Friday 2 May 2014

Trying to be afloat

I feel as though I've been scrabbling around lately, trying to keep up, trying to get things done, trying to be organised, but in reality just keeping afloat.  Is it this time of year?  All of those needy little plants on windowsills and all of that weedy growth at the allotment?


Or am I just not doing things fast enough, not being quite efficient enough with my time?  Or maybe I just have unrealistic expectations.  There's so much I want to do, so much I want to try.  Plans I want to make and follow through.  I need to find an hour or so a day and use it proactively.  Less sleep?  Maybe not, I usually get between six and a half and seven hours and with any less I start to suffer.  Well, mostly the children start to suffer and then I fall asleep on the sofa at nine o'clock and then I can't sleep at bedtime.

I always think it's a truism that you make time for what you want to do.  I just have to be a bit more organised and focused and maybe try harder.  Just as soon as all of these needy little plants are in the ground.

Yesterday morning the boys planted some sunflower seeds before school.  It's a little competition (of course) to see whose will be the biggest.  The littlest boy was very careful to make sure his were well watered.  It will all be taken very seriously.  The variety is Earth Walker, so the flowers should be oranges, reds and browns rather than the usual yellow.  I really like the claret ones too, but the variety I found didn't seem to have any pollen so I didn't bother.  We like pollen, pollen-free isn't going to persuade us to buy.  Although I have noticed that hayfever season is here.


In the garden there's yet more apple blossom.  This one is a Worcester Pearmain, a tip-bearing apple.  The fruit is borne at the ends of the branches, so pruning needs to be done with care.  This tree is the one I planted last year, and it looks quite happy in its spot by the compost bins.



The bare branches intrigue me a bit, with everything happening at the ends.  To be honest I'm not exactly sure how you prune them, but that's a problem for another day, it won't need cutting back for a while yet.


The tayberry is looking good too.  Just one plant supplied a surprising amount of fruit last year.  I put the last of them in a crumble with some rhubarb today.


Ladybirds are out and about.  If you look closely you can see some aphids underneath the leaf.  A tasty, juicy snack if you're a ladybird.  And yes, that is a stinging nettle.  I keep them especially for the wildlife you know...


Thank you for all of your good wishes for the guinea pig.  She's much happier now she's got all of her space back to herself.  And the little people are making sure she has company when they're around.


I'm feeling inclined not to get another one now.  Mrs Armitage is a fairly old piggie, and she likes a quiet snooze from time to time, and it's quite annoying trying to have a nap with younger more vigorous people climbing all over you.  Ask me how I know.

Wishing you all a good bank holiday weekend, or just a good weekend if you're not getting Monday off.  I'll be watching a little football and then hopefully enjoying the sunshine.  Other than that, there are no plans.  Sometimes that the best way.  I'm looking forward to it.

40 comments:

  1. I hope that you find the odd hour to get what you want to done, and I also look forward to seeing those sunflowers later in the year - it looks as though they will be very pampered plants! Hope that you have a good weekend too. xx

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  2. I could have written those first two paragraphs. It is the time of year I think. Either that or time is speeding up!
    Have a relaxing weekend.

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    1. Hello, just wandered in from .... not sure where exactly. A click and then another click and whoosh!

      Anyway, lovely post, glad to have found you and thought I'd say "I'm sorry Jessica, you are wrong" {giggle}. Those first two paragraphs are the one I would have written if I wasn't constantly rushing around doing plate spinning and trying to juggle too many things!

      Unrealistic expectations? Hmm, that sounds familiar.

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  3. I totally understand how you feel. I've been feeling a serious longing for more time for myself lately. I've been home for nearly nine years now and while I love it and plan to continue indefinitely, I'm also looking forward to having both children finally in school together. Our school choices mean they aren't away from home for very long, but it will be plenty for me to feel like I can do some other things for a few hours a week. I love your kitchen, it's very pretty. I'm always surprised every time I see a washing machine in the kitchen, but that must be the norm there and the idea has grown on me a lot, especially lately because it'[s spring and everyone's clothes are dirtier. I have a laundry room at the bedroom end of the house (my house is a one-story ranch, common in the western US), which is great for sheets and towels out of the bedrooms and baths, but I think it would be nice to wash the kitchen rags right away there in the kitchen. I think you're making the right choice with Mrs. Armitage and eventually you'll maybe be in a position for a new pigger. I hope you have a good weekend. We planted the same kind of sunflower seeds yesterday...great minds. :)

