Not disheartened, no way...

Have come inside after three good hours of clearing and weeding. Feeling good? Not a bit! The word 'disheartened' comes to mind. I have to give myself a mental shake. I am not gardening with land mines or polluted water, when that word would be horribly appropriate. Just an unwanted weed.

 A purple leaf variety, in a pot. Not a weed!
Ornamental Oxalis

Oxalis!

Something benign (on the world stage) - some oxalis has arrived in 'garden mix' which I've been spreading around. I've found a modest patch growing happily in the Jellybean Border near the Hydrangeas. Aargh! But no, this need not be disheartening. It's annoying, a small problem with which I can deal. I will carefully dig the oxalis bulbs out, then make random spot checks to see if there are any stragglers. And I have my puffy weed spray bottle...

Later...

Done, for now. And I'm suitably humbled. There, that wasn't so difficult, was it? I think it's a symptom of the ageing process - where a triviality (for example, one of the dogs rolling in something disgustingly smelly) puts one into the bleakest of moods. Oops.

Sunday 13th December

It's raining cats and dogs! Make that smelly dogs - I have just frog-marched (?) Winnie back from next-door. I've shampooed and hosed her down - and boy did she protest and put up a fight. If I clean her up by patting on the shampoo and then throwing tennis balls into the pond it's no 'punishment'.

Before the rain came I was speed-weeding along the side of the house, where again the 'garden mix' I spread in winter around has rewarded me with clutches of weeds. But no more oxalis, thankfully.

 A bit of a busy mess...
The House Patio Path

This rain is much better than my little watering hoses, and desperately needed. One doesn't have to shift the rain every half hour, hee hee...

Much Later...

Hail, and short bursts of more wonderful rain, thunder and lightning (not so good - big Escher gets scared) - then sunshine and wind with cold edges... What a silly day!

Monday 14th December

OK. The continuing story of my issues with so-called 'garden mix'. I've found some luxuriant groves of fat hen weeds, thanks to another load of top-soil and compost spread around the Takanini Camellias in the Dog-path Garden. I started weeding, but I had my posh (in a relative sense) clothes on. I promise I'll deal to things properly tomorrow. At least it's not oxalis!

 Like a shorn sheep!
Rusty, Clipped

A New Rusty!

Meanwhile Rusty the dog is back from the groomer looking rather silly (and very pink), but I'm thrilled. There were two nasty grass seeds stuck in his fur, and one had punctured his skin. Both removed, and I've got some 'miracle oil' to rub on the wound (which is not infected). By the way, I looooove his silly pouff tail! I asked the groomer to do that. Everyone has been laughing at Winnie's clippped 'perky bottom' for a while now, so I'm spreading the ridicule around...

Now if I can stop Tiddles and Buster (the youngest Moosey cats) 'playing with' the Christmas tree ornaments, and if my Schummann for Advent piano practice could offer me audible improvements before the Big Day...

Tuesday 15th December

Some garden notes, to balance this Trials and Tribulations of Spreading Garden Mix and Being a Dog Owner Journal...

 Maybe American Pillar?
Unknown Rambling Rose

A rescued rambling rose which I'm training along a rope swag is flowering. I use the word 'training' with some trepidation, since I suspect this rose will have hidden strengths, and might end up training me. Wedding Day, that most extreme mover and shaker, has re-sprouted and is flowering. A ghastly rose when planted in the wrong place. Hmm...

 A lighter pink.
Apple Blossom Flower Carpet Rose

Love Pink Roses...

The Noack Flower Carpet roses are now in full colour, and I must again give thanks for the unsubtle bright pink variety. It's so pretty in the bright southern hemisphere sun. But I love pink roses anyway!

Later...

Yippee! It has been a Good Dogs Day, as well as a Good Gardeners Day. Phew! I've removed lots of old forget-me-nots and weeds (annual stinging nettles this time, thanks to the garden mix) from the Stumpy (AKA Willow Tree) Garden, and trimmed three large Gunnera leaves which were blocking the path.

We only had one accident - Escher trod on a very plump quail and grabbed it (naturally) in his mouth. I tried to rescue it, but no - he wouldn't drop it. Such a pretty bird, fat enough to make a pie. So sorry.