#And Scouty is still in training

[dustbon]

🍄 Midnight shroom hunting feat. Scout 🍄

✅ Forage 5 items from the Bramblewood

[khaosgaming22]

Almighty Down

“The Almighty is supposed to be taken down today. Everyone is watching it.” You say as I rifle through our kitchen.

“I know but we need food, the fridge has been basically empty for two days now. Besides I’ll see it from the Last City.” I kiss your cheek and click the pen to start making a list.

“And aren’t you at all worried what might happen if Rasputin doesn’t follow through?” I give a chuckle at that and you pout.

“Of course not! I didn’t upgrade my bunkers for nothin, believe me Raz will do his job to save us. It’s what he was programmed to do.” I shrug and smile at your pouty face. “You’re cute.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.” I kiss your forehead and you stick out your tongue which just makes me laugh.

“Don’t you worry about a thing sweetheart, I’ll be back before you know it. And I’ll see it from Downtown.” You give a shrug at that.

“Suit yourself. I’m goin to watch from the Courtyard.”

~

“Helloooo!”

“Aleina? What are you doing here?”

“Just watching the show with my hubby. Aleina smiles and leans on Kenneth

“Sup.”

“Hello.” You wave.

“Speaking of... where’s yours?” Aleina asks puzzled. “I would’ve thought he would wanna see this.” You give a nod.

“Honestly thought so too. But he decided food was more important than it I guess. I mean I like food too but cmon, this kinda thing only happens once.” Aleina pats the seat next to her.

“Sit down sweetie, you can watch with us.” You sit down hesitantly above where Shaxx stands usually.

Not much happens within the first hour, but then streaks of blood orange appear in the atmosphere like fireworks. They light up and aim at the gigantic ship that had now taken up a good part of the sky.

“Well whaddaya know, Rasputin really did come through for us. Heh, guess Khaos was right on this one.”

“When am I not?” You turn around immediately.

“Hey! I thought you weren’t coming!” I laugh and set down the blanket and doggie bags of restaurant food from Stardust Tavern.

“And miss this? Oh sweetheart, you should’ve seen this coming a mile away.” I chuckle and give you a box and drink cup. The box has a few slices of pizza with an assortment of toppings.

“Yesssss.” I hear you say and smile as I kiss your cheek bringing you into my lap to sit.

“Comfy?”

“Mm hm.” I kiss your head and start on mine as we watch the skies. Though where we should’ve been looking was the ground.

“Hey check it out.” Ken points over at the far edge where through a haze of clouds the same streaks are erupting from far away trained on the other side of the massive ship. Not long after we see sparks that almost look like stars that seem to be coming from space.

“EDZ. Moon. Io.” Ken observes. “That’s where each bunker is, and where they’re all firing from.

“Um... Io looks like it’s coming right at us...” You say a little worried but Ken shrugs it off.

“Nahhh, Rasputin’s just tryin to get it from every angle he can. That way he can eliminate the debris.” I never anticipated Ken to be so versed in Rasputin’s tech. I looked at him surprised.

“I’ve been busy makin sure my City stays safe. And the people in it.” He smiles at Aleina and I can tell they’re about to get a little PDA so I turn away to look at where Hailey is holding Bee. I keep eating on my home style pasta as the millions of javelins inch ever closer to the Almighty. Soon the core of the ship explodes and minutes later they all collide as the ship bursts with a blinding light. Everyone has been looking up all day but now we have to look away because it’s so bright. We all think it’s over but when we look back it clearly isn’t.

“Uhhh it’s still coming...” You say and I nod nervously. We don’t really know what to do until Ken and Aleina go to watch it fall in a blaze of glory towards the mountain range behind the Tower.

“Should we- oh yup okay.” I get up to follow you as we get a better view of the wreckage. “Hey?”

“What is it?” I smirk and make a heart with my hands as you laugh.

“Really? Now? Alright...” I smile and make one half of a heart as you make the other and hand Ken the phone to take a pic. He gives it back and you peek over my shoulder to look at it.

“That’s goin up on the fridge.” I chuckle and you roll your eyes.

~

It’s not long until the dust settles and the damage crews for the Tower arrive. There’s a large chunk near Zavala that’s been taken out by a piece of debris and a few scrapes of the paint here and there. The sun begins to go down and the moon comes out as we move our blanket over to get a better look at the crash site.

“I’m gonna poke around there once it stops being on fire.” I smirk and slurp up a tortellini covered in a red sauce as you giggle at that.

“Don’t forget to take me too.”

“Of course Wolf Princess.” I kiss your head and you pout.

“Empress.”

“Right, empress. My humblest apologies your majesty.” I snicker and you give me a playful Arc flick.

