Bobby Tops

If it was 17.04.13 not only would I be very happy, looking forward to a cracking summer but the weather would be perfect. Sun, showers, wind. Umbrella or not, coat or not? Due to the uncertainties went for our morning walk in the forest, naturally it stayed dry. On our way we came acroos Jerry, sitting on a tree stump in the area cleared last autumn, waiting for a mouse to pass by. Sometimes the cats, particularly our black cat Cindy will go quite a distance with us, then stop and wait to be picked up on the way home.

The very pretty flowers (Impatiens glandulifera) are in fact considered an invasive weed, threatening many of the native plants. In places they are being actively controlled. They have been increasing in the area near to our house but exploded since the felling work last year. We now even have them in the garden. Always a dilemma whether to tear them out or not.

At long last cropped a dozen or so ash trees which were getting too tall. The horses love the leaves. Would have been better in June but at least the leaves are still green. There are another six or so nearby that I could attack but they are a fraction smaller and will leave them for next summer. In general I love trees but we literally have hundreds on our property AND on one long side, the forest. In winter it means we see very little sun.

Perhaps I should have waited 24hrs with the chainsaw as the secondhand rain from the British Isles is now being joined by their used wind storm. This evening the weather office has put out an official storm & flood warning for our county starting now and lasting 24 hours. Luckily the pump is on standby and we have a 10 liter cannister of petrol. Just hope the electricity line doesn't go down - we have a generator but it's a real pain hooking up the various vital equipment - water heating, freezers, pumps etc.

If there's no Blip tomorrow, then the reason is known! Have a great Wednesday and then it's all downhill till Friday evening.