185E - Sometimes you win, and sometimes...

 After a few days with a nasty throatache, I finally had the energy to trim the grass, yay!

(This is before the big trim)

Well, Friday the 13th was weeks ago I believe, but still. First I arrived at my garden absolutely motivated to trim the grass, when I realised the trimmer was still in my lockup. So there I stood being a total ass with the battery in my hand. Right, and back home I went.

Happy, happy back to Hunky Dory with the trimmer: then when I started it up, it turned out there was no thread left on the spool. As this is my first trimmer, I (optimistically) thought it would last a year at least. Wrong! Right, drove to Welkoop in Rockanje.

At least it was sunny!

   They could sell me a spool and show me how to fix it in, I thought. Well, sell it, yes, show me, no time for that. But I could leave it with them and they would phone me when I could pick it up.

   Okay, left it there and drove back to Brielle, not as happy any more. In front of me there was a police van. Apart from that there was hardly any traffic (thank Frith!) It is an 80 km road, so I was going 80, keeping my proper distance from the police, because that is the way I drive: properly, carefully. Suddenly the van turned on their flashers and siren and did a u-turn across the verge and shot back the way they came, narrowly missing me. In fact they only missed me because I did an emergency brake!

Shaking like a leaf I drove on to Lidl, only to have an old geezer almost reverse into me, shooting backwards out of his spot without looking. Enough!!!

The rest of the day I stayed at home, kept away from sharp things and only walked Puck on pavements!

(After the trim, 4 days later)

Looking better, right? Can you spot that one yellow flower on the left? That's the only one from at least 10 seedlings I had planted in that spot. Pfffft. Look at the header of this blog...

But my pink bulbs have spread all through the garden, so that's good. And to my massive joy the Mexican daisies seedlings (Erigeron) have managed to survive, I feared they had drowned in our extremely wet spring/early summer. They are meant to fill the gaps in my lavender circle.

Abraxas grossulariata caterpillar?

I found the caterpillar of a butterfly of which my insect guide says it could well be an Abraxas. I cannot find the common English name. It is a butterfly which is active at night, I have never seen it: it is a black-white-yellow beauty. Because we have an alarming shortage of butterflies this year, I have left it in peace.

4th flowering!

   My Desdemona rose is flowering for the 4th time this season! The pink Gaura is galantly making place for her by hanging all the way out of the planter. I deadhead the rose fanatically, you see that it works!

   All in all the garden is looking more colourful than some weeks ago, so the warm days and cooler nights have suited it. Myself as well, by the way.

   But you can really see autumn has arrived. In my neighbourhood it is tricky to walk or cycle on the paths, as they are literally covered in very slippery acorns. Puck has been pelted many times during our walks. With every hit she looks at me affronted. So I explain once again that the blasted things fall from the summer oaks.

This week I have enough photos for an extra page, so enjoy!

Have a good weekend!

Renée