Calendula

These wonderful flowers are blooming much earlier than usual . I just love their brilliant colour. Long ago I used to collect the petals , put them in a jar, cover them with olive oil and stand them in a sunny window for a month. I remember using it as a salve on the boys' bums when they were still in nappies!

Another perfect day. After the house chores it was such a pleasure to rake the dry ground to a fine tilth. Planted carrots and beetroot; and a few more marigolds.

The hurling season has started and Colm is back on the pitch, which is 5 miles away from home. He had practice this evening which conflicted timewise with my classes . That's the trouble with working evenings, it's hard to fit work in around the boys' activities. I usually manage to be just about on time, give or take a couple of minutes.