“Oh stop that you.” I take the opportunity to kiss your lips and you blush with a giggle. I glance back up at the sky in amazement.

“Um Scoutie.” I point up.

“Woah...” We both stare up at the streaks of burning debris that paint the sky. In all seriousness it was probably a bit dangerous that they were falling that fast and in that amount but to us... it looked like a meteor shower right on Earth.

“Don’t see that everyday.” You muse and I nod with a smile. I don’t think we ever ended up sleeping in our bed that night, too beautiful to stay inside while the shooting stars- er... debris, crashed down all around us.

[hortascountrysidenotes]

Change in the Weather

I am reliably informed that sometime in the small hours of Tuesday morning we will get rain, which has a 66% chance of continuing all day.  I cannot remember when we last had a wet day - I do remember setting out plants for a client the. week before the lockdown, on 20th March and coming home in rain, thinking what a perfect day to have planted out 300 or so small individuals in their new home. ��Since then I have been reminding everyone of the need to water these new plants and indeed any that were planted in the late autumn such as young trees and hedging as five weeks with no rain and the searing easterly or northerly winds we have had certainly do a lot damage.  Coupled with frosts most nights during that period and then sudden high temperatures as today it has been tricky to say the least.  But 40 days and 40 nights seems to be a pattern and no doubt the advent of a south westerly airstream will bring rain off and on through May!  But I am glad, the garden is desperate and seeing the paths on the common looking like August is not a good sign.

Once we get the rain no doubt the cattle will come out - this is always a happy time - it slightly curtails the dog training as one never knows where they are, but they are a lovely sight and the swallows benefit from the fly life that comes due to animal poo.

Life goes on at the same pace - we continue to find several good jobs around the place that need doing - shed doors that need painting, gutters that need cleaning out before the rain, diverter things checking to make sure when the rain comes it goes into the nearly empty water butts and not the drain and so on.  The garden looks good but could certainly look more lush.  I am always so disappointed having this weather nearly every spring as my beautiful tree peony Joseph Rock produces huge buds in March but then they all dry up and fall off - maybe 2021 will be the year!  The same tends to happen to the ordinary peonies but this year I have been more alert and watered them and we look set to have some success.

Planted out the last of the broad beans this afternoon and am hopeful of a good crop having put in a lot of pond silt from the clearance of the pond last autumn. The first lot I planted out are well into flower, as are the fodder beans in the fields so the smell is intoxicating and the bees must be in heaven.  All coming too much together for them - rape and beans and now the hawthorn - the June gap will be a big gap.  Mr and Miss Horta have been doing weekly inspections, but despite their diligence we have had two swarms, one safely captured and now in a new hive, the other one pushed off.  But all the colonies are strong and some now are up to 3 supers with honey looking likely by the end of May.  They can still cause trouble however and this week whilst mowing up near the garden hive I was aware of someone in my hair - as I cant hear the frantic buzzing over the noise of the mower I carried on swishing my now rather long and even thicker thatch trying to be cool but eventually decided to switch off and sure enough that manic high pitched buzzing was coming from the back of my neck.  That noise alerts such panic in me for some reason that I run to the house squealing and swatting madly waiting for the sharp pain - as I rushed into the house and slammed the door I banged my elbow very hard but the adrenalin rush was such I barely noticed it.  As I stopped for a moment sure I had outwitted it, I then heard it again and felt it inside my shirt - so I had to rush out again and whip my shirt off whereupon the bee fell to the ground, actually luckily mortally wounded so the day was saved.  Exhausted but happy to have had such a test of my cardio vascular system I had to sit down for half an hour before continuing the grass.  My elbow was very bruised and required ice and then to add insult to injury when I was putting the hose away later in the day, I managed to trip over it and go absolutely flying landing hard on both wrists on extremely hard ground - so a good test for the bone density as well - I am trusting these injuries are all a good sign in case the gremlin comes!

Lots of training, and I feel that Mavis is the best she has ever been which is just wonderful.  Scouty is feeling her age a little but this morning Miss Horta and I got up at 5.30 and walked for one and a half hours in a beautiful dawn - a crisp hard frost at the outset but absolutely stunning.  The wild apple blossom is amazing this year - actually so are the ones in the garden, but the crab apples in the hedges are a sight for sore eyes.  Roe deer everywhere still and we have a very tame little buck not far from the house who is happy to be within 50 yards of us and unafraid of the dogs.  Birdsong was beautiful and once again we thanked our lucky stars for where we live during these strange times.

