We have had experienced heavy showers throughout the night!
This morning it is misty and noticeably colder and the air is heavy with fresh moisture It also feels that the allotment, garden and pasture land have all taken in a collective "gulp" of rejuvenating water, which I know will change the scorched yellow of the field to a more normal and comforting green.
At least I wont have to hump a dozen buckets of water across the field now to water the far vegetable patches.
I need to clean out the hen houses today and will lay rat poison down carefully beneath each one.. I have seen a couple of rats lurking around when I have been on fox watch, so will nip any problem that may develop in the bud.
The dogs are incredibly patient when I am pottering around doing household jobs. Meg will take up her usual position on the bedroom window seat, watching out for any interesting movements and spending her time smearing dog snot on the window.
Perhaps it is the slightly damp feel to the start of the day, but I will forgo my second cup of coffee of the day and will now take the lot down to the beach for a run
Meg needs a hair cut. It disturbs me when you can't see their eyes!
ReplyDeleteYou need a water butt or two, although I don't know whether they could be retrofitted to "vintage" properties (or bird houses). I have mostly plastic pipes, so it should be easy. I'm buying one from the council - they sell them at discounted prices.
Of the vegetables that have survived the cat damage, my peas have died, and the beetroot are not looking healthy. In contrast, the cabbage are taking over the garden.
I'm on a water meter and so -perhaps for environmental reasons, too -have decided not to use water on something that is basically a "hobby". Will be easier with a water butt, I guess.
Not that my neighbours are committed: they're still washing their little cars and switching on their lawn sprinklers with no remorse. I wouldn't mind, but most of them have chosen not to have their water metered. As my Cumbrian friends ALWAYS remind me, "that's our water you're using". As much of Manchester's water is piped direct from Thirlmere, they could be right.
Another idea - have you thought of setting up a little "mill pond" type thing. You have that wee stream at the back of the field, although I don't know if it dries up this time of year, or if anyone else relies on the water further downstream.
Nx
I really like the picture of Meg! She looks like something out of a book sitting there on the window seat!
ReplyDeleteWe had a little bit of rain here in our part of Virginia yesterday and it really was a relief! But it would have been nicer if the downpour came over the day instead of the hour! ~Enjoy your day John, it sounds like it's off to a good and busy start!~
the stream unfortunately has all but dried up Nige..... but I think village handiman and elder "steve" is on the case with planning a pond "extension".....
ReplyDeleteIn Llanasa, the evidence of former mill/water management is clear from both the topography and a casual walk down that road you take into the village from Trelawnyd (on the right hand side, I think). I can't say that I've noticed the same in Trelawnyd, but I might be wrong. Did it ever have a mill?
ReplyDeletethere is an old mill house just opposite to the water treatment works at the bottom of the lane, about 3000 years from our cottage...
ReplyDeletethe mill stopped working at the turn of the century I think
The village still has a well (located on well street duh) and it used to be stone covered with a roof....it was the only area for the villages to get their water for decades...
having said this a few of the older villagers remember standpipes in the street, where water could be obtained!
We had rain again yesterday. My mother who lives in Cumbrian, was just saying they may be on a hosepipe ban soon, which is crazy if you ask me. Remember all the floods they had earlier on in the year......where did that water go too?
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
Oooh! You have a window seat! Very nice! We goats don't like rain much but my lady does because it feeds the cistern. I'm glad you've had some lovely rain to help your garden and plants!
ReplyDeleteThat shot of the allotment is really beautiful. I'm glad that you got some rain. It always feels and smells so good after a good rain. And, of course, your flowers and veggies must have really appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteNow that's how I picture your country; in a gentle misty rain.
ReplyDeleteMeg looks so cute. I don't take Clifford to the barn when it's too hot, so we have a slobber window too.
We had several, most welcome, rains here yesterday as well. Of course it meant no internet and no tv. Of course, I did my morning ritual of watering my dead or dying plants, so they really got doused! We have a well here, you can't drink the water, so we get the big bottles for drinking. A new well would be nice, but would cost a small fortune and who is to say the water would be any more potable?
ReplyDeleteWhat window looks right, without nose smears on it?
I hope the dogs enjoyed their run!
Rats pose a problem here as well...so I kill the little f*#@#ers as soon as I'm aware of them....off with their heads.
ReplyDeleteSend me Meg - she's lovley!! I really liked your post about Anne - an angel here on earth by the sounds of it. You are so lucky to have her in your life. UUURRGGGHHH to rats, I cannot stand them! xxxx
ReplyDeleteWe've had rain for the past few days now....looked like the Queen and Prince Phillip got soaked yesterday in Halifax.
ReplyDeleteLike the garden pic, John.
I can even feel the cooler weather you have from here, just looking at the picture. Don't you just love the smells of the earth and the plants after a fresh gulp of rain?
ReplyDeleteHello John! I'm happy for you that you finally got some rain and I agree the vegetable gardens will be 'gulping' down the moisture. I bet everything looks wonderful again soon. Meg looks like a real sweetie. We have dog snot on our back door...Shep likes to put his nose up against the glass and watch Chelsea and Bubba napping in the porch. Good luck with your rat killing...I hate those critters. I hope you had a good run with the dogs on the beach. Enjoy your afternoon! Maura :)
ReplyDeleteJohn on the subject of water supplies, I went on to old-maps.co.uk and found victorian maps showing wells and pumps all over our village, and I was able to identify one disused such well in a field nearby. Might be worth a look in case you have one on your field that you could resurrect?
ReplyDeleteIs that the start to Eurythmics song ?
ReplyDeleteof course geoffrey
ReplyDeletethe penny has dropped
hehe. So Nigel is disturbed that you can't see Meg's eyes. Even when Hootie has a haircut his squinty little eyes seem to be obscured! It's actually more disturbing that it looks like he has NO eyes when I take a flash photo of him.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm at Mick Duff's Brew Pub using their wi-fi and that old Wham song Take on Me is blasting. A good one for dancing!
Well J, it was just a few days ago you were complaning of no rain...Aren't you happy now??
x-c
Sounds like a good day to me. I wish we were getting rain and cooler weather. Actually, I did get rain. If you want to cal a tenth of an inch rain.
ReplyDeleteLove the pose Meg has in the window.
ReplyDeleteYay for the rain!
I hope you went ahead and got your second cup of coffee.
we've had 48 hrs of rain straight, makes the hair go frizzers, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete