PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Wednesday 21 March 2012

Sparky The Circus Cat & Update for Jonny

It will come as no surprise to regular readers to learn that George and I spent today...digging.    Sparky performed tricks and tried to keep us happy.  Deadlines can be highly motivating and the knowledge that the polytunnel may be with us by Saturday...
...spurred us on.  This is some of the pile of things which we had to move in order to clear the site.  Ugly, but potentially useful things.   That little job took half a day, last weekend.  


Since then we have been digging trenches for the electric cable,  and another for the water pipe.  Then came the fun part as we tugged up a huge network of ancient nettle roots, hedging, tree roots of assorted sizes and finally the tirfor was needed to help remove three tree stumps.
Gradually the site has begun to look a bit more promising.
We just couldn't have managed without Sparky's help and close supervision.


I managed to escape for a little while at lunch time, I wanted to visit Arnold and also check to see whether the swans were still across the road on the pond.


Arnold was fine, so was John.  I had a really lovely chat with both of them, then I nipped to the pond and was disappointed to see that it was devoid of ducks, swans, geese.  There was a lone fisherman and his dog...


I continued up to the tiny hamlet of Claythorpe, then went down by the beautiful old watermill and saw this pair of swans.  Of course I don't know for sure that they are the same ones, but I'd like to think they may be.  
On my way to the watermill I passed the sheep field and was delighted to see all these beautiful lambs and their proud mamas.   


Spring has arrived!


.............................................................................................................


Hi Jonny,


I hope you enjoyed seeing what we have been up to.  I know that you could have done it in half the time but I am pretty pleased with what we two oldies have achieved.


I also hope you got all the attachments I sent to you.  Let me know if you need any more, but do it early as we have to visit Aunty Nick tomorrow - and you know how long that takes, although we hope to get on and dig the plate holes later in the afternoon.    Your dad has also uploaded more files of photos to Spider, so there may be some there which will be useful.


I enjoyed the photographs on your updated blog.  Keep them coming.


All love,


Mum
xxx

16 comments:

  1. We are planning a polytunnel next year..but boy, that looks like such hard graft!
    PS Sparky sure is athletic.
    Jane x

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jane, Clearing the site has been really hard work, but a lot of that is down to the area having been wooded at some stage! Roots, roots and yet more roots.

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  2. Well done you two. Polytunnels are brilliant - we've got three.

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    1. Hi Molly, Wow - you must grow loads of wonderful things. I can't wait to get to the growing part with ours, if we have any energy left!!!

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  3. Lovely photos and a lot of hard work. I'm so glad that Sparky keep the spirit up.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    Replies
    1. Hi Elna, Sparky is a very cute little cat, she always manages to do something surprising which keeps us smiling.

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  4. The amount of work output is boggling. I read today that are local farmers have started up farm markets early because of the mild winter giving them so much produce from their high-tunnels. I assume they are a version of the poly tunnels you reference. I think you need to give Sparky a shovel.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Joanne, We are beginning to flag a little now, but we must dig deep (no pun intended) and see it through. By this time next week we should have it finished.

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  5. Hi Elaine...You have some wonderful stone set aside.I did the same thing here at the farmhouse. Every stone or brick I dug up, I put in a pile to be used later in the gardens. I know what a poly tunnel is, but I'm wondering, will the garden stay covered all season with the tunnel. Also is the tunnel large enough to walk in like a big greenhouse?
    Sparky is certainly doing a balancing act!
    And, what a nice break you had on your walk. I'd like to believe these are the same swans.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Meggie, Since taking the photograph of Sparky I must confess to wondering how on earth she managed to get up onto that pole!
      The polytunnel arrives tomorrow, so we have an even busier few days ahead of us. The tunnel is 7' tall in the centre, 30'long x 10'wide - I have no doubt that those lovely heritage tomatoes will love the improved weather in there - it should be much more what they are used to.

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  6. What a lot of hard work! I wish I had your energy. I'm glad you are able to check on John and Arnold and seek out the swans with that heavy work load!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ms Sparrow, We just carry on because we are determined to see it through. The energy banks are rather depleted now! John and Arnold were both really well, it was a wonderful little interlude and helped my back to relax - ready for the next shift. I keep having to use hot packs through the night now, hopefully it will hold up until we have finished.

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  7. It's obvious Sparky is the supervisor and checking to make sure his two workers are doing things right.

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    1. You are absolutely right Janet. She is a hard task master, but she makes us smile, while she gets the work out of us!

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  8. GOod job, Sparky!

    Love the swans and sheep.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Knatolee, Sparky is a delight - the only trouble is that she thinks we are doing it for her benefit. She reckons it is a giant cat loo...

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