A short post, typed through gritted teeth…can you type through gritted teeth? When I was young, and naughty (which of course was a very rare occurrence) my mother would say despairingly “I could give you away with half a pound of tea!”
So, puppy, anyone? Very nice tea, Clipper, organic. Very naughty dog though. No-one with any sense would want him, however good the tea.
The crime? Well it’s gardening related. Over at Purple Podded Peas Celia has some excellent staff, Undergardeners par excellence. Weeding, hoeing, pest clearance, manure…they are the business!
Here? Well, the Head Gardener is happy to put in an appearance…
…but is pretty laid back these days.
The Undergardener?
Over enthusiastic and won’t take instruction. Has been given a verbal warning.
After two afternoons spent tidying and clearing the vegetable garden and hoiking the weeds out of the raised beds out came the seed packets to see what I could get going in the one bed I’d had the cover on for a couple of weeks to warm up the soil. I sowed half a bed, salad leaves, chives, spring onions, red spring onions, radishes, carrots…and in pots sowed basil, dill and coriander. Tired by then,and thirsty, I popped in for a well deserved cuppa and came out to…chaos…
The Undergardener had heaved himself on his stumpy little legs over the sleeper which formed the bed, and into the nice, soft, fluffy compost and it’s neat rows of seeds and, well, I don’t know…disco dancing? mining? fossil hunting?
No more neat rows…no more labels…even the labels in the pots had been taken out and chewed…I won’t know if it’s basil, or dill, or coriander until they’ve grown big enough to taste…
So that’s why Higgins is lying in his bed looking worried about the packet of tea. But do you know? In the end my Mum didn’t give me away either….
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He’s so gorgeous you can’t stay cross with him for long. In any case he’s given gardening a greater element of surprise, you’ll be able to play ‘name that plant’ all summer!
Lovely post, thanks!
a-m x
That face, those eyes – the picture of innocence.
Oh, mercy for the Undergardener! I have 2 of those at my house, so I sympathize with your frustration. Poor Higgins…I can see he’s really trying!
Val in Kansas 🙂
Lots of Mixed Salad this summer , then . With Mixed Herb omelettes .
Might all be a revelation and taste sensation …. in which case you’ll be coaxing him to do it again next year !
Hee-hee! Higgins – you bad doggy!
Oh dear Penny! but do you know what? – my under-gardeners are naughty too 😉 When all my neat brick paths have been weeded and swept they think it funny to cover them with stones and soil. Laugh! Don’t I just!
Then there are those two feline studio assistants who just love rolling on newly emerging seedlings – the ginger one gets in (yes INSIDE) the heated propagator. I could go on…
Celia
BTW I love Clipper Organic Tea too – hits the spot just nicely!
Caught Lily the Whippet carrying out similar shenanigans this morning – luckily I’ve only prepared the beds and haven’t actually got around to planting anything yet.
Bless them, eh?!
Oh dear! I bet you won’t bear to give him away though 🙂 And it’s fun guessing what plants you’ll be eating all summer… 🙂
Oh Higgins, you naughty little boy! I couldn’t help smiling (though I know his crime is very serious)! I must admit, are smooth haired Dachshunds naughtier than wire haired?! Or am I just looking at my babies through rose tinted specs?! Well Higgins, you’ve had a warning, if you drive your mum to the edge again, you’re being popped in a box and sent over to me. where you will be suitably reprimanded with lots of ear kissing and snuggles. Love Vanessa xxx
Oh, Higgins!
Well, I would love to accept you but I don’t drink tea and I suppose you both come as one package.
Now, if the tea were changed for organic coffee then, dear Higgins, you would be packing your little bags for Canada!
Jane
Don’t you just love him….. Now you have a mixed veg bed!
Hi Penny,
I don’t know if you remember me. I was on the monoprinting course at Dilham with Laurie Rudling. We shared a screen together and I used up some of your paint! I live on the wrong side of the Atlantic in Madison, Wisconsin. Anyway I thought I should just drop a line to say that I take a trip to your eccentric planet every day to see what you are up to and enjoy the ride.
I have just returned from England. I come across about twice a year to spend time with my very elderly, dotty mother in Dorset. It’s rather frustrating as I don’t get out and about very much while I’m there unless I tack on an exciting printing course. This time I did a one day class at The Curwen print study centre. Card printing with Chloe Cheese. Not bad but rather frenetic and rushed which isn’t me as the time was so short. Dilham was much better. I should write and tell Kit.
Hope you enjoy your studio and that you can train Higgins to be helpful!
all the best
Sarah
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