devonpete's Blog at GardenStew.com

Lorna Doone

devonpete — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:12:54 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:12 am (GMT 0)

Having not touched the keyboard for about a month, the creative urges were starting to simmer again. As I have managed to get a link to my website on a major Devonshire site called 'Everything Exmoor', I thought maybe I'd better beef up my Exmoor musical content.
The idea of the Lorna Doone novel by R. D. Blackmore has been lurking in the back of my mind for a while, so I went for it about a week ago, adding to it daily - I've no idea how many hours have gone into it, they just drift past. The outcome is four movements reflecting the storyline.
This morning at 5am I awoke with the last melody of the work ringing in my head - one of those tunes that you can't budge. So, with the help of about four cups of coffee, in my dressing gown, I made the final tweaks to it all, finishing with an appraisal of the whole thing in the correct sequence at about 8am.
I get quite emotional about music, and one part near the end, where Lorna marries John Ridd in the church at Oare, Exmoor, after all the previous romance and heartbreak of the story, but where the wedding bells finally kick in, really starts to fill me up. Soppy old beggar.
The next step, I think, is to source an outfit that can take the now programmed music from my keyboard, and transfer it (by whatever means) to a professional and marketable quality CD. The quality I achieve in copying music to the computer myself just isn't good enough.
The aim is to approach Exmoor based outlets - the National Trust, historic houses, museums, gift shops, etc...maybe even BBC Radio Devon. If you don't try you don't get.
But at least now I have something to work with.

Pixie capers

devonpete — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:32:46 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:32 am (GMT 0)

I could be forgiven for thinking I have pixies in the garden. Or maybe I have. This is now turning into something of a local mystery, and I'm already considering opening up as a tourist attraction (but I don't think the council would welcome it).
Let me explain.
It's a mystery that's been going on for some time now, and to the unobservant eye it would be missed entirely - pixies are so subtle in their pranks. I have a fair amount of paving slabs in the garden, and in many places this is edged neatly with gravel laid on antiweed material.
Just in front of the conservatory is such a situation. A slab path with a narrow border of gravel next to the conservatory wall. I started to notice that where two slabs don't quite sit squarely, but not far out enough to be noticeable, gravel begins to accumulate in a small pile. I brush this back onto the gravel verge with a shoe to neaten up again, and the next morning...it's back again. A neat pile of gravel. This has continued for many weeks now, and always in the same place.
And where does the gravel come from? Well it doesn't come up from between the crack, it comes from two equally neat depressions in the verge gravel, next to the slabs.
I've walked up and down the path to see if any human weight and movement causes this deposit, and it doesn't. I've considered rainwater dropping down from the conservatory guttering and displacing the gravel, but it still happens rain or shine.There are no creatures in the garden that would systematically choose that few square inches of gravel to make two small excavations and place it neatly in the same spot each night whilst I'm in bed.
I can only conclude that pixies are fooling with me.

AFTER TIDYING UP:

BUT THE NEXT MORNING, IT'S BACK AGAIN!:

These photos were taken at the same time as, after it's been tidied up, it looks much the same as it would any other day. The gravel has now been left as in the top photo. Tomorrow morning, assuming there'll be another wee pile there, I'll take another photo.

Neverland Too?

devonpete — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:42:56 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:42 pm (GMT 0)

Well, well, well...the guys have style! Breaking news just a few minutes ago is that Michael Jackson's older brother Tito is buying a place a couple of miles up the road, meaning there will no doubt be occasional stretched limos gliding past my door.
I wonder if Michael likes gardening?
Offers have been put in on two properties, somewhere locally, as a place for them all to retreat as necessary from the showbiz scene in the US.
Why North Devon? Apparently they've sneeked over a good few times to this thoroughly back water'd haven. I'm only glad they took my advice.
But another 'Neverland' nextdoor to the local 8-til-late store? One hopes not.
But what a thriller!

