TAKING A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

With it being the first Father's Day since Mick's passing Leanne and co came over yesterday and have stayed the night....the weather yesterday was rather unpredictable with many heavy rainstorms....but having heard about the cows Manda & co and I saw on our walk last weekend the kids were really eager to see them too. So we decided to take a chance and just pop down to the river where the Aberdeen Angus had been.
The river was really high and the pathway extremely muddy..but it some ways that just added to the fun of the walk. We were so lucky to see a swan and her cygnets.....

and I was really pleased that the cows were in the field right by the path so the kids could get a good look..........it wasn't until I uploaded this photo that I realised just how tall Phil looks now compared to his Mum and sisters....and they're not short by any means...
Since last week two new baby calves have appeared on the scene..... they were so sweet...like cuddly teddy bears.........
We then carried on down the pathway and found this small deck......this is a place to remember if we decide to have a picnic during the Summer......it has a beautiful view of the river from here.....Kirsty (above) took this next photo...

It was good to see the grandchildren larking about in the fresh air................With dark rainclouds looming on the horizon Leanne and I thought we'd better dash into town and catch the bus home before we got drenched......

but the kids wanted to take the chance and WALK back home.....now that's a first!!!

the cows were even closer to the fence now...and Kirsty was thrilled to be able to touch one....




not to be outdone by her big sister...Mel had to touch one too!We'll have to remember that the footpath will be closed in July....I really hope it's because the path is going to be made more wheelchair friendly.....we always regretted the fact that we couldn't bring Mick down here last Summer and although it's too late for us now it would be nice to think that in the future other wheelchair users would be able to enjoy the riverside walk....

By The time we got home we were all hungry and tired............you should have seen the way the kids wolfed down their dinners.....and had double helpings of dessert!
I also managed to speak to Lynn yesterday....she has had a terrible ear infection and (as Mick would have put it) has been completely "mutt and jeff" (deaf) for the last week so a phone conversation has been impossible. She and Steve for Father's Day wanted to buy a plant for their garden and managed to find a Guara called Cherry Brandy....so apt as Brandy was Mick's particular tipple!

Steve had been away during the week at a "works do" and sent us this photo via his phone. I wonder if any of you who watched the Celebrity Dancing Programme on TV will recognise the man standing next to Steve............It's Anton Du Bec...........Steve (centre) spotted he was staying at the hotel and just had to have a photo taken with him for Lynn and I.

GARDENING NEIGHBOURS

I went over to Leanne's in Colchester again today...her neighbour had given her some plants and as she still has a bad back I insisted on helping her put them in....LOL She has really got bitten by the gardening bug and has lots of plans.....when we win the lottery!

She was really interested in knowing how to look after the plants...with the little time I had I managed to clear an area in front of each fence panel and did some planting. In her lawn I had noticed some Strawberry Plants growing...one even had a strawberry on...so I've lifted these and put them under Mick's Bird Table. Mel will like this....she loves to find edible plants in our garden. Since I've been home Leanne has sent me the last two photos in the collage showing how she has finished the areas off and made them into nice half moon shapes....hmmmm, not on the Doctor's Orders list I think!

The plants her neighbours gave her were (2)Pieris, Blue Hydrangea, Virburnum Davidii, (2) Chrysanthemum, Phygelis, Syringa (Lilac) and (2) Carnations. What lovely neighbours to have....my neighbour (The Alternative Gardener)

gives me Dandelion seeds and Russian Vine!

The weird thing is....a couple of weeks ago I noticed that one of our own Pieris was looking very ill and yesterday it went to the great compost heap in the sky....as Leanne had been given two she has given me one as a replacement....it's as though it was "meant to be".

LENDING A HELPING (GREEN) HAND

I had a day out yesterday...I went over to Colchester on the bus to see Leanne (eldest daughter). In 2005 she moved into her new house but with 3 children to look after, a job and visiting us so much when Mick was ill she hasn't had much free time to do anything about her garden. It's not a large garden but the fences were in a terrible state and the lawn!!!...well it is just one mass of dandelions, clover and nettles...not much grass. A couple of weeks ago she decided to get "stuck in" and painted all her fencing and started to dig out a flower border. She has to leave enough space for the children to play but really wanted a few flowers to pretty things up. It was a hard task..after clearing the turf from the flower bed area she was left with hard (almost concrete like) soil full of stones....she persisted but ended up with terrible pains in her back. She tried to carry on as normal the best she could both at home and work but finally went to the Doctor....he suspects she may have slipped a disc!!!...no wonder she was/is in so much pain. I thought that today while I was over there I could help by doing some washing or cleaning.....but NO...what is the thing she needs help with?......doing the garden......WOW & BRILLIANT.....no complaints from me there!

She has already planted some begonias and snapdragons that Lynn and I bought her and now has some Busy Lizzies.................

and a (half price) Cordyline in a pot

the soil is still poor and in the Autumn we'll have to dig in some "muck"....but for now with a bit of feeding she should get a good summer show..............She also intends to get a compost bin........and needed this compost heap area clearedthere's still a lot of work to do but at least now she's been able to put up the bird table that Mick made her a few years agoScarlet her cat seemed quite happy to watch us......she's a big, lovable creature....I wonder how she'll take to the new kitten when it arrives in a few weeks time.....On the way to pick Mel up from school (the first time I've done this since she moved schools)...we saw some lovely birds...unfortunately the photo is awful!..I couldn't get close enough.....
and when we got back.... just in case I hadn't notice!....Mel showed me their new paddling pool...
after the obligatory "Mum there's something in my sock" episode it was time for me to leave.....

I had a really enjoyable day....no cooking, washing cleaning, ironing (all the things I'd been expecting Leanne would want done).....just GARDENING!!!!

LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS

Just for a little change from posting pictures of our garden...here are a few of Lynn & Steves garden taken this week.