But Me No Butts

 My two water butts were completely empty by Friday afternoon. I filled them to 50% with the hosepipe on Saturday, and Sunday night's rain raised the level to about 90%. [I much prefer to water the plants with a watering can, filled from the butt, rather than use the hosepipe] 

Crops are growing well, we are enjoying the mizuma salad leaves and perpetual spinach most days. The broad beans and shallots should be ready for harvesting shortly. I think I need to re-pot my greenhouse tomatoes into bigger pots. My herbs are doing well, and appearing in many dishes- mint, sage, chives, thyme, rosemary, basil and bay. Bob made some lovely iced tea the other day, adding mint sprigs. I've yet to make cucumber sandwiches withadded chopped mint [allegedly a favourite of our late Queen Elizabeth and served at Buck House Garden Parties] I am very pleased with the produce so far this year.

The word butt has loads of meanings

• the thick end of a branch
• an archery target [hence the archery area is called 'the butts]
• the thicker [hind end] of a leather animal skin
• the target of criticism or ridicule
• a push or blow, especially given with the head
• the stub or a cigar or cigarette
• a liquid measure equivalent to 126 US gallons
• a carpentry joint where two bits of wood adjoin without special shaping
• a person's buttocks
• and finally -a cask for containing wine or liquor [or water]

And it wasn't Shakespeare who coined the phrase...

Thank you for all the comments yesterday. 😥. Like so many of you I'm really saddened by the state of our nation. I had one long comment from Anon, explaining that the Govt were lying about the seriousness of covid, and knew there was no risk in partying. Having personal experience of family and friends dying, or still suffering, I chose not to publish that comment.