Tattyannes Spot

Where's me eggs Rosie?

2009-08-23T10:11:00.003+01:00

I have been a bit stumped about Rosie, our whiteleghorn. She has always been a good reliable layer.....until a few days ago! I couldn't understand why she had suddenly gone off lay. She appeared to be healthy, eating, drinking doing all the chickeney things that chickens are supposed to do, but no eggs. This morning I got up, and the girls were making a bit of a racket wanting to be let out of their pen, so I let them out, and all three girls legged it off across the garden, this is normal for them as they usually go under the weeping cherry tree to clean up the sunflower seeds that the birds have dropped, but Rosie didn't stop there, she carried on straight under the hedge! So I got down on my hands and knees and crawled into the farthest darkest most overgrown corner of the garden, and there she was....... sitting quite happily thankyou on her "nest"in amongst all the wind blown rubbish, when she got off, I found 6eggs! So looks like I will be commando crawling on a daily basis! Dont fancy it in the winter tho!

Squash invasion!

2009-07-28T02:20:00.000+01:00

I thought I'd try and be a smarti-pants this time, following this mess I got into with my pictures on the last blog! So I uploaded my pictures first and placed my text around them!! Hera are just a few pictures from the allotment as promised. As you can see the squashes are loving this rain!

Winding their way through the sweetcorn. I love this kind of companion planting.

As you can see they are rampant at the moment. This is a veiw of the fruit bed. The shrubs on the right of the picture are Raspberries, Joan Jay I think. The squashes are making use of every bit of available space, winding their way in any gap, then spilling out onto the paths.

These are three of my pumpkins, I hope they get at bit bigger before they ripen. This is the first year that I've grown pumkins, and I've found lots of lovely recipes. I couldn't bring myself to sacrifice any of them in order that I just get one big one! Tho I have limited the plant to just three.

Another view of the sweetcorn and butternut bed.
I've staggered the planting of the sweetcorn this year, but I have followed advice from a fellow plotholder not to mix different varietys. The later sowing seems to be catching up fast! I love to eat it straight from the plant, I dont bother wasting time taking it home to cook first!

I'm back!!

2009-07-24T20:00:00.000+01:00

My humble apologies for neglecting my blog. No excuses, I'm a lazy un-inspired boring blah blah blah!

I have been really busy, honestly, I may have neglected my blog, but not my growing! The other day I went to the allotment and picked 14lbs of redcurrants from ONE bush, I kid you not! It was an amazing harvest! With this bumper harvest I have made 2 gallons of home made redcurrant wine and I have frozen the rest for later use. I also harvested gooseberries and made gooseberry chutney. We are not lovers of puddings in our house, we dont really eat jam, but I, sorry we, do love our cheese! I actually have to admit to not liking gooseberries that much!! Especially when you buy three red gooseberry plants from your local cheap retailer, and they all turn out to be of the green variety!! But not being one to waste anything, I trawled through my cookery books and the internet and found a recipe for chutney. And very good it is too!

The allotment is going well... the slugs and caterpillars are having a whale of a time, despite netting, liberal use of slug pellets etc etc. I try to be organic, but boy it gets on my nerves! It wouldn't be so bad if they targeted just one plant, but NO they have to have a nibble and deposit droppings on everything! Good job I plant loads. I promise to post some photos soon. Meanwhile.......

The greenhouse is producing very well.......

Lovely juicy red peppers
I have to apologise (again) for the bizarre layout. When I uploaded my pictures, I couldnt move them to where I wanted them! So they are rather haphazardly placed! You get the general picture....... I hope....... take care Tatty

Busy Bees

2009-05-20T18:11:00.000+01:00

The bees are really busy this evening. They particularly are attracted to this Allium.

Well under-way

2009-05-19T12:17:00.000+01:00

A quick tour around the greenhouse and we have a Courgette plant that thinks its a triffid!. Tomatoes chasing, giving a good run for their money! A pepper plant, complete with the first fruit Aubergines A mixture of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and a pot of salad onions. In the garden there is ......

More courgettes, it is surprising the difference between the ones grown inside the greenhouse. My second lot of carrots. The monopods had the first lot! Strawberries, you cant beat picking them warm straight from the plant. More strawberries, plus potatoes and at the back shallots,

An outdoor cucumber....(I think, I got them mixed up!) Red sun Shallots, these were a freebie from T&M,This is a picture of the Crab apple tree that i bought from Ebay, and the postman , in his wisdom, folded it in half!! When it arrived in its dormant state, I splinted the damaged branches, and three out of four of them have knitted themselves together! You can just make out the splint.Two of my girls who follow me around the garden, hoping that I wiil find them tasty treats! Usually I oblidge(? that doesn't look right!) And finally Potatoes!!
See you soon, I gotta go to work now, Bye X

Its True!

2009-05-16T09:02:00.000+01:00

Just a very quick post to brag really! Ihave picked my first courgette, grown in the greenhouse, and more exciting than that, yesterday I popped down to the allotment between the showers, had a quick look about and there was a ripe strawberry just shouting at me to eat it! I didn't have my camera with me so I have no proof of this but I promise you its true! It wasn't very big, but it was delicious. Is (was) this the first strawberry of the season, or has anyone else beaten me to it?

I'm a well trained human!

2009-04-12T16:14:00.001+01:00

This little robin had gotten quite tame last year, and I havn't seen him for months. I was in the garden a couple of days ago, and he was hanging about. I thought maybe he wanted a top up of seed. I buy a mixed songbird mix, and usually athe starlings eat all the best bits, the suet pellets and insects, leaving only the boring plain seed. So I topped up the seed, but no, that wasn't what he was waiting for. He started flitting about, following me around the garden. Then the penny dropped! He was wanting mealworms! Live mealworms! He must have remembered that last year I was putting them out for him, and this year he has come back!! Isn't that amazing!! so i hotfooted it to the local supplier and came back with fresh lovely wriggly mealworms. He has been in and out all day so he must have babies somewhere. It is such a privilidge for me to be his human! He has trained me well!

