July you are going so fast

July, you are 11 days old already, slow down.  Life has been busy here in Granny's World, we have some new additions.  Meet the girls, they have been here just over a week and finally settling down. Scruffy is leading them into bad habits and they have already managed to escape their part of the garden and are foraying into the flower garden!!

I have been busy knitting as usual.  Every time I think I can start on my cardigan I get another request.  I finished Jess' cardigan, made 2 hats for a friend of Rachel's.  Made a purchase of some Drops cotton from Wool Warehouse, some needed for a cardigan for Gus, the rest will go into stash.

My next project is a Rabbit for Gus, and then Rufus has asked for a cushion with a dog on it!! All exciting stuff.  There are 2 baby girls still to knit for, so life is busy.

The girls and I had their birthday shopping trip with young Gus on Saturday.  We had a lovely lunch out at Bills and managed to get the girls some new clothes.  Pops spent the day looking after the boys, so a good day all round.

Someone was getting bored

Smiley boy

That's it for today.  Hopefully summer will get here eventually.........

Garden - Right on time

It will be 3 weeks tomorrow that the girls arrived.

When I collected them I was told that they would start laying in about 3 weeks.  So imagine my pleasure when I checked this afternoon to find these waiting for us.  They are quite small but to find 2 was a bonus.

clever girls

I see some lovely egg dishes and cakes in our future.  Their run extension arrived today and has had 2 coats of paint so soon they will have a bit more room to move around in whilst we aren't about.

Gardening - Update on the bees

Its seems that they will be leaving this evening.......

After Leslie and Abigail collected the bees yesterday, they were carefully put into a new nucleus and the others hives checked.  Whilst walking back to the house Abigail removed her veil and received 2 bee stings to her head and ear.  She thought nothing of it, took some medication and went home but within 40 minutes she had a severe reaction and ended up in A&E.  It turns out that she is now hypersensitive to bee stings, so they can't risk keeping them.

To be honest whilst it is sad to see them go, they went for me again whilst I was in the greenhouse this morning and Peter got chased again, and his arm is really swollen from yesterdays stings.  Its no pleasure down the end of the garden at the moment, they obviously aren't happy.  I think they will be much happier in a farm setting away from people.  And I will be happier knowing that the boys can play in the garden without the fear of bee stings.

BTW - the chickens keep making a bid for freedom, their new run extension arrives tomorrow

How pretty are these flowers on my bay tree?

And the promised of figs this year.  Lots have over-wintered so we are keeping our fingers crossed

Gardening - the birds and the bees

All go in our garden again this weekend.  Yesterday we removed so of the ivy from the back and side of the house.  You know its time when it starts growing over the windows!

Then today we have been clearing some overhanging branches from the bottom of the garden whilst trying to avoid some visitors.

Our neighbours have 2 beehives.  One swarmed on Tuesday but by the time I had raised the alarm they were long gone. This morning there was lots of activity along the fence line and by the time I had got Leslie round they had taken up residence in our beech hedge.

this shot was taken with my short lens

Leslie wasn't able to remove the queen on his own so decided to wait til his daughter was home and then try again.

The following photos were taken with my long lens, though the bees seemed quite happy at this point.

We carried on clearing up

Then along came Abigail and collection commenced

It was fascinating to watch from a distance.

Peter and girls getting friendly, one is happier than the other to pick up.

So those remaining bees were pretty ticked off once their queen was taken away.  I was trying to water my greenhouse and got 2 bees in my hair, freaked out completely and ended up having to run away. Peter tried to finish and got stung twice, to add to an earlier sting, then chased up the garden.  We are waiting till later to go back down.

And this is his other injury, had a argument with a saw!!  Gardening really can be quite hazardous!

and finally Easter Monday......

the last day of the 4 day weekend.  Its been busy, fun and productive long weekend.

I have learnt that a lot of women have a jeans dilemma, so I'm not alone.  My daughters say go straight leg, so I guess I will just have to suck it up and take a change.

The chickens have been named Florrie and Annie - after Peter's grandmothers!!  Their personalities are starting to come out already.  Peter rigged up a temporary run extension until he has time to build something substantial.  One of the girls escaped and he found her wandering around the garden.

We have been continuing to clear up at the bottom of the garden and seeds have been planted.  Chard, Spinach, Spring Onions, Shallots, Peas, Salad Leaves, Beetroot, Courgette.  The plants in the greenhouse are coming on a treat

Beans - runner, climbing and dwarf

cutting Sunflowers

Nasturtiums

Tomatoes - late again

Broad beans

French marigolds

and the proceedings were watched over by this little chap

I am hoping that I have done enough exercise to counter all the cake, buns etc I have eaten this weekend, if not then its time to bring out the salads.

I hope you all had a happy Easter.  Roll on the next holiday weekend in 2 weeks time.  And would you believe I've done no knitting for 2 evenings, I need to rectify that right now