Plot

 T ip-toe,                       

W atch,                    

E xplore.  

         

N ettles,                     

T hisles,                 

E arwigs,             

Y icks!.                

T ickle,               

W iggle,              

O lay!!                      

Red or blue?

New boots, new boots

New boots, yeah!

Red boots, red boots,

Rah, rah, rah!

M.V. part 2

 What if God was one of us?

What if God was a slob like us?

A stranger on a bus

Just trying to get home?

Green, green grass

Blue, blue sky,

You'd better have a party

On the day that I die.

It's springy!

 The year turns and the sun is shining. The wind has dropped and it was warm enough on the plot to take off both fleece and jumper. Yesterday was what our family refer to as the 'infernal' equinox (we all seem to suffer from colds, coughs and general "get-rid-of-the-rubbish' malaise at this time.)

The dandelions and primroses were providing food for bees (both bumble and honey) and butterflies ( possibly a small tortoise shell). Robins and Bluetits were chirruping away in the trees - and the trees are starting to feel, if not warm, then not as cold as they were.

Planted a pretty primrose and some phlox (creeping, I think) and did a bit of pruning on the apple trees.

There are so many different types of bug, beetle and various insects, I should really invest in a proper guide.

This is one I still haven't identified (well, at least I did have the camera to take a piccy!).

Update!

(having bought an identifier)

might be Nezara viridula, although book says not in British Isles.

 

Stepping back

 It was the last day, end of term feeling bubbling under the seasonal panic as the orders are checked and rechecked. Has anyone been forgotten? Did I leave something at home? Did I remember everything? Setting the table, spacing the treats so all are visible (no favouritism), labels on view, all correctly written. Invoices checked, savouries on ice, everyone in the aprons.

Till sorted.

Such a busy Market, chatting to friends, wishing seasons greetings and mentioning 'this is my last, retirement beckons.' Such kindness. Gifts, cards, well-wishes. Memories of past customers, past Marketeers, what we used to bake, how it all started.

Friends made and kept. Moving house, traveling abroad, futures planned. Let's do lunch - keep in touch.

Monster munching..

 When was the last time I assessed the plot? Well, whenever, I'm sure it's well overdue.

So, after the rain today.....

Grey squirrel running across the lane; house martins wheeling overhead; young robin following me around the apple trees; pheasant calling from somewhere near; froglet (or maybe toadlet) in the damp grass;  shield bugs in the raspberries and elsewhere; crane flies (daddy longlegs) everywhere; shiny beetles, size like ladybirds; orange-lipped slugs (enormous!); lots of bees, some wasps, various hover and other flies; cabbage whites and a fritillary; acid-green caterpillar on horseradish leaf.

Picked up the windfalls but still lots on all trees; autumn raspberries from bud to flower to very ripe fruit; blackberries popping up; radishes in flower (bees) and pods (are they edible?); runner beans; a few french beans; yellow courgettes; tiny squashes and sweetcorn forming; carrots have lots of leaf; chard growing well.

Greenhouse has a monster cucumber plant, tied around canes. 1 classic (large) cucumber, picked 2 to take home; 3 or 4 ready to pick, more forming; heritage tomatoes ripe, other tomatoes  a good size but still green; peppers (chillies?) growing well; lemongrass bulking out; borage going bonkers.

Really must remember to take my clock - didn't get back till 2.40pm. Too tired, too hungry.

Will try to go again on Friday, as I'm not baking this week!

Time - what has changed?

 "What if God was one of us?

What if God was just another guy on a bus, trying to find his way home?"

A song, an 'ear worm' as they say and it started me thinking - well, it was a baking day.

What has changed in two thousand years? Is the human race more human, less violent, more tolerant of others, less judgemental? 

And to where (or from) would he be travelling? 

 Would he do what he did then? Telling people to be kind to each other, quoting from scriptures, standing out as educated, a do-gooder. That didn't exactly end well, did it? Resulting as it did in torture and death.

Perhaps He would be one of the heroes who work with the homeless, displaced, ignored peoples of the world who reluctantly depend on the Charity of others. A health worker, shelter volunteer, a packer of food parcels. One of the silent aide workers who see the worst of humanity and try to make it better, if only for a short time.

Tired, physically, mentally, spiritually, on a bus, trying to remember the way home.