The Valley Of Rocks

devonpete — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:19:24 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:19 pm (GMT 0)

First, the guinea pigs. They had escaped from next door. I managed to catch one and handed it back, and the other two found their own way home. So a happy ending.
The garden hasn't been that inviting lately - damp, cold and gloomy (apart from a few daffodils), so I've remained indoors. As I hadn't added anything lately to my 'musical sketches of Devon', I set about a new piece a few days ago to keep my interest alive. This is my 'take' on a place on the coast called 'The Valley Of Rocks'. I remember back in the 50's the local coach company, Lovering's Coaches, doing an afternoon trip each week in the summer to Lynton and The Valley Of Rocks. They ran an old (new then) Bedford OB coach in cream and maroon. Would be a collector's item now.
Anyway, The Valley Of Rocks is a place that strangely explodes dramatically from the surrounding typically rolling hills in rocky splendour. More like a moonscape than Devon. My piece of music tries to capture the brooding, soaring nature of this ancient and huge geological upheaval.
For anyone interested, it can be heard here:

http://www.freewebs.com/keyboardkapers/thevalleyofrocks.htm

Computers. Aaaaarghhhhhhhh.

devonpete — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:16:17 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:16 pm (GMT 0)

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're all part of our lives (if we can be bothered that is.)
Yes, computers.
I've just spent the best part of two days trying to get a new website up and running.
'As simple as A, B, C'
'Your own website is just a click away'
'Impress your friends'
Yeh, right.
I now feel quite exhausted having clicked on anything and everything that looks clickable.
Maybe it's just me.
Anyway, it's all done and I'm going to bed thank you very much.
Oh. If anyone's really interested, it's here:

http://www.freewebs.com/keyboardkapers/index.htm

Wilder than life

devonpete — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:18:25 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:18 am (GMT 0)

The garden sees it's expected quota of visiting furry folk...squirrels, voles and a now (I hope) demised rat. But guinea pigs?
Yesterday confirmed my suspicions that 'something' light brown was fleetingly visible under the shrubs at the back fence. I'd spotted this before a few days ago, but from a distance I couldn't see what it was - maybe someone's small cat.
Then yesterday I was wandering down there and sunbathing under the bushes were two guinea pigs. Big fellows too.
Where they've come from I've no idea, but upon closer inspection I can see that they've burrowed in under the neighbour's fence, and there's a well defined run leading to under my shed. The shed is on a raised platform, so there's plenty of space underneath for a cosy home.
What to do? If I close off their escape route I might be trapping them in my garden as there's no way of knowing where they are at any time. All I can think of is to put down a humane rat trap and see if I can catch them, and put them in a compound until I know which unlucky kid in the vicinity has lost them.

Night in gales

devonpete — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:01:29 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:01 pm (GMT 0)

Wowwwww! Last night! Was that a gale, or what? I thought the roof would take off.
I hate gales...so unpredictable. Just an awkwardly angled gust can hurtle a piece of garden furniture every which way. I must bring them in now until Spring.
And with the gales were three or four powercuts (I lost count), which kept me awake most of the night with radio phones bleeping. I set the central heating timer once, twice, then said to heck with this, and turned it off altogether.
I've not known wind like that since the 'big' one back in the late 80's, when, looking out of my bedroom window in the middle of the night I saw my tall conifer almost touching the ground!
My animal instincts tell me this is not normal weather. No way.
All is calm now, thank goodness. Apart from rain.
Which leads me neatly into an occasional mp3 musical link...
'Here's That Rainy Day', a favourite oldie I committed to the ivories a few weeks ago...

http://www.box.net/shared/lze43qqdpe

Up to speed again

devonpete — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:00:16 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:00 pm (GMT 0)

Thank heaven for people who know more than I do about computers!
For the last half a year I've been struggling to stay online for longer than a few minutes at a time. But it's now apparently (touch wood) fixed, and my PC is working at a speed I've never before enjoyed. Thanks to a new router installed for me by a very efficient local engineer, and the binning of all the stuff I don't want, most of which he said was just fighting each other - spyware, adware, out of date applications, etc - I'm now well and truly up to speed. It's like having a brand new toy to play with.
And to think that yesterday I was on the verge of taking the whole sorry lot to the nearest office block , dropping it from the roof, and visiting the computer store for a new setup. Glad I didn't.