Hotch potch and promises

2009-04-05T19:35:00.000+01:00

This is definitely my most favourite time of year, full of the promise of longer days, shorter nights and sunshine to follow! I took advantage of the early spring sunshine to get outside and use my much neglected camera. Here follows a hotch potch, pictorial story of spring that enhanced my day.Plot 44 all ready for the onslaught of veggies just waiting for favourable conditions to permit a frenzy of transplanting!The Morello Cherry tree just waiting to burst into action!Fruit buds all ready for the signal to go..The gooseberry bush already on its way to producing sweet delicious fruit for jam making....This Cranberry bush is in its 4th year and I still hav'nt had any cranberries yet!Raspberry bushes, Joan Jay just waking out of hibernation ready to produce lots more wonderful fruitOur shed after its annual spring clean!!unforced rhubarb..........Early peas, Meteor I think.......... or could be Feltham First....... Broad beans and Blue Lake climbing beans hardening off.....onions and garlic coming along nicelymy favourite weeping cherry tree just bursting with blooms... this must be one of the most photographed tree in my albums... I never get fed up with looking at it, it is soooo prettyThe Girls enjoying a dust bath under the trampoline......Rosie stays amazingly white!! Despite chucking dirt all over herself on a daily basis!

butternut squash seedlings, my favourite discovered since allotmenteering, vegetable!What am I going to do with all these courgette plants!My favourite Narcissi.. not only very pretty, but also scented.....dont know what its called tho!Pepper plants growing away beautifully on my kitchen windowsill........

Shallots growing in a discarded storage box..............cauliflowers and kale..........tomatoes and cucumbers...............the list is endless........I think the sunshine even made my brain grow!!!! Amazing!!!!!. In the front garden I have a large palm tree of sorts that drops its long straplike leaves all over the place! I usually go around picking them all up and chuck them in the bin. I dont even bother to compost them as they are so tough. .......But today I had a brainwave.... I collected up the leaves and used them to weave around the window boxes in an attempt to strengthen the coir that had become loose and was losing compost. I think it will be a success... see for yourselves! Recycling at its best!

The leaves are really tough but look attractive too! This was such an ingenious idea I feel it should merit a posting all of its own! Scuse me while I repeat myself!!

Grow time

2009-03-24T16:58:00.000Z

Although the weather has been beautifully sunny lately, the wind chill factor is a constant reminder of the time of year. It is still a tad bit early , I feel, to get much in the ground, but the greenhouse and kitchen windowsill are brimming with seedlings waiting for the ground to warm up a little. In the greenhouse I have, Aubergines, Cucumber x2 Tomatoesx2, French beans, Broad beans, Leeksx2, Scented peasx2, Lettuce, Courgettes, Cauliflowerx2, Kale, and Red cabbage! On the kitchen windowsill I have Lemon Grass, Jalapeno Peppers, Sweet peppers, and butternut Squash which has yet to put in an appearance! I think I have bought a duff packet of seeds. Can anyone give me some hints on the best way to grow cauliflower. I tried last year, but didnt have much success. I had to pick them when they were really small, about the size of a tennis ball, otherwise they just seemed to want to go to seed, or went a funny colour! Also, anyone know how to grow a monkey puzzle tree from seed? I picked up a few seeds, they are huge! I planted a couple in compost in a heated propagator, but nothing has happened. Any ideas anyone?

Bottoms up Girls!

2009-03-01T17:57:00.000Z

It has been a lovely springlike day today, so I thought I would let the girls out for an hour or two to have a wander around the garden. This is Rosie enjoying a dust bath. She needs it too, she had a little mishap in the week which caused a little trauma to her comb. It kept bleeding, and the other girls wouldn't leave it alone, so there was rather a lot of blood everywhere! I had to ring Ronald Grover, the chicken man, and he told me to clean the wound, and to put an antiseptic ointment on her comb and to isolate her overnight! Have you ever tried to put sudocrem on a nervous chickens comb!! Not the easiest of tasks, but the treatment worked and next morning she was back with her girlie friends! That day she laid the biggest egg I have ever seen!!

OMG!

So today I thought she deserved a treat, so I let all the girls out for a while,

This is Peggy, looking for tasty treats,

and Lucy, my favourite already, such a calm bird and so pretty. The three amigos having a whale of a time going through the compost bin!!

Bottoms up Girls!

Meet the Girls

2009-02-23T16:29:00.000Z

As planned, yesterday we took a run out to the New Forest, Beaulieu, to get our chickens. It was about an hour run each way, and we got back home with the girls about half past four. I put the chickens straight into their new quaters, and settled down to watch them. We let Alfie join us, our American Cocker, so that he didn't feel left out, he was so excited to meet them, wanting to play, his little tail going ninteen to the dozen! Two of the chickens, didn't seem to mind him, the White Leghorn was a little jumpy, but soon settled down. I had been given instructions from Ronald Grover, the chicken expert, to feed the girls with some mixed corn about an hour before putting them to bed. I was a little worried about how exactly I was supposed to actually get them into their new quarters for the night, it was now half past five, and getting rather dark!Fortunately I had bought an excellent little book that suggested putting a torch into the roosting box, as the light would draw them in. This worked a treat, within about 15minutes of putting the torch inside, all the girls went in! Ronald had said that it was a possibility that we might get one or two eggs the next day, but that the girls would probably go off laying for a while until they had settled in, so I was really chuffed when all three chickens produced an egg each!

