A Scorcher!

Well the weather certainly changed for the better this week. In fact today it was in the 20's and I have got burnt - did not have enough sun tan lotion on.  Its a bit on my back that I could not reach.  Victor on nights just now so did not want to waken him.

Its been warm sunny, foggy and scorching this week, due to be cooler again tomorrow.   Been busy weeding , mulching, feeding, planting up pots, sowing seeds in the ground, buying more plants of course!

Bought more plants today - went to Whiteness & Weisdale Car boot sale and then to the Plantiecrub on the way home - oh dear.  Then my neighbour Pat came with some more plants and I still have piles of seeds in my growhouse. Running out of room - but I am sure that I will squeeze some more in.   There are always more pots!

My hose spray bit is brocken and I need to get a new one - hopefully someone in Shetland will have one tomorrow.   Managed to soak myself several times yesterday before I realised what was happening.   It was ye olde watering can tonight.  The cabbage I planted last week seem to be shooting up as are the peas.  Last year I tried 3 times before any seeds grew and this year they are off!

There is life in my Raspberry Canes and I have repotted them today. 

Snowy has been having fun in the sun.   His ears are black, combination of sun tan lotion and rolling around in the earth.

It was the Cancer Relay for Life last night and Shetland has raised £195,000 so far.  Wow!   They had a lovely night for it anyway - must have been one of the best nights.

Some photos from this week

 Yachts in the harbour

 The Twins - mum seems to leave them and forget where they are.   They tend to fall asleep in little hollows together whilst waiting for her to finish eating and she wanders off!

 Sunset from the Car Park

 A visiting liner this week

 And there were 2!   Notice it is foggy in the background.

 A sleepy sunbathing cat!

 My cabbage and peas

 Polyanthus

The view over Whiteness - See Foula in the background

Watched Eurovision last night and it was brilliant.   Sorry that Engelbert did not do better but can see it is a political vote.  I dont think we would win even with Take That!   It is the fun taking part.  I love it.

Bit tired tonight - so it will be early to bed.

Elaine
Bi xx

The bright yellow dot in the Sky

Some sunshine at last although still that cool wind.   Managed to get some work done yesterday and planted cabbage and some pots.  Cut the grass this morning.  Been to Voe, Aith & Whiteness & Weisdale buying plants.   Next will be getting them into the ground.    Have been brave and removed some of the fleece.   Potatoes peeking through the peas are coming up and I see life in the shallots and onions - hurrah.  Slow process this year.  Very proud of my seeds in the growhouse.  Far better than the plastic greenhouse I had last year.  Fingers crossed that the weather gets a bit warmer and I can get some transplanted out in the cooler air.  I have done some in pots but keeping them covered in fleece.   Sown my Sweet Peas too.

I saw a Snipe, Blackbird, Arctic Terns, Heron, Wheatear and a Lark whilst out and about.   The weather came better in the afternoon.   I also went for a walk around Michaelswood at Aith.   What a beautiful calm place. Trees do grow in Shetland with a lot of paitence and shelter. Summer is here when the Tirricks retunr.

Some photos over the past few days

 My geranium - this year my gernaiums seem to be flourishing

 The sheep in the hill

 A very sleepy boy!

 My working area outside the back door - work in progress

 Sweet Pea and Cabbage

 Peas and cabbage

 Michaelswood at Aith

 Aith from the top of Michaelswood

Aith Lifeboat.

Snowy just loves this fine weather - tired himself out yesterday and today.   His ears are covered in Factor 50 Baby Sun Tan Lotion. 

Went to see Bill Bailey on Thursday night - he was brilliant as usual.  Looking forward to a couple of weeks off in June.   South for a few days and getting into the garden weather permitting

Elaine
Bi

A Lazy Sunday

It is a lazy Sunday because of the weather.  Last Saturday we had snow flurries and it was cold so as usual no gardening.   Did get my onions and tatties in at the side finally this week on Thursday.  Also sown wild flower seeds in the bit that is beside but under the fuschia bush. Yesterday I spent the morning putting bedding plants in pots and planting more seeds.    The seeds in the grow house are growing at speed now but still covered in fleece, keeps them warm.  It was cool working but warmed up a bit.  The garden is covered in fleece.   I bought some more bedding plants yesterday and some cabbage - local Shetland Cabbage.  I planted Pak Choi, Carrots - baby and Nantes, Lambs Lettuce and Spring Onion in Pots.  For some reason looking through my seeds I didn't have any Marigolds as I always like to plant Marigolds with my Carrots.   A couple of seed in the same pot seems to deter the carrot fly.  I also bought some plants at the Tingwall Market. 