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  4. Just today I was resting on the couch while the beans were watching a program because I am sick...sure enough I hear one, two, three and all of a sudden I have little people jumping all over me! HA...I suppose one day we will really miss that. And I am the same way with organizing and using my time correctly and the things I want to do but there never seems to be just the right amount of time....I'm starting to wonder if that is just life...because like you I need sleep! You have captured those blooms magnificently! Just so superb!!! Enjoy your low key weekend friend!!! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Sorry you're not very well Nicole, I know what you mean about little people jumping all over you when you're trying to have a quiet sit down. But you're right, we will miss it one day. I do hope you're feeling completely better soon.

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  5. As always, your pictures are beautiful.

    I have a question about your kitchen. Your son is standing by, what I assume, is the clothes washing machine. Do you have a dryer in the kitchen too, or does that one machine do both? We watch House Hunters International and we often see just the one machine either in the kitchen or in the bath. I'm intrigued by how they work.

    Have a happy day off. It's just a regular old Monday here, but that's the day I go to lunch with "the girls". It makes Monday a little more special.

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  6. I hope you get some time to do what you want and take some time for yourself this weekend. We're going on another bus tour tomorrow with a lunch in Timberline Lodge. Yes, pix will follow! :-) Give your piggie a hug for me. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. I was thinking yesterday that I have too much to do and not enough time at the moment. Maybe it is the time of year. The garden is growing and changing at quite lan alarming rate. But it all gets done in the end. And what doesn't, probably wasn't important anyway. Have a great weekend. I'm hoping to take a few hours out and watch Matt play cricket. Who knows, the sun might even shine!

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  8. That age old problem for mothers! I am sure it is the garden which often cannot wait, May is a very busy time in the garden :). Enjoy your long weekend here's to some rest in the sun!

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  9. I think we can all empathise with your sentiments about time and not getting done all we wanted to do but if you were busy doing things all the time you'd miss the joys of just noticing the apple blossom, ladybirds etc! You might use some of the nettles to make a delicious soup too - it's supposed to be very good for you being rich in Vit C I think. If you want a recipe there is one on a separate page Recipes on my blog.

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  10. Sorry to hear you are feeling a little overwhelmed, sometimes we just have to slow down and give ourselves a bit of relaxation time. I hope you have a good weekend. Please keep us up to date with Mrs Armitage. I think sometimes guinea pigs are like us and enjoy a quieter life as they get older.
    Caz xx

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    1. I think you're right, she seems quite happy now she's on her own again. A quiet life.

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  11. It's definitely that time of year for gardeners when you feel as though you're chasing your tail, well, it does to me, I'm never organised. Hmmm, organising a sunflower competition between three brothers, isn't that asking for trouble?

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  12. Life is just so busy sometimes, you feel good just making through the day. Remember to take a deep breath every now and again, hugs those boys, inhale their sweet little boy smells and have a cup of tea.
    Hugs to you and happy weekend,
    Meredith

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  13. As always a most enjoyable post and lovely photos. Flighty xx

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  14. Definitely a time of year thing oh & having a family. I am so looking forward to Monday as I have yet another busy day tomorrow. Glad your Guinea pig is getting on better.

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  15. We certainly have lots of ladybirds all rather frisky so I shall be on the look-out for eggs. I do agree with you about pollen free flowers. I want bee friendly flowers.

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  16. I love your attitude towards the garden - bee-friendly, catering to ladybirds with the aphid buffet, and allowing nettles and wildlife to play a part! And it's wonderful that your boys are involved, too - love the concentrated watering of the sunflower pot! Mrs A will no doubt enjoy some Me Time with the occasional cuddle...I know I would! ;-) Enjoy your chilled weekend, Chrissie x

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  17. I have days and weeks when days seem to be shorter than usual, or maybe I am less efficient with using the time available. But in the long run, the washing gets done and the children are happy and the fluff balls in the corner are eventually large enough to be used as footballs, which is always a bonus with two football mad boys. Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend CJ. I've noticed that the weather forecast in your part of the world is ok and maybe there will be time to plant your sweetcorn seedlings, and the others, too.