I managed to get a some pictures of the girls, but I didnt want to upset them too much, so they're not very well composed, meet Peggy.. she's the Silver Sussex,

This is Rosie, she is a White Leghorn, and Finally Lucy, she is a French Maran and very pretty.

For some time now, I have been thinking about getting a small tree for the garden. I wasn't sure which , but I knew that it needed to be small, be fruiting of some description and attractive to birds. After discussing these requirements with my friend, she suggested a Crab Apple Tree. Perfect! I had a quick look on Ebay, I never buy anything without looking on Ebay first, and saw several sellers of the afore mentioned trees, at various prices, and decided to buy a mid priced tree. This is a bare rooted tree, and is between 4 and 5 foot. It was priced at £7.00, with P&P at £7.50. ( a little pricey) I had priced them on other sites, and to buy from a specialist nursery I wasn't going to get much change from about £30.00! So, hopefully sometime this week I will be planting a new tree. Take Care Tatty X

Chickens!

2009-02-21T09:07:00.000Z

Being someone who is not on this planet (according to my husband) I decided I would like to have a go at keeping a few chickens. After perusing the web, and finding out as much info as I could, I made a purchase of a chicken house on Ebay. I love Ebay, you can buy just about anything, except chickens! It came flat packed, and last night we put it together, it only took about an hour, and there was no cursing!

So tomorrow, we are off for a little drive to Beaulieu to buy some chickens! I have chosen, a Silver Sussex a very pretty silver grey bird with a lovely temprament, A White Leghorn, an excellent layer, sometimes laying 2 eggs a day and a French Maran which lays the most beautifully shiny dark brown eggs, with a rich orangey yolk. Its sooo exciting! This time next week, maybe we'll be eating our own eggs! Well not our own, I couldn't possibly lay an egg! You know what I mean!

Long Tailed Tits

2009-02-04T15:46:00.000Z

A few years ago I was in my garden and watched as a group of Long Tailed Tits flew into our tree, only to be chased off again by a couple of territorial Blue Tits. They are a delightful little bird, very pretty and never alone, they are a flock bird, and I thought I wouldn't see them again, and in fact I never did.... until today!! Again I was in my kitchen and a flock of about 10 flew in and had a good rummage about in amongst the branches of all the little trees and shrubs. The camera was handy as always, so I snapped away.....

They have to be one of my favourite birds, so I felt quite priviledged to see them in my garden, I do hope they come back again soon.

Snow!! Oh and A Fox!!

2009-02-02T09:03:00.000Z

I know in comparison that this little blanket of snow looks pretty pathetic against some of the snow scenes in other parts of the country, but its pretty none the less, and I for one get quite excited about it!!... and no doubt by lunchtime it will all be gone:( I know , I know , I need to get out more.... so here for your boredom, lets face it what else can you do today.......... enjoy:)

While I was uploading these pictures, I wandered out into the kitchen, looking out of the window I was most surprised to see a fox! At 9.30 in the morning! "Quick " I called to my husband, "a fox". But my camera didn't have the memory card in it, because I was uploading the pictures, from it! Luckily his camera was on the side so he grabbed it and took these.......

Snow and a Fox in the garden! Theres only so much excitement a girl can take in one day!!

Irises

2009-01-28T08:36:00.000Z

Just a quickie to share the pics of the beautiful Irises

New beginnings

2009-01-22T08:55:00.000Z

All is still quiet on the growing front. I have dusted off the heated propagator and just for experimentation, have planted those huge great seeds that I collected last year from the Monkey puzzle tree, also some lemon grass seeds. I grew Lemon Grass last year, but unfortunately it is not hardy and so the plant that was growing very well has succumbed to the harsh weather that we have been experiencing lately. The Lemon Grass seeds have sprouted, and I thought I would keep them going indoors for a while to give them a nice long growing season. Not sure what I'll do about overwintering it again tho? It might be an annual, Does anyone know?
On a completely different subject, I recently have been thinking about changing my job. I am an auxilliary at the local hospital, a job which I enjoy very much. The current line of work is at the palliative care unit, this is where I have been based for the last 9 years, and I feel now that I need to move out of my comfort zone and expand my knowledge and skills in a new environment. So I have been perusing the hospital jobs vacancy website, and submitted some applications for different directorates. I was fortunate enough to be called for interview for a position that is at the complete opposite end of the scale. Along I went with great trepidation, the interview was running late, and I was sooo tempted to come home again, figuring that I do have a good job, I'm not getting any younger, I work with a great team, and what the hell am I doing here!! Anyway, in I went.... I felt that the I didn't sell myself very well, I was soooo nervous, I answered the questions as best I could, remembering to speak slowly, make eye contact etc etc. I came away glad that it was over, not holding out much hope of getting the position, I had none of the essential experience, although lots of life and hospital aquired skills. I was I at work later when they rang me to let me know that I had been successful!! I must say that I am thrilled, excited, scared, sad, apprehensive, but nothing ventured nothing gained... so wish me luck!! I am leaving the departure lounge and heading on over to the arrival suite!!

The season is underway!!

2009-01-14T17:18:00.000Z

Today I took delivery of my seed poptatoes. This for me officially marks the beginning of the growing season. I have already unpacked them and laid them out in trays ready for chitting. I ordered, Dunluce, this is a first early, great for salads and summer chips and was a freebie. Next came Maris Piper an early maincrop, a good all rounder, but makes excellent roasties. Then I had Majestic, another good all rounder, I chose this one because it makes lovely mash. Then last but not least I ordered Arran Victory, this is a late maincrop and again a good all rounder. I also ordered Shallots Red Sun.

