We have 1.8 cubic meters of well rotted manure arriving at the allotment today! I am very excited. Who knew decomposing poo could be so thrilling!!!
The only downside to this very exciting delivery is the trauma of having to shift it all in wheelbarrows from the carpark into the allotment and into the raised bed that is waiting for it. There should be enough to fill the 8 ft bed, to fertilise the bed where the beans are going, and a couple of wheelbarrows left over to plant the asparagus crowns in whenever they arrive.
Fun times!!!
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Monday, 6 April 2015
Nettle soup
A very misty start to our Bank Holiday today, but despite that I have had the nicest morning. I went to Birkenhead park to a plant sale this morning with doggy, and bought loads of stuff, including, but not limited to, broad bean plants, pepper plants and some freshly picked rhubarb. Then on to Tesco for some bargains and a pair of marigolds. Finally we went to the woods, and picked loads of nettles (cue to marigolds!!!) and some cleavers to make into soup.
I am spending an hour in the kitchen now, stewing the rhubarb for a pie, and am about to start the soup, a casserole in the oven, O playing nicely, E having a nap and husband slobbed out in front of the TV.
A perfect bank holiday!!!!
I am spending an hour in the kitchen now, stewing the rhubarb for a pie, and am about to start the soup, a casserole in the oven, O playing nicely, E having a nap and husband slobbed out in front of the TV.
A perfect bank holiday!!!!
Monday, 23 March 2015
Lovely family time
Some weekends it is near impossible to get any "family" time wedged in. Sometimes we are just exhausted from a busy week, and can do little more than flop on the sofa. Sometimes we have so many different activities to fit in with cleaning, shopping, church and other things that creep up on us. But this weekend was a very long weekend of family time.
On Saturday we had a lovely day out at Tatton Park. My Mother-in-Law had bought us National Trust Membership last October, but we had yet to use it. So with the sun shining we packed up a lunch, children and dog and set off. I had seen a children's performance of the Twelfth Night advertised for Shakespeare week at the medieval old hall which I thought O might enjoy. I think it went slightly over his head, as he is only 5, but it was entertaining enough. We had a picnic in the sun by a lake, and a trip around the farm, a cup of tea in the courtyard and a nice play in the adventure playground.
Sunday followed a different pattern. I went to the allotment early, and Husband brought the children a while later. I dug over a bed, planted parsnips, and thoroughly weeded the gooseberries, rhubarb and strawberries. It is all good. I eventually left Paul and the children there to finish digging over the old potato patch that had become very overgrown. I abandoned all parenting responsibilities and went out for lunch with my oldest friend who was up visiting her in-laws. When I returned from that we went to Lidl where the fruit trees were reduced, bought 5, and then returned to the allotment to plant trees and to load up the cranberries and blueberries from the allotment to bring home. Last year I missed all of those berries to the birds between one day when they weren't ripe and another when they were all gone Fingers crossed I can keep a better eye on them here, although they may get munched by children and canine this year instead.
I have a plan for my Lidl trees. The very bottom on my allotment is heavy clay wet soil. Nothing grows well down there, and so it doesn't get used much. I bought 2 apple, 2 pear and a cherry and planted them in that space in the hopes that they would suck up some of the moisture. I dug a huge hole for each and filled in with compost and sand as well as some of the clay soil in the hopes that it will improve the drainage immediately around the trees slightly. Fingers crossed it works, because I am paying for all the digging today!!!!
Last night ended with a lovely roast leg of lamb and a nice cuddle on the sofa.
To top it off I picked some tete-e-tete daffs from the allotment and put them in a jam jar on the kitchen windowsill. And it makes me smile everytime I see them. xxx
On Saturday we had a lovely day out at Tatton Park. My Mother-in-Law had bought us National Trust Membership last October, but we had yet to use it. So with the sun shining we packed up a lunch, children and dog and set off. I had seen a children's performance of the Twelfth Night advertised for Shakespeare week at the medieval old hall which I thought O might enjoy. I think it went slightly over his head, as he is only 5, but it was entertaining enough. We had a picnic in the sun by a lake, and a trip around the farm, a cup of tea in the courtyard and a nice play in the adventure playground.
Sunday followed a different pattern. I went to the allotment early, and Husband brought the children a while later. I dug over a bed, planted parsnips, and thoroughly weeded the gooseberries, rhubarb and strawberries. It is all good. I eventually left Paul and the children there to finish digging over the old potato patch that had become very overgrown. I abandoned all parenting responsibilities and went out for lunch with my oldest friend who was up visiting her in-laws. When I returned from that we went to Lidl where the fruit trees were reduced, bought 5, and then returned to the allotment to plant trees and to load up the cranberries and blueberries from the allotment to bring home. Last year I missed all of those berries to the birds between one day when they weren't ripe and another when they were all gone Fingers crossed I can keep a better eye on them here, although they may get munched by children and canine this year instead.
