SAGE

The herbs in the big barrel weren’t looking too good so I bought new ones at the garden centre a couple of weeks ago. They’re still sitting waiting to be planted. I bought a wee pot of sage without thinking as the herbs were 3 for 2. When we got home I realised we had a good healthy sage bush in the old half whisky barrel. We don’t actually use much sage in the kitchen apart from at Christmas so I’m looking for other uses. I know it is medicinal and is an air purifier.
I’ve had a lovely day in the garden clearing and pruning. I chopped the flowering currant right back and asked Frank to chop the big branches. It was getting too big and also a leafy bush that I don’t know the identity of, that may have to come out completely as it was full of white fly which ended up all over my black cardy.
I sprayed the roses and aquilegia again and I think I’m getting on top of the aphid problem. Yes, Eunice the Castille liquid soap works but took 3 goes. I think after I sprayed the first ones more of them hatched, hence spraying 3 times!
I also used the same solution on the little apple trees as the lady next door but one has woolly aphids. (Not her! Her apple tree!)
I got through the day without a sleep! Though at one point I could hardly keep my eyes open so had a coffee.
We went to the pub late afternoon and I had a cider, Frank had beer and Bella had treats ;-) We sat outside with a lovely couple we know and chatted about grandkids, animals and what we’ve done in life.
The locals here are salt o’ the earth!

Well, after the sadness of Sabrina and family losing their lovely old tomcat Benji who is now buried in their garden,  they now have a new girl kitten! 
8 week old Frankie (much to Frank’s amusement!) Extra. When they brought her home she went straight to the litter box, then ate a dish full of cat food and snuggled down on the sofa - she made herself at home right away. She is by all accounts a live-wire. A Norwegian Forest Cat they were told. She is very cuddly and already making friends with Susie their other cat. She’s very wary of Millie the Cairn Terrier though.

Nearly time for bed now. 
Goodnight Blippers :-)X