Yey, spring is coming!!!

2009-01-13T12:26:00.000Z

Just got back from plot 44 and it was really uplifting!! Thankyou mother nature it was exactly what I needed. We (hubby and myself) dug the runner bean trench, and layered it with some compost from the compost bins at home, we recycle all our teabags, peelings and eggshells etc. Lovely stuff it was too. Then we pulled up the cabbages that were looking well past their sell by date, they were chopped up and layered on top, all that has been left to be exposed to the effects of any weather. Later we will put in more shredded paper and any thing else we can think of. We stood and tried to formulate a sowing plan for this year, yet again we will run out of space if we grow everything that we want! I have just finished reading an excellent book called One man and his dig that was lent to me by my friend Goosey. He wrote about getting his first plot and all the trials and tribulations that ensued. He wrote with a humour and honesty that made for great reading. If anyone would like to read it contact me and I will forward it on to you.
This little fellow was coming out of hibernation and making his way up the towel in the shed!The bed of early onions and garlic. This is my attempt at avoiding too much loss through white rot. I thought if I plant them early they will be ready for harvesting before the optimum conditions allow for the disease to take a firm hold. Just a thought....Last few Trafalgar Brussel sprouts. I only grew 4 plants, but had a good harvest from them, delicious they are too.This is one of the cranberry plants, I didnt get any fruit last year, so hopefully this year will fare better
The last few spears of callabrese Still managing to harvest a few stallworts of the hardy vegAnd finally photographic evidence that spring is well and truly on its way!! The first cyclamen flower........ Buds on the gooseberries.............. The first Iris of spring..... it really does make you feel better.

One more!

2009-01-06T11:03:00.000Z

Just one more bird I spotted this morning, a beautiful Thrush. This bird is a regular visitor to my garden. Two things puzzle me though... why do sparrows ague over one single port feeder when there are several multi port feeders in close proximity, and why dont the birds use the fabulous feeding station that I have provided in the back garden in the sunshine with fresh water!!!!!

Birdless!

Goldfinches

2009-01-06T09:57:00.001Z

One of my pastimes is feeding the birds. They really need our help especially during this cold spell, this gives me a good opportunity to get the camera out.. again, not much about, plenty of Goldfinches, I saw 1 starling, 1 pidgeon, I think I saw a thrush. I went out early to put some warm water on the bird bath to help defrost it, within an hour it was frozen again! So back out I went with even more... I cant remember it being this cold, for this continuos length of time for years! Dont get me wrong, I am not complaining, far from it, but living so near the coast, we usually get away lightly from any severe weather. I do think it would be nice to see some snow, real snow... not a little light dusting, but proper real deep white stuff!

I cant believe that I have posted twice in one day!!! I must be feeling better... I really do believe that I suffer from S.A.D , I am soo looking forward to the spring.

Anticipation

2009-01-05T19:39:00.000Z

I know that I haven't posted for a while, okay, for ages, okay okay, MONTHS!.. but...... I have been popping down to plot 44, there just isn't much happening at the mo. Anyway , I do feel that we are turning a corner. The weather is actually doing what the weather should be doing, ie.. very cold! That is excellent news as far as allotment holders are concerned, breaking down soil, killing off the eggs of pests, encouraging fruit buds to form on fruiting trees and shrubs. We have endured the shortest day, and the days are slowly getting longer, things can only get better! I am still harvesting brussel sprouts, leeks, parsnips and .. thats it. Hubby is on a mission to get as much free horse manure as he can.. today he came home with 12 large bags which we duly spread over and around various beds and plants. Potatoes, shallots and fresh seeds have been ordered.. what else can I say... BRING IT ON!!

Beautiful Poole

2008-10-24T19:22:00.000+01:00

Yet again we have have had a lovely day, it is quickly coming to the end of October, and yet it is still warm enough in the middle part of the day to take a walk without a coat. I had to go into work this morning to attend an update on the NHS lifting and handling policy, not such a bad thing... I usually come away with some useful knowledge, and today was no exception.. thanks Jan. So when I got home I decided to walk up to the school and give the dog a much deserved walk. As I had signed up to our local adult education school to further my somewhat limited knowledge of digital photography, I thought I would take my camera to document and share the beautiful walk that we are able to take. I hope that it gives our son some lovely childhood memories when he is older, I know that often he wishes that we take the car, and this has become a bit of a sore point between us.. anyway taking advantage of the sunny weather we walked, and this is a pictorial guide of things we saw.. Goosey, you will recognise this walk....

Have a happy half term....

Lovely Views

2008-10-18T16:11:00.000+01:00

We have had some lovely weather lately, although it is definitely feeling quite autumnal, especially in the evenings, the nights are really drawing in. I do like this time of year though, its nice to snuggle up in bed early with a good book, something I dont seem to do in the summer months. Anyway, to take advantage of this lovely weather (and also to have a practice with my new camera!) I went up to our local beauty spot. It is called The viewpoint, and offers the most spectacular views overlooking Poole Habour. This is looking out towards Old Harry Rocks, you can see between Old Harry and the tops of the trees is the Sandbanks Peninsula. Oh boy! We do live in a most beautiful part of the world! Sandbanks is reputed to be one of the most expensive places for property in the world!This picture is looking staight across the water towards the Purbeck Hills. Just in the middle on the right is Brownsea Island, home of the rapidly declining red squirrel.I think this view is looking towards Brownsea Island, again with the Purbecks in the background.

If you look closely you can just make out Corfe Castle sitting between the two hills slightly centre left in the background. (If you right click it should bring the picture up bigger.)In the foreground is Poole Park lake with Baiter just beyond.

