Life Is Good!

What a GOOD day to be alive! The sky is beautiful, the air crisp and no rain!

These are the sights which greeted me as I opened the back door this morning as I walked out to feed some keen ladies. 

I love living here so much, but obvs the weather being better always helps.

Jon had let the chooks out for a wander around the garden as he headed down to the style we have between us and our neighbour and I couldn't help loving the sight of daffs, snowdrops, and the odd crocus, showing Spring WILL come soon, promise.

This morning our plans were to help Mansel, our sheep-farming neighbour. He is such a lovely Welshman, uses some failry fruity language at times and was 80 in the summer. We hosted a bbq for him with family, friends and even our Airbnb guests who were staying with us joined in. Due to health problems, now sorted, and his age Jon does most of the work with the sheep for him - he just wants to be a sheep farmer! In the early, dark mornings the sheep are fed to save Mansel doing it and my youngest loves being involved with the lambing so will get up with Jon, plus he loves to walk the field after school to check on the ewes and any new lambs.

So this morning's job was to give the last injections to the pregnant ewes with Covexin 8. 

Me, Jon and the youngest headed out. I was on syringe-filling duties whilst Jon got the ewes into the race, 

and Alf did his first lot of injections, which he loved,

then back out into the field.

This weekend we're not going into Aber, yay! I just want to stay here and sooo love not having to battle with Saturday crowds. Plans for today apart from that? Not sure really, but just looked at the forecast and we're apparently due some fairly strong wind from about 2pm. I think I need to have one more brew and make a little plan! Our one-night Airbnb guest left early, one load is already out of the washer so may attempt to have some of that put out before any rain....

As I write this post the door into the conservatory is open with the sun streaming in, if a little chilly as I am yet to light any of the fires but lovely all the same.

I do hope you are managing to enjoy your little patches of paradise between the weather a lot of us are dealing with just now. Think positive because Spring will eventually arrive and when it does we will be ready!

Lou.xx

Bright Day, Bread and Brownie.

As I type this blog post I am excitedly sitting in the rocking chair which I've recently put in the kitchen. I LOVE it! I've wanted seating in this room, other than the table and benches, since we moved here and now I've finally got round to it!

At the same time I've returned the side table to its original position as it was when we moved here.

Today, following wind and rain from Storm Brendan, we've had a generally bright and clear day with just the odd shower. It was one of those days when you feel you just need to go outside, even for just a few minutes. 

I've tentatively begun looking at plans for the new growing season. As I've explained before, I have no workable greenhouse just now so I'm following Charles Dowding's timeline which helps me sow things a little later. See here for his very useful sowing guide and I'll be using the conservatory in the meantime before maintenance and reconstruction hopefully begin by late Spring. 

I've almost decided what I'll grow and where but we all know that things change... at least it is good to have a basic framework. 

Better to know you are growing things you really want to eat, not edibles that are traditionally grown or things that are easy.

As usual I have thoughts and concerns and I haven't even started yet! There is always talk of crop rotation but I tend to think as long as the spuds are in a different place every year or so most other things will manage; I'm not a market garden, just trying to grow for me and mine.

Earlier I went to empty the food caddy in the compost then decided to pop back in for my phone. Jon had said he'd spotted the daffs popping up near the magnolia tree so I had a look, and there they were.

I'd seen the other day the snowdrops are appearing and they are increasing day by day.

The strawberries in the crate are looking healthy, but I'm going to have to thin them out before any fruit starts to appear because the plants are too close really. 

The garlic is really looking fantastic which I'm chuffed about considering the issues with the onions.

When working out the plans for the main veg patch I made the decision that I'm going to make a walkway to separate some of the sowing/planting. It is a big bed and this will make things easier at the beginning and end of the growing seasons.


The forecast tells us the weekend will be dry so I really hope to retain my mojo and get some jobs done outside at some point. We've taken our first Airbnb booking for the year and guests arrive on Saturday so I hope the weather is good for them and their dog, too.

