I’m rather enjoying this early to bed lark.  Not to sleep, nor yet to dream – what happened to dreaming, has it gone out of fashion?  I can’t remember the last time I had a good solid dream that I pondered about when I woke …. but I digress – no, I didn’t sleep, not until after 2.30 or so, but I enjoyed watching stuff on the iPad and, once I did drop off, I slept soundly.  Last night, it was rather earlier and I’m already resisting the temptation to go and tuck myself up in a warm and comfortable bed, and it’s not nine o’clock yet.

I’ve also managed to rediscover an enjoyment of gardening, or at least of growing things, which must be an indication of something good.  It used to be the nurturing of many seedlings – and indeed, though we chose not to have any more children after Ro, I remained quite broody for many years and it’s only the wonderful gift of grandchildren that has attended to that particular itch, so maybe seedlings were a baby substitute? Or maybe not.  In print, it seems a bit weird.  Weeza was always convinced that my dogs are child substitutes and I don’t argue, but I don’t actually agree with her.  Anyway, it’s mostly now the simple pleasure of growing plants, and the anticipation of delicious vegetables, that is driving me.  It’s also the relaxing effect of pricking out seedlings, potting on plantlets and I find it calms me.

It used to, years ago, as well.  My greenhouse was a refuge and no one was allowed to be noisy there, nor be anything but good-humoured.  If one child came to complain about another, I’d bundle it straight out again.  If one came for some comfort, it was allowed to help and the act of caring for plants was soothing and calming.

Today, I had an appointment at 9.30, then did food shopping (bread, veggies and dog biscuit) and then came home and cleaned the kitchen.  I’d done before 11, so made coffee and settled in the porch with Ben and the newspapers.  Later, having done some other bits and pieces, I went to find some lunch.  Russell had gone out for an hour at 10.30, so I didn’t expect him back for ages yet.

It was warm and sunny and the bacon sandwich I’d thought I’d want didn’t appeal any more, so it was a cucumber sandwich with salad and a glass of wine.  And this afternoon, I’ve worked pretty solidly in the greenhouse, potting up everything and generally sorting things out.  I still have some seedlings to prick out another day, but I’ve sowed the squash and runner bean seeds.  I decided against growing sweetcorn this year on grounds of space.

When clearing away strimmed grass the other day, I put some aside to dry for Edweena and added some to her nest of hay today.  She loved it and snuggled down at once, though afterwards realised that the sun was still shining and she was hungry.  I picked her some echinops leaf and some vetch, which is now in flower, and she tore at it greedily.  The babies, who had been so tame, now dive for cover under a piece of bark when I go near.  I suppose it’s as well that they’re wary – we do keep a piece of mesh on top of their run, but they might have grown out of it by next year and they need to know to take cover.

I’m going to plant things in Edweena’s run – tortoises like sedum, hebe and a range of shrubs, so if I put them in, she can nibble the lower leaves and it will add attractiveness and shelter.  I spoil those tortoises.

A couple of the globe artichoke plants have flowered early – the rest are growing strongly, with no sign of flowers.  Today, I decided that two heads were big enough to cut and we had them for supper – or rather, as a first course, followed by sausages.  So delicious.  I almost forget how delicious artichokes are.  And I love fiddly food that has to be eaten with the fingers.

After a sharpish frost last night, this afternoon was warm and sunny and we got quite a lot done in the garden.  More to the point, the tortoises were much more alert and started eating again – one mustn’t worry if they go a day or two without food in cold weather, but it’s a relief when they get back to normal.  Once she started, Edweena found she was very hungry and ate artichoke leaf, echinops leaf, deadnettle flowers, rose petals, a dandelion and some cucumber. She also did a massive and healthy-looking wee, with the white stuff that means her kidneys are not having a build-up of *whatever might end up causing a kidney stone* – so that’s all right.