Been walking a bit when it has been fine.  Went over the hill last Sunday - clear the head after the wedding the night before, didn't go as far as the Loch.   Had a super night at Brae at Paul and Missy's wedding.

This week we have Bill Bailey and I have a night out on Friday night as Graeme a former colleague is here for the weekend.

Finally booked our trip south for our birthday.  Going to Mum & Dads for a couple of nights and then to the Brentwood in Aberdeen.  Nice to get off the island.

Snowy has found a new place to hide and catch the birds.  The Batchelors Button has suddenly sprouted - I have had to encirle it with a bit of webbing - only did half of it but he has figured out today that he can get in still and just go backwards and hide!  Doh will have to put wire netting all the way round now.   He caught a Starling yesterday.

The Norrona was in on Monday and it was quite Nostalgic to see her.

Some photos!

 The Marts, Rearo and the Quarry from the Staneyhill

 Looking towards Whalsay - Power Station and the big crane at SBS can be seen

 Aren't we cute

 Snowy sitting in the Bird Bath - ithas a leak so does not hold water anymore.

 The Norrona at Holmsgarth

 From my house the Norronoa leaving the pier.

 Snowy doing a balancing act

 Fleece - Potatoes and Onions underneath and the open pice of land is where the wild flower seed has been sown.   The Cabbages will also be planted in the middle of theis patch  between the Potatoes and Onions.

 Polyanthus, daffodils and tulips.

 A beautiful red tulip.

 Petunia in a can - still flowering over a year later.

 Snowy in his hiding place in the Batchelors Button

 Seeds in growhouse

 I cant get in now!  Oh yes he can today!

 Vegetables in pots

Finally my lovely white Tulips.

May - and snow today

What a difference a week makes.  Last weekend I spent  both days in the garden in nearly short sleeves and this weekend If I want to go to the garden I might have to build a snowman!   Well it has been snow showers here today and more to come with -2 forecast at night.

Got lots done last weekend,  potted up several pots of bedding plants -(covered in fleece), weeded part of the garden, cut the grass, planted out red onions shallots and peas (they are covered in fleece too.  The theme is a covered in fleece garden!   Really chuffed with the seeds I planted as they are doing really well in the growhouse.   They are also all covered in fleece but I did let lots of fresh air in around them last weekend and I do go and water them too.   It is when is it going to be warm enough to then get them into pots - mind you they are not very big yet.

I bought more potatoes to plant down the side bit - still have onions to put in and salad vegetables.  Going to grow some Shetland Cabbage when the plants come into the shop - should be in another couple of weeks.  The garlic bulbs I had have rotted - but I have plenty garlic from last year and plenty winter garlic and onions growing away merrily.  Nearly forgot I have still to plant my carrots seeds and I have Pak Choi too.. 

There is a Farmers Market at Tingwall tomorrow so going to take a look out there for some bits and pieces. 

Snowy had a wonderful day last Sunday - running around the garden and sunbathing - had to put on some Sun Tan Cream on his ears.  He doesn't seem to mind.   We had a Brambling in the garden last week.   The Starling and Sparrows seem to be busy nesting and courting.    The Herring Gulls have all built their nests opposite my office window and are all sitting - I keep saying to them remember what happened last year - oh well.  The female Blackbird feeds a lot in our garden too.   The Oystercatchers are busy nesting in the weirdest places as usual.   I see from the Puffin Cam and egg has been laid in the burrow too - that is always exciting.

A ewe came the other night with her twin lambs - how cute they are - Snowy not sure what to do - think he thought they might be playmates.

Election results - showed a good turn out and lots of new Councillors - well done to all of them and I hope they make a better job of it.  
Some photos as usual.

 Spring Flowers

 Tatties & Vegetable Plot

 Not my garden the King George V Park - beautiful

 King George V Park

 This is my pot

 My white Friteleria

 A sunbathing Snowy last Saturday

 The pot from above later in the day when the sun opened the tulips -

 Daffodils and Tulips from my garden

 Am I not cute

With our mum!

Still finding my way around the new Blogger but getting better - why do they have to tamper with it!