Today I've baked a couple of loaves of bread for the first time in ages; as I'm back to Slimming World I won't be able to eat any of it, harumph!

I also baked a chocolate brownie for the boys yesterday, again the fist one in a good while mainly because the chickens are not laying too many at the moment so I decided to buy enough eggs to make it.

Right, I'm going to have to get out of my lovely chair and think about the chicken casserole I'm making for tea and also light the woodburner as I think it is getting a little chilly outside.

Hope you've enjoyed my chat or today, a little sooner than I had thought I would be writing, but I love a good rambling.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

New Year Pottering!

Well today was the first time out in my little patch of paradise since the start of the new year. I needed to add to my exercise tally so what better way than to don my RAF surplus jumpsuit and get out there. I managed 40 minutes pottering and garden prep before the spots of rain started, but it was enough to have a good look round and be back inside to check on the spuds baking in the Rayburn for tea; always a quick meal on a Monday as we are out for Slimming World, Boxing and Sea Cadets whilst Jon will have some him time in the shed and then watch Forged In Fire - me and the boys fly home to catch the end of it!

So outside I was tidying up really; I had some chicken pooh sitting in the wheelbarrow waiting for the very job I did today which was covering ALMOST the last of the main patch.

It really did a fantastic job, along with the covering over, for the soil last year; so few weeds due to me taking the no-dig approach when I took things up at the end of the growing season. I just have one small area where there are a few leeks so really should just take them up and finish the job!

I wandered around finding bits and pieces either to go in the compost bin or in the bags for the tip next time we are heading that way so have now a few planters drying out. 

I've moved a drainpipe of spinach beet from the greenhouse to the poly house. It was ok but I think may do better in there, which reminded me I need to get a couple of thermometers for both the houses. 

In the green house are these, my Mixed Spice sweet peas, which are a good six inches tall. They are hardy but not sure I should plant them out just now; best not as we may get snow before the Winter is out so safer there perhaps but may move them to the poly house.

These are my Meteor peas which are also hardy. If sown outside it is done in March but these are quite big so wonder if I should put them in the poly house bed and see what I can get from them? Sneak in before that spot is taken by the cucumbers and aubergines later.

I'm not wishing the time away because I really love Winter but the tulip and daff bulbs I planted are really coming up to say hello and it IS lovely to have a little hint of Spring.

One of the daffs in the garden, there are loads as usual, is even showing a yellow head!

I think we'll have even more snowdrops this year; they've reseeded themselves further along the fence line between us and our neighbour. Never a bad thing - more the merrier.

As short a time as it was outside I really enjoyed it. Will see what the weather holds over the next few days and maybe I'll get outside for another potter.

By for now.

Lou.

Poultry Panic Stations And Other Stuff!

Good afternoon.

The weather here in mid-Wales is glorious today - 

quick translation: mae hi'n braf means it is fine.

I am currently childless as the boys are on half-term; they are spending half of it with Jon's mum and half with his dad with us fetching them home on Saturday. Jon and I are going out for a SHOCK HORROR meal on our own this week. 

We had guests in our Airbnb room at the weekend and I decided I would make some Welsh cakes in readiness to add to the breakfast. I've made them before but have not always come out too well. However, I'm quite chuffed with my recent effort.

I used the recipe from A Cook's Year In A Welsh Farmhouse, thanks as ever to Sue for sending it to me, by Elizabeth Luard.

Apart from putting in an extra egg by mistake they came out very well.

I bought these tulips at Lidl on Friday to keep me going until my dafffs are blooming.

The main lot of daffs are not in flower yet,

but I spotted this little bunch at the back of the Poly House.

This photo does not do them justice but the carpet of snowdrops has come out, love them, and these ones have come up on their own near the daffs.

Now, this was the chooks doing some free-ranging earlier today. I cleaned them out after lunch and then did a necessary garden job.

It was time to sort out the compost bins so the one completely rotted down was put into one of the huuuge tyres. Nowhere near full but will add some goodness before we get the top soil.

