I missed out on a post last week due to the much anticipated and welcome arrival of Spring! Despite the lack of warmth and sun leading up to the opening of May, the weeds have been growing like, well, weeds.
With the advent of better weather there was (and still is) an urgent need to get into the garden and start sorting it out. I’ve so far weeded 8 flower beds and 6 veg beds. With yesterday seeing the best weather yet, we started on the monster task of planting. I don’t think I have time to count up how many plants we’ve put in the ground, planters, and hanging baskets, but believe me, its a lot!
Brassicas, peas, sunflowers and marigolds (to deter pests) in the first outdoor beds, with courgettes (zucchini for my American friends) and sweetcorn in the polytunnel. This year we sprouted the seeds on the window ledge instead of buying plug plants, so they are all our own work.
Tomatoes ready to go in, and one of the strawberry beds coming along nicely, with a bunch of new plants at the far end.
My favourite Lollo Rosso lettuces will be ready for salad season. Plenty more still needs to go in, but it’s a start.
Weeded, and new plants added to fill up a few gaps where plants didn’t survive our winter. This is the smaller of the two big beds. I have yet to start on the biggest.
The potting station, watched over by Ben, our elderly collie dog
Some of the smaller beds with winter violas still in bloom
The fruit trees are in blossom: apple above, cherry below
So if I vanish again, you’ll know where I am…
And so to this week’s book review. A short but satisfying novella, prequel to a series classed as ‘Paranormal Women’s Urban Fantasy’. That does, indeed, sum it up well.
Blurb
When the going gets rough, the tough send in their cat…
Brigid Donovan is going through a nasty divorce. The only thing that lifts her heart and soul is her dream of buying and restoring her family’s old mansion.
On a mission to accomplish this, she is thrown up against a family mystery. Who or what is the cat that stalks the mansion, and why does he call himself her protector? What does she need to be protected from?
The protection part does come in handy when her ex-husband’s mistress decides she doesn’t want to give up any of the benefits of having the despicable cad—mainly his billion dollar fortune. Now Brigid’s quest for peace may be ended before she even gets started. Not only is the mistress a home-wrecker, she’s magical, and Brigid didn’t even know that world existed.
Now, armed only with her twenty-five pound Ragdoll cat, she has to face the fight of her life, ignorant, magic-less, and just plain tired.
Splintercat by Jilleen DolbeareMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the aftermath of a messy divorce, Brigid returns to her family home and buys the dilapidated, empty house despite the enormous challenge of extensive renovation. What she’d reckoned without, is finding a cat already in residence – a cat that looks just like her childhood feline, Mr Mittens.
And then he starts talking to her…
I really enjoyed this short read – well-written, great characters, and a blistering pace which packs a great deal of both story line and world-building into just 66 pages. Oh, and Mr Mittens is awesome! I would love to have a Splintercat as a companion.
As a freebie prequel to an existing series this novella did its job admirably – I immediately bought book #1, Splintered Magic.
View all my reviews
deborahjay 
You and my sis would get along just fine. She actually created raised garden boxes for my visit to her so I could reach them more easily! If not for that, I never would have gardened.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is what I call considerate! Much of our property is thin soil over hard standing, so raised beds is the only way to go in many areas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am absolutely gob-smacked at all the gardening you’ve gotten underway. Holy Moly! And here I am barely able to plant THREE coleus in a planter yesterday. It’s so blinkin’ hot here already, I can only stand to be outside for maybe a half an hour at a time, before I have to go into the air conditioning and catch my breath for an hour or two. (Plus, my doctor doesn’t want me bending over, getting overheated, and a whole list of other no-nos. GAH!) I’m waaaay behind on what I wanted to clean up and replant this year, and mad that I didn’t start in January or February, when the temps would be comfy, at least.
Oh, and just so you know … I WANT PICTURES of the progress of everything you planted, of course. I can’t wait to see what this all looks like when it is full and lush! (Not to mention, some of it undoubtedly being yummy, too.)
Great job so far, and thanks for the review, too. Have marked it on my wish list. Sounds like a series I might enjoy, especially being a devoted cat lover.
Congratulations on all you’ve gotten done, and have a great rest of the week, my friend! 😊❤️😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with your temperatures – I’d melt! I totally understand your doctor’s restrictions. We have the opposite challenge, of finding enough warmth to get outside to tackle the garden, which is why we go overboard when we can – the chance might not last long.
I plan to keep taking photos as things mature and burst into flower – fingers crossed!
You take care, and don’t overdo things ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a couple of good plans to me, Debby! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a sweet read Deb. I’ll check it out. But your garden! Wow, that’s a full-time job my friend. But it looks so fabulous!!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh definitely it is a full time job. If only I had full time to work at it!!!
Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming at the start of the season, but once we get going, its so satisying to see it in full bloom and to eat our own produce, I wouldn’t change it even though it is exhausting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only imagine. And of course, the end of season clean up too. Go you! 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
😘
LikeLiked by 1 person