Hopefully if this weather holds out, I can get to the allotment tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Rewind please!

2008-10-05T09:30:00.001+01:00

We have just returned home from a wonderful 7days in Turkey. What can I say? Everything and everyone was lovely. So here I am on a cold wet dreary Sunday morning thinking rewind please...

Late summer sunshine

2008-09-23T15:58:00.001+01:00

While sat out in the garden enjoying some late summer sunshine I was rewarded with a show from some beautiful flutterbies also enjoying some late summer sunshine....

The largest seed in the world?

2008-09-17T13:27:00.000+01:00

I have mixed feelings about this time of year. I don't really want to admit that the summer is nearly over, it feels like it never really got off the ground, and the growing season is all but finished. But... it is a nice feeling to have a big clear up, and get rid of all the tatty looking plants.The kids are back at school, and you can really get some serious work done at the plot without having to watch the clock. I find a good three hours is plenty enough time to make an impact on the backlog of jobs that have been building up. Yesterday I dug in the bed of green manure that I had sown about five weeks ago. I then planted out all my overwintering onions. I feel that maybe I was a bit over zealous and I know that in a few weeks time some of the green manure will start overtaking the ground again because there were a few areas that were more like a 45degree tilt rather than a thorough turn over!

The above picture shows how long it had gotten, I had manged about half of the area when I took this picture, the remainder still to do in the background! I had to keep taking frequent stops but that meant in between bouts of heavy digging I was able to take photos of other areas of the plot.

There are still lots of flutterbies around. I found this fellow feeding on a rotting apple,

I think I have identified it as a Comma, he was there for ages.The Butternut squash are nearly ready for harvesting. This is the first time that I have grown them, and will definately be growing them again! They are delicious roasted with potatos, Maris piper of course, courgettes, shallots and parsnips. I will have to get the recipe book out for some more ideas. I only have about 8 left, I wish I had grown more.

The Joan Jay rasperries are really surpassing themselves! They are huge! Delicious too! I can highly recommend them .

The poppies give a lovely bit of colour, I dont even know where it came from, but it is very welcome!

This last picture isn't from my allotment, but I felt it deserved a mention on my blog. It is the flower of my Calamondin that is growing happily on my sunny (!) kitchen window sill. The scent from these flowers is beautiful!! They are only a small flower, but give out such a strong perfume.

As an after thought, has anyone grown a Monkey Puzzle tree from seed? On our regular walks to school, we pass a Monkey Puzzle tree that has dropped its seed all over the path. I have picked some up and will attempt to grow them. I have a feeling that it wont be successful. They are a very large seed, largest seed that I have ever seen , measuring about 2-3 inches! I have photographed it next to a five pence piece for comparisson.

Or... do you know of a larger one?

Pickle! Thats original!

2008-09-05T13:34:00.000+01:00

Ok ok, I know, but what else is there to do when its raining... you've cleaned the house... bathed the dog.... done the washing.....got it! Lets make some pickle using all those surplus veggies. God I do hate to waste them! Also they have been sat in brine for slightly longer than I intended. I was going to do it yesterday, but... my daughter went into labour! She rang me at about 11.00o'clock in the morning to tell me that she had been having labour pains since 5 that morning...... I was instructed that they would ring me when they were ready to go into hospital, so all afternoon I was on tenderhooks waiting... the call came at just gone 3 O'clock just as I had walked up the school to get my son! I knew I should have taken the wagon, but I have a dreadful fear off turning into one of those lazy mums who only live a short distance from the school, but still insist on driving! So we hot-footed it back home, with me nearly having a coronary on the way! I am soo unfit! I dropped the mum to be and partner at the local maternity unit, and went home with my grand-daughter to wait......... At just gone 7pm the call came, all had gone very well and Baby Rowe was now well and truly here! All 8lbs 13.5ozs of him! So after all the excitement of yesterday, I thought I would have a "lazy" day.

Baby Rowe
Homemade sweet pickle One clean sweet smelling dog.

Guilty!!

2008-08-25T18:54:00.000+01:00

I've been feeling rather guilty of late because I cant think of anything original to blog about!! I've been busy, but not been busy about anything original! Decorating... working... harvesting....so sorry if this isn't particulary inspiring, but today we had a very brief spell of sunshine that drew me out into the garden. While I was there I.....

was well impressed with the size of my lone courgette,

dead excited at finding loads of potatoes as a result of my potato tub experiment....

more than happy with the progress of my lemon grass grown from seed this year

enthusiastic about the prospect of lots of lovely ripe tomatoes....

thrilled by the sudden surge in my carrots...........

eager to find lovely recipes that needs Jalapenos.................

and ripe tomatoes.........

and chillis'

puzzled as to what can be eating my strawberries......

annoyed at the bloody caterpillars that have left me with no lettuce..............
and finally... reminded at how lucky we are to be able to grow anything at all........

All quiet on the blog front

2008-08-12T15:28:00.000+01:00

I have been desperately trying to think of something to blog about... but ..no can do. Its not that I lead a boring life, far from it... But what with the rain, kids on school holiday and decorating there seems to be little time to do what I enjoy most.... my allotment. I get down there briefly, occasionally, weather and son allowing, so have managed to harvest bits and pieces as required, and thats about it. So nothing really to write about.
It was our wedding anniversary on Sunday, I congratulated hubby on his lovely choice of card.....only to be told that it was the only in the shop!!! Not really what I wanted to hear... mind you it is a huge improvement on previous offerings. I remember one Valentines day, he presented me with a lovely card... on the front it stated that all his life he had searched high and low for the perfect girl, then he found me.........Ahhh thats nice I hear you say... inside where the words.... INSTEAD!!! His excuse was that he read the front and thought that'll do, so he didnt bother looking inside. Yeh... right!

