Sarah Todd: Starting May with a clean sheet, and a few secret gardens

WASHING has taken over in our house since the new machine arrived. The drum is about twice the size of the old one so everything's been bunged in. It was all a bit stressful when The Husband came home earlier than expected and a line of newly-laundered horse rugs and dog bedding had to be hidden around the back of the hen house. No doubt he'd have gone on about how ungrateful it was of me to be blocking the new machine with animal hairs.

Next to a different kind of washing, and today's the day that young girls should rush out into the garden and wash their faces in the morning dew. Apparently on May 1 it has magic properties and leaves a beautiful complexion. Not really in the "young girl" category any more, but it can't do any harm.

While reading about this, there were some other sayings about May that caught the eye. "A wet May makes a big load of hay." And "a cold May is kindly and fills the barn finely." On a similar thread is: "Mist in May, heat in June – makes harvest come right soon."

With the blitz on the washing, it was perhaps a good job that I read this in time: "If you wash a blanket in May, one will wash one of the family away". Those winter throws can wait a bit longer.

While she was recovering from having her tonsils taken out, our daughter watched The Secret Garden and declared "I'm going to have a garden". She's dug up the patch of earth near her Wendy house and was so keen we gave her some money to spend on plants. She's chosen the gaudiest coloured flowers and even has a gnome to complement the design.

Her little brother also watched the film and has planted potatoes and lettuce. We're not out of the woods yet, he's nagging for a gnome as well. Joking apart, Miss Mary, Dickon and Colin's horticultural secret is a good tip to transform youngsters like ours who have previously written-off gardening as boring.

Our horses have had nearly a month off with the tonsils op. It won't do them any harm and it's lovely to see them under the blossom trees.

My mare was 20 last week and although always cautious about waxing lyrical about our animals – some tragedy usually befalls them if their praises are sung in print – she looks in incredibly good nick. We got her last year, after her owner had died, and she's been smashing for hacking out with the children. So many people would turn their noses up at an older animal, but they often still have a lot to give.

It's an ambition to take her to a show this year, but slimming's needed to fit into the jacket last worn 20 years ago.

Best not put it in the wash.

CW 1/5/10