Ten Fourteen

Audrey, Ursula and I having delicious lunch on Audrey's birthday. They put a candle on her Sticky Toffee Cake, gave her a nice card from the establishment and took the photo. Very obliging and a brilliant chef!

In all its glory

Hello!

Good morning, Orchid! Long time no see. What a beautiful design. There are 7 more buds on the plant. Should keep us entertained till Christmas!

At last!

Finally, my dear old orchid is opening its first bud. I had thought I just couldn't manage them and that it was my fault it hadn't flowered for so long. That could still be true but I'm delighted to have got this far!

It has to open today

Still waiting

The colour is deepening so it shouldn't be too long. I moved the three orchid plants together to show the different size of blooms.

Nearly there!

Okay, we're still waiting but the individual petals are quite clear now and the streaks of colour are becoming more defined. How did it figure all of this out on its own? Surely it has to be open by tomorrow!

Harvest

Meanwhile, the pigeons have discovered that the barley in the field beside us is ready for harvesting. I saw a Combine passing by an hour ago. The place could look different tomorrow.

Still waiting!

I can't believe it. This orchid is testing even my patience! Still not open. I love watching the development though. Maybe tomorrow.

That first orchid

This orchid was my birthday present from Mary 2 or 3 years ago. It's so long since it flowered, I can't remember what it's going to be like. The flower spike has been developing for the last 2 months at least. I think the first flower is ready to open tomorrow. I thought the same yesterday - and the day before. You just can't rush orchids. I like them for that.

Harvest

Preparing the runner beans. Good year for them but peas were a washout!

Orchids

As promised, here are the new blooms. Now awaiting blooms on my first orchid, first time in two years.

Time to take down the birthday cards!

I suppose two months later it's time to remove the birthday cards! This is a nice way to remember them.

Cacti

Introducing my little family of Cacti. The collection is very young and very small. I have no experience of growing them, so it'll be interesting to see if I can manage to get them to maturity.

Kilmokea Gardens

These gardens are so lovely, as was the pate and salad!

I love Orchids

I wonder why orchids are addictive? This one has these lovely huge white flowers and I'm watching anxiously as the next new flower-bud develops. If it opens successfully, you'll know!

Our new dependent

This is our young jackdaw who marches up and down outside the kitchen door and them catches food in his beak when we throw it!

Guess what - it's raining!

Today the rain is incessant and very heavy. I'm glad I got the 20 outdoor tomatoes planted before that started!

Tomatoes , just one more to go in

Loganberry

Wow

My Siblings' Birthday meal

My jar of yummy trad sweets given to me by Liam. It's got Sherbet lollies, Love Hearts, edible necklaces, and lots of other sweets we used to have. That's Ais, Sin and Eef looking lovely!

Fuschia

This is just to see how this thing works!