Poly House, Crafting and Christmas.

 Hello.

I'd hoped to get this post published on Monday when here in Wales we came out of our circuit breaker. I'm hoping people will not see this as a time to celebrate the end of restrictions but to instead keep asking themselves what they can do to keep the virus at bay and from spreading.

Also in the news this week there has been real progress with vaccines. It is said there is a chance of maybe two being available by the Spring; this is wonderful but in the meantime we need to keep up with the rules:

                                                HANDS                  FACE                SPACE                                              

Moving on. Here on our little homestead we're been cracking on with jobs and the most exciting one is the re-covering of the poly house. I'm not sure how long it had been in such disarray but it is months. 

The job was started last week, in the wind and rain.

Because of the weather this last week we had to wait until Satruday morning to start again so Jon fetched new battens and he and the boys set to work et voila!! 

I am absolutely chuffed to bits that it is useable again and in the afternoon I set about tidying up, putting all the pots above the door where they belong and gave it a good sweep out. 

I'm sooooo looking forward to getting back to doing inside outside jobs again, but also to just spending some me time in there with a brew, thinking about the sowing and growing I'll be able to do in there in the coming months.

I didn't actually wait that long to get in there to do something as on Sunday I planted 62 red onion sets in individual pots! 

I had ordered variety Electric but I was sent a replacement vairiety called Roelin which I'm asured is a suitable substitute. They are Autumn planting ones but I just thought I would experiment and plant them like this and then put them out later, just because....

I received a fairly big order of seeds last month which I talked about on my last post and I'm hoping for that my last order, I think, will arrive in the next couple of days. (Post man has just been so won't be today!) I'm waiting for the following:

courgette Gold F1

tomato Big Mama F1 

cucumber Diamant (gherkins)

Nasturtium Alaska

sweetcorn Swift F1

I've been getting back to a little more crafting after taking a break after finishing my mammoth project of my festive journal. You can see a flip through of it here on my YouTube channel. This shadow box is something I've been working on for a while until I had the special lights. You can see how it makes such a difference to the effect.

We're really looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year, even though it will be a little different. We normally love having friends and neighbours round on Boxing Day, kitchen table heaving with food, treats and a few glasses of bubbly but we won't be doing that this year. It won't stop us having a lovely family time, though, as we always do and a part of this is me decorating in my own, special way which I can't WAIT to do. 

With the cake already sitting in the cupboard waiting to be fed, which is normal at this time of the year, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I know some people don't like to think about  Cristmas too early but I'm just thinking what the heck. The turkey is ordered, there is mincemeat in the cellar store room from last year waiting for the first lot of mince pies and even a box of crackers we didn't get round to pullng and our youngest has got his music playlist sorted. Doesn't seem to be a way of stopping the festive juggernaut and frankly I'm not too concerned in doing so, but I do draw the line at Christmas songs being played before December 1st. 

And to that, in the words of the fabulous Matthew McConaughey, I say "alright, alright, alright"!

Ok well, enough of my ramblings. Today is Jon's birthday so better get that cake iced.

Take care of yourself and each other.

Bye for now,

Lou.xx

John Lennon Had It Right.

Ok, usual opening.

(Sorry about typeface issues.)

Good morning, I hope you're safe and well? Things regarding the pandemic seem to be changing quite rapidly here in Wales. We've now been instructed to wear masks on all public transport and if we collect food from a takeaway establishment. My delivery of facemasks came this week so I'm now wearing at all times when I go shopping; I intend to keep them by both doors to ensure I always have one with me.

As more people are out and about I feel they are not always observing social distancing. I now feel safer when I have on a mask whilst still taking care myself to stick to the 2 meter rule. This applies especially in the supermarkets as this is really the only one place I go to. I find it quite difficult at times, though, when customers appear to be browsing in the stores and not concentrating on getting their shopping done and getting home again; the masks do help to cut down on my anxiety.

Stay safe, and stay home, where you can.

********************

Right, onto sowing and growing.

I checked back in my diary for this time last year and was rather pleased to read that progress wasn't much further forward in 2019 than just now.

JUST WANTED TO POIINT OUT THAT THIS POST FAILRY ACCURATELY ILLUSTRATES HOW LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF EVERYTHING AT TIMES - AS JOHN LENNON SAID - 

"LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE BUSY MAKING OTHER PLANS" 

I started this post about a week ago so better get to it!

Today is Tuesday, as I type this the time is 9.15am, but obvs I'm not getting it done quickly!😂Chooks have been fed, there's no washing or bed changing to do today and I've taken a chocolate brownie out of the oven. The weather is a little overcast and chilly, compared to the last couple of which was very pleasant - need to close the poly tunnel door a little. This means we've got some jobs done outside but I'm having an indoor day today - need those now and again.

Yesterday Jon finished refurbishing his trailer so it is better equipped for fetching feed for the sheep in Winter;

he has treated himself to a new Milwaukee impact drill so was giving that a proper outing with the boys dying to have a go, too. In the good weather he's also mended the large lime spreader so that job could be done on the farm.