Comfrey magic

2008-08-04T16:34:00.000+01:00

Popped down to plot 44 this morning for an hour. I think I really need to plan my visits so that I can make good use of my time. I tend to go down without really thinking about what needs doing, then, I just go with the flow, if you like. Although I seem to always find lots to do, I am sure that I could do more, within the time frame. I think I should employ a time and motion consultant!. I could spend all day down there, and still come home thinking "I should have done this," or " Damn I didn't do........." Anyway, today I ....... dug up another row of potatoes, these are Maris Piper, they make a lovely roast potato. fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside....Mmmmmm.....

Then I dug up the rest of the carrots that were under the fleece which has eventually surrendered to the elements. Mind you, I was very pleased with the results. Lots of lovely looking carrots and not a carrot fly in sight. I definately will be growing them under fleece again. I decided to dig up the whole lot, because I didnt want to leave them to their fate.

I then made up a comfrey "brew", apparantley Comfrey is a marvellous plant to have on your plot. If you pick the leaves and put them in a bucket filled with water, leave them for a month or so, you will end up with a vile smelling brew that is the most wonderful liquid feed. You can also cut the leaves and place in a trench under your potatoes, they will quickly rot down and provide nutrition to the crop, some even say that this will improve the flavour too.Check out this link, http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/comfrey/index.php

Roy was kind enough to give me an armful of his Gladioli, they are now gracing my kitchen window, thankyou Roy

Back at home in the greenhouse, the Jalapeno chillies are really excelling themselves, Any recipes requiring Jalapenos gratefully recieved...

I do believe that our "sunmmer" is now drawing to an end.... at the beginning of August... I think all the seasons have merged into one rather ill defined season. What has happened to the long hot summer days we had when I was a kid on the six week summner holidays. I certainly dont recall being stuck indoors for days on end, our mother would have gone mad, two sets of twins and no games consoles !..... every day was beautiful and we were able to go out playing and making "camps" on the common that surrounded our estate with all our friends. Or am I looking through rose tinted spectacles? Do you remember the term "heatwave"? Times are a changing.. I wouldn't feel at all happy letting my 10 year old dissappear off over the common unless he had his mobile with him,and half a dozen friends, even then there is danger. Or is it just the media making us more aware of the dangers that are lurking just outside our front doors therefore turning this generation into soft, sofa hugging gaming experts.

Disney Fever

2008-07-30T20:04:00.000+01:00

Who said I only ever grow Mickey Mouse potatoes!

I told you I couldn't wait! My son and I munched our way through this beauty today. Straight from the plant, warmed by the sun. Beautiful!

Showing off

2008-07-29T20:48:00.001+01:00

I just couldn't resist posting a picture or two of my sweetcorn. It looks wonderful.....
The top picture shows clearly that the later sowing on the left is in flower, whereas the earlier sowing on the right is nearly ready. The lower picture is just one of the cobs waiting to be unwrapped. OOOhhh it's just like Christmas.... I cant wait!!!

The highs and the lows

2008-07-29T16:56:00.000+01:00

I am getting over my tooth abcess with the help of my dentist and five days worth of antibiotics, so am feeling back to my old self again. God help my family! Went down to plot 44 to have a quick look around and pick some more blueberries. I pulled some carrots, some of which are useable, and noticed that the ants have taken residence in the tub. Should I take action or just leave them alone? I'm not sure. Any ideas?

As I am sat here writing my blog there is an amazing aroma coming in from the kitchen of blueberry muffins. I found the recipe in my farmers market cookbook, and they are really easy to make, no creaming of butter and sugar etc, you just chuck all the dry ingredients into one bowl, all the wet ingredients into another, stir, then mix them both together with a metal spoon, and into the oven. Lovely.

Twenty minutes later.....yum yum.....

When I was on the plot earlier, I was thrilled to see that my goji berry bushes were starting to flower! I only put them in this year, they were about 10 - 12 inches high, they are now about 6 foot high!!! In one season! Incredible.

Meanwhile in the greenhouse the tomatoes are coming on in leaps and bounds.....

Or not as the case maybe.............!

Here's the culprit....
AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Carrots and bites

2008-07-27T19:38:00.000+01:00

I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately, so I haven't been down to the allotment quite as much as I would like to, also as the summer holidays are here, I wont be able to spend as much of my free time there as I would like, as my son doesn't share the same enthusiasm as myself for all things growing. Anyway,got down there last night,with hubby and son, I had to pick hubby up from the pub, and while he was in a "happy" mood, a little sneaky detour on the way home, and lo and behold, we found ourselves at the allotments! Well while we're here it wouldn't hurt to do a bit of watering, I suggested!
I woke up fairly early this morning, the sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky! Right I said to a sleeping Hubby, "I'm off down the allotment for an hour," 2 hours later I returned. Always lots to do, everything is growing much too quickly. I've picked, french beans, runner beans, florence fennel, sugar snap peas, potatoes carrots, and a cabbage. The dreaded carrot fly has managed to get at the carrots again despite our attempt at growing them in a tub, raised off the ground. I can only think that as our allotment is on a slope, and I am at the bottom, this means the carrot fly still manages to get in! I could put a fine mesh cloche over the tub I suppose. Maybe thats something I could try next year. Anyway I decided to grow some at home. I have got some potato tubs left over from last year,

So I filled them almost to the top with sharp sand,

Added a few inches of compost and of course carrot seeds, I used Autumn King

And there you go! I will keep you posted.

My lovely Apple tree. I am not sure which variety this is, but it is a lovely tangy sweet apple, and is loaded this year. Some very large flowers and my first very little Butternut Squash.