It was only half past five when we came in and settled down, but I felt the moment for a drink had arrived, fetched R some cider and myself a gin and tonic – I’d have had white wine, but I didn’t have any in the fridge.  I also fetched R a packet of crisps so that I could have a couple.  Ben rather liked the notion of crisps too and gazed hopefully.

I am so sleepy, I’m having a bath and an early night. I’ll catch up on your blogs soon, darlings.

Having examined the coding for each of yesterday’s pictures, I found that ‘full size’ had been interpreted differently each time, so have been able to correct it (though it would be better to have it small and click to enlarge, I have limited patience for this sort of thing, so the moment I’m satisfied enough, I stop).  I might even be able to get it right next time, or it might take a few more attempts, but I’ll crack it in the end.

The day didn’t start brilliantly, since I woke with a dreadful headache, for no apparent reason, and R went down first to discover that Ben’s bowels had gone awry again.  Kindly, he cleaned up because the effort of getting dressed and going downstairs made me feel so ill I had to lie down on the sofa.  I even swallowed some pills to remedy it, which only happens rarely.  But it all sorted itself out, I felt better and did a final extra re-wash of the carpet, R went out to the monthly auction in H’sworth, a few miles down the road and I went to do the weekend shopping.  Ro and Dora are coming for lunch on Monday.  Lamb tagine and profiteroles are on my provisional menu.

We were invited over to Al and Dilly’s house, which was lovely.  I took some plants – tomatoes and so on – for them.  We sat out in the garden while Hay played, but it was barely warm enough.  Edweena has been skulking in her bed of hay for two whole days now, not eating – well, I don’t think she has eaten anything, unless she managed a dandelion and some rose petals this afternoon.  She’s quite warm there, but not tempted to come out.

Tonight, we’re shutting Ben in the uncarpeted lobby.  I don’t think he’s right yet – well, I know he isn’t.  I had to wash him when he came indoors – sorry for even that, darlings, I won’t elaborate.  No idea what’s caused it, he’s not ill otherwise.  He’s on very short rations for a day or two.

Tomorrow – no plans at all, for now.  If the weather is better than today’s, some gardening.  If it’s still cold – well, I’m afraid it’ll still be gardening.  Unless I can think of something warmer to do.  What I really should do is wash the greenhouse – not indoors, the chickens are still in there (their new run is nearly ready), but the outside of the panes is filthy, they not having been cleaned at all last year.  But that’s a job for a sunny day.

Though I will start with sleep, because I didn’t wake up until nearly nine o’clock this morning – the point is not the time I woke, but that I hadn’t had hours awake in the night.  Kippy wrote an email and I woke once, clicked on it to read, fell asleep again before I reached the end (I fell asleep the other night in the middle of a messaged conversation with another blogfriend – maybe I’ve found the cure for insomnia!) and I slept right through the radio alarm.

The main event of the day was Roses and Indigo coming for tea, of course (links to their blogs in the sidebar).  We’d had a bit of Facebook badinage about the distance Indigo was coming and that quality Cake would be appreciated.  It was all in good humour of course, but it made me raise my game a bit from the jam Victoria sandwich that I might have provided.

I did scale down a bit from the cucumber sandwiches, éclairs and meringues that would have been on offer if I’d been in full flow (and if there had been more than four of us), but the scones with jam and cream, the cake with butter icing and the chocolate roulade made it to the table.  And it’s just as well that they did.

Before …

After …

That’s Indigo’s hand there. I made three pots of tea too.  I have no idea why the pictures are different sizes, by the way – they’re both ‘full size’ and were both taken with my phone.  We meant to take a picture of us before they left, but forgot.  But we looked replete, I assure you.

Thanks for coming, darling Roses and Indigo, it was lovely to see you and I had a great time.  Looking forward to seeing you at the blog party, if not before.

Tonight, Russell and I will be eating a light supper of scrambled eggs and salad.

UPDATE – managed to enlarge picture.  Still don’t understand why ‘full size’ was interpreted differently in each case, but no matter.