So, we moved the shed. And other gardening adventures.

So, the weathers been kind and we've been beseiged (in a good way) with visitors and family and folks popping by, often with their pj's in their sticky wee mitts. All great fun aside twisting my back and leaving me just sitting here 'looking' rather than doing. So I thought I'd do a bit of reflecting before a proper update later on the garden. Today I can only look and fondly ponder things to do 'out there' rather than have a garden adventure of my own. Folks often ask how often 'to' garden, I think that however long suits you. OK so 15-24 hours a day suits me grand, its not for everyone. Just please yourself! 

This weeks star in the garden has to be Crocrosmia (Monbretia) 'Lucifer' one day a mere bud opened, the next FIREWORKS. Even Haggis, who's not much of a fan of herbaceous borders, was impressed. He's more of a 'arboretum' kinda dog (more squirrels to chase) and we all know you don't get many squirrels in your average herbaceous border.

And speaking of impressed. The foray into 'fishbox madness' seems to be working well. The mixture of perennials and edibles, annuals and climbers all rampaging together appeals to my entrophic nature. The sun has shone and shone so that's helped too.  As these tubs and pots are largely the veg plot for the summer, there's not much in the way of weeding either. All good.

Sweetcorn alley, has been a grand wee experiment. Can you grow corn outside here, it seems so. Whether or not it will actually fruit is another thing. 

But it's big and beefy and seems to be putting on a fair flower or two. The chilli's, peppers, bush tomatoes and salad leaves look on in awe at its gigantic form. They can only dream of reaching such giddy heights. As, dear hearts, do I.

I happen to think green toenails suit the colours of the garden too. One of my favourites (lets be clear I have quite a few favourites) is the Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) and that's favourite flower not toe-nail colour although Calendula Orange should be a toe nail polish colour*. Should be so garish in colour but its sunny nature wins out and it can be, as those clever Romans who named it thought, be in flower every day of the year if you're lucky. Fingers crossed.  I could so do with a bit of its cheerful colour everyday of the year. 

Oh we also splurged all of the remaining wedding money on a garden table for scoffing on. Scoffing is big in our family, so a table to do it outside seems to be a grand idea. OK, we have limited funds for grub but hey we'll be able to share it outside. Peedie of course, supervises from the shade. He is not sure of the ecclectic mix of window boxes, fish boxes, annuals, herbs, flowers, vegetables and general horticultural chaos which eschews. But, he'll give his opinion when it suits him, in good time. Being head horticultural hound, he tells, means he has great responsibility. However, he is, he tells me NOT a fan of the chooks. Even if they are prolific in egg laying and are gaining more feathers by the day.

He likes that they're rescued and happy. Unfortunately, they now get any scraps and treats, previously often destined for the mutts. Therefore, he's thinking of plans for their escape and talking to the unions. Not a happy [starved] canine.

The house has been a busy one with birthdays for Rock Gods and the steady stream of fans (erm sorry I mean FAMILY). The terrace art has been well blessed with many talented up and coming artists.

More on that another day. So its been a busy wee hoosey for the last wee blink (while) and its been grand to see folks. Next time though, if you've a mind to come and ask what needs done, fear not, we moved the shed.

When an unexpected call and 6 end up at the dinner table, life's always fun. Nicely they asked if they can help with anything, I pondered and counted. One, two, three, four, five, six pairs of arms. How many folks do you think it takes to lift a shed on a late Saturday afternoon....one, two, three, four, five, six. Six I was informed was perfect. So guess what we did?

OK, so the quick clearing of the bed was a challenge, but who's going to miss an opportunity to move a shed to a prime location when it presents itself. I'm afraid (she giggles) that awful Senecio got axed but various shrubs and climbers got moved nicely out of the way of an impending shed rehoming. Its far better up there under the honeysuckle and hiding by the fushia than plonked on the terrace. We all agreed and retreated for a cold glass of something in front of the fire, chores done a bit of Grannies Chicken roasting in the oven, just the thing for the hungry workers.

