Tuesday 9 June 2015

Busy day

The farmer had to go to hospital in Middlesbrough today for his monthly balance tests - that part of it was splendid as he came out 100% in all areas and does not have to go again, providing he keeps up the exercises and doesn't notice any fall-back.

We go the country way in that almost the whole journey, apart from the last five or so miles of the forty-five, is through countryside, albeit rather ordinary countryside.

But today (no camera of course - sod's law) it was far from ordinary because there were two fields of a crop we rarely see around here.   Two fields of glorious blue flax in full flower.   They looked like the sea and were enhanced by the adjoining field being a field of bright yellow rape.   While I gasped in wonder the farmer remarked that it is a darn nuisance to combine as the stalks are so tough (ever the realist).

We called at the garden centre on the way home and bought pansies and geraniums for our pots, salvia for a bare spot in the garden and a fantastic bright orange gazania for my favourite pot.  We got home,made a pot of tea, then planted all the plants.   Now it is over and done with, watered in, swept up, all rubbish cleared away - done completely.   In addition the farmer has sawn a lot of branches off the bottom of a tall Christmas tree which was blocking the light. I now feel satisfied and exhausted, so off to sit down .

We had lunch at the garden centre so hardly any tea to think about.

9 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

Glad his balance has settled down. I had a brief bit of vertigo awhile ago and it was very unsettling.

Terry and Linda said...

Sod's Law how interesting...what IS that?

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer

Joanne Noragon said...

What a visual picture in so many ways--the blue flax, the yellow rape and the farmer's remark. Why would anyone want to combine the two stalks, wondered this spinner of flax. Oh, duh....

Heather said...

That sounds like a most satisfactory day all round. Glad the farmer has been signed off from the hospital tests. Wonderful to see a field of flax next to yellow rape. We have both growing in our area but not next to each other. Your garden must be looking very pretty now.

Rachel Phillips said...

Modern combine harvesters can chop the stalks but they are still tough to cut in the first place, weather you have the combine bed set high or low, you have still to get through the stalks. Rape stalks if not chopped can be baled and used for animal bedding but they are a bit rough on the backside. Try walking through a rape or a linseed stubble in sandals; it is like walking through a terracotta army out to attack you.

angryparsnip said...

Good News all around. Happy the Farmer is doing so well.
Your flowers sound so wonderful.

cheers, parsnip

Cro Magnon said...

I've not seen Flax growing.... blue always seems a bit out of place in the countryside.

Rachel Phillips said...

The fields look beautiful Cro.

Craig said...

I'm pleased to hear your news regarding the farmer. The fields must have been a wonderful sight. A productive day planting gives you a warm glow I think.