We shall start looking out for the swifts on the south westerly winds, and Mr Horta has heard 3 cuckoos not far from here. Apart from doing a small planting plan for a client this week - managed to get to the site and measure up and photograph last week, the main target is another painting, this time a study of tulips.  Could be challenging - I have done the drawings but need to copy some photos of bulbs as obviously dont have those to hand!

HORTA

[mlovesstories]

Scout Was A Secret 3

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Word Count 1402

Warnings: language, parent/child fight, mention of deceased mother

“I got in!” Scout yelled. It echoed throughout the bunker.

“Why are you screaming about?” Dean walked in with tousled hair.

“Nothing, sorry. Here, coffee,” Scout pushed a full mug to his across the counter. Dean noticed the paper in her hand.

Huh. She hiding something? 

“What are we doing today?” Scout asked her father.

“You are on research duty while Sam and I go check out a case.”

“Okay. Write down what you need, and I’ll get on it,” she smiled and exited.

————

I hate homework. 

Stupid gun training. 

Why did I agree to this? 

Scout’s phone rang.

“What, Dean?” She sarcastically answered the phone with a smile.

“Rude. Who taught you manners?”

“My mom. She said I should never extend good manners to jerks,” she held back a laugh.

“I am not!” He defended. “Okay, well, we are heading back. Are you hungry?”  

“Yeah, just get me a burger or something,” she yawned.

“You okay, kid?” Dean didn’t know why she had been so tired the last few times they communicated by phone.

“Perfect! Thanks for dinner. See you troublemakers soon.”

————-

“Scouty!” Dean yelled for his daughter.

Was tired. Went to bed. Sorry I missed dinner. 

“What is up with her?” Dean showed Sam the note.

“I’m not sure,” the younger one replied. “She has been tired a lot lately. Have we pushing her too much?”

“I don’t think so. She researches and runs with you in the mornings. I don’t know. I’m going to go check on her.”

When Dean slowly opened her door, he saw her splayed across her bed. Under her right side was a stuffed animal.

Blackmail!

Dean took a picture with his phone.

————

“Sleep good last night?” Sam asked as Scout walked into the kitchen.

“Yes. I’m so sorry. I meant to stay up and wait for you to get back, but I was exhausted.”

“It’s fine.  At least you had a friend to snuggle with,” Dean grinned.

“DEAN! Don’t.” Sam knew this could end badly.

“Excuse me? I don’t bring boys here, Dean,” she responded, guessing at what Dean meant.  

“What about your stuffie?” He beamed and showed her the picture he had taken the night before.

“Dean-“ She started.

“No, it’s okay. Little baby has to sleep with a stuffed animal.” He cooed. “What are you, four? My word, Scout. No Winchester sleeps with a stuffed animal, come on.”

“Shut up, Dean!” Sam scolded with a tight jaw.

Scout became red, and she retreated.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” she quietly left and retreated.  She sobbed once she got to her room.

He doesn’t know why. It’s okay. He just doesn’t understand. 

You’re stupid, Scout. Stuffed animal? Really?  

———-

The next day Scout was not herself. She hadn’t slept and her headache was as big as her biggest uncle.

“Woah! Doesn’t seem like you slept a wink,” her dad said. Scout’s messy hair gave it away. 

“Nope.”

“What happened?” Her father grew concerned when she didn’t come back with a snarky comment.

“Just tired, Dean. Leave it alone.”

“Are you sick? Should we get you checked out?”

“Nope. Just need some coffee,” she scooted him out of the way with her hip and took a drink from his coffee cup.

“HEY! Get your own, you pipsqueak!”

“Fine…” she grinned to herself.

————

Dean went to put an empty beer bottle in the garbage when he saw something in the trash.

Her stuffed animal. 

“Is this why you didn’t sleep last night?” Dean barged into Scout’s room with her stuffed bear in hand.

“Just go away, Dean. It won’t be a problem.”

“It is a problem if you can’t sleep. Here, I washed it,” he tossed it to her. “I’m sorry.  I took it too far.” 

“You don’t remember, do you?” She looked up at her father.

“Remember what?” He shrugged.

“You gave this to my mom. She gave it to me when I was a toddler. My mom said she dressed the bear in flannel because that’s what her date always wore. I call him Bean. And it stuck. I know it’s babyish, but I’ve been through a lot. He helps me relax.”

“Scout, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. As for the date… We went to a fast food place, and they had a claw machine. Such a stupid game, but she wanted to play, so we did,” he remembered and smiled. “Look, I was just razzing you. If Bean the Bear helps you sleep, then I’m all for it.”

“Bean is off limits then.” She stared him down. “And- you can’t make fun of him,” she pointed at him with narrowed eyes.

“Or what?” He smirked.