I have a plan for my Lidl trees. The very bottom on my allotment is heavy clay wet soil. Nothing grows well down there, and so it doesn't get used much. I bought 2 apple, 2 pear and a cherry and planted them in that space in the hopes that they would suck up some of the moisture. I dug a huge hole for each and filled in with compost and sand as well as some of the clay soil in the hopes that it will improve the drainage immediately around the trees slightly. Fingers crossed it works, because I am paying for all the digging today!!!!
Last night ended with a lovely roast leg of lamb and a nice cuddle on the sofa.
To top it off I picked some tete-e-tete daffs from the allotment and put them in a jam jar on the kitchen windowsill. And it makes me smile everytime I see them. xxx
Friday, 13 March 2015
Allotment chickens
My Mum and Dad live in a beautiful house in Anglesey, and keep a veggie garden and chickens. They did have bees as well until my Dad had an unexpected allergic reaction. But every now and then I get a box of eggs from them, and I like to reserve these eggs for something that show cases the eggs, rather than stuff them in a cake!!!
So today I made the children a "frittata". I just parboiled some potatoes, fried an onion in some olive oil, popped a handful of chopped ham into the pan and cooked for a while. Added the potatoes to the frying pan, and poured over 3 whisked eggs (well salted and peppered), I cooked it on the hob for 3 minutes or so, added a handful of cheddar cheese, and then shoved it under the grill for 10 minutes. Perhaps not the most authentic recipe in existence, but jolly tasty non the less.
O said "this is the nicest dinner I have ever had ever in my whole life".
The only consequence of which is that we NEEEEEEED chickens at the allotment! Now all I have to do is convince husband that this is a good idea!!!
So today I made the children a "frittata". I just parboiled some potatoes, fried an onion in some olive oil, popped a handful of chopped ham into the pan and cooked for a while. Added the potatoes to the frying pan, and poured over 3 whisked eggs (well salted and peppered), I cooked it on the hob for 3 minutes or so, added a handful of cheddar cheese, and then shoved it under the grill for 10 minutes. Perhaps not the most authentic recipe in existence, but jolly tasty non the less.
O said "this is the nicest dinner I have ever had ever in my whole life".
The only consequence of which is that we NEEEEEEED chickens at the allotment! Now all I have to do is convince husband that this is a good idea!!!
Monday, 2 March 2015
Things I am thankful for
Things I am thankful for today
1 - Having enough money to home educate my children
2 - The first signs of spring in the park - plenty of daffodils and snowdrops
3 - My son did so well at swimming today - nearly the whole lesson without a float.
4 - I had a lovely time with my sister and neice feeding the ducks
5 - My ability to make flapjacks (yum)
Today has been quite a stressful day. First it kept trying to snow, so I couldn't go to the allotment, and then the planned outing my sister and I had planned had to be rearranged because they are shut on Mondays, and I have decided I am the fattest person on the planet, so I am going on a diet, except I have nothing in to eat tonight so it will likely be takeaway again, not helping the situation.
1 - Having enough money to home educate my children
2 - The first signs of spring in the park - plenty of daffodils and snowdrops
3 - My son did so well at swimming today - nearly the whole lesson without a float.
4 - I had a lovely time with my sister and neice feeding the ducks
5 - My ability to make flapjacks (yum)
Today has been quite a stressful day. First it kept trying to snow, so I couldn't go to the allotment, and then the planned outing my sister and I had planned had to be rearranged because they are shut on Mondays, and I have decided I am the fattest person on the planet, so I am going on a diet, except I have nothing in to eat tonight so it will likely be takeaway again, not helping the situation.
Friday, 27 February 2015
February blues
So in case you missed my thoroughly melodramatic meltdown in my previous post, this time of year makes me quite wobbly and miserable. I am alright on the run up to Christmas, and by April all of the plants are up and running which cheers me up, but this time of year is dreadful. Dark, cold, rainy and the children have cabin fever (and so do I).
So I am going to start to attempt to mindfulness. An attempt to focus on the positive rather than the negative. I am going to find 5 things (or more) every single day that have made me smile. It is easy to focus on the mess my husband makes, or the snoring, or O bouncing from sofa to sofa, E whining all day long for food!!! But they do some lovely things, and I am guilty (especially at the moment) of ignoring them and focusing on what they have done wrong.
