Skip to main content

Fire, Bears and Bats

Another weekend spent working in garden has passed and another missed vlogging opportunity! The plan has always been to vlog along side this blog - the problem being that both Rich and I are the sort to just 'crack on' so we forget to film! We WILL get better at this though.

So Sunday was another day of chopping and pruning and I finally decided to say goodbye to the 'Bears Breech' which has done really well all summer, but as we near the end of August it's flowering heads had started to wilt and the leaves sadly had a white powdery mildew on them (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about yet...?). The decision was made to prune it right back the base - I am just rally hopeful that it winters well and that it grows successfully again next year....any tips on this much appreciated! I think it's tidied up the view from the bedroom too for now...I am REALLY looking forward to watching the seasons change here - literally cannot wait for Autumn!


We also did lots of hedge trimming and removed x2 small shrubs that were dead and dried out and basically resembled dried out old twigs. Both us were pretty excited to have a bonfire to burn some of this garden waste - at least the dried out stuff....

Rich built the fire and we took the blow torch to it. we gave it a bit of help with some petrol (don't try this at home kids!) and whilst it initially went up really well...the whole thing was a bit of a flop - burning garden waste, it turns out, is so much harder than you'd think! We resorted to using the chipper for some of it and then chucking the rest on our 'mulching' pile...It's proving a nightmare to know what to do with all of our garden waste. Some research on composting is much needed! Anyway the garden is beginning to look much tidier and I have so many plans for it - including a fruit and veg patch....and if I get my way perhaps even some ducks (I'm not sure I'd have chickens again but who knows....!).

Monday came and went (we both work full time, and even though Rich is enjoying some well earned days off - I went off to the office which always pains me when there is so much to get done here!). When I got back we decided to take the dog out for a nice walk across the fields just up the lane from us (we're so lucky, I still feel like we're on a cottage break living here - I hope that feeling never goes away.) Typically the cat (Milo) decided to join us for our stroll....seems cute but it's just frustrating as I worry the whole way round that he's going to get lost - usually he 's never far away though. 


Last night though, he didn't stay close and on the way back home he dropped off from the pack...left us. We weren't far from home so we decided he'd probably find his way home. It came to 10.30pm and he wasn't home....naturally I started to worry.

So we set off in the pitch black with Molly (the dog) in our wellies and Rich with his head torch on to find him (didn't seem that weird when we were doing it...). It was bonkers really...wet, muddy and pitch black we started up the lane and the bats seemed to be drawn to the head torch which caused much hilarity - I wish we'd filmed us ducking and diving away from the bats! 

Anyway, we found the cat across the fields and I carried him all the way home.....and questioned my life choices as we went. Crazy cat lady at 31 - it's a slippery slope. Over and out. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Stay Warm in a Colder House

So yes, harping on about it again....we live in a VERY cold house, and recently it snowed....alot! Part of this renovation project is the installation of a full central heating system. So far we've installed a Biomass boiler, which is heating our water, and in time will heat the whole house with a mix of rads and a retro-fitted wet under floor heating system. However, for now as we are still in the planning stages of room layout we are living with electric, fluid-filled, wall mounted heaters. I...am also living with my in-house accountant/husband...so, needless to say these heaters are used sparingly! We've installed a log-burner (yipee!), but we are currently plastering and painting the lounge so it's out of action (booo). The heaters in the house do come on via a timer system, but only in select rooms...so the long and short of it is, the house feels chilly (and in some rooms that are not in use is as low as 4-6 degrees at the moment!). On the whole though we
Post a Comment
Read more

Chilli Penguin Woody Stove Review | Maiden Lighting

If you've been reading my blog posts, you'll know that we've been sort of renovating our lounge (more by accident than design) in order to enable us to install a log burner for the winter. The 1960's bungalow that we finally purchased in May 2017 doesn't benefit from central heating (just individual electric heaters), and there is no mains gas to the property. While we've been making decisions on the best route forward for a central heating system, we thought we'd crack on an install a log burner to give us a source of heat, and also because a fireplace with log burner is sympathetic to the house, the style we are looking to go for and it's stunning country village surroundings. We were fortunate that there was already a chimney and constructional hearth in place, so it was a case of getting rid of the original decorative fireplace and opening up the original fireplace to accommodate a burner.  The original decorative fireplace - for a
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Farrow and Ball Worth the Money? Choosing and Using Farrow and Ball

If you’re reading this blog, then perhaps, like us, you’re embarking on a re-decorating or renovation project, someone has recommended using Farrow and Ball and your wondering 'is it really worth the money?'.  Choosing For us, the recommendations had come in thick and fast. Everyone from our (rather fabulous) dog groomer (Ruth at The Cotswold Grooming Co) to the MD where I work had raved about Farrow and Ball; “the coverage is great”, “the colours are outstanding”, “it’s really worth the money” – and so much to Rich’s dismay, we ended up in the Farrow and Ball section of the paint aisle at Homebase. Of course, we did due diligence and looked at other paint brands, everything from low to middle range…and left empty handed with nothing but a colour chart and a few colour swatch cards. Paint looks so different under the lights at mainstream DIY stores, and having already chosen our curtains, we were keen to ensure the paint complimented the curtains as well
Post a Comment
Read more