Visitors here are ALWAYS welcome. We'll feed you well, but if you've a mind for a quiet sit, there'll probably be a wee job first if you don't mind! I've a wee idea to make an orchard at the back where the chicken coup will move into......busy?

Whilst its not how I hurt my poor back, I'm appreciative of being able to move freely and get jobs done with friends to hand.

Thanks guys. Pop back anytime always jobs to do and always an empty table to fill with grub and chums! And there are of course two gates to put up lovlies, when are you coming......

*I seriously think that nail polish manufacturers are missing a trick by not thinking of botanical colours for their horticultural audience. Just saying. Cerinthe purple, Cosmos pink, Lucifer red, Courgette yellow and Calendula orange - would so work.

'The Welly's' Mission Statement

A table painted for my daughter for her 3rd birthday. Still going strong.

Well, you'd not expect me to be ENTIRELY wordless every Wednesday would you? Erm, no. Anyhows dear hearts, last night I had a cracking blether with a lovely lass whom I don't know very well, but hope to know better in the future, she appears to be a keeper (and a fellow 'dyslexian').  Always fine to have a yarn with someone else who's struggled with writing and reading the way that I have, too. There's no embarrassment, just sharing. I like that. Not that I'm generally embarrassed by not really being able to read outloud or construct a 'sensible' sentence, but somewhere deep inside there's always shame. Even if 'sensible sentences' are highly over rated in my opinion. Perhaps from years of mis-edcuation and that dreadful being asked to share with the class, who knows where that squeamish feeling comes from. It still lurks, like the stuff that slips down the back of the fridge, scowling at you, whilst you stand by momentarily helpless. Then you remember, you do have muscles and a fine cloot to hand. We're never truly helpless if we help ourselves.

Anyway back to the point, all I know for sure these days is that we all learn differently and we're probably all the more interesting for it. So if I mix up my possessive pronouns or get me spelling wrong, enjoy the ride, I'm so over grammatical correctness. If my words are 'insulting to your eyeballs' (one of the most disgusting bits of negative feedback I've ever had my studies from a 'mentor'. Educators (or bad ones) have a lot to answer for in my opinion, and no I didn't get my PhD, I have a bonnie 'pair' of masters instead - no thanks to my tutors efforts). [excuse mini rant on an otherwise cheerful post]

So getting back to the point, if I offend with my poor sentences, I apologise and I'd suggest, quite kindly, that your eyeballs look elsewhere for fodder. I'm dyslexic. I don't mean to offend with my grammatical fopars (faux pas), sloppy spelling, badly constructed sentences. Mostly my brains just not wired the right way to notice many of my mistakes, and often, lets be honest, I just don't care. Simple. Life's too short to be prostrate on the floor agonising over a lack grammatical prowess. I'll probably never win an award for debating that's for sure, big words flummox me and by the time I've looked up my dictionary (Mr Google), I'll have lost the argument. Yes I'm educated, and I'm lucky I have a nice family, I do something I love and no, sorry I write badly and I really can't read out loud. I can often misinterpret written words/statements and meanings like a beast. I often don't 'get it' and often need help. I'm happy to ask for it now. I use all these 'tools' in my professional life and a bit of nifty software, so sometimes I even hold down 'work' and get paid for it too.

Iris wilsonii - Gardening Scotland 2001

I've come clean on this before of course, but its always lurking in the background, festering. This is when I told my kids I couldn't read out loud, they were ace about it all. Nice that they are like that, they decided to keep me as a mother, for now. There is shame though, and slowly I'm working through it. Does it matter, not really, so I wonder where the inner shame comes from? And, probably why I've taken to study plants and botanical Latin as no one picks you up on your dodgy spelling and can't pronounce most things anyway!

These days, I use the useful strategy of trying to avoid reading out loud, I'd rather skin a crocodile. If you're ever unlucky enough to be in a class of mine, you'll find me using lots of visual aids and short bullets (points not guns I hasten to add, no student deserves to die of anything but boredom in my class). Yes I'll give comprehensive written notes, well proof read so even those with proper eyes don't get muddled by my illogical horticultural inspired ramblings and muses, but you'll not find me reading a script. I just can't do it. No offence to those 4 year old darlings trying to read, but I sound a lot like you, just more wrinkles and freckles I'm afraid, not so cute. Although at 4, man I was cute!

