Planet Ruby Starrs

Last week was positively hectic.... a trip to Lancaster where I managed to finally meet my son and his girlfriend, we haven't seen them for an age due to covid - a lovely wander and catch up and the weather was kind - then a fleeting trip to Coniston to meet up with some old pals not seen for far too long. I had (for me ) an adventurous walk up the valley which included off road rambling , quarry scrambling and breaking out of private premises......and as is becoming common in the Lakes I got hailed on again!!! It was nice to sleep in the van again though - its along time since we had such an outing... We also had an exciting trip to Leeds where we spent an afternoon with my lovely daughter and her girls - hard to believe its been three years since we lost Jay - but it has - and we toasted his memory - then we went to see our very good friends who have finally, after massive hiccups have moved house!!! They found their dream home about a month before we found Coundon Tower and its

Meanwhile back at the ranch.... both greenhouses are full of plants mostly grown from seed and some plug plants I have nurtured to a sensible size.   I have lots of flowers both perennial and bedding and some veg - sadly my tomatoes didn't do well so I had to resort to buying a few plants but everything else has really blossomed - I'm just waiting another week before I start planting out.  I'm really hoping to have a lot more colour in the garden this year - there are a lot of established plants all over the garden - its been well thought out but its mainly green and a bit conifery for our taste - so we are still taking out leylandii - and I will add some more architectural plants in - Flax - Banana and I have grown Cardoons from seed - I saw them a couple of years ago while we were on holiday and I just love the size and magnificence of them so I hope mine turn out like that!!! On the nice day this week we went for a fab walk through Binchester Woods.  Full of bluebells an

theres snow on them there hills..... We had rain - snow - hail - wind - and glorious sunshine all in one day on our lake district trip last week.... just another little day trip out to find some hills and quiet solace among lambs and sprouting bracken.  Was a mixed forecast but we went anyway and while Dr Fred headed up the crag up a hill near Langdale - the rain came in and I sat eating chocolate under a totally inadequate umbrella  and consequently we got got moderately wet but managed to avoid the worst by having lunch and wee kip in the back of the van - well not exactly a kip but a snuggle under the duvet as the hail ravaged the van - it made us feel very nostalgic for sleeping in the van but still very little camping open quote where we want it!  how to spread out wherever.. Later when the weather settles a bit a went for a wander up  Loughridge fell - Dr Fred went looking for esoteric rocks (and didn't find them) I wandered about and did a little bit of painting - it was qui