Retention

The settled dry weather this week has enabled us to spend much time in the garden. Nicky has continued working hard in the south-west corner, where getting out the deep-rooted weeds is a major struggle. I finished digging the holes for the poles for the straight part of the retaining wall. On Thursday and Friday, I concreted in the poles. On Saturday Nicky helped me fit the planks:

The next stage is to complete the digging out and holes for the poles in the “curved” section at the western end.

Nicky has been working hard on the St. John’s Church roster this week. I dropped her at Joy’s home on Tuesday morning while going into town to do the shopping. Then picked her up afterwards, stopping briefly for technical assistance. Nicky also finished her Vestry report on Pastoral Care in the parish.

While gardening Nicky dug up two major carrots (actually a number of carrot “legs” together) from the veggie patch, and made a lovely soup with them. I made some walnut bread and we had a very enjoyable dinner.

Even though we have been having warm sunshine and temperatures 5º above the average for this time of year, it has been too cool to have al fresco cups of tea outside after dinner. Afternoon tea has been our last opportunity of each day, so we have been making the most of it. Our favoured spot has been the south-west corner by the balustrade looking south down the garden, and west to the river. The north patio has still been too warm in the sun. Teas, coffees and lunches have been consumed, books have been read and crosswords started (and some finished!). The Tui seem to be returning, and this afternoon I watched a kingfisher checking out our garden and the pasture beyond us. I was taking a break from making pork pies. The joy of these simple pleasures (the views not the pies!) has not diminished.

Nicky started making focaccia this morning before going off to church. Then completed it on her return, to go with the remainder of the carrot soup (now with bacon added), for tea. It was scrumptious.

Now that the daylight hours are fewer and it’s still dark when making our first pot of tea of the day, one of our other regular pleasures is watching the day begin while sitting up in bed. There have been a few foggy starts, and on Friday we had mist rising, not from the river, but between the trees and the hill:

The hill probably has a name but I haven’t found out what it is yet.

Take care, Rick and Nicky.