Always a gardener at heart.

Anyway's enough of the haivers on that. To the point. This new chum asked me about 'the welly's' and what it was, as this blog is often referred to (especially as I'm sharing lots on facebook too) - so I confessed to haivering and to the dyslexic brain I owned and we shared stories. After that more questions about the blog. What was it for? A job? Work? It's just 'haivers', I replied. I started it after my diagnosis as a 'way' of beginning to try and write again, to regain confidence, shot to bits by PhD writing (or lack of decent writing). After a diagnosis its odd, relief, tears, understanding, denial, shock (I'm a good student, how could I not know), and mainly relief. Life still makes little sense to me, but now I can think outside the box, ask for help and not worry for it.

Bread birthday cake, why not. Plough your own furrow. I don't like cake, I like bread, I like birthdays.

Well some of those things do come along as a consequence of it I guess, haivers can sometimes be productive. Especially when you've been terrified to even write hello without wondering if you've written it right. Yes! The welly blog about just letting the inner words out, musing on nonsense and alike, sharing. However, I guess if it had a mission statement, I guess it would be about getting out there and enjoying life. 

Splashing in puddles.
Eating!
Having sand in your toes.
Cartwheeling in your wedding dress (thanks Jane!).
Friendship and Family. Both with a capital F.
About enjoying each moment we're around.
Reveling in the small stuff.
Tackling the big stuff.
And being outdoors.
Smiling and laughing when you can.
About being alone, but not lonely, knowing lots of folks somewhere else might read your silly antics.
About love and family.
About living responsibly.
And, about ploughing your own furrow. (And you'll bet I had to look up both 'plough' and 'plow' to know which one to use - this vocabulary lark is very confusing.  I simply don't care for Homophones they are the devils work to a dyslexic. And, don't even get me started on that random 'i before e except after c' rule.....grr)

There's the welly's mission statement right there -

 'Living responsibly, enjoying life and not wasting a second of it. And, haivers.'

And, nope I'm still not reading that lot out loud. I'm off in the garden for me tea break, raspberries won't pot themselves after all.

Enough of my haivers. And, if you see lots of mistakes, be a dear and pop that red pen in the bin, it helps no one. Use a nice green friendly one if you've a mind. I love the Inelegant Gardeners blog, you should pop by. Maybe mine should change to the Ineloquent Gardener or most likely Inelegant - although I always thought of myself as un-elegant.............

Have a good un!

PS I also had a good natter about tree growth in Orkney and hyper-oceanic climates and paludification (cannae say that out loud or spell it properly either) yesterday, so hats off to us dyslexics who probably sit for hours attempting to read all sorts, including papers, with dictionaries open too, you can't say we're not determined little buggers when it comes to learning. Braw that blether was too, thanks Mr Tense.

Dyslexia affects everyone differently and affects folks confidence and potential to shine. More about dyslexia here.

You'll find a good amount of support and help from various dyslexic associations around the world. Our Scottish lads and lasses helping us poor muddled-brained-loons here at Dyslexia Scotland.

I got my diagnosis at 42 after a good bout of 'normal' further education, a masters and a decent job. Its different for all of us.  Never too late to get help/support for it all, if you've a mind.

On living in the moment.

Well the sun is streaming through the salt laden windows here at Windy Island HQ. But, at least its not raining in a sideways direction, lets be positive. I hope the weathers fine where you are? Not that you can see the salty windows from my 'cunning' lets not have net curtains on the main street window, but I love jars of food........so pretty and so soothing to see that you won't actually starve.

Anyway back to the point, I've been thinking lots lately (don't hold your breathe, thinking takes me ALOT of time). Anyhow, I've been very focussed on the future, as many of us are, and sometimes I think I'm not making the most of the moment and potentially wishing my time away. That's not good. I entirely blame Kininvie, (but its not his fault) - for the 'walnut' question. As I ended up thinking about how long it will take for my tree to A: grow and B: ever fruit C: do they grow in Scotland, and I found this interesting article. And that got me thinking more and more about the future which brought me swiftly back to the present.

