Quick cuppa tour: Late January

 Hello m' ice pops,


I'm still meant to be revising, so this is officially a naughty post! But what's that Jack Nicholson line from The Shining? - 'All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy'. Topiary and typewriter aside, I have made a nice coffee and have a few pictures to share if you'd like to join me...

Sunny but frosty morning over Long Mizzle

 

Below is one of Witches Balls that protect the Dahlia bed from crapping cats. Witches Balls originate from 18th Century Britain. They were hung in windows, to ward off evil spirits.

 

The nasturtiums finally succumbed to the frost after taking this photo -

The ground is too frozen to work here. A good excuse for another cuppa and some biscuits.

The top patio is always warmer, perfect for potting duties -


Some stray crocus bulbs were found lurking behind the greenhouse. 

 Ol' Glass Eyed Mumrah made this pot. She went through a ceramics craze in the late 80s. Just looking at it brings back happy memories, sitting in on her classes and being allowed a little ball of clay to muck about with.


Talking of Mumrah, we went we for a lovely walk through Falmouth Cemetery. I was on the look out for Charles Napier Hemy's grave, a Falmouth artist famous for his seascapes and portraits. We didn't spot it on this occasion (probably too busy nattering!).

Good to know: Falmouth Art Gallery do occasional free walking tours, pointing out all the local artists' graves and talking about their work and lives.

Off the Manacles, Falmouth, by Charles Napier Hemy (1841 - 1917)
 


 
 
This is probably my favourite cemetery - a beautiful place to rest one's bones -
 

 
I was rather taken with the brickwork and colour of the flaking paint on this cemetery outhouse-


That's all for today folks. Better get back to work.

I'm still sorting out my veggie seeds. [Seed Swapsies 2022] For those of you that emailed, I will send you an updated list soon, and get them posted out once I get these bloomin' exams out the way. 

Take care m' pickles,


Lulu xXx


Thank you for visiting!

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/

 





Comments

  1. Cherie29 January 2022 at 07:26

    Good luck with your studies. Does that mean we can call on you for expert horticultural advice? :-)

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    Replies
    1. Lulu29 January 2022 at 09:16

      Thank you Cherie! I strive one day to be just like Bob Flowerdew or Christine Walkden (the naughtiest ones on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners Question time) ;) xXx

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  2. Vix29 January 2022 at 08:59

    Hello, Lulu! What a feast for the eyes. Peeling paint, cemetaries and glorious gardens, you know how to keep me happy! I hope studies are going well! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu29 January 2022 at 09:21

      Thank you Vix m' black metaller! I thought the colour was getting very close to the 'arsenic green' of your awesome kitchen - one of my favourite colours. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  3. Elderberry-Rob29 January 2022 at 09:40

    Hi Lulu I love that gravestone with 'Greetings' written on it! Not sure how those witches balls will stop crapping cats, the only way I know is to get a cat of your own (they generally don't s**t on their own doorstep allegedly and no other cat would dare crap on their territory). I can't wait for some nice weather so the garden gets going. My neighbour has loads of daffodil shoots, I have none - which makes me think I planted mine too deep. Good luck with the studying. Betty

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    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 09:52

      Hello Betty love, that was Mumrah's favourite gravestone too. Haha, yes cats never crap in their own gardens do they! They seemed to have now moved onto the gravel patch in my front garden - which I have been vinegarring. Fingers crossed for the daffs, they may still be working their magic under ground :) xXx

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  4. Ellie Foster29 January 2022 at 09:56

    Dear Lulu
    Hope the revision is going OK - you need a break every now and then. Graveyards and Cemeteries are always such interesting places. I love that blue/green colour - one of my favourites!
    Have a great week
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 09:55

      Hello Ellie, revision is going :0 :0 :0 I love walking round Graveyards, but I can't take eldest daughter - they upset her! Like you, I find them interesting, and peaceful too. Hope you're having a good week. Lulu xXx

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  5. Polyester Princess29 January 2022 at 10:26

    Oh you naughty girl, bunking off from your studies :-) But then again, I truly appreciate you sharing pictures and thoughts with us!
    There was a witches ball in Dove Cottage's garden when we moved it. Only we didn't know what it was until many years later. By that time, it had suffered the same fate as the plastic garden gnome which was sent off to the good old charity shoppe ...
    Love the cemetery - I am partial to one with a view - and the peeling brickwork and flaking paint of its outhouse! Good luck with your studies, Lulu! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 09:59

      Thank you Ann :) I have put myself in the naughty corner ;) I always presumed the Witches Balls were faux fishing floats Their history is quite interesting. The string holding nets broke some years ago. You didn't fancy a cheesy plastic garden gnome in your garden hmmm? Lulu xXx