Whilst outside I took a look at the garlic which is coming on well.

Now, back to the chickens. I came inside and was half-way through getting my overalls off when there was a knock at the front door. It was the people who we bought the house from saying the chickens were out! Two had made a break for freedom down the road towards our field and it took us a little while to get them in the enclosure. They were just leaving then called out to say another was at the side of the house and she got it through the gate. I wanted to get them all in the enclosure and shut the gate so went to our neighbours-but-one and thankfully they came to help. We were missing two but found one in the front of the Canolfan across the road! In the confusion I had forgotten how many we actually have so wasn't sure if I was indeed missing the second. I went outside a little later to take photos and I heard this noise behind me and there was the last one; luckily I didn't have too much trouble picking her up.I am now searching the internet for poultry electronic tags!!

The weather is apparently due to change to very cold, again, tomorrow. Hope it's just dry!

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Bore da and Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Good morning and Happy New Year just in case some of you are unsure!

Today I finally start a new Welsh class. As you may know I had a few lessons when we very first moved to Bronllan and they were across the road in our lovely community Canolfan. They did not continue due to numbers, then I found another last summer which was about 25 minutes away but I admit to sometimes forgetting about class, preferring to be outside in the Poly House etc. So, from this evening, I re-commence, again across the road thankfully, so no need to drive anywhere. It is from 6-8pm so doesn't clash with the youngest's football training but as we alternate weeks taking Alf and his pal we don't have to do too much re-jigging. I need to order my books but being a cheapscate I'm waiting to make sure I have the details correct as I think I've found them on the internet cheaper as there are slightly used copies available; every penny saved helps. 

So, yes it is a brand new year - 2018 here are are!

A couple of things are happening this year. My eldest begins senior school, which he is ridiculously excited about, and I will be having my 50th birthday.

Of course we are also working on getting our second Airbnb room up and running; we think we should have this ready by Easter which is at the end of March this year - it is waiting for furniture just now.

We also hope this year to have our pigs and sheep in the field and to acquire a quad bike to make so many jobs for Jon and I a whole lot easier.

There are not too many photos to be taken at the moment but I'm very glad to see the daffs have peaked their heads above ground and I look forward to having them in the house as long as possible but also seeing them when I look out of the window in the coming months.

In the house I decided to have a few winter decorations as opposed to Christmas,obviously; I plumped for carnations added to holly and twisted willow; quite effective I think.

I went to my first after-Christmas Slimming World group last night. I'd lost 2.5lbs and was very pleased with this as I had not only fallen off the wagon a bit over the festive period but careered under the wheels and emerged out the other end slightly battered! Only 3lbs to go then I'll be back within my target range so I'll manage that without too much trouble.

The weather today is really quite cold but thankfully hardly a breath of wind. Both fires are lit, logs were chopped and brought in by the boys last night (they both received new axes for Christmas!) so I am keeping cosy warm whilst having an indoors-day today.

Well, I'd better get on with a few jobs, not too much as the washer is on and brekky pots are taken care of.

I love hearing about new plans for a new year so look forward to reading all about things to come from everybody.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Pounds, Sinks and Fence!

On Tuesday evening we were in Aber and on the spur of the moment I decided to join Fat Club

I have always been a Weight Watchers girl since I first attended to lose a few pounds before Jon and I were married, then after having and losing babies. However, I enjoyed the meeting and really did need some structure to shifting the weight - a bit more than I thought after my initial weigh in to be honest but never mind. I have joined I guess what you would call a virtual fitness challenge by pledging to walk the equivalent of the London Marathon. I has already figured out a two mile walk so I am using that three times a week, two done already and with the weather being bright and cold it is a lovely time to be out. So watch this space for some, hopefully, positive updates.

So out on my walk out on Wednesday (second of the two so far) I saw the first daffs near to home that are in flower along with some snowdrops. (No photos as I try to have my walks free of everything apart from what is around me.)  Love it! Spring is surely on the way and I have so many daffs in the garden, more than I thought I had which I think have been churned up with recent work which is great.

