Always Something Going On At Our House!

On Saturday the weather was glorious, again. In the morning I decided to get the carrots into the new veg patch - chuffed about that.

I got changed ready to take Alfie to Stage School when he decided he no longer wanted to attend; I have to admit I am disappointed but you cannot force children. I was due to pay the next term's fees so a decision had to be made and he went away and thought about it. I can understand why he was thinking like this because he has felt in the past he is missing out on family time; when we drop him off and we go into Aber and perhaps have a coffee, do a little shopping etc. he feels a bit badly done to. He is a real homebird, family kind of boy, bless him. I called the Arts Centre and told them, then I have to say Alfie was a very happy boy in the afternoon playing outside with Harry.

As I was then not going anywhere I got some washing done and pottered around. Jon lit the pizza oven to give it a whirl, a couple of hairline cracks appeared but these have since been fixed with a bit of fire cement. I made quick a homemade pizza and the boys helped with the toppings and we just about got it cooked before the fire died down...

but finished it off in the oven before the boys enjoyed eating it outside in the early evening sun, with Alfie declaring it was the best pizza, ever!

On Sunday morning we knew for sure that Jon's mum and brother were visiting so I decided to set to with the other side of the front wall. I appear to have lost my before photo but here at least is how it looks now, and take it from me it is one heck of an improvement as with the other side. Look forward to getting the wood chippings down some time after Easter.

After the morning jobs we headed into Aber as we were meeting Jon's family so after a spot of lunch we bought a few bits and pieces. These included the shallot sets I had been having trouble finding, some yellow courgette seeds called Goldena, yes MORE seeds, and a couple of small closhes to protect the cabbages that are outside from any late frost snaps.
The weather at home had been lovely but by the time we came home with the bbq food it had turned a little chilly...

I put out the shallots at either end of the carrot rows and sowed the courgette seeds then we sat and watched Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - wonderful film! I took Alfie to his piano lesson, he came back with the next book towards his Grade 1 exam, and Jon had cooked our bbq food inside for when we got back. We had a relaxing evening but I spent a bit of time by the phone and laptop as we received a booking for three nights from last night! The guest was arriving between 5-7pm which I knew was going to be tricky due to my Slimming World meeting at 7.30pm and Harry needing to be at Sea Cadets an hour earlier than usual. However, I managed to meet the guest whilst Jon took Harry with Alfie, I went to my meeting and Harry actually finished a little early so I still got home in time for Broadchurch, despite having to have my car jump started before we left Aber. Aaarrgghh!

Today I took Alfie to Aber for 8am to catch his coach to Swansea for an Urdd trip and I have a bit of an admin to do day but may get a bit done outside later.

Right, better crack on.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Wowee Weather!

I have been so busy these last few days that this post is - using a good northern saying - all to cock!

However it seems lots of people were lucky enough to have great weather last week.

I enjoyed some time in the garden by raking over part of the chicken enclosure to reveal some treats for the girls. 

Egg production is a little under par considering our new arrivals but I'm sure it will improve once the weather is good in longer spurts. 

In the Poly House the sowing and growing is continuing. On Wednesday and Thursday I sowed-

broccoli
lettuce
cress
sunflowers
chervil
chinese chives
mixed sweet peppers
sweet boneta peppers

I weeded the herb sink to leave the sage, thyme, oregano and chives looking very healthy and took the nippers to some wayward bamboo that had popped up in a couple of places near the main veg patch and thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine yesterday - the temp in the Poly House has been up to 22 degrees C and that is the warmest so far this year.

My calendar has been rammed with things for the boys ever since St David's Day really. With Harry starting Sea Cadets, an extra activity with them and rehearsals for various eisteddfods I haven't known if I am coming or going for some time!

On Thursday Harry was at school until 5pm practicing for an event the next day. On the back of that on Friday I really did nothing! I took the boys to school early and then I went on a trip to Llandysul to see the Urdd Ceredigion Dance competition. Harry was taking part in a group street dance category (hence the practicing) so went to show some support with three of the other mums. The comp was being held at this huge new school called Ysgol Bro Teifi and here they all are ready to go on stage. ( Harry, right)

They were up against some strong competition but came away with third place! 

