Sunday 26 February 2017

Call me Totty








I did some repotting on the odd sunny day last week. Taking out a couple of old battered pots that the children had managed to break and replacing them with nice new ones. Let's see how long they last. There's plenty to do in the garden, things I probably should have done before really. Bits of pruning and weeding and lifting the last of the carrots.

Suddenly spring is just around the corner. There must be at least a dozen frogs in our little wildlife pond and a few in the street as well, looking for somewhere to call home. Sadly there aren't enough ponds about for them all. The peach tree will be in blossom before too much longer. And I'm really hoping that birds nest in one of the two nest boxes we can see from the house. One is in our garden, one in our neighbours'. Ours is rather plain wood, with a slight patina of age around the edges. The neighbours' is a beautiful new silver birch one with gleaming white bark and a smart roof. It's not a competition or anything though...

It's been a quiet weekend here, although the boys have made me laugh quite a bit over one thing and another. Most of it very silly. The littlest boy got to go to the rugby this afternoon, just a local match, but he loved it. Then we came home and watched The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. I'd forgotten how funny Wallace and Gromit are, the writing is absolutely delicious and the details are fantastic. I particularly like the Were-Rabbit one because it's all about vegetable growing. Lady Tottington ('Call me Totty') has the most amazing greenhouse on top of her stately home filled with tomatoes and lettuces and chillies and butterflies, oh it's divine. And the rabbits are in a league of their own. Do watch it if you get the chance. Children not necessary.

22 comments:

  1. We got a bit of sun yesterday so some tidying outside was done.. but it was snowing this morning. Crazy weather. Goodness.. that greenhouse in the Were-Rabbit sounds like something I'd like to see. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. I think we put that movie in the Netflix queue but we haven't watched it yet. I love your photos, especially the frogs. We've been watching the latest episodes of Nature on public tv with their Spy in the Wild cameras and there have been a few funny mating scenes. I don't know if my kids find them as funny as I do. I'm glad you had the chance to do some potting. I really enjoy getting out in the yard a little bit here and there this time of year. It feels so much more fun when it's not the full-on yardwork season yet. I hope you have a good week ahead, CJ.

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  3. Re-potting here too. I'm very envious of your frogs. We found our toad beneath some bricks yesterday. He seems happy. No snakes about yet. Love Wallace and gromit too xx

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  4. We're big Wallace and Gromit fans too. I imagine that the birds will much prefer your beautifully weathered bird box to the neighbours'!

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  5. Looks like a lot of frog love going around. Here it is warm enough to plant flowers, which I did this morning. Love an easy weekend when you can rest up a bit. Hugs.

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  6. That's a gorgeous vista in the top photo! It is a rarity to spot a frog where I live. I think some could go a lifetime without happening upon one (near Washington, DC). I visited family in Indiana when I was small, and there were frogs galore on the grassy areas. Good week to you. Alexine in Maryland

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  7. Spring is just around the corner for you! I love your photos, sure signs indeed! The frogs made me smile.

    Here in Chicago it has been up and down with temps and very little snow thus far. Spring is another two months away. Enjoy the sunlight and wonderful afternoons with your boys!

    Jane x

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  8. can't beat a bit of Wallace and Gromit x

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  9. I might just do that, watch Wallace and Gromit. The sun has just peaked out behind some clouds after a dreadfully wet weekend. Typical! Poor frogs, it is a shame how they loose habitats. Our school swapped a piece of land that was used as a sports pitch with a piece of land that was a swamp - and turned it into a pitch. The powers to be forgot to tell the frogs and for two years running, there were hundreds of frogs seeking out their swamp. Years later, there is still the occasional geriatric frog coming back. Needless to say that the new pitch is often flooded, the goal post were so rotten in their foundations that they had to be removed. The old and perfectly good pitch is now the car park of hideous new houses. Poor frogs. Have a good week, hopefully with plenty of gardening time. x

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  10. No frogs here yet and we are hoping for action in the bird box with a camera this year.

    We also have some pots needing replacement.

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  11. Hey CJ,
    Funnily enough I managed a little first into the garden at the weekend. Mainly clearing the pins of all the palm leaves that Doris brought down. No frogs, but several beers. We love Aardman here too; "kiss my artichokes!"
    Leanne xx

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  12. I was just thinking this morning it is time for a bit of repotting... But it's blowing a gale and raining outside so that will have to wait. Maybe I should watch some Wallace and Grommit instead!

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  13. I'll have to check out The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It might be a fun movie to watch with my granddaughter. You have perfectly described how I left off my garden too, right down to neglecting to lift out the last of the carrots. :-)

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  14. This was a pleasant read. You have a very soothing style. I saw the Curse of the Were-Rabbit quite a few years ago when it first came out, but I remember really liking it (something about a cleverly hidden dirty joke made about vegetables when Wallace finds himself naked after changing back from the rabbit form comes to mind). I've seen Chicken Run many more times (same studio and writers, I believe, but without the famous duo), and Mrs. Tweedy scared the living daylights out of me as a child.

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  15. I will watch that film. Thanks for the tip. I blatantly watch Paddington so I can admire the sets and homes, it's not that weird is it? We are in a Harry Potter phase at the moment, books and films, and I'm quite enjoying it all.

    Excellent shots of the frogs by the way! Xx

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    Replies
    1. If you like Paddingtons sets, you should watch the Nanny McPhee films. I have freeze framed several lovely bits of crochet to take a picture of....

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  16. Spring is certainly on its way!The sun is out today and I'm thinking I should be off down to the allotment to hack away at the raspberry canes. Maybe tomorrow! Love a bit of Wallace and Gromit - such fun :)

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  17. despite all evidence to the contrary, winter isn't finished yet -- so says the long-range weather forecast. which makes me sullen and resentful because it *feels* like spring and the birds are coming back -- heard red-winged blackbirds today and that usually means that spring is here. pfffft. who knows?

    still, it gives me time to sort through my eleventy-trillion seed packets...xoxoxo

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  18. I managed to get a bit of tidying done in the garden last week but it has been too flippin' chilly so far this week. Wallace and Gromit are great and I love all the little details.

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  19. I look forward to showing Avalon Wallace and Gromit. What's the youngest age you'd suggest? These pictures are stunning. I especially am drawn to the first one and the one of the frogs is so clear! I'm glad the boys have kept you laughing! Enjoy your week friend!

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  20. "Suddenly Spring", indeed CJ. Wallace & Gromit give me a good case of the happys :) I love that first picture of the frog hug. good stuff.

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