A view from the kitchen.

Well done Eileen. I suspect we are the lucky ones with our gardens to care for. My greenhouse certainly keeps me cheerful 🙂.

You'll have garden help from your daughter, hopefully!

This afternoon was warm and calm, we sat on the chairs I'd dug out the garage and just listened to the robin and finches, and watched the spuggies, blackies and collar doves. Even just for a while it was beautiful, no wind is such a rare thing around our garden.

Hmm...similar here today as Son, Callum moved back in with us. His home is due to be sold on April 10th and he was feeling anxious and isolated so decided to come home and be with us a week earlier than planned. Its been very stressful today as he waited to find out whether he was to be made redundant, and this morning he was asked not to work, but by lunch time they had realised they really couldn’t manage without him, so he ended up working all afternoon and is not now redundant. But who knows what will happen tomorrow! Love your garden views! Stay well x

Haven't seen a full pic of your pond before it's really quite large. Has it got shelves for marginals or just that corner?

Nice blog Eileen, I know which view I would rather look at, Derek.

Funny seeing that Hulahoop ... I had a blue one just like that 🙂.

I am so grateful to have my garden and sewing hobbies, I feel so sorry for those that have neither.
Victoria probably wont do any hard gardening but she will pot things on and feed the birds etc. We expect her to help with daily chores obviously and the cooking but she is still having uni work to complete before she finishes in June. She is about 3500 words short for her dissertation but she will not have a problem completing it. The hulahoop is part of her exercise regime Sheila.

Karen glad it is working out for Callum. Our eldest has finally been told to work from home, she could have been doing that all last week if they'd had a mind to let her.

Siris the pond looks bigger in the photo its about 14ftx8ft and at its deepest 4ft. it does have shelves of varying depths and 3 of the corners have planters in them. the 4th has a shallow depth water lily. Originally we had planned a dew pond type thing but we dug out about 6" and then hit bed rock so we built it up instead.

Yes the mess seems to be spreading as we empty some boxes to fill others to go in the loft until she moves out . When that will be who knows.

Wow them boxes take me back to when our no2 daughter was in and out from uni, when we visit her house now it is no different, only now it is toys scattered around from her two children, does make me smile until they visit and bring their toy rucksacks with them.
The skimmia in our back garden is well in flower and as you say the scent is lovely. Things seem to be motoring on in the back garden and our front garden got a make over today, grass cut, weeds dug out, transplanted two rose bushes that got lost in the mock orange shrub, had another delivery of plants, must have forgotten about them as thought that was it :), now its back to watching everything grow and just seeing what else to do, so can keep busy, this is only day 2 oh dear.
Just curious is seaburn where you live, I used to go to the fair when I was a kid and also that was the stop for getting to roker park.

Hi Daveymad, I grew up in Seaburn just a few houses up from Mere Knolls Cemetry/ TA Barracks. 5 mins onto the beach, gosh I still miss it so much. Daughter surveyed sea anemones at Whitburn Steele and Parsons rocks opposite Seaburn Recreation ground in Nov/Dec as part of her uni dissertation. I did a blog about the anemones. Sadly no fair there now nor a boating lake. Roker Park park is still there but not the football ground gone to be replaced by the Stadium of Light.

Yes we have done this with our 2 daughters now. When we visit the eldest we often 'sprawl' about her lounge which drives her mad, we smile and say oh sorry but that's what you used to do' haha. No grandkiddies yet though.
glad you had a good day in the garden, plan to do some in mine tomorrow.

I grew up in Pelaw and one of the crosses I still have to bear is that I am still a mad Sunderland supporter, still cant work that one out even after all these years, I have been to the stadium of light a few times over the years but it is an 800 mile round trip now, probably better for me sanity being that far away. OK thanks for coming back enjoy your day in the garden tomorrow.

A sad affliction indeed Davey. footie not my cup of tea 1973 FA cup final I was digging my mums front garden and knew they had scored by the cheering from the houses in the area! as you say a bit of a trek.

Lovely views of your garden :)
I hope your daughter has sorted her things out now, but you must be relieved to have her home and safe.

Your garden looks a delight love your pond area. I too would rather look into the garden.
When one of my daughters returned home she returned with 2 others her hubby and daughter all her furniture was stacked high in my living room only enough room to get to the settee and my chair just fitted to get to my lounge chair . I now tell every one who has little ones when they grow up they will return in doubles or trebles and you ll need a bigger home and bank account.
I hope your daughter soon settles back in and sorted.

Hywel that made me laugh. Tidied out a few boxes and so far that is all and its not that she hasn't worked at it.
3d I know what you mean. Both girls have been back with households of their stuff. The Elizabeth the eldest was only back with us for 3 months before moving on.
Victoria had a year away in a single bed house and we had 'fun' reabsorbing that. The stuff from uni was also part of that house so we know it will all fit eventually.

but sun is shinning so I am gardening. unpacking and stowing can be done when its dark or raining.

Three months is nt to bad for you then at least you dont have to rearrange your things to fits her belongings in long term.

Really enjoyed this blog and your photos made me count my blessings! We are so fortunate that we have our gardens to look at (and weed...) Its a glorious day today (frustrating as I have a chest infection and can't go out). I hadn't realised your pond was so big either - its a beauty!
Well everyone, I hope all of you with "visitors" enjoy their company. It seems a long time since every other step was a Lego booby trap...

3d we have no idea how long Toria will be with us as when uni finishes she will need a job. Hopefully wildlife conservation but where in the country we have no idea.

Stera, sorry you are not well but get some fresh air even if you cant weed. Listen to the bird song.

Well I hope she finds the job she wants and being close to you with wild life conservation .

So pleased that your daughter has come home safe and sound. She will appreciate your lovely garden in the weeks to come. Hope she has found a place to put all her belongings - the packet of Corn Flakes touched me somehow!

I too enjoy my pots and troughs and they always make me smile. I have had to start watering them again though - never thought that would happen after the constant rain in the winter!!!

So do we 3d.
Oh I wish wildrose about 1/3 is stowed. I need to sort some boxes to repack things into then its a case of getting husband to get them into the loft.

Eileen, the birdsong has been lovely.There's nothing like a blackbird at this time of year. Oddly there hasn't been any woodpecker drumming - hope they haven't gone elsewhere.
At the other end of the scale a rook keeps perching on the chimney and cawing down it , We're just thankful if doesn't seem to be building a nest in it! My OH collects empty cardboard boxes in case they (might come in useful) I wish you were close enough for me to unload some of them for you!

your hubby and mine Stera. There are at least a dozen proper packing boxes behind the sofa in the conservatory. Now where did he hide the packing tape rolls. Notice the plural!

snowing off and on here this morning.

Its been a stressful time all round for parents, youngsters of the 16- 21yr age group, half haven't been able to finish their exams, course work and suchlike and then like yourselves getting them home from uni with all their belongings, very unsettling all round, its not just parents with little ones that are affected, most of the younger age group are excited as they consider they're getting extra holiday, thankfully they are too young to realise what is actually going on..
That view from your window is delightful, it would bring a smile to my face as well..

I have been watching the wren flitting between the pots looking for insects. This morning the robins were flirting in full view of us and he wasn't at all put off by the audience. She didn't seem too impressed however. He didn't even bring her flowers.