The hedge has got to go.

The large privet hedge which started life on top of part of a garden wall and has subsequently migrated onto the drive, has become a giant of an eyesore. It is full of brambles, a wild rose or two, nettles and ivy, lots of ivy. A complete mess. Every year it was cut but every year it grew and the ivy roots began to push the stones out of the wall. Something had to be done. Discussions were had with the next door neighbours who would be affected by any changes and the decision was made - it had to go. That was months ago...

Last Saturday morning I looked at this giant of a job and decided that unless a start was made, however small, it would never be done. Right. Armed with 2 wheelbarrows, a pair of secateurs and some sturdy gloves I began. Rather than handle everything twice I carefully cut branches and put them straight into the barrow. It was going to be a lonnnng job!  My neighbour came out and offered to cut some down with his chain saw - brilliant. So I spent Saturday clearing up and trundling the cuttings up to the bonfire which is at the top of the garden - no mean feat in itself as the garden is about an acre and much longer than it is wide... well I want to get fit, lose some weight - who needs a gym?! Jimi came out and helped with the clearing up and moving of the heavy stones for which I was very grateful.

Sunday was my day off, Dowland Country Fair to visit followed by dinner with a friend. A chance for me to recoup some energy.  Monday brought root and stone removal as by this time I'd got down to the ivy roots and the stones were getting very loose. I had one close call, as I pulled roots out from the garden side bits of wall fell into the lane. Fortunately it's not a busy lane! Peter did yet more chain sawing for me and great progress is being made.

There are days and days work ahead of me. When it's all cut down the wall has to be rebuilt - Anyone know of a Drystone Wall person? Perhaps I'd better go on a course ;)

 

 
A few shots of the work in progress.

Pots & Flowers & Stuff.

 So, what have I been doing lately... hmmm. Garden Centres have featured quite a lot. Olivia is on a quest to own every type/colour/size of pot available. Then of course they have to be planted up with herbs. Great idea if only there was someone among us to use these herbs as they are intended - you know - cooking n stuff! Don't look at me. The plus side is that they look very attractive. She has also been planting vegetables of all sorts. Again it is highly unlikely that they will ever get eaten apart from by the chickens but hey, it helps to stop the veggie plots looking bare and forgotten.

Photography hasn't been neglected of course. It's daisy time and I love taking photos of them. Also scattered around the garden are several types of Aquilegia which are lovely to get real close up to with a macro lens. As well as taking photos of flowers I spent a morning in Okehampton's J Street Diner. It's a lovely retro Diner, 50's through and through and therefore the perfect setting for photos of Honeysuckle Moon Guitar Pickups. Martin Dowding my Photographer, Guitar Maker and Perfume Maker friend asked me to take some shots of his handmade pickups. It worked well and I think that he is happy with the results and here are a couple... and some flowers :)

                                                                                                           

Martins guitars and pickups can be found here:  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/sasibel/about?

 

Honeysuckle Moon Guitars and Pickups.

I read a lot about people who go out to take photos with a specific image in mind - perhaps a certain scene or subject - and are content to go home with nothing if they don't find it, searching again another day. While I have no problem with that at all, it isn't for me. I'm a bit like a child in a sweet shop when I get out with a camera, there is just SO MUCH to photograph. Everywhere you look there is something. So when my friend Martin asked me to take some photos for him I was, to start with, at a bit of a loss. Martin is a Professional Photographer - a hard act to follow. He teaches - photography - eecck! But not being one to resist a challenge I said I'd give it a go. The subject, his handmade guitar pickups. I had the vaguest idea of what they were. As they are part of a guitar I knew that they couldn't be too big. See, I didn't really know at all...

These pickups are for sale, the photos needed to be... well lots of things really. When you buy something you expect the photograph to show how it's made, the detail etc etc. Nothing to be done but get them in front of a camera and what fun I have had. I'm still slightly hazy about what they actually do - sorry Martin -  but I've enjoyed the challenge. The pickups and the guitars, which he also makes, go by the name of Honeysuckle Moon. Here are some of my results. I can hear one or two of you saying "is that some form of lingerie I see in one of them?" Well yes, of course, who took the photos?  ;)

 Here's a link to Martin's Etsy shop where the pickups are for sale and there is information about his guitar making.  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/sasibel/about?