**I feel at this point I should clarify that we do not ourselves own a farm. However, our sheep farming neighbour is 81, fairly agile but age has its limits, obvs, so Jon is basically the one taking care of the sheep, helping along with our boys at lambing and shearing time and making sure all the maintenance is done around the place. He works full time at the moment, is currently in his second week of two weeks off though, and in the future may become the caretaker of the farm. Right now he is more than happy to be there to help and our neighbour is very appreciative. **

In line with this we have a new member to the household...

Belle arrived a week ago last Sunday and was eight weeks old yesterday. She is already getting to enjoy the garden and the big outdoors.

He will shortly begin the tiling of the bathroom in the last Airbnb listing after making the shelves for the walk in wardrobe yesterday. We have out listings 'snoozed' at the moment so people are unable to contact us until we are ready after refurbishments, new photos and obviously Christmas. I'm more than happy not to have guests staying with us just now; we were looking forward to welcoming old and new guests for the Eisteddfod but that will come again next year and well worth the wait for participants and visitors alike.

Ok, lets get onto other things.

I have some flowers growing in the garden; not my usual thing but I love Nigella so very pleased these are now out.

I planted dahlias for the first time last year outside the Studio but this year only one has come back, still lovely though.

I took delivery yesterday of this hydrangea, the variety which I saw on Gardeners' World when the lovely Adam Frost was hosting - hope he gets to do that a bit more.

A member of our Facebook Community page which was set up at the beginning of lockdown swapped a fairly big bag of brown rice for a couple of different dahlias and one of them is flowering. I love the colour and can see it from the top kitchen window.....

... along with these.

I just nipped out to take a few photos of the veg beds and a video of the poly tunnel. Sorry there is no sound but I really don't like speaking so do hope the visual is sufficient.

There might just be enough beetroot to pickle along with some I still have in the freezer. I still have trays and pots of seedlings - salad leaves, parlsey, khol rabi, dwarf beans. Highlights are all the flowers on the tomatoes but none ripening yet.... The dwarf beans have all but finished, in part due to some aphids which I seem to have under control now with a spray of diluted washing up liquid. The one huge squash continues to grow. Finally have some small cucumbers, kale is amazing. More seedlings of cauli, basil, a few spring onions plus wallflowers and broccoli pricked out and potted on yesterday. Runner beans? more kale? I moved the blueberries into the tunnel as seem to have lost some ripening ones to the birds for the first time. Still lots of salad Mazur and herbs including coriander, lemon balm and oregano.

Outside the courgettes are doing really quite well, both varieties here and I also have Goldena and Zucchini, not the dodgy ones, in containers, too.

The broccoli is doing really well, so happy that I netted it. Need to keep an eye on this as I don't want it to blot whilst I'm hoping it will get bigger as happened with my cauli last year.

(Talking of netting, I have lost almost all of my cabbages because I DIDN'T net them but plan in sowing Spring cabbage shortly.)

The carrot patch is looking very healthy and we plan on using some of those really soon.

I have dwarf peas in the poly tunnel but it seems, as with last year, for me they do better outside.

The Charlotte spuds are really very good this year; dying back so pulling those up every couple of days and eating pretty much daily.

Oooh, nearly forgot, on Saturday I planted all of my Christmas spuds, 12 tubers.

Well, I think that's it for me just now. In between starting and finishing life stuff has happened again, I've washed up, we've had lunch together and now it's time to get on with my other jobs then I can go and do my crafting, which DOES involve the festive season, soooooory!😂

Hope you enjoyed my latest ramblings.

Take care

Bye for now, Lou.xx

Stir It Up Sunday And Practice Christmas.

Good morning.

Yesterday was Stir It Up Sunday when traditionally puddings etc are made. Well I have already made my cake but I did make my mincemeat. I made it with a base of three packets of suet and for a change I added some dried figs - my new fav fresh fruit so thought why not.

I've made extra to use up some of my suet surplus so this is how it worked out.

I have never cooked my mincemeat but did do this time and i have to admit that as the suet melted and coated the dried fruit it made it plump up and the cooking definitely added to the flavour of the mix. 

Not sure how much I made but it was a lot - some jars are big! I was one jar short so there is some in the plastic container in the fridge which might get use in the next couple of days.

It looks a bit funny where the the suet is showing white but I am assured that is ok.

In the last week or so you know I have been getting round to some Christmas papercrafting. Well, I have begun two little projects which is some mini bunting/Christmas garlands. 

These are about an inch and a little more square in size and are taken from the cover of the 12" x 12" papers I bought - waste not want not! 

The second lot are toppers from cards we have received, stickers put onto card and anything else I had in stock that was the right size. I'll string them together but I haven't decided where to put them yet.

