Friday

It’s been a pretty damp and cold week this week.  Given the choice, I might well have been tempted to stay in bed for a bit longer, but there have been children to get to school and college, dogs to walk, jobs to do … instead I have reminded myself that I don’t dissolve in the rain, put my waterproof on and got on with it.

I was very pleased that I had when the dog and I took one of our usual walks through Sankey Valley Park to Old Hall (where there is, in fact, an old hall – Bewsey Old Hall – a 13th century building which is now luxury apartments.  It used to be haunted so I don’t know what the new occupants think of the old ones).  The walk goes past the Sankey Canal at Bewsey Locks and it was here that we saw the swans.  I’ve been watching the swans grow up for months now, from these tiny cygnets in June last year …

to this beautiful grown-up family.  I suppose it won’t be too long before they are heading off to find families of their own, so it’s nice to see them around while we can.

Once back home, whilst the dog snored gently in front of the Aga, I headed out into the garden.  I wrote the other day about my tentative resolution this year to do less and achieve more, and one of the things that I want to concentrate on is our garden.  My tax return declares that I’m a professional gardener but you wouldn’t necessarily know from the state of ours at the moment!  I know that gardens generally look pretty bare at this time of the year, but I’ve got a lot of clearing out to do in ours and there’s no point in waiting until the weather gets warmer and the weeds go mad.

One of the patches that needed clearing out was this one: it’s full of wild strawberries which have grown all over the path and are making a break for it across the garden.  Wild strawberries are lovely; a miniature version of the strawberry plants more usually grown in gardens, complete with tiny flowers and edible berries!  They spread really quickly which is great if you want some speedy ground cover, but if you’re not careful they’re growing everywhere before you know it.

Once I’d done some serious cutting back, I was able to see these tulips starting to peep through (more to the point, I was able to see the dish they are in!).  It’s still a bit early for them and I hope that we don’t get a really cold snap which will finish them off.  I like tulips; I can’t grow them in the front garden as the squirrels like them even more than me and eat the bulbs without waiting to see the flowers first.

Finally, just before I ran out of steam, I managed to plant up these bulbs which I picked up at Aldi yesterday.  They should all really have been planted in the autumn, but I find it hard to resist a plant bargain and they fell into my basket – I’ll just see what happens and hopefully if they don’t grow this year they’ll grow next year instead.

I’m hoping that next week is going to feel like more of a “normal” week – I’m still very aware that I’m recovering and whilst I’ve managed to do plenty, it’s been quite hard going sometimes.

One of the things I want to do next week is share with you my pattern for 6ply boot socks; it’s been that kind of weather recently and everybody needs thicker socks in the winter.  What do you think?

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12 Responses

  1. Jackie says:

    I think that I would have been very tempted to stay inside too but you ended up being very productive outdoors! Thick boot socks sound fab ~ I've only ever finished one pair of socks and I do love the feeling of handmade socks so maybe this is the year for my second pair! Hope you have a lovely weekend :O)x

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Ooh yes, Jackie, this could be the year of the socks for you! 🙂 Hope you have a lovely weekend too xx

  2. Lilly's Mom says:

    It's good to hear that you are out and about after being ill. The swans are beautiful. I'd love to hear more about your Aga. I understand that you have to "learn" to cook with one? And, I am awaiting for your sock pattern – the last pair I knitted went so fast with the thicker ply yarn. Have a wonderful weekend.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Oh, I LOVE my Aga, Lilly's Mom, and one day I'll tell you all about it! Yes, it is a different way of cooking but I much prefer it now to a conventional oven. The dog does too – he couldn't warm his ears on anything but an Aga! xx

  3. Luisa Holistic Massage & Healing says:

    I understand that some of those damp and cold days you don't feel getting out, for me living in the UK and being from a mediterranean place ( Catalonia ) some days are really really hard. .. but everything is got positive and negative facts.

    Have a nice weekend!!

    Lluisa xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I imagine our damp British weather has taken quite a lot of getting used to! Always a good excuse to wrap up in something warm and woolly, though! xx

  4. Plain Jane says:

    I'm itching to get out in the garden and do some clearing – it's always such a treat to see new things popping up. I threw a whole load of Aldi bulbs in what ever gaps I could last year so fingers crossed there should be a few surprises! Looking forward to seeing your sock pattern x Jane

  5. Angel Jem says:

    Your bulbs should grow, even if not to the full height you'd like. I'm expert at shoving bulbs and seeds in late and crossing my fingers!
    So, will your swans produce a new set of cygnets this year? Or will you have to wait again?
    And finally…. what colour is your Aga? (my favourite shades are red and the pale blue, but any Aga is a good Aga for me!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Oh that's good news, I'll look forward to some spring flowers! The swans should produce new cygnets this year, but not until later in the spring. My Aga is a Wedgewood blue one – I love it! xx

  6. Sandra says:

    Hello Winwick Mum! Lovely Swam family! Good job on the garden! I had to replant my vase because it fell on the floor due to strong winds. I took a picture of it, but I'm waiting for the plant is better to see the difference. Have a lovely week!

    Sandra

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Thank you, hope you have a lovely week too, and looking forward to seeing pictures of your plants when they've grown! xx

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