The day my son really became a man . .

 . . . by having to get to grips with 3 interconnected blocked drains.  One had fat in it (NOT me - I always scrupulously wipe any fat off before washing pan or tray), but the others were not draining at all and overflowing onto the stones.  He had to take the cover off the front reservoir (not done this before).  Full to the gunnels, and bits of forgotten-and-then-washed paper hankies and then rod it.  He had it wonderfully empty and clean - but there is still a blockage and drain-away is slow after the washing machine's been in use or someone's had a shower . . .

I, meanwhile, managed to get three plants in.  One, which I bought yesterday, was a well-grown Borage.  That went in the little square of lawn up the steps from our front yard.  I had to edge the grass along there (all the lawn needs edging, come to that) and take out a swerve of lawn which didn't look right.  More to do in that area (edging and weeding).  Then I went up on the bank and dug mightily where Danny had removed two Willow saplings.  This area had been where the bridge into the house had been (to the Door to Nowhere) and there was rubble in the soil, which made digging a deepish hole for the Vinca a struggle.  Then I began weeding away from it and have a LOT to do up there.  The Peony I planted earlier has started showing growth, so that has become established.  

It will grow . . .

Then it was time to get to grips with digging a home for my new rose, a rambler called Blush Noisette which is a repeat flowerer with a lovely musk rose perfume.  That was my proper TREAT (David Austin £32.99), along with some bedding plants (Antirrhinum, Verbena and 10 week Stocks).  I spent a lot at the garden centre (it was the expensive one) but I had to go there as they don't sell trellis at Penybont.  I bought 2 more sacks of good compost, a big sack of bark chippings, 2 expanding willow trellises for growing Clematis up, and a huge pot of Growmore.  Most of the spend was on essentials.

I hope you all had a good Bank Holiday weekend - or just weekend if you aren't in UK.

Now for a "day of rest!"

 Which means once I've unpacked, I will be gardening.  However, I do intend to go to the Garden Centre as I need trellising for a couple of Clematis.  I  am going to buy another rose - possibly a rambler - to go outside the gate against the Ivy Wall.  I worked jolly hard over the weekend - my stall was BIG and it was hard to be at both ends at once, when customers were clamouring for attention.  Saturday was VERY busy indeed - an worthwhile.  I wore a mask all day and am wearing a mask when up in Keith's room, just in case.  The Nigerian Bau currency bracelets finally found a home with a lovely Swiss gentleman.  He said he was about to go off down to the New Forest where he had a time share apartment (not a good investment because of the grounds maintenance charges).  We talked about the places I knew (give my love to the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive I told him) and after he had gone, more memories of childhood "drives out" on a Sunday came to mind.

Then yesterday another customer began talking about the New Forest and to my horror I felt my eyes well up with tears and I had to turn away for a moment.  They are filling up again now just thinking of those happy carefree days.

Here's a photo of part of my stand, to give you an idea (yes, "old friends" there, but some of them went to new homes this weekend).  

I am doing a little gardening before Keith has a shower and then I will have to unload the car before I can go anywhere. 

Shadow-cat (Emma's pussum) has had a happy pill, dug another hole in the bottom step stair carpet (beyond redemption now) and was desperate to come out.  He walked confidently into the Library and then across to the far end, not noticing that Lulu was sat on a chair.  She gave a low growl, he growled back but laid down!  She shut up, she had the advantage of height and they both knew it :) and he then hid beneath the little settle in there.  He's been upstairs since, now come back down again.  Perhaps the combination of having a beating from Pippi last week and the happy pill (it's based on mother cat milk) have knocked some sense into him.

Back later with photos of Wot I have Dun in the garden . . .

Galloping through . . .

 I am sat here surrounded by stickers, labels, unopened letters, a glass display case and stock, and eating my pancake and strawberries breakfast (thanks Danny).  I went on a foray into the attic yesterday - oh my goodness, more boxes of pre-Covid stock that I have no room for on my stand - but I did liberate a carrier bag of old horsey book illustrations (hunting and point to pointing and some floral ones) which I bought in 1979 (horsey ones) and which I had intended to get framed and never did.  Time to pass them on.  Such things cost 25p in those days - coloured ones 50p.  Pretty well all by Lionel Edwards.  I shall probably be bringing them all home with me! 

No chance to visit the bluebell woods at Crickhowell this year . . .

I have been busy repricing old stock, needing to clear it, and will do "good deals" on everything.  The weather is looking rainy today and a chance of some sunshine and being drier tomorrow.  Currently contemplating the quick buff up with Briwax of a "Penny Chair"* which has turned up at the back of the stables.  Don't need it . . . (*One with a round seat).

I'll try and get some photos of my stand to include later.

I like an adventure!

 Time is at a premium here.  I really WILL try and answer recent comments (I did start) but life has been so hectic.  Yesterday I had phone call to Dr, from Dr, visit from District Nurse, OT's, trip to Hospital in the morning (my blemish ISN'T skin cancer or even anything to worry about at all, thank heavens), two school runs, trip to surgery to pick up prescription, then to Boots, then to Co-op and I rounded the day off nicely with a trip to Carmarthen and back in the evening to pick up Emma as Danny's car still at garage.  Of course, the problem it has isn't covered by the 1 year warranty . . .