“I’ll switch our body washes.  You’ll smell lovely in lavender.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would. And I will. Grimy hands off my bear, got it?” She smiled proudly.

“If you insist. Oh. What’s this?” Dean saw a paper on the floor next to her bed.

“NO!”

“What, why can’t I see it?” He picked it up quickly and flipped it over. He read, “We would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to Kansas State University Extended Education Program- Wait, what?”

“Dean-“ she huffed.

“You’re going to school?”

“Ummm. Yes…?”

“Well?”

“I was accepted a month ago. I started class three days ago.”

“That’s amazing! Scout! Come here!” He picked her up and embraced her.

“Umm… Dean? Can’t breathe.”

“Right, sorry.” He backed up. “I’m so proud of you, kid.” He beamed. 

“What can I say? I wanted you to teach me to shoot guns,” she grinned.

“What are you studying?”

“History of Mythology with a minor in Latin,” she bit her lip.

“No. Abso-damn-lutely not.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you, Dean.”  She blew her hair back with a puff of air in defeat. 

———-

“I forbid you.”

“You can’t do that, Dean. You’re still mad about it?  Dean, you wanted me to go to school!”

“Yeah, but not so that you could learn about monsters!”

“I want to be a professor, Dean! With your exposure to it, you can give me inside information. I told you, I don’t want to hunt, gah, you assume I have an angle or something!”

“Yeah...sure! I don’t believe you.” He yelled back.

“What the hell is going on in here?!” Sam interrupted them.

—————

“You want to go with us to get some dinner, Scout?”  Sam asked his niece.

“No. Can’t. Homework.”

“School all the freaking time, kid.”  Dean rolled his eyes.

“Stop, Dean. You’re the one who said I should do it. And I even did an online program so that I could still be around. I don’t understand why you are a stupid ass about it,” she glared.

“Mythology is not a good major for you!”

“HOW THE HELL do you know? You’ve known me for what? Six months?”

“Anything but that. Please.”

“You obviously don’t know me that well, Dad.” She stormed out.

“Great job, Dean.” Sam was so done with their bickering.

“Scout! Wait!” Dean chased her down the hallway. Before she could shut her door, he put his body in front of the door frame, blocking the door from closing. She was crying by this point.  

“Ya know, as if this all hasn’t been hard enough, you tease me and bother me about what wrong choices I’m making. I gave up on school after my mom died. I got my GED from online school so that I could be done because school reminded me of her. She loved learning, Dean.  But you, you diminish my work, say it’s a waste of time. I found there are MONSTERS. Real ones in this world. A kid’s nightmare, Dean! My mom died, I met you. That is a lot, in case you haven’t noticed! Go bother someone else because I know I don’t meet your expectations. And you know what? Maybe I should just leave.” After yelling at her father, she slumped on her bed. Dean was shocked. He was used to joking with Sam, but he failed realize that she did not have the same sense of humor.

“You’re right.  What you’re doing is fantastic. I’m so proud of you, and I’m sorry that I’ve made it more difficult for you. I’m sorry, Scout.”

“Can I be alone now?”

“If you promise to stay.” Dean stated.

A beat went by before, “I promise,” she rolled over and left him to shut the door.

————

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[acupofmatt-blog1]

Guess her name → Matt (Self-Para)

Characters: Matt Solís, Gabriel Solís (Matt’s older brother)

Location→ Madeline and Matt’s apartment

Date→ July 23, 2018

Summary→ Matt receives a text from her estranged brother Gabriel with a photo attached to it and from it springs a series of texts and then a FaceTime call.

Matt had just finished feeding Coco and felt her phone vibrate, indicating she received a text. Matt hummed. “Who do you think is texting me, Coco?” Matt cooed. “Is it Scouty? Do you think it’s a nude? I hope it’s a nude.”

Hiss.

Matt nodded. “Funny you think it’s Lara, she wants nothing to do with me.” Matt laughed pathetically, acting like it didn’t hurt at all.

Hiss.

“Yeah, okay, let me check, gosh.” Matt smiled at Coco before taking her phone out from her back pocket and seeing it was a text from Gabriel.

“Oh.”

Matt’s finger lingered over the text notification before letting out a sigh and tapping on her phone, opening the message.

From Gabriel: [Image attached] Guess her name.

Matt gasped when she saw a picture of a tiny bundle of joy with a little bit of brown hair and the most adorable little smile. Matt felt her heart melting at the sight of the baby wrapped in a blanket.  

Was that her niece? When her brother said he was having a daughter and his wife was pregnant, she didn’t think it was that far along. Maybe Matt should’ve gone to the wedding to find that little detail out.

Matt moved to sit down on her bed and responded to the text, chewing on her lip nervously.