Getting to grips

devonpete — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:32:04 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:32 am (GMT 0)

My garden always tends to look quite forlorn at this time of year. The grass doesn't stop growing, but is always too wet to mow. Creeping border plants have overcrept onto paths. Rotting leaves still everywhere. Basically a mess.
It's amazing what a quick lawn mow can achieve though. It was still damp but I chanced a last cut for the winter, and it left a few small mud patches. Never mind, it'll grow back by Spring.
A few daffodil and narcissi bulbs are starting to shoot in the corner of the lawn which I have to remember to avoid cutting until they've flourished.
I think a little while spent out there each day for a few days might sparkle things up a bit...
Weeding the gravel areas, digging over empty beds, enthusing about the coming year of renewed colour.
The pond could do with a muck out now, but as it's such a mission, probably won't happen.
Other tasks lay ahead too. Lifting the patio slabs and relaying them properly is one - they were just placed on earth last year to establish the design, and are starting to sink and tilt.
Restaining the front gates which are losing their protection due to sun and rain.
Getting moss off the garage roof which has built up to almost a second garden - although I quite like the cottagey look of lush moss on tiles.
Plenty to think about, but for now, maybe just another cup of coffee....I wonder what's on TV?

'Sailboats'

devonpete — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:25:18 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:25 am (GMT 0)

Here's another short composition I did a short while ago, that some of you might want to hear.

I live close to where the two river estuaries Taw and Torridge meet by the sea. Instow and Appledore are perched on the edges opposite each other, where the rivers join, and is a favourite place for yachting - not massive luxury craft, just smaller conventional one or two person boats.

Almost all the way up to Bideford, the estuary is home to moored craft, and at high tide some of them hoist sails and start out to sea, bobbing along, each following the one in front. Once in open water they do a slow dance, zigzagging across the bay.
That's the scene I've tried to capture in this piece of music I've called simply 'Sailboats'.

http://www.box.net/shared/gnccohaxgm

'The Devon Suite'

devonpete — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:43:49 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:43 am (GMT 0)

I have a more serious musical side - sometimes, I'm afraid, maybe a little over emotional.

The problem is, I'm so in love with Devon. Returning here to live, which had always been a dream for decades, but one which never seemed to materialise for various reasons, was the biggest 'dream come true' for me.
Back in the 50's, before we left for South London to enter the adult world and step on the first rungs of our chosen careers, many happy childhood days were enjoyed playing on the beach, having adventures only kids in their pre-teen years appreciate fully. Secret hideouts in the woods, pretending to be this or that fictional hero. Great times.
A couple of months ago, my 'serious' side of composing music kicked in. I wanted to try to capture some of the love of Devon in music, and believe no-one has done anything in that respect.
So I set to on something I call 'The Devon Suite'...just a few musical sketches, finishing with 'An Anthem For Devon'.
For me, the pieces capture the beauty, fun, love, and a little past sadness of this part of the world.
I hope you enjoy listening to it, as much as I enjoyed composing it...

'The Devon Suite'

No. 1 'Climbing' high onto Exmoor, two streams start to trickle, toss and tumble towards a peaceful but sometimes turbulent marriage...remembering the disastrous floods at Lynmouth in 1952, claiming 34 lives...
http://www.box.net/shared/yg0knre0yz

No.2 'Gardens In The Sea', exploring the rock pools at Combe Martin beach...

http://www.box.net/shared/soynq02jj9

No.3 'The Cream Tea Trot'. Business is brisk at the Olde Village Tea Garden, under a warm June sun. The traditional Devonshire cream tea consists of scones, clotted cream and locally made strawberry jam...

http://www.box.net/shared/duts7ikzvs

No.4 'Departed Friend'. The last steam train bravely leaves Ilfracombe Station, forever...destination, the scrap yard...

http://www.box.net/shared/7tncticmbt

No.5 'An Anthem For Devon'...

'Of all the Shires I see,
My Devon shares most beauty,
Two arms of gold, embrace the still or stormy seas.

Whilst strolling Devon's paths,
The treasures she affords me,
With jewels set in time for all the world to see.