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  18. Our elderly piggies were always quite happy on their own, I'm sure Mrs A will be too. Especially if she gets all the veg trimming to herself!

    I do know what you mean about feeling a bit like Canute facing a tide of incoming chores, but I honestly think the clock change still affects us for up to two months afterwards, our circadian clocks are out of kilter and that slows us down. Hope you can find time to relax this weekend :)

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  19. Learned something new - I've never heard of a tip bearing apple tree or a tayberry before. Had to look it up - a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry - interesting! Glad Mrs. Armitage is enjoying leisurely days in the fresh air without fear of attack.

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  20. I can relate to needing an extra hour (or two) in a day :) When things feel hectic like this I tell myself to slow down rather than speed up--and finish one job before starting the next. It is easier said than done in the spring though! Good luck!

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    1. It's good advice, I'm terrible for trying to do loads of things all at once.

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  21. I hope that you have found some time to relax and recharge x

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  22. I hope that you have found some time to relax and recharge x

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  23. Maybe it IS true that you make time for what you value but still, don't go too hard on yourself. To borrow and twist that old cliche of 'it's not you, it's me': 'it's not you, it's the complete and utter anarchy that goes with being a mother' x

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  24. That comment about the Worcester Pearmain is a good one. I don't think Sue takes tip bearing into account at pruning time. Of course it's an inherited apple tree so we're not even sure of the variety but it does perform poorly compared to the other cordon apples. So how should it be pruned???

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    1. As far as I know we haven't got a Worcester Pearmain. If we have it is an inherited sort of cordon which makes tip pruning tricky s far as I know about pruning which isn't a lot. I just go with what I think may be OK.

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    2. As far as I can tell, you prune it by cutting the tips off... I did look at the RHS advice, and there was a lot about buds and spurs and things. I'll wait until it gets too big and hack it back a bit and see what happens. That's about as technical as I can manage.

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    3. Thanks for the info CJ. I had a look at the RHS web site too. Our apple trees were trained as cordons by the previous plot owner. We don't know the varieties but have done our best to work them out. One tree in particular never has much fruit. I'm wondering if this tree is a tip bearing apple tree, even if it's not a Worcester Pearmain, as the RHS advise that tip bearer's are not suitable as cordons because of the way they need to be pruned. All we need to do now is see if we can prune it in a better way and help it produce some apples.

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  25. Definitely the time of year, I always think I'm organised with seeds until the pricking out/potting on needs to be done, then fall behind. I've got a few very leggy looking seedlings eagerly awaiting their turn to be given a better home. Have a good week.
    Jane x

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  26. I know how you feel, CJ, about feeling like you're just keeping things afloat but not getting all you want done. I've always said that I have unrealistic expectations. I don't think things will take as long as they do or things will just be easier to get done. Hang in there. Everything you're growing looks beautiful, and I love that little lady bug:) I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  27. A really nice windowsill. Love the apple blossom, so beautiful! Hope all becomes great fruits!

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  28. Apple blossoms don't exist in my area so I'm very happy to see them, they are so beautiful. Take your time and slow down, if we feel exausted, we can't do anything.Enjoy the week! By the way, my kitchen looks very much like yours.

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  29. I'm still enjoying the sight of the apple blossom here, too. I shall be sorry when it all disappears. It is difficult keeping up with the seedlings and plants and I'll also be happy to see everything finally in the ground and thriving (hopefully)
    Hope you're having a lovely 'long' weekend.

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  30. You're putting it all into words so perfectly. I have also been feeling like I can just about keep afloat, there is only so much that can be fit into a day (though my blog is suffering). But I think it is important not to rush too much in order to get more done; I may forget to enjoy what I am doing and isn't that the most important thing of all?!

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  31. I often feel like that, I suspect we all do. And I don't have an allotment to worry about! I over-book my diary and then regret it. I love to have a totally clear day - between the hours of 9 and 3, of course! - and then my head feels clearer and I feel better able to tackle things.

    More beautiful photos CJ! x

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  32. What a beautiful and honest post, yes this time of year does feel hectic with so many plants, things to do, ideas etc. Plus I don't have children! You're doing a great job xxx

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  33. I've been feeling like this too. It's a strange time if year waiting for better weather and spring and then being so busy you feel you can't catch your breath. Such beautiful photographs once again...x

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