From Matt: would it be a stretch to say Matilde?

Matt watched the little “delivered” sign changed to “read” and the three little dots appeared. This was some nerve-wracking shit occurring at the moment. Not even the current drama occurring in her life was this nerve-wracking as texting her BROTHER.  

Matt bounced her knee as she watched those three fucking dots moving.

From Gabriel: [image attached]

From Gabriel: sorry, I can’t stop taking pictures of her!! Holy shit. Isn’t she gorgeous?

From Gabriel: But no. Not Matilde. There can only be one. She has your middle name, though.

Matt smiled softly.

From Matt: poor thing.

From Matt: poor, CUTE thing. She is gorgeous, Gabriel. Feel free to send a billion more 💖

Matt knew she should’ve been wiser than to say that because her and Gabriel were similar. Tell them to do one thing and they’ll do it ten times more intensely. So here Matt was, receiving loads and loads of pictures of her precious niece. Not that Matt minded at all, it was the most adorable sight in the world.

She looked like Matt when she was a newborn, only a lot balder and probably a lot cuter. Matt couldn’t stop smiling brightly at the pictures. This was the most she’d smiled all morning and she was absolutely beaming with pride and joy over her niece.

From Matt: hmmm how about Matt?? Is that her name??

From Gabriel: NOPE GUESS AGAIN

From Matt: I don’t fucking know?? Gabriela??

From Gabriel: Okay, so I can’t hold my excitement anymore!!

From Gabriel: Say hi to Donatella Del Carmen Solís.

Matt read the name and a huge smile formed on her face before starting to laugh. “Oh my FUCKING god.” Matt started to laugh even more.

From Matt: ARE YOU SERIOUS GABE?? REALLY? THAT’S HER NAME?? YOU NAMED HER AFTER A FUCKING NINJA TURTLE??

Matt resisted the urge to text Gabriel that she loved him. While she did love him, no doubt, she wasn’t ready to drop that emotion onto him again. That would give him power. Power Matt didn’t know if it could be trusted yet.

Matt continued to exchange excited texts with Gabriel over the name reveal. Matt had to admit, it was a pretty awesome fucking name.

From Gabriel: Can we FaceTime?? So you can meet Donnie!!! She’s got her eyes open right now!!

Matt chewed on her lip at the question. Sure, she had talked to Gabriel…via one really bad phone call…but the idea of SEEING HIM? And him seeing HER?

But they were bonding.

No arguments, no painful words exchanged, no hate…

From Matt: Yeah, sure. Call me.

A few seconds later, her phone rung with an incoming FaceTime call and Matt took a deep breath as she checked herself in the mirror quickly before answering.

She was met with Gabriel’s beaming face. He looked a little older and scruffier. He grew a beard? And his light colored eyes looked a little more tired, but then again, he did have a newborn baby.

“You look like Jesus Christ with that beard.” Matt teased, ignoring the way her heart was pounding at seeing him and the way Gabriel was intensely staring back. He was definitely studying her features.

“You cut your hair.” Gabriel smiled softly. “It looks good. You look good. You look a little older, but you haven’t changed at all…Matt.” Gabriel pursed his lips. Matt could see he was obviously trying.

Matt gulped at the name and chuckled. “Thanks.”

Gabriel nodded. “Yeah.”

There was a lingering silence and Matt kept looking at everywhere but her phone until Gabriel broke the silence.

Gabriel moved around. “Okay, ready to meet Donatella?”

Matt laughed. “I can’t believe you named her Donatella! How did your wife even agree?”

“She likes Ninja Turtles too!” Gabriel defended. “But I also agreed to take over the night shift for Donnie until we sleep train her.” Gabriel relented. “Hence the dark bags.” He shrugged as Matt watched him step inside a nursery.  “I don’t mind at all.” Gabe smiled as he switched the camera over to Donatella lying on her crib with Ninja Turtle bedsheets.

Gabriel was dedicated, Matt had to appreciate that. And also couldn’t help but geek out over it. “I want to live in her nursery, what the heck?!” Matt exclaimed before grinning when she saw the little newborn staring up, probably at nothing since her vision was still developing. God, she was the most adorable baby she had ever seen in her life.

“Say hi Donatella! Say hi to tía.” Matt heard Gabriel coo to his daughter.

Matt saw a tiny smile form on Donatella’s face and Matt quickly put her hand over her heart. “She smiled! Did you see that?! She likes the sound of seeing me.” Matt exclaimed, pouting as she looked at her phone screen affectionately. “She’s so beautiful.” Matt felt her eyes prickle with tears.

“She did! She loves you already, Matt!” Gabriel exclaimed.

