EEEEEEK its hideous!

Hi Guys

I did get to the Lottie on Saturday - I did grub about in the mud for a couple of hours, but gave up after that.  It was thoroughly depressing and damp.  Still I cleared a few weeds and all of the allotments on site seem to be a bit ragged, so I'm not alone.

I did pick some lettuce which seem to carry on regardless, some more peas, sugar snaps (which are now too overgrown) some GIANT radish some bonus broad beans that have popped out of nowhere, and duh duh duuuuuuuh the first of the GOOOSEGOGS!

To which end I made a pie...

Errrr Can I just state that it would have worked better if the recipe had told me to remove it from the paper and not roll the pastry so thin (and I hadn't just been a bit laissez faire with the ingredients!)  It did taste good though!  YUM.

Saw The amazing Spiderman yesterday - it was Awesome.  What 3D has been waiting for!  Also watched this week was - seeking a friend for the end of the world - again very good, a lovely love story, and the Green Lantern - I am loving the superhero films at the mo!

Anyway I'd better go I'm at work!  LOL

Chat soon X

Picture time

Hi there

Now as you all know its still raining torrents every day.  so not too much has happened.  Think my outdoor toms are going to die without producing anything.  I digress.  We have still managed a few harvests so I thought that instead of moaning at what is doing badly I'd have a little show and tell.

So here is a pic of my Garlic harvest (next to my only but fine looking aubergine) the one bulb I have taken into the kitchen and three of the four cloves that went into our dinner last night!  YUM  Strong though - I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be as strong as "Shop" garlic!

 

My cukes in the conservatory are doing really well - They are both mini varieties one home grown and another from B&Q  lovely - we haven't had to buy cucumber for weeks!

My first Chilli of 2012 (also in last nights dinner ) a purple gusto - again taken aback at the "purpleness"  Brill!

And here are my sugar snap peas - even Mr B likes these and he's not keen on regular peas!

Also we are having good potatoes - early varieties.  Particularly the pentland javelin!

I am looking forward to going tomorrow as I didn't get there last weekend - we had a family wedding to go to (I think my liver is still recovering!)  Mind you its forecast rain so we'll see!

Chat soon X

Squeaky bum time!

Well once again its been a long time since my last post.  Think I am just about managing once a month now...apologies! 

Well things are still wet, windy and a bit dull all round.  Although we are having a few more dry days and some sunshine its rare to have a full day without a drop of the wet stuff.  My garlic has rust and some sort of rot, but I still think that I'll get some.  I will have to wait and see!  We have been picking lettuce and a few radish but the first thing to come up was the broad beans!  As you may know I only planted about 6 plants last year and they all succumbed to black fly (YUK) so this year I overwintered and got a few beans!





I WILL be doing this again but I'll do LOTS AND LOTS - A whole bed I think!  They were scrummy and Mum liked them too :o)

I picked the first new pots this week - smashing - some swift (not very many and small) and Pentland Javelin... Very good will get these again!  I have had about 5 strawbs also and a few raspberries (although I wasn't keen they were a bit flavourless)  I have planted courgette, sweetcorn, runners, borlotti beans, and french beans, beetroot spring onion and radish... I think that's it.  Goose-gogs are absolutely laden with fruit and are nearly ready a week or two should do it!  We've been gorging on rhubarb I've masses in the freezer and we eaten loads too.

I have ordered some more runners and more frenchies and some Brussels sprouts.   I really thought that I was going to have a bad year for runners as last year I poked the seeds two to a cane and they just came up and romped away.  This year no show - until I paid for the extras that is.... I swear the next day they poked their cheeky heads up.... we are going to have beans coming out of our arse holes!  Good job we all like beans! 

Works been okay - Contract finishes on Friday, was told to expect a year extension on account of my stirling work, was told yesterday there may be nothing for me at all come Monday... told today I just scraped through on a further 6 months extension.... bugger it really was a bit... well squeaky bum time.  My boss said if he keeps me he'll have to a) loose someone else in the team, b) loose one of the catering managers/post room supervisor or c) give up the new receptionist role and get my colleague to do it....  crap.  I think he's gone with "c".  Great now I feel relieved and like super shit too.  Thanks for sharing!  I get the impression I may not be so lucky next time.  I also think that the rest of the team won't like the new arrangement as they get on well with my colleague (she's been there a lot longer as well as being lovely)  Bumpy ride ahead I feel.

Saw "Rock of ages" at the cinema - worst film I've seen in ages avoid like the plague....

Took part in a guinness record attempt with the choir on Saturday!  Most people singing and dancing at once we will have to wait and see if they accept it - I will post news.

Also at home I have a nice fat aubergine coming a few tomatoes at last and saw the first chili today!

Mr B and the cat are well :o)

In other news (cant remember if I have posted before) I have joined a running club - so together with the 3 stones I've lost this year - Ive never felt better. 

Rights its bed time so I'm off.  Chat soon X

Mud, mud glorious mud

Oh dear - I seem to be starting every post this year with "oh dear its been so long since I have posted"!  So I won't this time.  I would love to be out gardening and getting on with stuff BUT my dear girls and boys it has done nothing but rain for approximately the last 6 weeks.  So apart from twice in the last month, I haven't really been to the lottie at all! 

Its still in a reasonable state as I already got the potatoes in (just in time).  I have had some plants suffering for aaaages at home (peas) and some lettuces and beetroot which I have meant to plant out every two weeks.  I managed to get them in the ground the weekend before last.  I only managed about an hour this weekend, a quick hoe and a tidy..

