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.