Graveyard Ducks, harvest time and the pleasure of sisters

I have spent the day at the hospital (mandatory training) so thank god for Carol and Ewan from down the lane, who took the dogs (with the obligatory Albert in tow) for the day. They all love galloping around her huge garden, and all act like unruly teenagers at their first drinks party
On my return, some of the birds had typically run amok and I was horrified to find all the ducks in the old graveyard. They hadn't touched any of the floral tributes, concentrating their attentions on sieving snails and slugs out of the grass, but having them anywhere near the Church is totally unacceptable as once they are comfortable , ducks tend to revisit any area which they enjoy a good feast.
I chased the nine of them back to the field and spent an hour or so in a magnificent thunder storm setting up on of my wire netting up against the existing wooden rail fencing. I am now confident that the ducks as well as a few of the more stupid hens will be now confined to my own field.

I got absolutely soaked, yet after a long hour schleping in the mud I couldn't be bothered in getting dry, so like a naughty ten year old, I got even wetter ! I checked the new hens (below) who are all comfortably settling in now, then checked on my onions (above) which are all fattening up very nicely indeed

The sweetcorn is putting on a late spurt of growth (though is not as high as an Elephant's eye as yet) and even the winter cabbage is growing into buxom little knots of green. I now have huge heads of cauliflowers overlooking broccoli florets and and even the beetroot plants that was so decimated by the gang of sparrows have flourished in the late rain.
Ann called around with the surplus strawberries from her allotment when I was in the middle of this childish water romp. I will start jam making tomorrow! She was full of her experience of Ballroom dancing at St George's Hall and it was lovely to hear her excitement and enthusiasm for the night.Both Janet and Ann have revelled in these dance nights and Janet especially has blossomed in the very "old fashioned luxury" and ritual preparation she has to go through to take part in the event.

Even though I am not a dancer, I have taken a great deal of vicarious pleasure in their new pastime and will I think get scrubbed up for the big Christmas ball late in the year, it will give me the chance to see Chris show off too -with his "Jazz hands" at the ready!!! I am so lucky to have my sisters nearby

Janet (left) Friend Janet Jones (centre) and Ann (right) in a cross between Sex and the City and The Colour Purple finale pose!