Easter Weekend

We spent the weekend getting on with the raised beds...it now appears that we're growing posts, admittedly, but it is coming along well. Most of the posts for the berry beds are now in: they're 3x3" posts for the corners, and we're putting in some 2x2" posts along the edges, as they're curved: the posts will hopefully help form the curves. They're all rather tall (the raspberries' posts are about 7', and the berry posts 6', to allow for a foot of raised bed, and then enough space for the bushes to grow.

There's still a long way to go, admittedly, and we'll then need about 20 cubic metres of topsoil to fill them all! I'm having to dig spade-width holes for the posts: they're too tall to hammer in, and--additionally--there are so many stones that it would never work.

The daffodils are coming up, but there are only a few that are imminently going to be out properly. The puschkinia are coming up, but looking a little small as yet. The siberian squills are there, but similarly small; but there's no sign of the anemones yet.

We also had a shopping trip, which led to a car-full of stuff...never mind. In addition to a couple of rolls of loft insulation (we can only fit a couple in at a time, so we get some whenever we visit: we need another 8 or so to finish the lofts), we also bought a lawn mower, a garden vacuum/blower, a new blender, and some odds-and-ends.

Although we currently have quite a lot of grass/lawn, neither of us is a big fan of lawn, so we'll be reducing it as the beds are created. Thus, there's unlikely to be much of an expanse that needs proper tending (read, striped and short). Combining this with the gradient and softness of the soil, I wanted a hover-mower, as only a self-propelled petrol would be a sensible alternative, and I just think that would get literally bogged down.

The vacuum/blower I'm absurdly excited about. I'm hoping it'll make clearing the leaves and twigs in autumn much simpler, and I'll probably try it out soonish on the remnants of last year.

The blender was a coup: nominal price £125, reduced to £50, but we had a £20 voucher after the delivery disaster with the freezer/washing machine. £125 blender for £30? Yes, please.