This Mortal Soil

We must have planted a couple of hundred bulbs today - or at least it feels like it. We've planted daffs, narcissi, crocus and tulips. A very satisfying process, it feels like an investment in the Spring to come, especially now Autumn is setting in. All that work in the garden gave me a suitable appetite, and we had a lovely warming stew with dumplings and mashed sweet potato.

The CD project is finally finished, and I'm frantically burning CDs and printing covers. I hope to post the first batch this week. After a couple of months effort, I'm pleased to get it done, and happy with the results. I'm looking forward to getting some feedback on it.

With all this activity, NoiseWeb has been neglected. It's very hard to find the time for anything else when I'm absorbed in a music project, but I'll have to get onto it soon.

Dusty the kitten has been outside for the first time this weekend, and she has exhausted herself racing up and down and climbing trees! She is now curled up, and very fast asleep. Here is possibly the cutest picture of Dusty to date, taken the other evening.

Still Ill Part 2

Had another bad week health-wise I'm afraid, hence (another) late blog. I'm feeling much perkier today though, thankfully.

The music project is reaching the final stages now, I'm checking my latest remix as I type. I'm pretty pleased with the way it is sounding now, and can't wait to burn a few CDs and send them out. I've roughed out the cover art too, so hopefully it won't take long. I'm considering getting a new printer which is capable of printing directly to CD-Rs, as I'd like this one to look the business, but I'm not sure I can justify the expense.

The other week we paid a visit to nearby Silent Pond. We had a lovely walk up the hill there, but on arrival we were disappointed to find that Silent Pond is now actually Silent Hole In The Ground. The springs which feed it have apparently been dry for the last two years or so, and it has completely dried up.













We also went to a nearby farmers market and picked up a huge haul of goodies. My favourites were the Gran Stead's Ginger, a gorgeous non-alcoholic drink, and Pic a l'aili (a garlic-spiked picalilli) from The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight, from whom I also bought a wonderful plait of fresh garlic. We also got some delicious Russet apple juice from Ringden Farm. Here is our hoard in full:













Needless to say, the kids had a great time, scoffing cakes and ice cream as we walked around.

Finally, another gratuitous picture of Dusty, as I've had a number of requests!

Still Ill

Well, I'm pretty much better now, but I've not been well for the last week, so apologies for the lack of a blog entry.

We recently visited Crooksbury Hill near us. After a steep climb, you are rewarded with a wonderful view.














After a short walk downhill the other side is the remains of a bronze age fort known as the Soldiers Ring. It forms quite an impressive bank, particularly on the downhill side, but it was difficult to get a photo which showed the scale.














On the music front, I've now recorded all seven days of my holiday project, although there is one track in particular that I want to re-record. I then need to compile the tracks with some sound effects and collage them all into the final piece.

I'm sure you'd all like a gratuitous picture of our kitten, who is currently going by the name of Dusty, although we're still not completely certain!