From fortressed harbour walls,
To purple hills, majesty towering.
Out spreads a tapestry,
A rich legacy most empowering.
I humbly hold her hand,
In landscape green and grand,
With love for thee.
Hoping ever...I'll forever,
Be.'
http://www.box.net/shared/0jbu6hvil7

Oriental corner

devonpete — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:11:39 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:11 pm (GMT 0)

My last job in the garden this summer was to install a bamboo pergola as a seating area.
For the thicker uprights I dismissed the idea of buying expensive bamboo at this kind of girth. Instead I used plastic water pipes from the DIY store, to which I modelled on typical bamboo 'growth joints' in plastic and filler. The 'bamboo' was then painted. The thinner lengths are the real thing.
Then I joined it all together with strong garden wire, and went over most of the joins with rope, for that Indiana Jones look.
It's become my 'oriental' corner, and that's where I keep a small collection of bonsai. Oh, there's also a bamboo windchime.

I think it works.

So...eight months on. Now, where was I?

devonpete — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:32:09 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:32 pm (GMT 0)

I don't know what happened there. I sort of went all quiet for eight months. Well, not for all of the time of course. Trouble is I get caught up in other things. But I'm still here. I think.
Music has become a bigger part of my life this year than gardening.
The garden creation was finished and, being easy to maintain, it wasn't enough to keep me occupied. So I got into composing music instead.
Since my last entry (way back in very early summer!) the weather has been a roller coaster, and hopefully the last of the extreme conditions have now passed with the last lot of gales a couple of days ago.
So, where has all the time gone - and on what? Had a stab at oil painting, with gross results (I think I'll stick to watercolours). Started building a model railway in the shed...boy's stuff, I'm afraid, ladies - hard to explain why.
And the rest of the time pottering around on my keyboard. Oh, and I picked up an old Wurlitzer organ which is now working great after an engineer stuffed a screwdriver into it and gave it a good talking to.
And now we're heading at a rate of knots for Christmas. Another year almost done with.
And heck, how will I ever catch up with all the Gardenstew forum posts (16825!) Gulp.
Never mind.
I believe I did say at the start of this blog that it would be a 'now and then' thing. Sort of proves my point.

Fruits Of Labour

devonpete — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:12:27 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:12 am (GMT 0)

Wow, another month gone! But the fruits of my winter gardening labours are now paying off in technicolour.
26 new goldfish in the pond (populated in small numbers over the last few weeks) - even a newt has taken up residence, so the water quality must be up to EU standards! But I had to install a net due to possibility of an easy breakfast for the herons.

...and, further afield, this is a place called Holdstone Down - somewhere I go for fresh air and exercise. This coastline has the highest cliffs in England - quite dramatic.

...oops - forgot to carry a stone up with me for the pile. Seven years of bad luck now!

Icing On The Cake

devonpete — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:44:39 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:44 pm (GMT 0)

Many thanks for your greetings!
...and here's the rich fruitcake that helped make the day, echoing my lifelong love of tickling the ivories - the much appreciated creation of my niece Nicola.

Birthday Boy

devonpete — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:09:01 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:09 am (GMT 0)

Hoorah! I'm 60. And can I now have my free bus pass? Thank you.
Went to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway yesterday, which was closed in 1935, ripped up, and a mile of new track relaid at Woody Bay station a few years ago. The aim is to rebuild the line to it's full extent again - an ambitious project which I doubt I'll ever see completed.
So I paid my money, and took a ride. Every little helps.

Above: 'Bronllwyd' (pronounced Bron-clow-id') is the railway's main steam engine, built in 1930. They've added a wooden cab as I expect it gets quite wet and windy at this hilly location.

Above: Woody Bay station, which features the original Swiss chalet style building built in, I think, 1898, is a picturesque scene dotted with occasional mature fir trees. If the railway hadn't been lifted back in '35, it would now be the major tourist attraction in Devon. The evolution and competition of the motor vehicle was, of course, to blame for this.

The Welsh Heron

devonpete — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:13:11 -0400

Author: devonpete
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:13 am (GMT 0)

Just returned from a mini-break in Wales, staying at a friend's 100 acre sustainable pine forest. What an excellent few days! Walking the estate, (kilted most of the time), soaking up the beautiful rolling far reaching scenery high in the hills.

And of course time as well for playing some good old Celtic songs on the accordion...especially on my last evening, as we enjoyed the warmth of a roaring bonfire.

An excellent memento of my visit was a piece of wood found which highly resembled a heron. This now stands proudly (and snootily) beside my pond.

