Tuesday 22nd April - in the garden

 At long last I've had an afternoon in the garden. 

Way back at the beginning of the month, when we got back from our Spring break bear Bridport,  Dorset, I put in some potatoes,  and the other day I noticed that the first shoots had appeared above the soil. I've added more earth to cover the leaves completely,  and I reckon I can do that once or maybe twice more before I leave them alone. These pots are just labelled 'fridge potatoes' as I have no idea what variety they are; 'la ratte', perhaps.

I'm expecting a delivery of some more pots, for my Albert Bartlett potatoes. Then I  shall have six on the go, two each of three different sorts.

I thought the mice had eaten my peas, but the first shoots are up! This gives me a problem; on the assumption I was going to have to start again I sowed more, but indoors. If they they all come up I shall need more pots and more earth! I don't mind having lots of fresh peas, if I'm more successful this year. Last year was desperately disappointing. 🐌 

I have a new scheme for trying to organise my crop rotation as I'm forever getting confused about what I grew where. This year, my potatoes will all be in one particular kind of pot and the beans and peas in square tubs. Next year, I'll swap! Seemples, no?

I've also started off some spinach and radishes. 

The Tree Spinach 🌳 will be next!

Books

I've just finished 'On the Wings of the Morning' by Elizabeth Falconer. Elizabethd put me on to these, for which I'm very grateful. Intertwined love stories, with gorgeous locations, characters one can sympathise with, (even the dreadful Flavia!) and descriptions of wonderful meals, mostly eaten in courtyards or street cafes in France... would these simple lunches - olives, bread, wine, salads, cheeses - work in England? Can I recreate the ambience in suburban Sussex?

I've been hoarding the last couple of books in the series, only one left. Then I shall have to start again.

The other book is 'Every Good Boy Does Fine' by Jeremy Denk. JD is a concert pianist and this is part biography, part very deep insights in music (mainly piano) through harmony, melody and rhythm. I guess reading it is for me what all those books on quantum physics  are for my husband...

JD gives a playlist for each chapter, and at the end of the book a more detailed note on each piece. To my great joy I have found that someone has created a playlist of everything on Spotify, so I have reinstalled Spotify on my phone so I can go through it all again.

Now what shall I read?

Music

The joy of books like 'Every Good Boy Does Fine', and also 'The Year Of Wonder'  by Clemency Burton-Hill, and also of programmes like Classical Mixtape and Classical Fix on BBCsounds is that you are introduced to an eclectic mix of music which is completely new to you. 

As well as listening to the music in EGBDF I plan to revisit 'The Year of Wonder', which also has playlists on Spotify. Excellent!

But what shall I post for tonight? I'm so sleepy after my time in the garden, a lullaby, from Debussy's 'Children's Corner' seems just right.

Jimbo's Lullaby might refer to an elephant in the little zoo at Jardin des Plantes in Paris at the time Debussy was composing 'Children's Corner'.