“I love her already, too. She’s easy to love, I guess.” Matt said softly.

“You should visit. Come meet her in person.”

Matt stayed quiet. The thought did creep up at her the second she laid eyes on Donatella, but was she ready to face her parents? Not in the slightest.

“I would like to.” Matt said as the screen started to shake as Gabriel picked up his daughter and then sat on the rocking chair, adjusting the camera so Matt could see both of them.

“But?” Gabriel looked straight at the camera.

“You know why I can’t.” Matt looked away. “None of you are ready to embrace me.”

“I am. I promise.” Gabriel assured, looking down at Donatella. “I have been since she was born. It made me realize a lot of things.”

Matt looked back at the phone screen. “What things?”

Gabriel continued looking at his daughter. “I could never turn my back on her. Ever. No matter what. Even if she, like, wanted to be a boy or whatever. I would still love her. Or she wanted to be with girls. Or guys and girls? I don’t know.” Gabriel shrugged. “I’d love her no matter what. I just want her to be happy. Always happy.” Gabriel nodded. “I never want her to experience pain because of me. Because no doubt she’ll get hurt with something, but I don’t want to be that something.”

“Oh.” Matt wasn’t sure how to respond at this new revelation. But could she trust it? Were Gabriel’s intentions good?

Gabe looked back at Matt. “And I know now what I did was wrong. I was caught up in my bullsh—stuff.” Gabriel chuckled. “I kept thinking how you being a…lesbian…made me feel. And how upset it made me, but, like, I never stopped to think how you felt. And how lonely it must have been. You just wanted to embrace who you were and we kicked you to the ground.” Gabriel sighed. “We made you feel like everything you did was wrong. And how you felt wasn’t good enough. Like you were a mistake and you’re not. Because when I saw Donnie for the first time, I saw you. I remember when you were born. And I told ma and pa that I’d protect you forever and ever. And that we’d always watch cartoons together and play video games. Ma didn’t like that, but you know.” Gabriel shrugged with a chuckle. “Donnie looks like you and I feel like it’s my chance to make things right. I don’t know, I just…I want to be your brother again. A good one. The kind that sticks around and loves you. We can talk about how hot girls are and shit, I don’t care. Oh fu—this cursing thing is tough stuff to bite back on.”

Matt didn’t even realize she had tears streaming down her face until Gabriel finished talking and wiped them away. “Well that was unexpected. I just wanted to fall more in love with my adorable niece, not cry.” Matt chuckled before pausing. “I do…I want you to be my brother again, I do. Just…give me time. Slow, get me?”

“Yeah, I get it.”

Matt nodded. “Good. But I do want that. I don’t know if I’ll get mami and papi back, but at least I’ll have you. Maybe.”

“You will. I’m not backing out.” Gabriel assured. “You can tell me about anything. Even a girl you like.”

“One thing at a time, dude.” Matt laughed. “There are two girls I feel…strongly for.” Matt relented. “But it’s a long story. We can talk about that another day.”

Matt looked over at Donatella who had fallen asleep in Gabriel’s arms and smiled. Matt also wanted to try this whole reconnection thing again. For her. Because one look at Donatella and Matt fell in love. It was the quickest she had ever fallen for someone. And it was something good and pure and she knew it was a different kind of love. The kind that wasn’t too complicated to think about.

“So does that mean you want to have another talk like this?” Gabriel asked. “Maybe you can meet Ericka next time.”

Matt nodded and smiled when Donatella stirred in her sleep. “There will be a next time.”

Gabriel smiled. “Yeah?”

Matt nodded. “Yeah.”

[hortascountrysidenotes]

Reasons to be cheerful part 4

Lots of reasons - first of all Maigold is coming out and she is a tonic.  She has been here for 30 years, never fails to disappoint, and when the sad day comes that she no longer feels inclined to live, she will be missed like a dear old lab for the joy she brings.

Second, I finished my painting of the lovely Primula Guinevere and got what I think would be the equivalent of an A from my teacher with best composition yet, red ink gold star - so it is being sent to my sister for her birthday next month.

Thirdly, I have come late to the story of Captain Tom, but was fully alerted to him during a moment of intense scrutiny of the BBC website, when I saw his tie - Hello I thought, that looks like a Duke of Wellington’s Regimental tie - Blood and Steel - and sure enough on further investigation it turned out to be so.  Not only that but he fought in Burma and India and my brother who commanded the Dukes, is now investigating to see if he could have fought alongside our father during the same campaign.  Further investigations into the story have brought information as to the difficulty the Yorkshire Regiment (as they are now called) are having, with the logistics in Covid time of providing the guard of honour and dealing with all the unexpected media!  I gather Captain Tom quite rightly has politely told some of the media to buzz off as he wants to talk to the soldiers! Great chap.