Then I had a message from Tam, on Weds (it is now 5 a.m. Weds and I can't sleep - another 3 hours short on sleeping), could I go to Brecon to pick up a rug she'd bought?  Turns out it's at a holiday cottage in the middle of blardy nowhere, TRULY, between the river Usk and the Eppynts.  Oh I'll have great fun finding that as I don't have a satnav. . .  At least I have followed the last few miles on Google Earth - single track (barely) lane and I have a Brecon Beacons map.  It's the time as much as anything as I am still TRYING to prepare for the Fair and Gabby is here tomorrow, but I shall rope her in.

Danny is picking up the slack on Keith's care but I hate not being here for him. 

So, if everything goes very quiet on here - I can't post at weekend, sorry - don't worry.  I am just turning myself inside out!  Back to bed now, with a lovely dawn chorus to lull me off (I hope)

Shattered

 Last night I woke at 2.45 and was still awake at 5.45, then the alarm went off at 6 and I WAS sleeping then.  Danny's car broke down when they were away at the weekend (Cardiff, to celebrate his birthday) and so I have to be up early to take Emma to the train to Carmarthen - she is working away there for two days.

Tam and Rosie were here for the weekend, and I didn't stop.  I can hardly say what I did, except it was non-stop - cooking a curry for our tea, washing up, seeing to Keith (this mops up several hours), washing up, helping Tam with a crying Rosie (she is a colicky baby), baking a Lemon Drizzle cake for Tam to take back with her, washing up, stripping and making up a fresh bed, washing bed linen and hanging up, washing D&E's stuff and hanging up, seeing to Keith, sewing a little Barbie-doll quilt for "I" (she's always pinching my clean dish cloths for them!) and when I went out late Saturday afternoon to do half an hour's gardening, it began to pick with rain and then our chatty farmer neighbour came by and I stood in the rain and chatted to him for half an hour . . .  He is interested in local history, so likes to have a natter - don't think his brothers are interested.  Oh and I also researched and priced items for the Antiques Fair next weekend . . .

So what with baby cuddles, and her NOT wanting to sleep, it was pretty tiring.  

Anyway, I finished the Barbie-quilt,

and the last curtain for the summerhouse, and now perhaps I can finish the last quilt I began over 3 years ago.  If I get the time, that is.  I really MUST try and get out and carry on weeding in the garden because once May is here everything goes into overdrive.  I need to finish pricing stuff too . . .

Now, I must away and take Emma to the train, and it's back to look after Keith and take "I" to school and then dance later on. No peace for the wicked.

Progress

 I've nearly finished the last curtain now - just need to add the (full) tab for hanging it. I've enjoyed making these as they haven't gone catastrophically wrong at every turn!  Now I am tasked with making a little Barbie-doll quilt for "I".  That shouldn't take too long anyway.

I suppose I should go back to trying to finish one of the UFO's in the quilt department now . . .

Whilst D, E and I were watching "Fallout" last night, I gave E my gardening magazine to look at and she noticed a little piece about Moors Meadow Garden at Bromyard. We've decided us girls (Tam included) will go there in May for my late birthday day out.  LINK HERE.

Meanwhile, they have been to the garden centre (Midway Plants at Penybont) and bought lots of herbs, veg and a fabulous pinky-purple Azalea, plus a tame Blackberry, so they have been busy getting these in the ground.  Emma knows very little about gardening, Danny nothing, but I am on hand to advise.  I've given over the three raised beds which were full of Golden Marjoram and brambles, and they've put herbs in one, and others are for the veg they bought, suitably pepped up with some farmyard manure. (Peas, Cauliflower, Spring Onions, Beetroot and Rocket for starters.)

Then I decided I needed some plant therapy, and went there myself yesterday.  Compost and FYM came home with me, with a red Lupin, a Delphinium (can't have too many really) and a new to me rose.  Not a David Austin, but it was a better price at £12 and is called Let's Celebrate and has flowers of purple/mauve/silver/white which sound pretty. The link shows how pretty the flower is.

Over the winter, the 14 loose sheep made mincemeat of the ivy end of the hedge out the front and there were just twisted ropes of 20 year old bare ivy stems, so I set to and cut them back to the wall, and the remains of an old strip once planted showed up.  I need to dig that over (lots more young ivy running through the soil) and plant it - the rose for starters.  Plus other plants perhaps not attractive to sheep!!

Enjoy your weekend which is looming.

A stroke of pure genius . . .

 This rose support has blown over a couple of times when we've had strong winds - not doing my poor rose any good.  I have used vine eyes and 12" camping pegs, but no go.  I had a stroke of intelligent thought today, and hauled across the two cast iron spud (?) or coal weights we'd had kicking around for years, and tied one on each side with parachute cord (Keith never wasted anything!)  THAT is going nowhere now!

I have had a busy day - Llandod for groceries this morning; then as I arrived back the District Nurse arrived, and between 2 and 3 p.m. it was the turn of the OTs.  I now have to turn the whole room upside down again to make room for the standing aid Keith needs and the, arriving later, supportive wheelchair.  They are also suggesting to Social Services that they visit to look at turning the en suite shower and toilet into a wet room.  That would mean Keith being moved into there.  All this would have been SO simple at Ynyswen, but here it is a huge juggling act!  At least I know why Carers aren't darkening our door - they are not allowed to lift. 

Danny is back tonight, and we will be back to normal - until he and Emma are away this weekend.  Then I will be struggling on my own.  Again, something booked before they thought of moving here, to celebrate his birthday.  Tam is coming on Saturday with Rosie, so I will at least have moral support, but she is NOT lifting a finger!