I am starting to feel ridiculously Christmassy and I blame Tracy to be honest - but for that I am grateful! Also this weekend we had a kind of pre-Christmas Christmas when Jon's cousin and her fella came to stay. We were presented with gifts to play and eat in this wonderful case/box - I LOVE it! 

We opened it on Friday night/Christmas Eve playing Quizoo, where you have to guess tunes each of you are playing in a kazoo. On Saturday evening we had turkey dinner, well chicken Thai curry, and crackers then played Pictionary. Sunday was out for coffee and a mince pie on Sunday/Boxing day. Just a fabulously, lovely relaxed time and our ideal kind of Christmas.

We've ordered a three-pack of Christmas DVDs and can't wait to start watching those on Sunday afternoon. Friday,1st December, is D Day, Decoration Day, but I think I'll be sneaking a few out tomorrow as the weekend present box came complete with some lovely silver and blue tinsel and lights.

This week I'm starting niggly little cleaning jobs before the main decorations go up. This includes paintwork behind sofas and tables plus bookshelves needing a proper dusting and tidied out in readiness for greenery to be brought in and placed on top of the cupboards etc.

Since I began writing this a few other things have happened. My eldest has come down with a cracking cough so we are off the doctor shortly, therefore the other is suffering with a bit of lacking in attention issue but have that sorted now I think. Also, my mum has managed to fall over and banged her head and broke a bone in her thigh; she will be flat on her back in hospital for some time I think and her dementia will be a challenge for the nurses... We are also visiting Jon's dad who is due to have a heart valve replacement op today so Jon is off to Nantwich on Saturday morning and I will be staying home as we have an Airbnb booking that night! It never rains, however that is exactly what it has been doing A LOT lately, thought not just now!

**********UPDATE, MUM HASN'T BROKEN ANYTHING SO THAT'S A POSITIVE**********

Hate ending a post on doom n gloom but I'm determined not to let it put a downer on things.

Hope you all had a good weekend and look forward to seeing what you have been getting up to.

Bye for now.

Lou.xx

Crikey - So Many Photos To Share!

Hi, one quick baking item and a couple of other photos to share. 

I made three ginger cakes on Friday as I didn't have the same sized tin as the recipe required, but this is ok as was easy to freeze when cut into good pieces for lunch boxes.

The piano we collected the other weekend is this and a corker for a tenner. Alfie loves it and he likes using the pedals.

I have bought a diary for the garden, fruit n veg dates, info etc but always have to papercraft a bit and decorate a plain cover. Here is is making use of some pages from one of my Pretty Nostalgic books.

Nice huh?

Anyhow, this weekend we've been getting a few things done outside as well as other stuff. 

On Saturday we headed to Aber to get the food shopping but not before Jon had been to the sawmill for a supply of logs, these are in Jon's shed drying out, and we lit the Rayburn to start getting used to it. 

When we came back my parcel I had been waiting for had arrived. I used some birthday money to buy some Kilner jars. I do consider these an investment for preserving food so very excited to have them even though won't use them for a little while yet so have found them a new home after a bit of a shift round.

Jon fitted a new present for the girls. We had stopped to get laying pellets and then Jon saw on offer a water feeder which is now hooked up to one of the water butts;  this will proivde them with fresh water each time the reservoir is empty. Jon buried the hose pipe underground...

then the ladies seemed happy!

On Sunday morning we lit the Rayburn again to slow cook some pork for tea. Jon got busy with the conservatory side of the house from where the oil tank had been removed. This is how it looks now, ready for the basket ball hoop that will probably arrive at Christmas, but we also plan on a little table and chairs for this spot! 

Another area around the house tidied up and ticked off the list.

Whilst Jon was on that I cleaned out the chickens and washed out some planters so they are clean in the Poly House for when I need them.

On Sunday we took a ride out to see a car Jon was interested in buying but it had been taken so we went into Aber for a walk on the seafront and a play on the arcade games. On the way back to the car we looked in this fabulous vintage shop which we found the other week. Great stock and not all massively expensive - I bought my teracotta plants pots from here. I had to take a few snaps of some things I liked.

I am desperate to get some taxidermy in the living room at some point; loved this hare with its horns!

Love this gas mask, complete with beret.

A fantastic array of vintage garden paraphernalia.

This chest caught my eye last time....

but this was new in and fab-u-larse, darling!

So to today. This morning I have sown some pak choi seeds. I have decided to germinate them on the bench and then put them in the bed in the Poly House in a couple of weeks. I know them can bolt if the weather is a bit warm so people grow them outside but now the weather is getting a little cooler I think they should be ok in there, unless anybody else has experience of growing the Chinese lettuce, I think that is another name for it?

I have picked my one and only pepper today. As you can see by the scale it isn't very big but I hope Jon enjoys it; I don't like green peppers.

I ate my lunch outside today, lovely, and Jake was soaking up the sun!

Not too busy a week coming up but we have a check up at the hospital for Jon on Wednesday; we are aranging for the boys to be watched so I can go with him; he always forgets to ask something!

Bye for now.

Lou.xx