The biting season has begun, let battle commence!!!

onions, onions everywhere!

2008-07-23T16:34:00.000+01:00

Here are some of my onions drying out on Hubbys boat trailer, I knew I would find a use for it! Here are some more of my onions drying out in the back garden on the swinging hammock.

I have onions drying out in the greenhouse, and also down at plot 44 in the little plastic greenhouse! Wont be short of onions this year!

This is the first of my tomato Pomadoro, it is an italian cooking tomato.

This is Ruby, a delicious little cherry plum tomato. A real favourite, tasty and prolific.

Blackcurrants ready for picking.

The potato tub experiment is still going strong. Stangely though, no flowers. Will this affect the crop in any way I wonder?

One of my favourite flowers, the Stargazer Lily. You either love em, or hate em!

Alstroemeria lily, this particular variety was included in Lady Dianas wedding bouquet. At least this has stood the test of time!

And finally, who does this remind you of? Answers on the back of a post card to....

Who am I?

2008-07-14T08:53:00.000+01:00

Can anyone identify this little chap? I found nestled amongst the mange tout on plot 44.

Home from Holiday

2008-07-13T20:50:00.000+01:00

Got back from a short break in Minehead on Friday. Managed to get to plot 44 on Saturday and today, everything has grown soo much in just a few days..especially the weeds! I did lots of weeding on Saturday, and formulated a plan of attack for today., this included lots and lots of picking! So for tea today to go with the rather large joint of Roast Beef we have, newly dug Maris Piper potatoes, for roasting, first picking of runner beans, final picking of broad beans, a very large bag full of mange tout, a generous helping of sugar snap peas, a decent serving of freshly shelled peas, Florence Fennel, carrots, a small swede, beetroot and cabbage! Make a note to buy some bigger plates! I also pulled up the remainder of the onions which look as if they are suffering every kind of rot and mildew going! I have them drying on every available rack, chair and net that I could find! Though I dont think I am going to end up with a very successful crop, I have a nagging feeling that I will end up throwing most of them away. Dont know what I will do about growing onions next year, even the ones that I grew in containers with new compost ended up with white rot! Anyone any tips?

Nightjars and gloworms

2008-07-06T19:49:00.000+01:00

Goosey and I went for a walk last night,to hopefully see a rare Nightjar and increasingly uncommon gloworm. It was organised by a member of Dorset Wildlife Trust, and another lady who supports Corfe Mullen Nature watch. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't get either of their names:( It was a blowy night, but at least it didn't rain. We all met at 9:00pm at Rushcombe Bottom, it was well attended, with approximately 32 people, of varying ages. After a brief introduction and telling us what to look and listen for we set off. We were shown to a spot that would be our best vantage point, and after a very short wait were rewarded by hearing and then seeing the birds in flight. It was a brilliant experience. I wasn't able to get any photos, because A:- it was too dark, and B:- they were too fast! On the walk back to the meeting point we saw a few gloworms. It was a brilliant experience, and I am really glad that had the opportunity to go. Thanks Goosey(again)!

Orange delights

2008-07-05T19:29:00.000+01:00

When I was at the allotment the other day, I was just packing up to come home when I spotted this butterfly, I followed it all around the allotment, every time I got close enough to take a picture, it would up and fly off again! I finally managed to get a decent shot, I think I have identified it as a Comma(?) A fairly common species apparently!

Following on with this orange theme, I decided to add a couple of pictures of these magnificent Nasturtiums. They are looking wonderful at the moment, and not a blackfly in sight!

They look fab on a salad, and taste nice too. Quite peppery.

In a jam!

2008-06-24T20:17:00.000+01:00

As I have had a really good crop of strawberries this year, I decided to have a go at making some jam. Now I have never made jam before so this was going to be an experience! So... I found a nice easy recipe..... 600grms strawberries, juice of one lemon, and 600grms sugar. How easy is that!! So, I put the strawberries and lemon juice into the saucepan and heated slowly, I was getting bored bcause it was taking ages, so I kept turning up the heat. The smell was lovely, and the colour.. well, devine... I was just about to give myself a pat on the back for being a smartypants when all of a sudden the pan erupted! There was jam getting nearer and nearer the top of the pan! Help! I called to my husband, I need a bigger pan. Where is it? he asked. In the cupboard over there, I replied. Panic over. I consulted my other cookery book and it informed me that I needed a rolling boil until setting point was reached. How will I know when that is I thought.I consulted another cookery book which told me to test the jam every couple of minutes by putting a small amount onto a cold plate, let it cool, then gently push with my finger to see if it crinkled! Its all very complicated I thought. Anyway, while I was waiting I popped outside to hang some washing out, came back in and thought I can smell burning!! Oh no! My jam! I quickly turned the heat off, and looked dubiously into the pan... Fingers crossed, I think I might have caught it just in time. It definitely has reached "setting" point, I am waiting for it to cool so that I can pour it into the jars that are in a warm oven. I wonder if Sam would like Strawberry Jam sandwiches for his lunchbox tomorrow.........It's easy when you know how....!

Still raining and NO kingfishers

2008-06-20T19:07:00.000+01:00

Goosey and myself decided that we would go for a walk. We decided that Friday would suit us both. Friday came and off we went, making a quick stop at plot 44 on the way. We had a lovely walk, even though it started raining it couldn't dampen our spirits. It just felt great being outside in our beautiful countryside. I dont think I could ever get bored of doing this walk along the river, it is a wonderful place. Always something to see or hear......... A lovely family of swans.
The fabulous Little Egret

A Sedge Warbler singing his little heart out!

We weren't fortunate enough today to see any Kingfishers, but we know that day will come.....and really does lift my spirits and fills me with amazement to witness all this going on.

