Back in the saddle again

Sorry about the bloggy break. The school holidays have started so I can focus on getting myself in order - healthy and all sorted out around here. It was only a nine week term, but because I was ill, a break is very welcome right now.

Yesterday we had my gorgeous cousin to visit after her morning at work. She brought me some surplus seeds from her King's Seeds order. I was very happy to give them a good home and got busy doing some sowing today. I sowed night scented stock, bright blue morning glory, painted lady runner beans, red cabbages, Florence fennel, Big Red tomatoes, crook necked summer squash and asparagus. Some, like the asparagus, are a bit of an experiment, and others are sure to succeed. I planted tiny amounts because it breaks my heart when I sow far to many and can't find homes for them. I'm afraid we are going to have rather a surplus of squashes and courgettes, but I find the whole growing business so exciting that it doesn't matter if some end up in the compost heap. Oh, I forgot that I also filled a polystyrene tray with mesclun mix and have high hopes for an exciting mixture of seedling sprouting shortly.

Tomorrow I have to sow some basil, radish, lettuce, onions, sunflowers, nasturtiums, peas, carrots, beetroot and pak choi and whatever else I can find in my seed box. I love pottering around in the vegetable patch, and I'm thrilled to have my greenhouse all organised and revamped. Mr Mouse did attempt to use a large seed tray as a toilet this morning, rudely disturbing some delphinium seeds, but that was the only blot on my gardening session.

Mrs Zanny and I had our first ride since she returned home to the farm. All of the jumping saddles were down in Waimati at a showjumping competition, so I had to use a dressage saddle, and unfortunately it didn't suit either of us. I felt like I was perched forward and couldn't relax in the saddle properly, and Zanny got a couple of rubs from the girth, even though I was super careful to remove loose hair and any mud on her. The girth had a sheepskin cover, but was quite wide and can't have been comfortable for her. In spite of that she was a very good girl. I was quite upset to see the wee rubs on her as I hope to ride again tomorrow. I need to get her her own girth. She is very prone to girth galls.

Check in tomorrow evening for another post. I love the holidays!