Lock-down Day 598

Mewthos wouldn't let me sleep. As soon as the alarm went off, so did he! I opened up and he dashed outside! Good ...

Half eight and I've swept the whole house, folded & packed away the laundry, and watered the veranda - which is quite a job, now, with all the apple, plum and lemon trees growing there!

When I sat down for a smoke and think, I heard Mini chirping somewhere ... she was on the roof and was asking for help to get down! You're going to laugh when I tell you what she's learned from Mewthos: She wouldn't jump onto the dryer, instead, she jumped onto one of those posts by the carport, then waited for me to bend forward, so she could step onto my back!

I started washing the dishes, and noticed Lady Jane sitting on the counter ... seemingly waiting. Eventually I came to sit down here, to write and she joyfully followed and spent time strolling across my lap! Two Mips happy for a while!

Phew! Dishes washed and kitchen clean ... I should probably still wash the kitchen floor ... I don't really want to, though!

Nine o'clock and I'm in the garden, he he he. Those 'dead' rose beds, which I've left to prioritise the 'live' rose beds, are now getting out of hand. So, I'm clearing those now - it spoils my evening view from the veranda!

Ziva is curled up in the shade under the water tank, I've been working in the patch shaded by the water tank as well, but I had better put up the Gazebo. The shade is moving fast, and the sun is ...intolerable!

First, though, I'm enjoying my breakfast! Funny thing, I didn't eat anything last night - wasn't hungry ... now, after one bread roll, I'm fine. 

This isn't exactly a 'before' photo, because I've already removed the worst of the grass in that bed ... but close enough.

I've done as much as I'm willing to do in those 'dead' beds. I've pulled out all the tall crap - the rest will have to wait for another time. My real goal today is to clean 'live' rose beds. I noticed that the gooseberries in the pot are getting quite big - I would like to plant them next to the maize, along the wall there.

Sjoe, it is so hot today, stepping outside feels like stepping into an oven! So I decided to take a nap. It's near one now, and no longer feels like an oven outside - though, of course, it's still hot.

Half three and the first bed is almost done. I mean 'live' bed. The one with the maize growing behind. I see the gooseberry there is also growing strong - I even spotted a basil plant!

Of course, since I've never grown a gooseberry, I'm not sure what they should look like ... so, I could be nurturing some weeds! Ha Ha!

Gosh! Does the local wind suddenly think it can imitate PE wind? I just nearly did a Mary Poppins with the Gazebo! Sudden gust of wind - and I'm holding on for dear life! Well, okay, I'm exaggerating - but it did lift off, and I had to grab hold of it. I've packed it away now ... better safe than sorry! Still, good thing I'm a pretty hefty anchor, eh?

Right! First bed done! Three to go ... it started drizzling a little, so I'm taking a break.

My plants are very affectionate! Yesterday the grapevine kept tousling my hair and today the maize leaves are doing the same ...

I've also spent the entire weekend picking up 'clonks'. They are absolutely everywhere! Bits of wood or branches, throughout the entire garden!

There, that's the progress I made today! You can see the brown patch between the maize and the ponytail - that took the most time! I finished half the second bed, maybe I'll carry on tomorrow ... yeah, I didn't forget the plan with the gooseberry - just don't see that happening!

Oh, and for my non South African readers: I'm not talking about the gooseberry, as you probably know it (Stachelbeere in German), I'm talking about Cape Gooseberry. Don't ask me why it's called a gooseberry, it's quite a different fruit, in my opinion. Still delicious, though, or I wouldn't have planted them!

Well, I tried sitting still on the veranda - but it was still quite early, so I took up the scissors and started giving the center ponytail its annual hair cut. Half-done ... like everything in the garden! Ha Ha!

I am exhausted now ... I've enjoyed my bath, but I'm trying to locate the energy to cook dinner!