 

Why so, all this thinking? Well, truth be told, we're OFF back to the Scottish mainland in approximately 18 months. Its always been the plan, here for school and general wind punishment and when the childerbeast fly, we head 'sooth'. [Current flight status, one flown, one 18 months left of school].

Suddenly, it would appear, the abundant years in Orkney are gradually coming to a close. Whilst I love it here, life on the mainland of Scotland will beckon soon enough, I have an inhernet need to be near to the children and that will also be such an adventure too. A life with trees and all that jazz! But, enough of that, its time to appreciate here and now. Soon these wellies won't be here in the windswept north.

Now I do generally try to 'live in the moment' myself, as a parent/person/gardener/general buffoon, its often much easier to plan what's needed done and look ahead, rather than to think - 'but what about today?', isn't it?

Or to think, 'when I'm thin/taller/more organised/etc' I'll do that, or I'll be happy if and when I've achieved XYor Z. But, dearest heart, that tiny voice in my mind tells me, 'What about now?' Indeed small voice - what about now? We're often too busy, too much to do, too lonely, too poor, too much cleaning, too, too, too. I'm fed up being 'too', to be honest, its boring.

Too much of anything is a bad thing. So I've stopped the world and decided to play it forward slowly and live 'now'. And now brought me here.

The cellist and I grasped the evil Uritca (stinging nettle for you non botanist types) by the fist and when we'd both made excuses for 'why' we couldn't head out for a walk on Saturday between work (too tired) and her social life (too busy), too far. Enough with the 'too's - so we headed off to the beach for a 'we've got an hour if we yomp it' kind of a walk.

Now I confess, I haven't been to Evie beach in ages and it was calling, so aside the dread 'too's we thought, why not. The hoonds are always happy with a good stomp, so really we had no excuse. We had a free 1hr and 10 minutes, beach 10 minutes away, therefore - to the beach we went.

If we've only got 18 months of stomping about in Orkney to do, then we best make sure we make the best of every minute here. Of the 80 odd or so islands in this archipelago, of the 15 are inhabited and I've visited 11, so at least 4 to go. And of the uninhabited, but easy to get to I've visited 5. Bit of work required there eh?  Its not like its hard work, I mean how bonnie is it here?

And, more importantly, with 500 miles of utterly amazing coastline, awesome scenery and more archaeology than a normal person can chuck a stick at, I'd better get a those wellie boots on, hadn't I? These feet need to try and get on each part of the accessible beaches/cliff tops/scenery she can.

500 miles of coastline/18 months = 27.77 miles a month, which roughly equates to 1 mile a day on a beach of my choice. Or the equivalent for time off island etc. Time to get the map out and the gold stars and start making sure we get EVERYWHERE we can.

Better get a wriggle on hadn't I? Boots out, map out. I'm going to endeavour to live in the moment whilst I'm here in Orkney and enjoy it. Not just wish it away, I know I'm lucky to be here, so we also ended up on Scapa beach, meeting a chum for a stroll.

Two beaches in three days, that's a good start!

As a final attempt to live a little more in the moment, I've finally tweeted, feel free to hunt me down and tell me I'm more twit that 'tweet'. I'll pop a link on the blog - for those keen to hear more about local leaves and wind damage, I'm your girl.

PS It must be working, in the 'ethos' of living in the moment this week I've accidentally managed to see the northern lights. I know me, who's normally fast asleep on the sofa. As I've been trying to actively manage my time, so imagine my delight when an alert came out for the Aurora borealis here - so I went off, a hunting.

Now I've not taken any of these photos - but - here's a link so some stunning ones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19883715

A local friend took some cracking pictures too - I'll see if I can get his permission to send a link out to them........

Until then, living life in the moment. I fear there will be blisters. Wish me luck. I hope you enjoy the present and get out into your life this week!