Getting Back In The Swing Of Things.

Hi!!

How are you doing? Just a little catch up with the first week of the new year, getting back to normal routines, kids to school, bread baking etc.

This is probably not in the right order but never mind.

We have had the first, be it 4 days, week back at school. The boys are going to a new Sports Club at school on a Wednesday so I pick them up instead of them coming home on the taxi bus. 

Harry is taking part in a cookery competition at Urdd this month; we have had the first practise of making Cauliflower Tabbouleh and it was really yummy with the burgers we had on Saturday night.

A fairly big thing is that we have made the decision to keep two cars. We bought one to do up and sell but Jon decided it was a very good car; seven seats, tow bar but I didn't like it but was willing to use it. However, the blue one which we bought a while ago is a little cracker I love it. We had paid off the tax off in one go and when we discovered the insurance was less than £15 a month we decided to keep both. It is very economical, £35 to fill it and does 50 to the gallon, so I can whip about fetching the boys from various things and do the food shopping on a Friday instead of having to do it at the weekend spoiling family time. 

I've been looking for a pair of mantlepiece dogs for ages and we saw some in Craft in Aber at the weekend. They were £15 but I seen odd ones before for £10 on their own. Look!!

I also found this lovely little marmalade pot in a charity shop and reminded me of one we used to have when I was young.

News from the outdoors includes the progress of our garlic...

glove is there for scale!

Then we are making some changes to the fire pit area to improve our outdoor eating experience. Jon used the sleepers from the last flower bed we took up to make the narrow table at the tip of the picture and the horizontal pieces are on top of narrow logs to section off the area and also for people to stand against. A little bit of work to finish but looking good.

This stone plinth is the base for what will become our pizza oven.

We have a very cheeky little robin who comes in the garden a lot. We put some cake on the kitchen window sill and after a few minutes here it came.

I have treated myself to a laminator. This is good if I want to keep anything special of the the boys, a really nice photo plus, of course, cutting down on paper when I can keep a dry wipe list of something instead of always printing off. I will always have paper things because that is me but for a checklist in each of the letting rooms, wipeable things we will need for the bed and breakfast etc I can see if being very useful.

Right, must dash now. I have cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom today, which took an age, and I mean that involves toothbrushes in nooks and crannies. on did some work on it a few days ago by adding this lovely splashback, for want of a better word, to the bath surround.

I have also baked two loaves, vacuumed everywhere and prepared the veg for tea so going to have a brew now and get the rest of tea ready.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Photo Call - Nothing Much Else Doing.

Last week, or probably the week before, our CPH number was sent to us. This is very exciting as it means we should now be able to put some pigs on the field. We hope to get a couple and keep them for ourselves for the freezer. Have to work out the logistics of despatching them and getting them slaughtered but Jon fancies doing the butchering himself. 

There does not seem much that I can do in the Poly House at the moment, although I'm sure somebody will usefully let me know what jobs they are doing just now...

I thought I would take a couple of photos for you to see progress of some things I don't think I've shown before plus others.

These are the oca that Dawn kindly gave me..

then Dawn also gave me some sweet potato slips are they are doing very well, too. LOVE sweet potatoes.

Forgot to show you the firepit in use on Saturday evening; it was great. Alfie doesn't always like Pork Belly but he said it was lovely cooked over the fire.

After thinking I had lost the squash plant it is starting to show real signs of life!

I have sown turnips, at the back, a little while ago and the tray at the front were done yeaterday. I love using them in soups.

The dwarf beans are not showing any sign of actual beans just yet but looking healthy so hopefully some time this month they will come out.

These on are the cordon tomatoes. I'm alwasy tempted to call this plant James!...

then this is the bush variety, I think it is Gardeners Delight.

The prospect of making chutney with my own onions, courgettes and tomatoes is almost too much to cope with!!

I've been dragging yet more leaves etc out of the pond this morning and have some dry enough to put in the compost bin. 

I need to properly sit down and see if there is anything I can start off now that can be plated in a couple of weeks ready for late Autumn/Winter - any tips anybody? 

Funny day weather wise today; overcast them blasts of sun but a bit breezy, too. I have the courgettes and squash out again and I guess if we get a little rain it won't do them any harm.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Waiting!