Jon has finished the fence building in the back so my task was to do the creosote painting. Had great weather for it this last week so got my radio, a seat and set to it. I ran out of the stuff with just a few panels to go so purchased another container when out shopping on Friday so this coming week I am on it, hopefully.

Yesterday the boys began helping Jon clear the woodpile before it was being moved.

This is how the spot looks now...

and here is its new spot where the four of us moved it to this morning.

This will make it so much easier to fill up the house piles/baskets via the conservatory and we plan to build another kindling store and alongside that a coal bunker;  this be abe to be filled from the roadside. A really useful project that will be ready and in use next Winter.

This morning I have also got ready the Belfast sink for my spring onions and lettuces. I'm so chuffed with this and just hope they grow as planned.

First of all I put a layer of stones for drainage on the bottom; there is of course a plug hole, quite a big one, but as the sink is level this does not help too much and it is in the corner.

Then I put in some bought compost, some of my own and some blood and bone meal along with the compost from our not very successful mushroom growing kits.

Final result is a really useful sink full of earth ready to grow in. I plan on creosoting the base so, hopefully, snails and slugs find it tricky to climb up if they fancy a nibble on the lettuces!

Also today Jon has made me a new gate so we can keep the chickens out of the growing area; a little rustic affair! You can see where the sink is from here, too, and where the water butt has been moved to the other end of the room to let. 

We are chuffed to bits how things are coming along outside and all of our achievements! I can't begin to go into all the talk we have had today about the plans we have for the future; we are fit to burst about how we know it will all work out for us but I am sure I will share it at some point!

Right must dash as I can hear the drier beeping and me and Alfie are heading out for his piano lesson at 6pm. I normally wait in the car but it is soooo cold tonight that I think I will sit in this time!

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Bit Of A Mish Mash.

Hi.

Thought I would post about a few random things. 

This is all of the plant pots which came my way for 99p. Chuffed to bits I have sooo many and that they were all clean barring a couple.

I was in the Poly House this morning and took this photo across the fields at the back of the house.

Didn't need a coat and hardly needed my jumper. I was having a bit of a tidy up re the above but I have now gone off piste regarding my sowing and growing plan! Today I have sown these seeds:

two trays of spring onions
one of Gardener's Delight toms
one including sweet peppers and piquant peppers

The trays are mainly from when I buy chicken breasts; they are a great size so I just pierce some holes in the bottom of them for a bit of drainage.

I have put them in the window sill in the top kitchen and will cover them with something to help the germination process when I get a minute. This window gets quite a lot of sun whilst it is still a little too cool to put them in the conservatory, although it is a lovely day today and quite mild and dry. Yay!

I also emptied the compost that was in the fixed drainpipe in the Poly House. I have put this at the end of the main veg patch as I'm going to add it to this area when I do some digging over; I'm always a bit unsure about whether or not you should re-use compost.

Ah, yesterday two lots of my seed potatoes arrived from Thompson & Morgan,

as you can see they are Maris Piper and Arran Pilot. I need to get them chitting soon, probably this month rather than next.

This is funny. Jon and I love the Rayburn and he decided to have 10 minutes the other night!

Following on from that photo this one is a little self indulgent as it shows just what the Rayburn is all about; fresh bread, sausage casserole tea for tonight and a brew!

Whilst in the garden this morning I nearly squealed with delight. I was convinced I would have lost all my daffs from when we had the garden scraped down with the digger, but no!

Plenty in evidence here and I am soooo grateful because I just loved being able to pick them from the garden to have them in the house!I MUST get the last of my bulbs put in SOMEWHERE!

This is something small that pleases. The last time Jon's Dad came to visit he brought us some lovely rope for the airer in the kitchen; it makes it run so smoothly now, just great.

Well I think that is that for today. Got a few jobs around the house to do now before the boys come home.

bye for now. 

Lou.xx