The air could turn blue.

This morning I bathed, perched on a shelf provided by Occupational Health.  Now facing the taps as they fitted it with my back to the taps ?  I then washed my hair leaning over the bath using the shower attachment.  In agony.  The air turned blue.  But to be fair I only had COPD when the shelf was provided.  We none of us knew about the fractured spine and compressed vertebrae which were a result of the steroids prescribed for the many chest infections with COPD that I had.

I then insisted on driving my car to the Esplanade.  I proved I could do an Emergency Stop when I saw this.

My beautiful hedge !  Destroyed.

Fortunately covered by Insurance.  And I never did like Leylandii anyway.  So I now need ideas of what to replace it with which is far more bird, etc friendly.  And lower maintenance and tank proof too.

This is how it was.

One of those hedges you had to keep trimmed to keep up with the neighbours.  Oh yeah.  This arial photo was taken just after we moved in in 2011.  The garden is a wee bit more interesting now.  We have the Spinney Cemetery in the right hand corner.  Beneath most of the wee trees is a cat corpse.  There is my path from house to Shedudio and in front of the shedudio a paved patio area.  So - an excuse methinks to give the whole boring space a rethink.

So we eventually got to the beach.

Lots and lots of sea birds and seaweed.  I walked .59 of a mile.  And drove back again.  Could this be the turning point?  Well I didnt scream or swear once apart from when I saw the hedge.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.....

After yesterdays thunder and rain we got the Summer back big time.

The above was the cloud formation that preceded the heaviest July rain ever witnessed yesterday.   Had I known what the cloud presaged I would have got back to the car sooner as I was soaked.  

As explained before I try to walk along the prom prom prom every day.  Unless there is a hooley blowing which has -literally- blown me over, then I go.

Although I had two days off the walking as it was our annual visual art exhibition.  A great success, apart from not many sales, but then in the present climate quite understandable.

As you will see the Dawn Patroller won best visitor vote for his photograph.

I put one of my original watercolour paintings in the raffle.

As well as not selling any paintings I also discovered I can't give them away as so far it hasnt been claimed.......

On the plus side I now have my path down to the Shedudio and a Patio.

It is wonderful.  I can now scoot down to the shedudio, sit outside, zoom round the pots - when we have put them back - still a bit of tweaking to do saith the gardener.

I will leave you with one of my paintings titled "Oh we do not like to be beside the seaside...."

Smoothing my path.

Here is the finished path.

Grass seed is going along the edges.

What was a surprise plus was how well the plants look with the  sleeper edging.  This bit of garden was nurtured and planted by me when I could.

I have had a few practice runs now and, apart from more practice in carrying a cappucino down, it is brilliant.

This gives you an idea of the slope we have.  Thanks to the gardener for noticing it was less where he has now put the path.  (Nothing like as steep as Jessica's precipitous bank which you can see on her blog Rusty Duck  - sorry I still cant master links but well worth looking at.)

What you see here on the ground are called chuckies up here in the North East of Scotland.  Decorative stone anywhere else.  And not helpful to chariots.  So my next plan is to have it paved.  A patio no less. I may even be able to potter amongst me pots again.  YAY.

Great Expectations.

The way down to the shedudio.  Left out of the kitchen door.  

And down the steps.  Coming back up - well.  Carrying anything, walking and breathing quite an issue.

We really didnt want to lose the arch.  It has honeysuckle, clematis and ivy holding it up.  It is used by the birds on their way to and from the feeding station. Some nest in it too. 

But then our gardener came up with a plan.

Today he began.

Still turn left out of the kitchen door. But then..... turn right.

There is the arch on the left so we keep that.  

The new path down to the shedudio. Brilliant !  Ladies Mantle and pots will be moved. Wee ramp into shedudio. More independence for moi.  The chariot and I can go down and up, I sling onto the chariots handlebars whatever I need to take down, and ditto coming back.  The DP no longer has to carry anything for me.  Tomorrow our wonderful gardener returns to finish the job.  Of course I will bore you all rigid with the second instalment.

We lost a Box bush which would have needed shaping and or taking cuttings from.  Too old for that. Me, not the plant. Also a Crocosmia which isnt lost.  The DP will split it and replant around the garden.  Great Expectations it will survive.

Blooming June.

Not been very summery so far but apparently weather is to improve.

The garden is certainly blooming. Fantastic blossom on the cherry trees, Laburnam and now Lilac.

We have a new gardener.  So far he has cut the lawns for us.  And done an amazing job, he strims first, then cuts, the grass looks as if it has been shaved.  One still has to ignore the weed infested borders.  However the fact the hated grass cutting is done has led to the DP giving them his attention.

He has also been emptying the pots, re-filling and re - planting. My view from the shedudio is vastly improved.

The other border to the left of the shedudio is about ready to burst forth in colour.  

Peonies and Poppies.

Just beyond the fence at the rear of the peonies there is to be a path created by our gardener for me to wheel the chariot (wheeled walker) over the grass and straight down to the shedudio and , more importantly, back up.  I currently have to use steps so cannot use the walker. So carrying things to and from falls to the DP.  So a bit more independence for me.

I am currently improving from a chest infection.  Been out today for a great walk, watching our life boat on manoeuvres .

The bottom photo also shows a surfer !  Both show the haar on its way (mist).

Hope you are all, like me, looking forward to the rest of June being blooming.

Mainly garden and what happens out there..