Yet if you didn't take time out from a hectic schedule to STOP and look and enjoy..........you would miss it all :( . Goosey sat for a while on a bench near the river and was lucky enough to see an otter! She was sat so quiet that he ventured out, sadly, he happened to spot her sitting there and so ventured back in again! Never mind... Goosey was thrilled that she had seen him at all.

All too soon it was time to go home to Do The School Run! I was greeted though when I got home by the view from my kitchen of these 2 rather handsome Greenfinches.

Thanks Goosey for a lovely, much needed, day out in the British countryside.

Galas and Poppies

2008-06-14T18:53:00.000+01:00

I am worn out! We had our annual nurses gala at Forest Holme today. I was up at 7:30 icing cakes and chopping onions! I was in charge of the BBQ, luckily the weather was in our favour this year! It always fills me with a sense of .......I dont know what! Everyone pulls together to make sure the day goes well. Our volunteers are brilliant, nothing is ever too much trouble! Debs , Jan and Suzie put so much of their own time in, to make sure everything is ready and is a big success. You are all fab!

Got home and had a wander around the garden. How's this for some clever colour scheme planning! Not really, it was luck!! But don't the colours of the Acer and the poppy work well together!

When I was browsing the web the other day I stumbled across this little piece, and thought how it sums up exactly how I feel, I wish I was clever enough to have written it!!.....My garden is a place where I like to begin my day...seeing what's in bloom, feeding the fish, have my tea or coffee by the pond and catching glimpses of otherwise unseen visitors. I end my day here after work, to unwind, shake off the cares of the day and get centered again ~ back to who I am.

Perfect........... Enjoy.

Rain stopped play for a reason!

2008-06-04T17:18:00.000+01:00

Goosey and myself had arranged a walk a few weeks back, primarily to look for kingfishers. Goosey is a great nature lover and has been for walks all over Dorset, so knew exactly where to go. I had been soo looking forward to it, unfortunately, as the day arrived, it rained and rained and rained! We kept having a rain check, every hour on the hour. By nearly 2 o'clock, we were due to leave at 10 o'olock, Goosey suggested that we leave the walk till the evening as the forcast was more favourable. Tea was ready as soon as my husband walked in the door, and we were gone!What can I say, wow! Goosey you did not dissapoint! It was a beautiful evening, we walked along the river Stour at Eyebridge, there was so much to see and hear. We were lucky to see a Kingfisher, but he was so quick! Not a kodak moment there! Never mind, we walked a bit more, suddenly there was a kerfuffle on the bank opposite. Looking up we saw two little Egrets being hounded by what I thought were large black crows. One of the birds flew off, but the other one stayed behind, and provided us with a photo opportunity.

Not a brilliant shot, but I was soooo excited!It was a truly magical moment for me, it was my first sighting of the amazing bird! Thanks Goosey.
We walked on some more as time was getting on and there was still so much to see.

I think this was a Pochard duck?

I think this was a reed bunting(?)

This was a blue Banded (?) It was very pretty, and there were hundreds of them!

I think this was a hoverfly on Shepherds Mantle(?) Please correct me if I'm wrong.

It was all to soon time to go home, we had been out for nearly 4 hours but it felt about two! Just time for a few sunset pictures.... Thankyou Goosey.... When are we going again?

Lovely Rain!

2008-05-30T19:46:00.000+01:00

All this rain has done wonders down on plot44. It wasn't until I had a veggie plot that I really appreciated the rain. Now I think it is like manna from heaven! I haven't taken any pictures of the allotment today, because I dont really feel that the pictures really portray how it really looks. Although I did have a wonder around the garden, and took some pictures of a few of the flowers that have suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

This is Astrantia, Masterwort.Seconds before there was a lovely bee working away inside this very pretty little flower, but as I went inside to get the camera, he was gone.

This one of many Hardy Geraniums that I have in my garden. I particularly like the veining on the petals.

This one is my favourite Hardy Geranium, I think it is Johnsons Blue, but I cant be sure. Just look at those markings! Its beautiful.Yet another Hardy Geranium. I'm not sure of the name of this one, but it is equally pretty.

This is my potato experiment. I think we can safely say that it is a success! My husband bought home these two large pieces of piping, so I planted them up with Bambino potato tubers using my own compost. I cant wait till we can harvest them, it will be like digging for gold! I'll keep you posted.
Look at that sky! The colours were so vibrant, I just had to take a picture! I dont feel that the camera has really justified exactly how stunning it really was.

2008-05-20T20:07:00.000+01:00

Been ssoooo busy lately, that I have really fallen behind with my blogging! (Plus the weather has been rather pleasant, so I have been sat outside enjoying the sunshine) Start afresh today .....

This morning after taking my son to school, I took a morning off from decorating, and went to plot 44. Everything is growing away beautifully. In this photo you can see potatoes, sweetcorn, fennell, (if you look closely!)and carrots, in the tub, hopefully growing them this way will deter the dreaded carrotfly!

This shot shows the new cherry tree, shallots, asparagus, rhubarb and at the far end some raspberries

I thought that you might like to see this, its our friendly local robin. He has gotten really tame now and quite happily comes into the kitchen window for his mealworms.

Bless Him!

2008-04-24T09:26:00.001+01:00

My husband bless him, when I am working always goes out in the evening to shut up the greenhouse. After a couple of days I said to him," Kev, I really appreciate you shutting the greenhouse at night when I am at work". " no problem Hun", he replied obviously very pleased with himself for doing something without me having to ask him. " But next time", I said, "Do you think you could put put all the plants in first!" I had been bringing all the seedlings out in the morning to harden them off ready to go down on plot 44!