Love

He loves me I think, it might be cupboard love, because I feed him. But he likes having his cheeks rubbed and his ears stroked. He still doesn’t like being picked up and soon wriggles free. I think he must have been handled badly as a kitten. He was abandoned (we found out from the cat charity we support) so we have looked after him for about five years now. He started out living in our shed and gradually came into the house at night. Now he’s next to me, curled up on the arms of our armchairs, he likes sleeping between us. I think it makes him feel safer. But he still goes out most of the night, even when it’s cold and wet. I think he must be eleven or twelve now. Cats that live outside have shorter lives so I think we have added a few years on to his life. X

Lesser Celandine?

We had a few yellow flowers last year. Now they are mounds! I think it’s lesser celandine. Apparently they are grown from little bulbules? They can get on your shoes and get transferred around the garden. I used to be on a natural history website where you recorded the date when the flowers come out. It’s clear that spring is getting earlier each year even though it is only changing slowly. Anyway I like these plants. Our garden is quite wild and it’s good to add different wild flowers.

Cat in the garden

Golden eyes staring up at me. Sitting in the sunlight. Is that love or ‘feed me’ in his eyes? Predator, but well fed. He doesn’t chase birds thankfully. But he does chase other cats, and gets chased in return. I think they are playing ‘tag’. Long whiskers twitch, he’s ready to rub up against my legs. Enjoy the sun and warmth today. Tomorrow maybe snow is on the way!

Can we buy your garden?

We were going out yesterday when a car pulled up outside the house. Is that your garden? The driver asked us. Yes we said. Oh great. Can we buy it? No, I said. It’s not for sale! The man looked disappointed. Why do you want it my hubby asked. We are thinking of buying the old pub across the road to turn into apartments. We would use it as a car park. A car park alongside our house? No way. People coming and going at all times of the day and night. Destroying our wildlife garden. Also we would need a large fence to keep people out who could just walk onto the carpark…? NO! I was polite but said no.

Summer house doorway

almost two years ago

May 2020. This is an urban sketch because its ouside drawn in real time. I’m pleased with some of the details I added, like our plastic garden chair with the cut out curves in the back. When I sat and drew our then outside cat sitting by the summerhouse door. I haven’t been in the summer house much since then. I guess things got to me a bit. I didn’t shake then… I need to start feeling like I can be less isolated. But because my balance isn’t as good I always feel like I might tumble over. My hubby is good at leaving things in the way and I’m rubbish at bending over to move them. How did I get like this? It’s easier to hide away in the house. I need to try and sort myself out, but just getting doctors appointments is difficult. Anyway enough feeling sorry for myself. X

Remember summer

Actually it was probably September or October when I took this. Now the leaves have withered, just a few cling on to life. But come the spring I hope to transplant some of these plants into pots. I think the fushias will have survived because they have woody stems. Then the hanging baskets will go to the local nursery to have them filled for the next season. It’s always at this time of year that I start to think about spring. That is until we get to the cold blast of January to March. That’s when hubby gets enthusiastic and plants all the seeds we bought and collected in Autumn. Sadly the plants either don’t emerge or die off because they are too cold. Or he puts a whole packet of seed in one small pot! It’s amazing we get anything to grow!

Overgrown

A thicket, overgrown, a hedge tall and wide hiding the house behind it. Who lives there? No sign of movement. The gate locked shut. Curtains and boards up at the windows. Abandoned? Hidden, a haven for birds and wildlife. The smell and calls of foxes. But a house in need of care.

He looked through the hedge and wondered. Where had his family gone? Inheritance had finally happened and he was the only person found. He would start by cutting back the trees and hedges, but gently. He wanted to keep the wildness, but with some flowers and vegetables. It would take time.

He looked for a long time. Yes he could do it. Nature and garden would be in harmony. Life would be preserved and given its chance.

Snowing

A few shots of the snow outside in the garden. The snow is only a couple of centimetres deep but is continuing to fall. I don’t think this weather will last long, but it does seem strange that it’s falling in November. Most years we don’t get anything even at Christmas. It sometimes snows in the new year and can last a couple of weeks but generally it’s been mild for most winters. What does worry me is the cost of heating our house. Gas and electricity bills are skyrocketing. Ah well, that’s life.