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Sunday

Error

Great apologies, I have been misleading you. Apparently I don't mean Soay (although I am sure they are perfectly nice) I mean Blue Faced Leicesters. This won't mean a thing to you if you are reading the blog from the top of the page. In fact it does bring up an interesting point, its very tiresome that blogs read back to front. Can some clever person invent a better way to compile them?
Anyway, in case anyone is beside themselves with curiosity here is a very fine example of the breed courtesy of the Penrith Bluefaced Leicester Progeny Show 26/07/05. Here

Sneak preview

This is a link to our online catalogue, here. It so clever, you can turn pages and look closely at more details.

Last gasp of sunshine




A sunny Saturday, very surprising. Spent the afternoon whittling away, tidying my borders. Didn't need to make a trip to the compost bins as the sheep just helped themselves when the barrow was in their field. Andrew calls them the 'plug-uglies', which is accurate if not a bit mean. I haven't quite summed up the courage to ask Robin to get prettier ones next time. Suffolks or those Soay (the ones which look like a cross between a rabbit and a deer) would do fine if you're reading this Robin...

Hedghogs for dinner




Last mushroom forage we found these beauties. Some of my favourites, generally we never find enough to make anything of, but this was a surprise. We had them cooked in butter with some scrambled eggs for lunch. Delicious, nutty and sweet.

When they are raw their texture is amazing.

Thursday

What is it about gardening?

Finally, after grappling with our catalogue, new products and trade shows, a free afternoon coincided with a small patch of sunshine so I spent it dibbling about in the garden. There's something wonderfully rewarding about getting soil under my fingernails and feeling the warmth of the sun on my back. Much as I hate the steady march towards autumn and winter, I do enjoy the process of 'putting my garden to bed'. I suppose it is all to do with looking beyond the scary, dark winter months and relishing the next warm growing season, planning and imagining how things will grow and what it will all look like. Soon I can sort out my borders, move the unsuccessful combinations of plants, and re position things. It is infinitely satisfying. But whilst I am doing it I also take stock of what is happening to me and all around. Last week whilst we were at the trade fair the news broke about Lehmans going under, in itself pretty awful for all involved, but also indicative of how many others will struggle for a considerable time to come. Then set against that is the constant germinating, growing and dying of things in the garden. Whatever is going on, this continues, perhaps that is why we find it compelling.

Wednesday

Long week


Would you believe it, 3 days of pretty good sunshine and I get to spend them inside all day at Olympia doing Top Drawer.

Friday

Keep busy




Summer is gone, and it could be a long time before we see real sunshine again. Still it helps keep me focused on work instead of being distracted. End of an exciting week. Our first proper catalogue is back from the printer. It has taken ages to compile it and other than a few obsessive details that I would like changed I'm very pleased with how it looks. New web pages up and together, latest textile samples completed with really nice zippers, so gradually, things that have been in the development stages for months are now coming to fruition.

One last whistful look at my summer garden borders. There you can just spot some of the delphiniums in flower, remembering them in my early blog this year with just 2 tiny leaves.