On Sunday my faithful "Bosch" lawnmower started to whine and the electric motor conked out. I had used that machine for the past fifteen years. It cut a lot of grass - mounds of the stuff. When I checked out possible repair costs, I realised they were prohibitive. It would be more economical to purchase a new mower so I toddled along to B&Q and bought this for £185:-
Yesterday was quite a productive day. Out at the back I cut the main lawn. I took the excess plastic recycling to the bins in Tesco's car park at Millhouses. I visited Lidl to spend £75 on groceries. I cut the hedge at the front of the house and chopped up the base of an old single bed. The mattress - which had hardly been slept on - was picked up by The British Heart Foundation to sell in their city centre furniture shop. I made our evening meal - a sausage casserole with mashed potato and green beans. and of course I wrote "Pint O'Tetley's Please" - inspired by Tuesday's pub visit.
The sky is quite overcast as I write so I am glad that I had already decided to take another long walk tomorrow and not today. Besides, Frances and Stewart will be over for tea (Posh people: dinner) this evening. Of course they will be bringing our darling granddaughter who remains a perfect baby, developing nicely all the time.
Fed only on mother's milk, she has become chubby. She can roll over when she is in the mood and when I growl and bark at her she puts her arm out so that I can nibble it. Again - when in the mood - she giggles and she still likes to hear my songs - sometimes falling asleep in my arms. She goes to a baby swimming session once a week, wearing a special swimsuit that prevents leakage.
Though they are not babies, there are several blog visitors who could do with one of those!
Three more recent pictures of Princess Phoebe from her mother's smartphone:-
I didn't get around to commenting on your excellent poem about Tetley's beer, and not being a drinker I first thought it was about tea, until I saw the photo.
ReplyDeleteHowever I couldn't miss the photos of young Phoebe, what a beautiful baby! She looks such a happy little girl. Had Mummy had just told her she was going to see Grandpa, who will sing to her?
A lawnmower and grass cutting are two things I don't have to worry about. The garden was designed for low maintenance (aka old age!) and three very active dogs to run around in. I miss the greenery of a lawn and have considered artificial grass to replace areas of gravel. Apparently it just needs the occasional brush and hose down to keep it looking pristine.
I guess that in Spain, real lawns need a lot more tending and watering than over here. Oh and yes Carol, she's happy in the last picture because she's about to visit her crazy grandpa.
DeleteI love the little pink sweater (English: jumper) with the hood and ears! Did Shirley knit that for the princess? :)
ReplyDeleteFour pints of beer sounds like a lot!
We recently had to buy a new lawn mower too. Ours cost more than yours but doesn't look as nice. I hope it gives you many years of good service!
No Shirley did not knit that particular one. Perhaps you could knit a little jumper for Marco? I also hope that your lawnmower does its job efficiently for a good few years.
DeletePhoebe is the picture of health!
ReplyDeleteDoes the new lawn mower have any handy features?
The only thing is that raising and lowering its cutting position is much easier than before. You just press a button.
DeletePhoebe looks lovely. You had a very high achieving day. Seventy five quid on groceries sounds a lot. You don't shop often? A new mower must be fun, so much improved on the old one.
ReplyDeleteThe £75 included four bottles of wine - one of them a Cabernet Sauvignon from a small island called Australia. Also eight bottles of beer, oh and food too!
DeletePhoebe is a very photogenic baby. What a charmer!
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteLook at that beautiful little peach of a baby girl! Four months is such a good age. Try not to nibble those fingers off her hands, okay? I know that sometimes it is hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteFingers? I thought they were sausages!
DeleteOMG she's so cute. That smile is contagious. It's amazing how fast the grow. Jack is over two now and seems like such a little man at times.
ReplyDeleteJack must be a little man as he has got hair!
DeleteI think that Phoebe looks just like you in that last photo. She looks beautiful in the others though
ReplyDeleteGiving with one hand and taking away with the other! So cruel!
DeleteThat's a great amount of work for one day. I have a feeling you will fall asleep too with Phoebe in your arms while you sing her a little song.
ReplyDeleteHonestly...I'm not crazed. I do see the family resemblance in those pictures....what a wonderful baby girl.
She is a blessing and so far so well-natured. We love her very much but she just will not drink from a bottle. Any tips Mama Thyme?
DeleteI agree with Jenny. But I might offer a little of water at times so that it is different than breast milk. Or, just the opposite if that doesn't work. Offer a little breast milk that has been pumped and see if that works. But, what the hell do I know? My Princess was the same way. I fed her till she was ready for a sippy cup!! Also, she got nothing except breastmilk until almost six months old. That is when I discovered that she didn't like and still doesn't like milk of any kind that much. So..... Your lovely daughter will figure it out. Just keep telling her and making her believe that she is doing a great job! I know you will read this but no reason to put it on your blog. Just some suggestions.
DeleteThank you for your hints sis.
DeleteCute pictures of a cute baby! I had to look up the word "salmagundi." It's a shame you couldn't get your mower repaired more economically. There's something wrong with our crazy society when we have to just keep buying new stuff rather than fixing the old! (By which I don't mean to criticize you -- I'd have done the same thing.)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way Steve. I would have much rather had my old mower repaired.