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  6. sustainablemum29 January 2022 at 13:11

    Lovely to hear whilst you take a break from your studies. I do hope the revision continues apace and your exams go well. I love your photos, we have not had a frost for a few days now just lovely sunshine and blue skies, my favourite kind of winter days.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 10:33

      Thanks m' lurverly. Last weekend of revision, hurah! Blue skies and sunshine again today. Winter days at their very best :) Lulu xXx

      Delete
  7. bahnwärterin30 January 2022 at 02:49

    long frosty - eh :-D
    lovely athmospheric pics from your garden and the cemetary. love the stone with "greetings".....
    here its dark and stormy since ages - staying inside the only option.
    all fingers crossed for your exams - thinking of you!!
    xxxxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 10:35

      Thank you Beate :) :) :) Hope you've managed to get out this week. I am popping over shortly for a catch up... Lulu xXx

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  8. Winter Peach Photography30 January 2022 at 08:58

    What a wonderful cemetery and I also appreciate a bit of peeling paintwork and old brick outbuildings. Your garden looks especially beautiful covered in frost and those winter sunbeams! I confess, I hadn't heard of that artist, but he certainly knew how to capture seascapes! Keep up the good work on the revision front. Good luck! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 10:46

      Thank you Claire :) Gotta love them winter gods rays! There' s a few Charles Napier Hemy works at Falmouth Art Gallery. He was born in Newcastle, moved to London, but later had a floating boat studio in Falmouth, so he could be as close to the sea as possible xXx

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  9. kjsutcliffe30 January 2022 at 11:38

    Does that headstone really say 'Greetings'???
    You do need to allow the brain a bit of fresh air when studying - otherwise it melts (medical 'fact' haha) well mine did every time I tried to overfill it with 'stuff' so a good walk help shift things around and make more room for study (that and it was a good way to escape haha)

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    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 10:49

      It does truly say 'Greetings' Kate. Mumrah spotted it and we both thought it was lovely. I think I've succumbed to this official medical brain melt that you mention! More tea and another walk is greatly needed ;) xXx

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  10. Flowerpot2 February 2022 at 03:38

    I know that walk very well, Lulu! Though I haven't done it for a while as the walk along the creek is always v muddy when it's wet and also Lainy isn't good at getting too close to strange dogs - she's getting better, so I will look forward to doing it with her soon! Lovely pics XXX

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    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 10:55

      Thank you Sue :) It's such a beautiful walk. We stopped for a flask of coffee on a bench overlooking the bay (between Gylly and Swanpool). Lots of dogs whizzing up and down on that field chasing balls - a bit like a doggy gym. Lulu xXx

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  11. Mike Perry4 February 2022 at 08:53

    Hello Lulu, glad you are managing coffee breaks and snapping photos despite your busy life. As for Witches Balls, could do with some of those if they keep the cats away - we have a few cats locally that insist they want to dig holes etc. in our garden. What a lovely cemetery - right from being a young boy I've liked to visit such places, not sure why. Looking for answers of some sort I perhaps.
    Have a great week.

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    Replies
    1. Lulu4 February 2022 at 11:03

      Hello Mike, great to hear from you. Cat's seem to get spooked by certain objects, including the Witches Balls. The spiky twigs also make the patch a little less inviting for their fluffy bottoms ; I too have always been fascinated by cemeteries (Although my dad tells a story of one of his brothers accidentally falling down a pre-dug grave :0 ) Lulu xXx

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  12. David Bennett15 February 2022 at 03:08

    Hi Lulu, you have a lovely garden, even in winter, so I'll look forward to seeing it thro' the seasons. I could use one of those Witches Balls, we have a neighbours cat that regularly visits our garden to "relieve" itself!!
    I see you photograph general subjects too and, like me, you're attracted to old things. Oh, and I'm a BIG tea drinker!

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    1. Lulu19 February 2022 at 03:13

      Hello David, thank you for stopping by. A virtual cup of tea to you! If you are by the sea, I have found seaweed especially creeps cats out. They don't seem to like the smell, or the feel (dry or crispy) if it is cast across an open soil bed. Mwahahahaahaha (witches cackle). Hope Storm Eunice wasn't too hard on you in Lincolnshire. I heard they had to close the Humber Bridge x

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    2. David Bennett19 February 2022 at 04:16

      Hi Lulu, the gales were very bad here, we're about 30 milers from the Humber Bridge, but I think Cornwall was a lot worse. Hope you faired ok.

      Delete

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