You would however think that this means ALL my plants at home are up to date with being sown and potted up and on and hardened off.... errrrrr well.... least said eh!  I put some tomatoes straight out yesterday, well they have been a bit cool in the conservatory as Ive had the window open so it has helped!  They've two hopes anyway!  The squashes have been potted up along with my aubergine (which I cheated and bought from B&Q) and put along with the Achocha into the plastic greenhouse (aka the blowaway)  I also potted up the cucumber (similarly cheating by buying from B&Q couldn't resist) and this however is going to stay in the conservatoire along with about one each of the tomato varieties.  I want to see the difference between indoor grown and outdoor grown plants!  :o)  apart from scorching obvs.

Anyway the only think I have picked recently was some white sprouting broccoli - (divine shall try and get the plants again this winter), and Rhubarb.... I have made rhubarb  schnapps, wine, crumble and (my fave) rhubarb and custard pie!  MMmmmm V easy recipe!  YUM  looking forward to more...  I have also open frozen about 5 baking trays full already, and I've just this second picked another armful from the garden... how long till we are sick of it do you think (hopefully never!)  I would really love a cake recipe so if any of you have some do let me know! 

Anyway I hope that its no so long till I have summat to report apart from the rain.... or else my name will be mud....   :o(

GO GO GO!

Hi there

Well I've left it too long to post again and I'm sure I am going to forget half of what I have been doing!  With record temperatures last weekend of up to 20 degrees, I took the opportunity of a free Saturday to finish digging the potato patch and get them planted up.  I have five different varieties this year so we are going to see which we like the mostest. I have four rows of five, Ulster prince, Foremost, Pixie and....... (forgot) and then three rows of fiveish Pentland Javelin.  They are all earlies so I can get them all up in time for the courgettes, squash and corn!  I have planted them a little later than last year but still a bit earlier than some.  Some people save potato planting until Easter time!
I have also got the lushest looking garlic patch!  They are about five inches high some of them.  I am trying to tack successional growing this year so have sown more peas and beetroot in modules. I  have also started off some Lettuces in modules to get a head start.  I have Potted up my tomatoes and will do the same with the chilli's tonight hopefully.  Also the lettuce that I put in before christmas in the autumn is still alive... not sure about eating it now but WOW survived against all the odds.

I took part in a flashmob with my choir on Sunday... we were raising funds for sports relief!  Waht a FAB thing to do it was really great.  So I will leave you with a video!

Chat soon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpQbRal8QcA

Long time no post!

Dearest reader

No I haven't been abducted by aliens, kidnapped or died.... I have been what is commonly known as lazy.  So mucho apologias for the non posting of late.  I have started a few more things off however so we are off to a flying start.

My windowsill is currently hosting my 10 chilli's as detailed already, but is now sporting a few tomatoes too.  I have done four each of Roma, Koralik, Black Cherry, Sweet Pea and Marmande.... I think thats it :o)  Ooooh and a coupla Jalapeno peppers too. 

I was late in getting potatoes but I now have a selection chitting in my conservatory.  Lots of light and relatively cool so we get lots of fat sprouts.  I got far too many of course... Pentland Javelin, I got a big bag of these so have about 30, the a friend gave me 5 of hers and I got another 5 of three other varieties as they were on offer... (cant miss an offer!)  I guess I will plant the 5 of each variety and then as many Pentland Javelin as I can fit in.  I will then leave them on the allotment bench in case anyone else wants them!  They are all early varieties as I want the space back for courgettes and squash!

I also have a module tray which contains, greyhound cabbage, beetroot, red cabbage and cauliflowers!  I've only done beetroot out of those before so fingers crossed.  One of the plots at the allotment has a row of PERFECT red cabbages.... needless to say I can only dream of such cabbage perfection and was jealous.... I will get a red cabbage.

I have not been to the allotment for a few weeks now... Been busy with Mr B's 40th and there has been snow etc.... I do hope to get there on Saturday as I neeeeeeed to give the potato patch a dig over!  LATE LATE LATE I know - as always.  I'm guessing I should dig up some of the last years stuff too, sprouts - useless, curly kale - tiny, leeks - tiny and floppy!  Anyhoo cant wait to get stuck in.  If I get time I may put up some pics of the seedlings! 

Ooooooh wonder if the Rhubarb is starting to come up!  YAY  must get the Vodka in  - rhubarb vodka is LUSH

Chat soon X

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Growing Year that is!

This time last week I got my first seeds sown.  A smattering of early chilli's so that they get a good long season and yesterday the general consensus was that they would appear!  I sowed two each of Chocolate Habanero's, Orange Habanero's, Numex Twilight, Purple Gusto and Yellow Scotch Bonnet!  These are all new varieties for me, I've never done the big hitting habs and bonnets before - but as a real chilli lover where hot is not hot enough I CANT WAIT!

I have quite a few up and at em already - I will post pictures later - cant access my hotmail at work!  :0)

On another note - now Christmas is out of the way I can post a pic of my chilli hampers that I made for gifts (sorry PB you knew it was me!)

They got good reviews!

I could be really EVIL (Insert laugh MWAH HA HA HA) and make chilli jam out of the scotch bonnets and Habaneros this year  LOL - we'll just have to wait and see!

Anyway Its great to have the growing season (ish) underway!  HAVE A GOOD ONE EVERYONE!

Chat soon X