We were all so proud of the hard work they put into the routine.

Consequently I didn't get home until 1.30pm, checked about a lift for Harry back from Sea Cadets this evening then came home for some much needed lunch! In the afternoon I managed to get some ironing done, started tea and then fetched the boys from eisteddfod choir practise at 4.15pm. After tea I took Alfie to youth club and Jon took Harry to 
Sea Cadets, and he came home with a lift which was great as Jon and I were both bushed.

That's all so bye for now.

Lou.xx 

Llanarth, Llangrannog And Nom Nom!

Yesterday morning we were up early to do a few jobs before we set off to fetch the boys from Llangrannog.I set about baking a Victoria sponge cake and some scones and Jon tidied his shed after the work being finished on the greenhouse so he is much happier - hates a mess in his work space!

We set off at 10am and headed to a garden centre at Llanarth and we bought a LOT of compost, a couple more packets of seeds, squash, strawberry and tomato plants and some herbs for the sink. We also now have an old terracotta chimney sitting outside the greenhouse and I have put the mint in it to keep it away from the other plants.

After that we drove to the Urdd centre, just so we knew where it was. What a fabulous setting by the sea.

Then headed down to the little beach. How fab is it there? I took a couple of pictures whilst we were giving Jake a run out and then we went to one of the cafes on the beach front for some lunch, plus an ice cream.

We picked the boys up and drove home, getting caught behind a convoy of tractors for a short while! When we arrived back we put the things into the greenhouse and the boys played outside for a while whilst Jon lit a little fire to get rid of a few more trees etc.

I'd already decided to do a proper Sunday tea for the boys coming home, hence the cake and scones, so I set about making egg mayonnaise and potato salad plus other sandwiches and whipped the cream for the cake. Here is our special welcome home spread.

This morning I spent an hour in the greenhouse, yay! I have planted onions and spring onions in the raised bed plus two lots of sweetcorn kernels. I don't know if this is the right place for these things, I understand sweetcorn does not like having its roots disturbed but hopefully I can start them off then put them in a tub to keep growing. At least I can put something else in when the spring onions come up if I have made the wrong decision. Obviously, any advice, hints and/or tips are always welcome!

I think I am so keen to start that I have to step back and think a little. I can at least get lots of things started ready for when we get the beds outside ready and then at least I feel as if I am doing something. I have sowed some rocket in the drainpipe and some strawberry seeds in pots. (Walking around the garden yesterday evening we think we spotted some strawberry leaves, but we shall see.)  

I have bread proving at the moment so when  that is baked and I've had my lunch I will head out again. I'm collecting toiler roll iners for the carrots so I think I'll start those off in a tray along with some leeks. I guess my main problem at the moment is knowing how much each seed/plant will produce. I don't want to only end up with half a dozen carrots and leeks etc.

No Boys Again, But I'm Ok!

This was the kitchen last night when the packing was finally finished for the boys' weekend to Urdd activity camp at Llangrannog. What a task! I must have gone over my list four or five times to make sure I had everything; spare clothes, play clothes, OLD clothes, wellies, walking boots, boiler suits you name it!

I'm heading up to school at about 3pm to take all of this and say goodbye as they leave just before 3.30pm for their adventure. I will be relieved then, not that they are going away of course, that they have everything they need for a fab time.

Jon and I have quite a bit of work to do this weekend to keep us occupied, like finishing the greenhouse and doing some more clearing in the garden. I think we may manage to fit in a couple of beers, and possibly a Chinese takeaway, whilst we think of the boys having too many sweets, getting really muddy and I'm sure having a fantastic time!

Also what needs to be fitted in is the weekly food shopping as the fridge will need to be ready for the return of the boys! I am planning on a proper Sunday tea for when they come back; sponge cake, scones, sandwiches, ice cream etc. so some baking will need to be fitted in, too!