Yesterday morning we awoke to a misty outlook so, convinced it would clear up to be sunny, I sent the boys to school in shorts and no sweaters with sun cream and hats. 

Suffice to say it rained!

Together with the much needed rain and waiting for the delivery of top soil (sorry, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record!) I did not do much outside.

I collected the eggs (6, so the total for the week was 36), watered inside the Poly House and added extra straw to the strawberries; we are getting fruit on them now - Jon has had the first one - I'm very scared they will all be ruined if they are touching the soil. Eeeeek! 

I don't think it was my pruning alone but the rose around the front door is coming on a treat, and when on my way back from walking the dog the other day I realised we had this growing near the side wall! It is the garden that just keeps on giving!

So indoors I did some sewing, a cushion cover for the living room, from some fabric which came from my mum via our visit to my sister's house the other weekend. (I think I had nearly forgotten how my machine works it has been so long!) The yellow is great with the walls but I just like random cushions in that room. Need to find a slightly bigger pad for it - my cushions are always a bit wonky but what the heck!

I watched the Sewing Bee on the I-Player whist I had my late lunch and then did a quick cleaning out of chicken poo before a full blown clean out later in the week.

Suffice to say the man did not come with the top soil, but said he would come today so I couldn't start planting out today - getting very nervous that things are not yet out. So Jon and I moved (heaven and) the earth from one end of the veg patch to the other so at least I can start at one end.

The courgettes really are growing very well; just need the tomatoes to catch up so I can make some yummy chutney!

As of last night the fire pit is finished and we can't wait to use it at the weekend!

However, today I have made in-roads with the sowing! 

I had to rake over the soil to make it better for sowing and have started with the swedes and onions but I'm having a break just now as it is so very warm. As I have been sowing thoughts have been going through my head about what if nothing grows, what if I don't space things just as people say and lots of other things. Arrggghhh!

Anyhow just going to have some lunch and then head out to do some more.

Lou.xx

Glorious Glory Days

How so very lucky we have been with how wonderful our weather has been this last week. The view from my kitchen window most mornings.

The sun is bringing out the best in the strawberries so have added extra straw around them.

In the Poly House the courgettes are in flower and looking good, although a couple of other things are a little cause for concern but I'm sure they will work out.

After Jon's dad was so helpful clearing the garden things are moving on apace regarding outside useable space. There is a lot to do but we want to be able to use the garden as the summer holidays are only six weeks away. Can you believe it - for those who it matters to.

My brother in law had some wood going spare last weekend so, never one to pass up something going free, Jon brought it home and after discussions we decided a seat around one of the trees would be great as they boys could sit and read in the shade. 

 But it is great for a bit of outside eating, too, including our lettuce leaves which are de riguer at every meal right now!

Very yellow sponge cake made with our eggs!

In addition to the tree seat we have always wanted to include an outdoor cooking and eating area in the garden; I have never wanted a conventional b-b-q so we are having a fire pit! I think eating outside is a great way of slowing down the pace of life.

This area is perfect as is near to the back door and the side door of the conservatory for getting back into the house. Jon fetched wood chippings from the saw mill yesterday and the area is lovely and spongy as we put a good few inches on it.

This is the actual pit and as I write this I can hear the chain saw as Jon is re-modelling some logs for seating. (Photos another time.)

We have also moved the slate topped table to the end of the guest room and it is a lovely spot in the shade.I can use if for potting up things, sitting at for a drink or just admiring the view. Ooh talking of the guest room, we went to Craft in Aber yesterday and bought a sink, taps and pedestal for the bathroom for £8. Get in!

Ooh, nearly forgot. When water the Poly House this morning I decided to see if some of the spring onions were ready to come up - and look see!

How exciting is that?! They will be on my lunch plate today, for sure!

One of the chickens caught a mouse the other day and one of them managed to hide when I went to put them to bed last night as I found her wandering around the enclosure when I went to feed them this morning. We have bought a childrens' fishing net so we can scoop some more of the algae off the pond a bit more easily. The love it so much they congregate in the corner when they see me with the net, instead of the sieve I used before.

Well I think that is it for today. We have had a fantastic week for the boys' half term,and are taking one more trip to Skimmer Island this afternoon. Jake has found the heat tricky; if only he would take shade from his house Jon made for him!

Take care.

Lou.xx