3 neighbours stopped by for a quick chat 'over the garden wall' and one of them told me some of the history of the place, having lived here for over 40 years. As you know, I am on the side of one of the Pennine Hills and just over the brow is a quarry. This would explain all the rocks I hit as I dug down in the ground making the hole for the tree! It is a labour of love pulling out all the stones. I went walking the other day up the hill and past the quarry and here are some picture.
The Rossendale countryside is pretty stunning I think you will agree.
More gardening this weekend if the weather holds.
Dan
ReplyDeleteplant a small tin with some "time capsule things in it right under the tree!!!
Planting a tree is so symbolic, Hubby and I were looking at a little cottage on about an acre while at scrabo last week and we decided the first thing we are gona do when we get our land is to plant an apple tree! we talked about how years later our kids might play under it, climb in it and we could tell them 'we planted that tree the day we moved here' lol i hope the weather holds for you and you can stay out in the garden :)
ReplyDeleteIts a great idea and like you say, felt symbolic. I am not thinking about a cherry tree in the front!
DeleteWow, beautiful, just beautiful! Congrats on the apple tree. I'm hoping to get a couple fruit trees in the ground this weekend, if the weather cooperates. You sound very happy, like you are in your element! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I feel very happy and in a way I feel totally content for the first time in a long time. The countryside is where I was meant to be, never was at home in the city.
DeleteIt looks like amazing countryside round there - think you've struck lucky. Definitely a good idea to plant an apple tree - it may take a while to fruit but when it does you'll be wanting to plant all sorts of fruit trees (if you have space that is).
ReplyDeleteI reckon I could get a cherry tree in, because I love cherries, but never buy them because of the ridiculous price. I will have to research if they would bare fruit around here.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am lucky.
DeleteOh, you are such an inspiration. Going back to basics to be able to live in such a beautiful place. I live in Cornwall, but after my PhD I won't be able to live here because there are no research jobs down here (although I will definitely keep an ear to the ground!).
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering, as a relatively new reader, have you ever outlined how you did it in a single blog post?
I am not sure if I ever really did a post on how I did it, but you have given me a good idea for a future post. I will try and do something like that soon.
DeleteCornwall is beautiful but like you see, there are many beautiful places about. The problem is when you have to live or work in a city, but if the city is not one of the big ones, then you can be out in countryside very quickly. Keep reading and I will work on a post soon.
Truly beautiful. Is that a wind farm or just pylons on the hill in the first picture? I got apples in my first year but I limited them to only 1 per branch to allow the tree to get down good roots.
ReplyDeleteThere is a wind farm near here, but I don't think that is it, they are just pilons in the distance. Thanks for the apple advice, if I get any growing I will limit them too. Would be great to have enough for 1 apple pie!
DeleteLooks lovely and I am so happy for you that you literally have this all on your doorstep.
ReplyDeleteMissing London yet??? (Joke!)
Are you kidding?!!!!!! I know that I will never move back to any city now, I am in my element as I sure comes across in my posts.
DeleteYep course I was kidding! :-D
DeleteI am so Jelous, i took my littl one on a walk down the canal today to feed the ducks and it is full of waste after a big clean up effort last year. One day we will get our own littl epiece of heaven somewhere x
ReplyDeleteOne day you will, never stop working towards it. To move here I literally saved and saved everything I had (also moving from South to North really helped). I do regret how much money I have wasted in the more distant past now because I realise finally how little we need to spend to live well. I will never waste money again.
DeleteYour happiness overflows in this post! Not only are you in your own cottage (one that is now safe and snug and charmingly decorated by your own efforts), located in delightful countryside, but you obviously have nice neighbors - a little community to become a part of. I'll bet you just jump out of bed every morning these days and can't wait to get at things. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I am glad my happiness is showing itself in my writing. As you say, I wake up every morning loving where I live, in the silent countryside with good friends and neighbours near by. I am truly blessed.
DeleteSomeone asked me what sort of apple tree it was and I can't for the life of me find the comment so can't remember who or where it was. Anyway, for those who are interested, it was a Bramley Apple. I chose this because obviously it is good for baking and so I can use them up, also because bramleys are quite expansive in the shops. I am going to put an eater in as well soon, because the bramley will need something to pollinate it. I think I will try for a cordon apple tree for the eater though.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful but then again I was born in Rossendale General.It's odd but before you posted the location Whitworth I had been musing whether it was near my Grandads.. (he lived in Bacup) great to see the old country. Need a roomie? ;) x
ReplyDelete