May in my garden

 Here I am, gathering some herbs to take to the Abbot. He has a bad cold due to all the rain we have been having this month. I am taking a bunch of sweet cicely, lavender and some roses which have just come out. Being in the garden always makes me feel very happy, so if I take him something from the garden, perhaps it will help him feel happy too.

In the garden I have a small black dog called Rufus to help me. Some of the brothers think he is rather a nuisance when he jumps on their habits with muddy paws, and sometimes he barks when they are having a nap in the garden. But he sleeps by my bed at night and in the daytime he is never far away from where I am working. I share my food rations with him, so it is lucky I have another good friend here in the monastery.

Barnabas is our cook. I go to see him every day to bring him vegetables and herbs for our supper. Now lent is over, we can have two meals a day. I get very hungry gardening so it is good that he gives me an extra piece of bread or meat for Rufus. 

As I'm working in 1383, I write my diary on parchment with a quill pen. I do a lot of drawings of my favourite plants and flowers. Sometimes Brother Barnabas gives me a recipe to note down or an idea for a soothing drink. I'll be adding these things as well as what I'm doing month by month.