I thought I would take the time to see what we have going on at and outside home next week and from my to do list it looks a bit busy!

Oh, have just seen my sister is now following me. Hi Nel.x

Ok. I think I'll leave it there as I hope to be back by the end of the weekend to show you the completed greenhouse. Thankfully this should be the last structure to be built in the garden and we can start filling them with the chooks and getting our grow your own growing!

Lou.xx

Stuff and Nonsense

The weather here today has been just glorious and I love the view from the top kitchen.

I have been baking and made bread, choc chip muffins and cherry oat tray bake- no photos as these are regular makes. I was also a little behind with my Journal of Gratitude so caught up with that.

I'm not in the habit of posting photos of my food but I made my courgette and tomato chutney the other day and it was yummy! in my opinion. I also managed to water bath process it, too, getting a great seal on it so these here are in the cupboard for the future plus one in the fridge. It was delicious with my boiled eggs, on home made bread!

I guess that is the stuff so the nonsense is that yesterday I embarrassed myself spectacularly live on Radio 2. I love listening to Popmaster and normally do really well, high teens or low twenties. However I scored 9 on the first person's questions, he got 6 and when it came to mine I scored a measily 3; horrifying. But on the up side my t-shirt arrived in the post today, however I deleted the photo but this is what it looks like - on the back it says "one year out". I did give a little mention to some of you but I wouldn't recommend making the effort to listen to it!




I shall wear it in the greenhouse; photos of that to follow soon.

My eldest had been chosen as a member of one of the school football teams and he is took part in a tournament in Aber today. He was SO excited! They didn't win the whole thing but one out of six games and he said, even so, he really enjoyed himself.

The youngest managed to leave his towel at swimming last week but thankfully he came home with two this afternoon.

Tomorrow I have the huge task of getting all of their things ready for their Urdd activity weekend at Llangrannog. It involves taking items such as no clothes at all which we would not want to get even slightly muddy, wellies, walking boots, old tracksuits, sleeping bags etc.
Alfie is a real homebird and we had quite a conversation when we paid the deposit about him going as he wouldn't be able to come home early of half way through. He had a bit of a wobble last night saying he would really miss me; I assured him he would be far too busy have a fantastic time to miss me, but that I wanted to hear about everything he and Harry did when they come home.Bless!

Right, better go as we bought the new Star Wars film this afternoon and we are having Movie Night with burgers and I need to get a few things ready.

Lou.xx 

Stationery Swap. What's Not To Like?!

I am lucky enough to be taking part in a Stationery Swap which is being hosted by the lovely Tracey from Mad About Bags.

As most people know I love stationery which includes pens, stickers, notebooks - oh notebooks! and anything else related so I was chuffed to bits when I was paired up WITH the lovely Tracey.

We are tasked to send to our pairing a bunch of lovely stuff and I hope to get my parcel in the post today. 

I have the car today because of fetching the boys from Urdd club after school so it is my day for errands, too. I hope to be able to find a couple of Fairtrade items at the shop because part of their homework is about the idea behind Fairtrade. They have really enjoyed looking at little videos on the internet explaining about the concept and Alfie and I had fun creating an explanation for the word empowerment! We were getting help from a website called The School Run. It seems to be really useful for all ages but all I have to do now is find a Welsh equivalent, sure to be one!

It seems I am on the mend but wasn't quite so when we popped into Aber on Saturday alfternoon. However, I managed to drag myself into Craft of course and came out with these two fabulous faux French linen cushion covers. As I have a mass of cushion pads I quickly had them installed on the benches in the kitchen. LOVE them!

Ok, that is about it from me apart from....

                                                               NEWSFLASH!! 
                                               Jon has the stone walling finished!

Boys break up for Easter on Thursday as does Jon so over the 4-day weekend we have friends visiting one day but we hope to do a decent amount of work in the garden so look forward to showing you more before and after's!

Lou.xx