s feeling more level again, I can slowly increase it. Slow and steady wins the race!

First cut

After a few aborted attempts, today I finally cut the back lawn. I say lawn, there’s a lot of moss too. It’s needed doing, but trying to find a time when it wasn’t raining has proven tricky. The nicest days I’ve either had plans, been working or quite frankly couldn’t be arsed.

But today I woke up with a weird determination. Good job too as it took bloody ages to do! It was still a bit damp, so not only did I have to keep emptying the mower, I had to clear the mower too as the grass kept getting clogged up around the blade.

Not totally sure it looks better. But it’s a start. Scarifier next. The kittens approve. Though I think they were enjoying hiding and playing in the long grass.

I even spent time doing the edges and made a start on clearing the borders. Of course, I’m now covered in bramble scratches and stinging nettle stings. Still I’m pleased with my efforts.

Next time, I’ll turn my attentions to the front garden.

Mown down

I woke up this morning with a sense of determination. The kind of day where you end up saying ‘Right!’ a lot and springing into action (sometimes with a thigh slap for good measure).

I tackled the front lawn first. I say lawn. It was rather overgrown. It took 45 mins of huffing, puffing and lots of sweating to get it done.

Then it made the borders look really overgrown so plugged into a podcast and started the weeding. The podcast was really interesting. About values and how change can be uncomfortable because it’s hard.

Sadly rain stopped play (and my semi-dry washing wet again). Mad dash to get the mower and the washing in when the heavens opened.

So no doubt my lawn will already be growing again. Still at least it resembles a lawn now. It looks so much better when it’s done.

Good Friday

Well today has been a rather Good Friday indeed. Started with a great lesson this morning. Buddy worked very hard. As did I. It was lovely to be able to turn him out naked afterwards.

Of course, I soon regretted it when he had a roll. Thankfully he wasn’t too muddy when I put his rug back on.

This afternoon, I finally mowed the lawns. I say lawns, they’re definitely more moss than grass. Still it’s been on the list for a while now. But the weather has put pay to it.

It was a full body workout I can tell you! I did have two robins helping. So cute.

It was touch and go if the lawns would get done today. I made the fatal mistake of sitting down. Hugo came for a cuddle too. Well I guess it is a bank holiday after all.

Chair claimers

After feeling unsettled yesterday, today I felt the need to be productive. As the weather was OK, I headed to the garden.

Mowed both lawns and several hours of weeding later, it looking much better.

The kittens are loving the new lorry chairs I was gifted. I washed them and put them out to dry. Think they’ve definitely been claimed!

Dead wood

Today it was the turn of the front garden to be tamed. Even mowing the lawn made a huge difference. I got the hedge cutter out and cut back the hedge under my living room windows.

In the recent storms, it has started to sound like something out of a ‘Hammer House of Horror’ film as the branches scratched and banged on the windows. 😱

Still a long way to go but pleased with the result so far. Sometimes we need to get rid of the dead wood to allow things to grow again.

First cut

I decided to have a garden day today. Mowed my back lawn for the first time in 2022. And tidied up the borders. Still lots to do, but I’ve made a start.

Want to crack on with the front lawn and borders next weekend.

The brown bin was creaking. I find gardening really rewarding. It’s hard work sure. But the results are worth it. The bad news is that I’ve cleared a lot, so will need more plants. 🤪

My helpers

After a bit of a slow start (I woke up feeling rather crumpled), I’ve had a very productive day. I mowed and scarified both lawns, weeded the borders and attacked a few bushes for good measure.

Also got 3 loads of washing on the line. Hurrah!

The kittens came to help me with the weeding. I say helping. Hugo wanted to lie on the bit I was weeding and Dodo ran off with one of my gloves. They do make me laugh sometimes.