Fourthly - well lots of small reasons really, the continuing quietness in the countryside and the time to watch the birds and natural world.  Each morning whilst doing my PT down the bottom of the common I have been watching a delightful pair of Bullfinches in the blackthorn bush beside me - picking off the buds and chatting to each other.  His red shirt looks so smart against white blossom and azure sky.  This morning a chiff chaff, swaying on a high stem dishing out Chiff Chaff Chiff Chaff with the energy of an opera singer. 

Asparagus is coming on and we have had two very small helpings.  The roses are recovering from their deer attack and new shoots are forming up.  Peonies that have been blank for years have got fat buds so I am continuing to water them. Even the disease ridden Pyracantha outside the back door which normally looks like its got measles looks better - could it be because I watered it prolifically three weeks ago with a tonic of iron and seaweed - maybe it has a stay of execution.

I have also given a bucketful of the same to the Star Jasmine - Trachelospermum jasminoides under and around the sitting room windows. I find this plant, despite being Mediterranean, needs a decent amount of water which being against a house wall it does not get.  It also gets attacked by scale insect which leaves a horrible black sticky secretion on the upside of the leaves.  I have therefore sprayed it with soft soap - actually Savon du Fer which comes from Marseilles - is black and treacly, but when mixed with hot water and dissolved, forms a brilliantly organic (semi) spray against all kinds of insects such as aphids.  It has also been used this time on the sage against capsid bugs who leave those horrible little holes in the leaves of all the salvia family and indeed dahlias.  Another fellow being pursued currently is our smartly turned out visitor THE LILY BEETLE - they are a real pain but jolly sporting - they sense you coming and leap off, falling upside down so as not to be seen with their undercarriage being black.  But years of practice have taught me how to creep up on them.  As an experiment I have squirted the last drops of the soft soap on the plants - today I shall go a hunting, and see if I can see any.  I am particularly protecting my martagon lilies which are doing so well at the top of the garden.

Swallows are settled and one of the nests duly repaired and got ready. A pair of jays are hunting too hard for my liking but I am trying to be tolerant - at the top of the garden I did see a blackbird chasing them off - no doubt its nest has been discovered.  The Shellduck are back nesting on the farm.  In the meadows and on the common Ladysmock is now out and the bluebells in the woods a delight.

The only reason not to be cheerful is the continued lack of rain - a very very little came our way on Friday night and early Saturday, not enough to even make the tiles run.  So I must continue watering the new young plants and the veg.  Next big job will be preparing the greenhouse for the tomato plants which I am going to do slightly differently this year.  I am going to dig out the little planting strip in the greenhouse removing the old soil and refill it with some of the pond silt and fresh compost - I have 40 bags of Dalesfoot Compost coming on a pallet on Monday, as I am beginning to think grobags are not very nutritious - our tomato cropping rate compared to my genius brother in law is very low.  He grows his in the special little gadgets as do I, which you fill the outer part of, with water, but allows them to root directly into the soil underneath in his greenhouse . 

Once my compost arrives I can also sow the leeks in the root trainers and next spring’s brassicas.  Last year’s leeks were a complete disaster as I was lazy and tried growing them direct into the soil - clearly they were gobbled up by ants or someone as we got the princely number of 2 out of 100 which is not a good rate of return!

Lastly the girls - they are so happy - Inca lies in her favoured position in front of the Holm Oaks whenever the sun is hot enough.  Mavis bustles about from compost heap to bonfire and basically wherever she might find the butt end of a piece of brassica.  She absolutely ADORES them, so much so, that as we walk the lanes she grazes gently on oil seed rape as she goes along - quite bizarre - she loves the fresh flower heads and comes out covered in yellow pollen!  Scouty is in her dotage now - she still loves a good walk, but only once a day and makes it clear that her place is now outside the front door in the morning sun - please put my bed there - outside the back door in the afternoon and then as it gets chilly around 6 she moves to her favoured position on the sofa waiting for the evening’s entertainment to start.  She looks wonderful,  the fur is nearly fully back and I think she is a very happy dog with her beloved Miss Horta at home all the time. We are doing a little training most days - Mavis is loving it - yesterday we should have been doing a Novice Test at Sandringham - a shame these things have had to be cancelled, but it may get rescheduled for the autumn - Mavis might be in pup by then, not counting my chickens at all on that one, in which case we will be a non runner, but we wait and see - it is impossible to make any plans.

