July 23, 2009, Multiply, Still Struggling with the garden

MID JULY AND STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE GARDEN.

I’ve not spent a lot of time here recently; most of my time seems to be taken up trying to get the garden finished. 
The one thing I love about all this rain is the way it’s made the dandelions on my neighbours grass grow and bloom, and of course she’s not managed to cut the grass because of the rain. I keep taking photos of her grass with my mobile because I so love the look of it covered in bright yellow dandelions, and I know she will be out there mowing it all away soon.
My struggle with the white masonry paint continues and it’s developed into constant battle against the rain. It seems as soon as I manage to get a coat of paint on the walls the rain pours down and washes it all away before it has a chance to dry.  I am left with a big mess and as soon as the sun comes out………….I start all over again. I suppose some bits are beginning to look ok but ohhhh this is hard work. It is hard to get the paint to cover those walls, it’s messy, so much goes on the floor, so much goes all over me and it really does take an awful lot of paint. Already I’ve had to buy more paint, I never realised painting masonry is so difficult. BUT; I am beginning to see progress, when I look at some of it, especially the bits where I can see the white walls against the blue fences; I remember what the original vision was. When I stand back and look at the bigger picture the mess hits me all over again. I just have to hold that picture of the finished effect in my head and hang on to the belief that it WILL look the way I planned some day soon.
Just to make a change from wall painting, I did another spot of babysitting, and while I was babysitting’ my youngest grandson put on his joke Harry Potter glasses that squirt water out of the frame via a tube attached to a small pump in his hand. He thought this was joke of the century. I thought it was quite funny the first time, and the second time was ok…………..but after 20 or 30 times of being soaked from squirty Harry Potter glasses, well I guess I became grumpy old granny and lost my sense of humour.

Today, my friend from art Class took me out in the car again. We returned to the little tiny hamlet we found last week called Boddin and went in search of the Lime Kilns. I did some drawing and she did a painting and then we went for a wander. Today I did manage to get a shot of the ruined Salmon Station and the old Bothy with my mobile. The photos are not very good but it is the best I can do with out a proper camera.
I found something quite special on the beach today. It’s just a stone but it is a perfect replica of a large chickens egg!! This stone feels like an egg in your hand, it looks like an egg and it’s exactly the right size and shape. I did wonder if it could be a fossilised egg??
Anyhow……………..that just about concludes my busy schedule over the last week or so. And; the hard work is paying off…….it is looking better in the garden already and I suppose I’ve done the hardest part. It will be so nice to sit here and not think about which job I’m going to tackle next.

Tags: garden, dandelions

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delete reply acousticeagle wrote on Jul 24, '09 Those white walls look so great, really fresh, there's a Mediterranean touch there. I actually pulled some weeds the other day. Just a beginning. I've noticed that buds are starting to come up on some naked trees, so the time for all that hard gardening is approaching. Still very much winter here, tho', lots of frosts.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 24, '09 You're very positive-thinking. I was thinking July is almost over. That egg stone is very special. I found a heart-shaped one for one of my sisters who collects rocks, photographed it and others and blogged about it like Loretta. LOL

delete reply ecec333 wrote on Jul 24, '09 Whatever you do, it looks wonderful.

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jul 23, '09 oh loretta it looks wonderful

delete reply tsblackmoon wrote on Jul 23, '09 forgetmenot525 said What a shame you can't enjoy your garden ...........But I know it has been very very hot for you this year and that does make things difficult. Maybe you could have a little courtyard garden with shade and plants in containers...............that would be nice and cool to sit in and maybe easier to look after. I have a beautiful garden spot, actually . . . Our riding lawn mower broke down and we're on 2 acres with a barn and shop, so . . . the garden spot is engulfed. It's late in the year, so I'll just have to look forward to next year. I was disappointed, though.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 23, '09 veryfrank said I have a condo (owned flat) glad you enjoyed it Frank....Guess that is what I have too then..................a small owned flat. It is very good of you to carry on doing the garden after you moved out.........don't think I've heard of any one else doing that......

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 23, '09 tsblackmoon said and it got too hot to want to deal with that What a shame you can't enjoy your garden ...........But I know it has been very very hot for you this year and that does make things difficult. Maybe you could have a little courtyard garden with shade and plants in containers...............that would be nice and cool to sit in and maybe easier to look after.

delete reply kathyinozarks wrote on Jul 23, '09 your garden is coming along wonderfully-it all takes time and hard work-hugs, enjoyed reading this blog-especially about your grandson-made me laugh

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Jul 23, '09 Enjoyed this very much. I have a condo (owned flat) with a patio and I do my gardening in stone pots. I miss my garden at the house, but not the work. I still help with it quite a bit (my wife still lives there) and with my daughter's garden as well. That is where so many of my pictures are from, my work from years past, still thriving and blooming. The benefit is that I don't have to do the work, if I don't want to. There is something very different about must do vs want to to do.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 23, '09 mitchylr said I'm more than happy just living in my flat. I know what you mean, what I call my house is in fact a modest ex council upstairs flat. I just happen to have a corner plot of garden. It's not very big but its mine and I love my little garden. And yes.............those Harry Potter squirty glasses are quite something, free with the Beano !!!

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jul 23, '09 Oh, the joys of the upkeep of house and garden!! Sometimes it just feels like it's neverending and that there'll never be time to relax. I'm glad I jumped off the property ladder several years ago. I'm more than happy just living in my flat. I'm gonna have to get me some of those Harry Potter squirty glasses!!! LOL.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 23, '09 msowens1 said I am glad someone loves the dandelions I never really thought about it before but I have spent so much time in my garden I couldn't help noticing them and if you click onto that photo and zoom in you can see how pretty they are. A very beautiful yellow gold covering all over the grass. It just looks so nice, bright vivid colour and all totally natural no man made hybrids................just good old mother nature.

delete reply msowens1 wrote on Jul 23, '09 what a great blog! I love your stone..... that is an awesome find...... I am glad someone loves the dandelions cuz.... when you work hard not to have them [i do} and your neighbor does it is aggravating.... lol..... oh well.... live and let live.....

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jul 23, '09 what a beautiful snippet of your reality! thank you for sharing it!

delete reply tsblackmoon wrote on Jul 23, '09 My garden went to pot when I couldn't mow the grass - and the trek out to the garden spot became a parasitic feast - and it got too hot to want to deal with that. I used to do it every year, but this year was a bit of a bummer . . . Maybe next year.