Today much commotion rocked the fifth toadstool on the left as I busied myself tidying up the debris and disorder from the weekend .My latent sniffle continues but my energy level is keeping high.Sometimes I just need a day at home to catch up,and enjoy my lovely surroundings,so the mechanical duster and the steam pressing machine were put into service to help me clear the decks. My used parchment business means that we are living with a bit more boxed clutter,but I am continually rationalising how we use the space to store everything. The Blue Room has very much changed its original purpose,from dressing room space to sharing use as an office and library.
I enjoy working here for part of the day,as I tend my selling business and carry out my writing.The life that I love is all around me,and I can step in and out of it as I wish. I had meant to make a visit to the Ladies of Mercy Charity shop to check out their used parchments,but found myself in the garden after noon struck. The sun was shining for the first time in three days,and it was too good an opportunity to waste. Weeding particularly needed done,front and back. I examined every pot for new and old growth,and checked levels of dryness and for potentially invasive weeds . Most of the pots are doing very well,and showed a great response to the wetness we have had. But there were a few, needing either some new plants, the old having been chewed by the itinerant slug population,or merely a good watering and some weed extinction.
I worked hard,not even stopping for an dandelion tea and a sesame biscotti,until I felt that spruceness reigned,and a smile had returned to the faces of my Jolly Boys, the gnomes of number five.
Mandolini has been protecting the array of pots by the door of the Sun Room for some days now,with Pianolo on hand to assist with his book of garden knowledge.Basso Profundo has been risking paint and limb,hanging out under the wisteria,to offset wandering pests and patrol the shrubbery. Verde has been his constant companion in this task,tending to stray primrose flowers and tiny fallen toadstools. Pots of all shapes and sizes stand in wide array,with a proliferation of begonias,sweet peas,trailing nasturtiums and petunias reaching for the light.The back bed near the fence has received a strong assault by rampant snails and slugs,so all that remains from my May planting are two hardy primroses plants and several stalks. I was almost ready to cry and wail my dismay to the high heavens ,when I saw the extent of the damage. However,not to be daunted ,I replanted the whole bed,with some sturdy alpines,more pink and white begonias, and two hardy perennial shrubs. I have also laid some anti slug gel round the bed to stave them off. I am going to put copper tape round all my pots,and then thumb my nose at any passing slithering traffic.
The Primpoles were sitting in their backyard,both wearing the barest of outfits to catch maximum rays. For sheer devilment ,I might consider raising a flag on my side of the fence, warning of the dangers of exposing your fair elven flesh to ultra viloet rays. I would not wish to offend,so maybe I will hold off until they are both burnt to a crisp before daring to invade their visual space with a warning. The wildebeests were also there,doggedly mooching past the fence every time I stopped there to tie back a loose hollyhock or pull out a dandelion. They pushed their tepid noses through the fence and stared hard at me as though this would be sufficient warning of their powers to clip my bold wings.They growled low,and barked high if I in any way moved closer to the fence. They are such unpleasant beasts that sometimes I think I deliberately set them off,just to witness their level of pique,and hear Weedy ineffectively say "stop that,now" in his tepid little voice. They just howl louder,until Severity joins in with a much sharper "that's enough,now". They usually return to low growling after that. And I stand behind the fence,mouthing "YES !!!",and punching the air.
The Fearless Fairy from number four was out in the front yard when I stepped out of the toadstool to water the plants. We chatted for a while about her forthcoming holiday, her black and white beast Daisy, and the price of fish. Well, not just fish, the rising price of everything in Dingley Dell ,it would seem. We will all surely have to tighten our already straining belts,to cope with this new higher cost of living. I consider myself quite a thrifty little housewife,but Pendragon and I do currently enjoy a few treats we would hate to be without. Mine would be the copious berries I get through in a week,and Pendragon likes a glass of Dingley Dell's best red of an evening. I am sure we will manage,with slightly smaller portions,and slightly longer spaces in between our indulgences.
Tomorrow I go to Brigantia to do some work on my former toadstool,and no doubt will do some used parchment trawling along the way. I mean to have a quiet and restful day wherever I am,with a cheap and cheerful lunch somewhere,and some personal shopping in my favourite haunts.
Pendragon is taking me for a special meal on Sunday to celebrate our First Meeting Day.Flowers will abound,and birds will sing,as we share our reminiscences in our favourite restaurant, The Tartan Turtle.
I will wear midnight blue,Pendragon his best black bib and elven tucker, and we will toast our love and devotion. Happy days !
Much love to you all,my friends,especially to those of you in the Black-Pearl-Crew. I am keeping in touch with them on my electronic box, and hope you may wish to join them too.
Heave-ho-me hearties,and a slug of what you fancy as you splice the mainbrace. From Amarantha Willow,the sea -faring Rainbow Faery.
