a whim? Iain has seen most of the UK for one project or another – perhaps he’d enjoy spending a few months doing the grand tour to show me some of his creations?
She chewed on her bottom lip as she went up the graceful sweep of the stairs.
It wouldn’t be fair to a dog to be forever putting it in kennels. Even a day’s shopping in London would have to be curtailed – no following it up with a leisurely meal in my favourite Greek restaurant, or a trip to the theatre, not if I have to get back to feed and exercise a dog.
But lots of my friends have dogs, even horses. How do they handle it?
I must write a reminder note before going to sleep – check with them how they manage with pets. Constant, loving companionship – and protection from intruders – it’s certainly worthy of consideration.
*
The following Sunday the squally start to spring had settled down into a welcome promise of summer to come. The air was soft and alive with birdsong in the garden where Maggie was free, now that Chloe had left, to return to her task of potting on the summer annuals in the greenhouse. It had been a real treat to see both her children twice in as many months.
She had spent most of the day weeding the herbaceous borders and preparing the rich loamy soil for a new year of growth and colour, helped by James and Keela. They’d had a long discussion down in the lowest section of the two acres she kept as private garden, the other ten acres being rented out for grazing. Keela wanted to know what she planned for this rather boggy area.
Half of the land was still copse and wild flower meadow. With the pond in the copse, and a stream running through it too, it was ideal for the birds, bugs, butterflies, frogs, newts and mammals she loved. Definitely, though, the bog this side of the stream belonged as part of the ‘formal’ garden and still needed to be worked on. At first she hadn’t had the time to tackle it. Then she hadn’t been able to decide what she wanted, and so it had been left in its natural state.
James had taken great pride in showing Keela the garden that he and his mother had worked on all his life, creating beauty from scrubby farmland that hadn’t been used for decades. A quarter century of slow, gentle change had transformed the land to a series of interconnecting lawns, shrubberies, and amazing drifts of perennials in banks alongside winding pathways. Every vista tempted you to meander further into its hidden depths, or to pause a while on one of the many secluded seats.
Keela had been equally enthusiastic since marrying James and had helped a great deal whenever she could. She was the one with several ideas and suggestions for things like companion planting for the vegetable beds, soft fruits garden and small orchard. It had been a real joy to see the garden work its magic again – they had looked so relaxed and happy together. It confirmed Maggie’s belief that gardens are good for the soul.
She stretched her arms above her head and bent backwards then flopped forwards to relieve her aching muscles. Soon she would need a soothing bath but she had been determined to make the most of this glorious weather.
What a perfect weekend, just Iain missing from yesterday’s family meal, and then the children agreeing to stay over too. It’s a shame Chloe must have felt a bit of a spare part, with not liking gardening at all, but she seemed to enjoy her sunbathing, and the morning spent on her phone and playing the piano. Each to their own, I suppose.
*
When she left, Chloe deliberately sprayed gravel as she gunned her car down the driveway, starting on the hour-long journey back to her flat from what was increasingly becoming her monthly duty visit to her mother. When had it stopped being fun to come home? she wondered.
She gently exercised the feeling of tension out of her neck and shoulders as she enjoyed the power of her red Mazda – a congratulatory present from her father to his
She chewed on her bottom lip as she went up the graceful sweep of the stairs.
It wouldn’t be fair to a dog to be forever putting it in kennels. Even a day’s shopping in London would have to be curtailed – no following it up with a leisurely meal in my favourite Greek restaurant, or a trip to the theatre, not if I have to get back to feed and exercise a dog.
But lots of my friends have dogs, even horses. How do they handle it?
I must write a reminder note before going to sleep – check with them how they manage with pets. Constant, loving companionship – and protection from intruders – it’s certainly worthy of consideration.
*
The following Sunday the squally start to spring had settled down into a welcome promise of summer to come. The air was soft and alive with birdsong in the garden where Maggie was free, now that Chloe had left, to return to her task of potting on the summer annuals in the greenhouse. It had been a real treat to see both her children twice in as many months.
She had spent most of the day weeding the herbaceous borders and preparing the rich loamy soil for a new year of growth and colour, helped by James and Keela. They’d had a long discussion down in the lowest section of the two acres she kept as private garden, the other ten acres being rented out for grazing. Keela wanted to know what she planned for this rather boggy area.
Half of the land was still copse and wild flower meadow. With the pond in the copse, and a stream running through it too, it was ideal for the birds, bugs, butterflies, frogs, newts and mammals she loved. Definitely, though, the bog this side of the stream belonged as part of the ‘formal’ garden and still needed to be worked on. At first she hadn’t had the time to tackle it. Then she hadn’t been able to decide what she wanted, and so it had been left in its natural state.
James had taken great pride in showing Keela the garden that he and his mother had worked on all his life, creating beauty from scrubby farmland that hadn’t been used for decades. A quarter century of slow, gentle change had transformed the land to a series of interconnecting lawns, shrubberies, and amazing drifts of perennials in banks alongside winding pathways. Every vista tempted you to meander further into its hidden depths, or to pause a while on one of the many secluded seats.
Keela had been equally enthusiastic since marrying James and had helped a great deal whenever she could. She was the one with several ideas and suggestions for things like companion planting for the vegetable beds, soft fruits garden and small orchard. It had been a real joy to see the garden work its magic again – they had looked so relaxed and happy together. It confirmed Maggie’s belief that gardens are good for the soul.
She stretched her arms above her head and bent backwards then flopped forwards to relieve her aching muscles. Soon she would need a soothing bath but she had been determined to make the most of this glorious weather.
What a perfect weekend, just Iain missing from yesterday’s family meal, and then the children agreeing to stay over too. It’s a shame Chloe must have felt a bit of a spare part, with not liking gardening at all, but she seemed to enjoy her sunbathing, and the morning spent on her phone and playing the piano. Each to their own, I suppose.
*
When she left, Chloe deliberately sprayed gravel as she gunned her car down the driveway, starting on the hour-long journey back to her flat from what was increasingly becoming her monthly duty visit to her mother. When had it stopped being fun to come home? she wondered.
She gently exercised the feeling of tension out of her neck and shoulders as she enjoyed the power of her red Mazda – a congratulatory present from her father to his
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