Remember the trees, casting gloom on the shedudio?  This was in July.  Unfortunately our tree expert has been poorly but sprang into action today.

Not only do I have no shadows or gloom across the drawing board but I have a view!  You can see that months have passed as the barley is now cut and the stalks baled.  Also a nice pile of wood to burn - in 12 months time.  Takes that long to dry out.  
The trunks are to be removed at a later date, though I might keep the one on the right as it is flat.  We have random statues around the garden so possibly a plinth for one..

Within the shedudio more changes.  I finally bit the bullet and bought a table large enough to have all work in progress laid out.  Previously I had two small tables which didnt match in size and were bugging me.

So here we go one very large drawing board.  Waiting for more green spotty oil cloth....

Now, what do you suppose these are?  Made by a very clever friend of mine who upcycles brilliantly.  Made from a cane, netting = Scottish Thistles.  She has painted the top bits purple.  Another of my friends has a very sheltered garden and she uses them with t light candles.  

I decided to use them as fat ball holders.

Not having a sheltered garden, but with a lot of birds feeding.
 

These photos were taken within minutes of the thistle being placed.  This one is at the side of the shedudio.  The other has been planted outside the dining room window.  Success.

 My ace lady gardeners have returned and cleared the side border.

Can now see what is in their that is supposed to be there, NOT thistles and brambles.

This took a lot longer than the front garden.   The border by the shedudio will take even longer....... But it is so nice to see what I did plant still managing to flourish. The plants and I heaved a big sigh of relief.

Still lots to be done.  But the calming of my soul makes it all worth while.

The Time has Come -

- to admit defeat.

 Border at the side of the house.  Completely out of control, although you cannot see the weeds ha!

That is supposed to be a new woodland.  There are baby trees in there.  And wildflowers.  Really.

I could go on.  

The Dawn Patroller now does the cleaning, cooking, washing, hangs it out, brings it in, cleans out the stove, re-sets it, well just about everything.  He also cuts the grass which he reckons he can still fit in.....But the rest of the gardening has always been my job.  Planting, tweaking, weeding, pruning, tying up, training, moving, ,,,,,,,,

My lung disease progresses so I do less and less that involves physical activity.  Watching my garden get like this is not good.  When you get to the stage that you do a bit of weeding and then have to spend some time getting control of your breathing after one dandelion leaf, well, there's no fun in that is there!  And most definitely no fun in watching the weeds grow and strangle the plants I want to be there.

Now look at this.

The lovely Lydia and Aileen , my saviours.  (The tractor drivers are taking a very long time to drive past now as the gardeners wear short shorts and tight t shirts!  )

Yes, I am now employing a firm of gardeners .  For me it is worth it to see my beloved plants allowed to breathe and show off their beauty once more.

The DP also has more time and less worry to do the stuff he enjoys.

 

Ostensibly taking photos!  

 

Not moving fast.

So far we have only had one viewing of our house.  Sadly although they were most complimentary it was 'not for them'.  One is hardly going to say "Your taste is appalling and you have a nerve asking that price."  Common courtesy prevails.

Equally sadly the house we were interested in has finally been sold after three years on the market.  Three Years!

With that in mind we have had to gird up our loins and for the DP power up the lawn mower big time.  A task he was hoping not to have to do again.  But boy does the grass grow.

As does everything else of course.  Including the trees.  

 The view from the shedudio where I sit to draw and paint I suddenly realised had become gloomy.

These two Poplar trees are the main culprits.  At around noon the sun is above the house on the left and then moves right during the afternoon when I do the art rubbish.  

 

The Cherry Trees to the right of the Poplars are now blocking out light from there and as the earth tilts will block the sunset.

We both love trees.  Indeed this was some cause for concern in moving to the coast as there arent many there.

So in came our friend the tree surgeon.

The Poplars are to be lowered drastically in the next few weeks.  We will have the wood chopped for our wood burner.  ( Still seem to be paying for the chopping and the wood .)
Advice has been given re the Cherry Trees.  Ornamental ones these are, the ones at the front of the house grow cherries, and thats another story when we race to beat the birds  - and lose.  So we have to wait til the leaves are off the ornamental ones then start to prune.  This will apparently take two years.

About right for a buyer to come along......

Viewing.

Been on the market for a month our house has, not one viewing.  The DP has cut the lawn far more times than in normal years, just in case ....

Garden looking magnificent.  Far more blooms than last year and much earlier.  Photographs below were taken at the beginning of  May.

 Masses of Cherry Blossom, unlike last year.  Spring bulbs beneath.

Rogersii sending up flower spike months earlier than normal.
 

Clematis Montana.

Clematis? Cant remember name.  But both still flowering.

Not shown - sorry - Laburnam and Lilac both magnificent and lots of it taken in to Art Group to be immortalised.

Now, back to viewing.  

First exhibition for people to view my art was at Strichen Church. 

I went in to have a look.  My offerings were all in the browser, as none were framed, just mounted.  I trawled through, trawled through again and then thought shock horror one has been nicked!!

 My Three French Hens had been sold!  One of the few to sell.  Well pleased.  (I dont know why I dont just churn hens out as they always sell.)

So back down the shedudio and readying oneself for more viewing as even more exhibitions loom.

 Currently 3 headless chickens.

Skurries (Herring Gulls) United.

Both on the drawing board.

And one ready for viewing.....

Heron.  Finished.

Right then.  Viewing.  Tuesday 10th of June.  9p.m. BBC 2 .  The programme with Janet Street Porter.  View.