Gardening Sunday

Made use of the extra hour this morning by getting out into the garden and busying ourselves while it was still sunny. JR planted up the window boxes (though only one is on a window), and I chopped more kindling (then kindly stopped, in case the lad upstairs was still asleep - what a good neighbour I am).

I did a quiet job - made newspaper briquettes with my new fangled gizmo (that I got a year ago and haven’t opened). We don’t actually get a newspaper, but read the news online, so it’s amazing how a huge pile of the stuff just builds of its own accord. I ripped and ripped till I could rip no more, and I still didn’t make a dent in the newspaper pile.

I’d ripped vast amounts of newspaper a week ago, and it’s been mulching nicely in water. I made little blocks and squeezed the water out. They came out like lovely little grey loaves the size of a brick. I patted them into a nice regular shape and left them to dry in my wood shed. I made seven of them - back breaking work! Actually, I now have six - Archie got hold of one and demolished it - its remains are now back in next week’s sludge.

Archie has been out the front all morning - we all have. So we’ve been able to monitor him and make sure he doesn’t bark at anyone. He’s pretty laid back out the front, probably because I’ve done more positive reinforcement there.

This was set up - I wanted a bit of colour - it was actually mizzling. Pity. But a scone and coffee were consumed in the bay window, looking out on Archie in the yard.

We have retired inside for the afternoon, and may now partake of the cheese and wine platter and catch up on some TV. We’re still an hour ahead of ourselves...