Strange Times

Strange times indeed.

I have been busy finishing the chicken house. A building I started two years ago but then I got sidetracked. It has worked out quite well and looks quite cute. Now I just need some chickens. I asked my neighbour but now we are all in lockdown because of the virus I think I will have to wait.

The flowers of spring are gorgeous as usual, and the cuckoo has returned along with the swallows. It is such a joyous time in nature. I was walking past this field of lupins with the sun shining on them and a soft breeze blowing towards me. I was enveloped in their sweet, almost soapy smell.
It's just a bit grim for humans at the moment.

The garden is producing food. Brocolli and cabbage and Swiss chard. All the onion sets I planted are not doing their thing because I stuck them too deep in the ground! Darn. I spent today scraping away the earth from around them and hope they will bulb-up. I have carrots in pots because all the ones in the ground got nibbled by a carrot fly worm. I also have lots of tomato and pepper seed, some cotton plants (well, I am a spinner), basil, sweet corn, more cabbage, cucumber and courgette. Let's hope I can keep them all watered. Lots of mulch this year.

 The guinea pigs are doing fine. They've discovered they can get out under the cage. The cats are fascinated and try to scare them but these little piggies lived with a dog and a cat that liked to cuddle up with them so they aren't scared. When they move towards the predatory cat, the cat jumps and runs off! Long may it be so... I love to watch them and they are keeping the grass down.

This is a rather bad photo of the Hunza apricot tree I grew from a stone. It is over 3 meters high. It has lots of flowers tangled in its branches. So exciting. Maybe it will produce Tibetan apricots!

I have been trying to do some artistic weaving, using hand spun wool, based on the colours of the west coast.
I miss spending time with my lovely girls but we are being sensible. Let's hope this will all blow over soon.
Stay safe everyone.