Sundial

devonpete — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:52:59 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:52 am (GMT 0)

Laterally thinking, it needs the rain to be lashing relentlessly against the window to inspire, of all very unlikely things, a sundial.
I found a photo of a large sundial where the viewer becomes the 'bit' that sticks up to cast the shadow.

I was thinking previously of a more usual design, but as there is a ready made part circle of paving behind the pond, this could very easily become the scale of time - just requiring a shadow to fall across it.
The paving, as it happens, starts about where the shadow will hit in the morning (actual time not noted yet), and finishes well into the afternoon. So it won't provide a great proportion of time measurement, but enough to be able to read during the day for a rough time check(if the sun's out of course).
The question is, how will the increments of time be displayed on the path? It needs to be 'arty' I think.
I could use the narrow gaps between the pavers (currently grass) and inset something designy.
This won't tie in very well with actual hour increments - I would be extremely lucky for one slab to equal an hour. But there are nine gaps, so it might work.
Also my circle is much smaller than the one in the photo, so a human's shadow would be far too big to provide any accuracy.
A conventional pointer is therefore required in the centre. Perhaps something a bit Celtic looking - whatever that might be.
I shall have to swat up on how these things work, and at what angle the pointer projects. Unlike most other things, this IS rocket science.

That's another job done.

devonpete — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 03:19:20 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:19 am (GMT 0)

I'm delighted with the new pond edging effect of cobbles, which I think has worked a treat. I had to raise the ones by the path a little to maintain a less dangerous flooding situation, and after refilling the pond checked that the excess water run off was still under the patio slabs as before.
I like the almost flushness of the pond to the surrounding terrain, and as I shot it this morning there wasn't a whisper of a breeze about, so the water is like a perfect mirror.
There are no fish in the pond at the moment, and any change in the water's condition through the cementing will be left now to restabilise as it's gradually replaced with fresh rainwater (- heaven knows there's been enough of that lately!)
If I do eventually add some fish I'll need a heron deterrent too.

Pond Edging

devonpete — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:08:17 -0500

Author: devonpete
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:08 am (GMT 0)

Heavens, this seems a long dull month (actually shorter than most by a day or two).
With seedlings now swarming in the greenhouse, pricking out into plug trays as fast as I can evacuate each covered propogator, my thoughts also turn to the remaining unfinished edging to the pond, where the liner is still sticking up untrimmed, and unsightly.
Using, as Poirot says, ze leetle gray cells, I think I may have, as Baldrick says, a cunning plan...
The idea is to cast in situ cement blocks encapsulating the pond liner edge. I have been collecting 1lt plastic milk containers which, cut in half, should be the ideal size of mold for the castings.
A container is therefore cut in half, and a central slot cut half way up the two opposite narrower sides. This accepts the pond liner.
A large cement pouring hole is cut in the bottom of the container (which becomes the top), large enough to pour in cement, but retaining the container's curved edge to maintain a rigid block shape.
So, after lowering the level of water in the pond and allowing the edge area to dry out, the edge of the liner is punched with holes using a paper punch. These will act as achorage points within the cement blocks. The milk container molds are then slotted over the liner, and sit flush to the pond base. I have a built in ledge already to accept some form of cement edging.
The molds, just a few at a time, are lined up together, and filled with not too sloppy cement (or it'll just run out at the bottom) until the very edge of the liner is just about visible - this acts as a leveling indicator. The cement permeates through the holes in the liner to 'grab' it, and stop it moving once set.
Leave the cement blocks to set, remove the plastic molds, and move along to the next section and repeat until the length of edging is finished.
All then that remains to do is to skim over the tops of the castings where the liner edge is still visible.
The finished result should be a neat segmented cast cement block edge, with the liner trapped within. The blocks should be heavy enough not to shift, as each would be the weight of a house brick, plus the accumulated weight and 'liner grabbing' of all the blocks along the run.
As soon as it stops raining, I shall give it a go.
Just trialed the idea as pic below. Obviously everything needs to dry out before I can begin pouring cement in them.
A slight change of plan is to use a loop of garden wire through the liner to fix both halves of the casting tight together.
You might just see a loop of green wire where the next mold goes.