Christmas creation

On our morning dog walk, I finished off gathering the foliage for our Christmas wreath.  Then over a mug of tea and Merlin's inquisitive eyes, I put together this year's offering.  I'd like to have had a few more fancy bits of seed head and flowers to add to it but may be they will come later.

My afternoon was spent at the allotment.  It was cold (3 degrees) but beautiful and sunny.  I had the place to myself.  I love being there in the winter - when it is quiet and cold, you can work to keep warm and reward yourself with a flask of tea whilst watching the low winter light create magical colours in the sky.

Today I planted on four of the six blackcurrant bushes I propagated from stem cuttings in January.  I also made a redcurrant cutting in the hope it will take.   A bit of weeding, covering of the spinach and kale to protect it from sparrows and some manure spreading were also completed.

Home to chicken stew and a wonderful welcome from Merlin who spent the next half an hour running around playing with his toy penguin - I was of course expected to join in!