DeleteShe is adorable-what a beaming smile! You've been very busy. I will need a new lawn mower in the near future and usually buy the cheapest non electronic version with a Briggs and Stratton engine. They've been good to me, although I should probably consider a self-propelled one next. I'm getting old!
ReplyDeleteIf you get an electric one, always be aware of where the cable is. There's less to go wrong with an electric mower.
DeletePhoebe is a darling - what a big smile in that last photo! You must be so enjoying your time together. She looks like she is blessed with a happy nature. Would that be so?
ReplyDeleteI've learned a new word today - salmagundi. At first I thought it might be a variation of Solomon Gundy, a pickled herring/onion mixture eaten in the Atlantic provinces here in Canada, but Wikipedia tells me they are two different things altogether. I don't even like the thought of Solomon Gundy as I am definitely not a fish person, but I do like the look and meaning of salmagundi :)
I didn't know that word either - until this morning. I didn't want the blogpost title to be "Miscellany". Phoebe has got a lovely nature but so far she refuses to take a bottle. Any tips Jenny?
DeleteFill it with Tetley's?? No, don't you dare :)
DeleteIn case that was a serious question, I would suggest to keep offering the bottle (make only a small amount of formula), preferably at the beginning of the feeding when baby is hungriest, but don't let her get so unhappy she gets very frustrated. Mum and Dad might also try a pacifier at times other than feeding time to get her used to the texture, if they are not doing that already. It's lovely that her Mum is breastfeeding but it can make one feel tied down. It also reduces opportunities for Dad (and grandparents) to take on some of the work and at the same time enjoy some of the bonding.
We call a pacifier a dummy. I think it could be a good bridge for her, so that the idea of sucking on something that resembles a nipple will seem less alien.
DeleteMy hedges have become very overgrown since I have neglected cutting them because the birds are nesting. Maybe this weekend I will get out the petrol hedge trimmer?
ReplyDeleteGo to church and ask for forgiveness on Sunday.
DeleteThis kid is a winner. The smile would break anybody's heart.
ReplyDeleteI bet that you were the most beautiful baby in Esk!
DeleteGranny duties meant I missed the chance to comment on your excellent poem YP and the wonderful holiday memories it brought to mind. Sadly no Tetley's beer in my souvenirs but I did bring back Holy Island Mead, Amalfi Limoncello and a taste for Tetley tea which is sadly not on our shelves since Covid hit.
ReplyDeletePrincess Phoebe takes a beautiful photo. Her eyes capture you . She looks so interested in her world and highly amused by it. Smartphones are wonderful for allowing you to capture all those precious baby moments so easily and appreciate how quickly babies grow and change.
Our little Princess had her 6 weeks vaccination on Wednesday and a successful coffee shop outing yesterday. An outing that had seemed impossible to her mother in the early days of breastfeeding. Baby Charlotte has her own little What's App group so that her English half of the family can share in our daily joy until they are able to travel here again. She gives us so much pleasure both awake and asleep.
Glad you liked the poem Adele and I am pleased to learn that Little Charlotte has been making good progress during her first weeks. Did you have a What's App group when you were a baby?
DeleteOh my goodness, but those pictures are ADORABLE. Happy 4 month birthday to little Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby. Actually she will be five months old on June 15th.
DeleteThose wiggly feelers look like trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis could be the calm before Storm Phoebe arrives.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous baby Phoebe is and surrounded by proud parents and grandparents, life must be heaven for you all. As for lawns you are supposed to let them grow at the moment for wildlife's sake.
ReplyDeleteErr...we are now in June Thelma. No-Mow May is over.
DeleteThat last picture is definitely my favourite of Phoebe so far!
ReplyDeleteThanks Auntie Meike.
DeleteLoving the pics of the Princess Phoebe, Mr. Pudding, and loving being able to see another non-camera-shy and more senior member of your family on CBC in a series called Putting on the Veg. I am so tickled to have been able to root for him from the time you first mentioned BOSH! on your blog. Congratulating the Puddings across the board and looking forward to the series - breath of fresh air, indeed !
ReplyDeleteSorry, Puddings, Oops! i got the program name wrong - should have been Living on the VEG, but I'm still looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for calling by again McGregor. Didn't Beatrix Potter write about you? Thanks for your kind support regarding "Living on The Veg". By the way, have you visited Red's blog - "Hiawatha House"? He was born and raised a Canadian prairie boy.
DeleteFour heart-thrilling photos.
ReplyDeleteThe last three could be Anticipation, Wonder, and Delight.
The first is iconic, Phoebe asleep with her arms at rest, Dandy wide-awake.
Sunlight falling on the snowy-bright bed linen.
*Clint Walker (Cheyenne) Sings Beautiful Dreamer.* YouTube.
Haggerty
P.S. They need volunteer grass cutters for Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow.
I'd man up myself but it's my back, like.
I'll stand ye a glass of Irn Bru and a bag of greasy chips.
In spite of yourself you are a soft-hearted fellow "H". Was that you in "The Line of Duty"?
DeleteIt’s really dangerous to put a baby to sleep under a duvet like that. I know how precious she is to you, please don’t risk it again. All literature on the topic warns against it.
ReplyDeleteI did not do that. My daughter did it. Phoebe was only in that bed for a short while and my daughter was in the bedroom the whole time so no problem whatsoever but thanks for your concern.
Delete