Jobs to do - time to sow courgettes and french beans etc if not already done. Prick out and pot on seedlings, tomato plants etc.  Keep an eye for bugs and beasties now and if a plague then use the above method if absolutely necessary.  Tie in shoots of climbers and make sure clematis are secure in case of high winds.  Stake and put in supports for herbaceous plants.  Water - if you have containers full of tulips etc - photo attached - remember they have had no significant rain and could be very dry.  Lift hyacinth bulbs from pots as soon as foliage has pretty much died off, store in a sack in a dry place for replanting in autumn.  Sweet peas can be planted out if not already done. Masses of veg to sow.  Potatoes should appear soon so be ready to earth them up. Dont cut lawns too short while they are under stress from lack of rain. Maybe learn to live with them a bit longer - saves fuel and allows a few low growing wildflowers such as ground ivy and clover to flower for the pollinators.

HORTA

[hortascountrysidenotes]

Waiting for Rain

Apparently we are due heavy rain tonight and storms tomorrow - this is not surprising given there is a full moon and we can gaze in amazement that 50 years ago, Apollo 11 achieved the goal and its brave crew stepped out on that friendly face that looks down on us.  A partial lunar eclipse is due as well - as if to remind us of the mysteries and magic of space.

And here we are 50 years on - who knew aged 14 sitting at school lunch listening to that epic commentary what was lying ahead but one thing is for sure, we never never thought our little planet would be under such threat from man’s overindulgence and casual approach to the natural world.

But... it is not too bad here in Brisley - we have at least 3 turtle doves in the environs, singing away but we are still not sure if there are nests in their territories.  At least we are hearing them after a number of years of deafening silence, so I hope next year they will return and they will have mates and we will be able to ascertain if young come forth.  Our mummy swallow is perched on the side of the nest which would indicate the second brood have hatched, and both second clutches of robins have fledged.  One had a very near miss when I drove into the drive a few days ago and found a small fluffy feathered ball on the gravel just inches from my wheels - I immediately went to the jasmine nest but the three babies were still tucked up, so then I went to the mushroom yew bush from where I had heard loud seeping noises the day before.  On glancing in the flower bed underneath I could see three more balls of fluff who had clearly been very naughty and got out a few days too soon as they couldnt quite fly.  The parents were nearby so I put my little charge in with its siblings and hoped for the best.

Looks like the swift young have flown too as we now have 12 fighter jets doing their Red Arrow impersonations over the roof lines, screaming and screeching - they must have such fun!

The garden ticks on but I always find it a dull time of year - the dahlias put on a good show and the cosmos etc., ground is rock hard, and everything has lost its lustre somewhat.  The veg garden is producing but struggling so the rain will be more than welcome as beans and courgettes are just needing that final push.

Wallflower seedlings are up and running and two rows of the next lettuce - Amaze and the very reliable Lobjoits Cos.  At last at the fourth attempt I have a decent row of flat leaf parsley, but the leeks are useless so we shall be buying those.  I shall not fall into the laziness trap again, and next year I will go back to sowing them in root trainers and planting out, rather than sowing two rows of seed in the raised beds.  Ants do seem to be the most likely culprit so I have resorted to ant powder and will start excavating soon to find the nests.  Beetroot and carrots however look good and I have some fennel that looks promising which needs thinning out after the rain.

A lot of work has been going in to Mavis and with great success.  Our Tuesday Night Training sessions have now finished for the year and this week was Trophy night - only 6 of us, 1 clear winner, 4 in a run off and 1 bringing up the rear.  Mavis did an excellent first run off, then had to do another between 2nd and 3rd but finished 3rd.  She has improved greatly and since the grass in the bottom meadow has been cut short we are doing a lot of work with white dummies perched on mole hills so she really sees the target and goes out full tilt.  I am feeling much happier about her now, and we have ironed out lots of annoying foibles.  Last night I took them all and they all did their bit, even Scouty at 11 dashed off and over a ditch and was pretty keen to take part.

Next week we have the Sandringham Flower Show invitation gundog test and Mavis will have her first chance - Inca has done 5 years and been very reliable after the first awful year, but Mavis has a better temperament for crowds and noise so I dont think she will be worried at all! I am excited to see how she gets on.

Harvest has started, rape is cut and the first barley.  Next week should be hot and dry so the farmers will move on very quickly. How fast the year goes once the Solstice is past - the fields turn golden in no time, then the blasted plough comes out far too soon!  The verges are being cut now which is still a shame as the flowers are super - in the main it would seem that councils are cutting them later due to pressure from public and environmental bodies but it’s still a bit soon and awful to still see the amount of rubbish that appears - hard to believe there are still people happy to chuck out Costa cups, crisp packets and plastic bottles - clearly they have no conscience at all.

We shall have a new PM next time I write - time we all went to the Moon

HORTA