Todays list of positivity
1 - I was woken up by both children, husband and dog piling onto my bed for a cuddle this morning
2 - I had time for a nice hot shower before Paul went to work this morning (and I managed it without an audience of dog and children!!!)
3 - E gave me a fab cuddle in soft play, with arms and legs wrapped around me like a little spider monkey
4 - I had my most favourite thing to eat when I came in from Soft Play - A slice of homemade bread with real butter on it. Yum!!
5 - I got the computer working, so during naptime I am going to set O off on it and sit with a cup of tea and something Mummy-ish on the TV for half an hour.
The sun is shining, the Dahlia's have germinated, and after naptime we will head to the allotment for half an hour. I have my fingers crossed that the Daffs will have sprouted and I can bring some home to put in a vase on the table!. Today is going to be a good day!
So I am going to start to attempt to mindfulness. An attempt to focus on the positive rather than the negative. I am going to find 5 things (or more) every single day that have made me smile. It is easy to focus on the mess my husband makes, or the snoring, or O bouncing from sofa to sofa, E whining all day long for food!!! But they do some lovely things, and I am guilty (especially at the moment) of ignoring them and focusing on what they have done wrong.
Todays list of positivity
1 - I was woken up by both children, husband and dog piling onto my bed for a cuddle this morning
2 - I had time for a nice hot shower before Paul went to work this morning (and I managed it without an audience of dog and children!!!)
3 - E gave me a fab cuddle in soft play, with arms and legs wrapped around me like a little spider monkey
4 - I had my most favourite thing to eat when I came in from Soft Play - A slice of homemade bread with real butter on it. Yum!!
5 - I got the computer working, so during naptime I am going to set O off on it and sit with a cup of tea and something Mummy-ish on the TV for half an hour.
The sun is shining, the Dahlia's have germinated, and after naptime we will head to the allotment for half an hour. I have my fingers crossed that the Daffs will have sprouted and I can bring some home to put in a vase on the table!. Today is going to be a good day!
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Someone to listen
I am exhausted, rushed off my feet and generally hacked off with the world. O did an accident in his bed at 1.30 am, so I was up changing both son and bedding, and then failed to get back to sleep until 4.30, and the alarm goes at 6, so I am really tired. I don't do well on lack of sleep. Then I had to bake cookies for the picnic at the zoo today. Parenting/housewifery is a competitive sport, and if you don't bring something homemade to a picnic, you have failed. Then I took Elsa to doggy daycare, went to the zoo with many children for 5 hours, picked Elsa up from doggy daycare, took her for a walk in the woods, ended up feeding the children KFC because I didn't have time to go home before O had his choir practice. Dropped him off there, came home to drop the dog off, E did a spectacular accident in her knickers all over the kitchen floor, cleaned that up, didn't get the cup of tea I was desperate for, went to pick Oscar up from singing, and have just got back, and popped this kids with a chocolate bar in front of Frozen for bit whilst I gasp for breathe.
I tried to ring my husband (who has parents even this evening so won't be until 9) and he was too busy to even listen to what I was saying to him. Half hearted "hmmm"-ing was all I got, whilst he stuffed his face. I rang my mum and listened to her complain about her hospital appointment, and then, when I was half way through a sentence I get cut off with "oh well, you better deal with the kids then. Talk to you tomorrow".
So I get to spend the evening in silence, by myself because apparently the things in my life are of no concern to anybody, not even the two people who are supposed to care about me the most. I expect the kids to walk all over me - they are kids, and that is what I am there for. Is it too much to expect some genuine concern from the adults in my family? Apparently so.
I am totally FED UP!!!
When I gave up my job for my kids I also gave up any hope friends or a life outside the home. Maybe I should just get used to having my thoughts and feelings ignored by everyone. Consider me beige wallpaper...ignored by all, but noticed when missing.
Rant over...for now!!!
Ps - And just as I was checking this post for errors, E did an enormous shit in her knickers, all over the sofa's, the cushions, her dress and her foot. I feel ready to cry right about now!!! And while I sob in the kitchen because this is just the cherry on the fucking cake of what has been a long, tiring and stressful day, when I tell my husband I can predict his response "that's my girl" he'll say whilst chuckling and then disappear onto his computer so he doesn't have to talk to me anymore.
I tried to ring my husband (who has parents even this evening so won't be until 9) and he was too busy to even listen to what I was saying to him. Half hearted "hmmm"-ing was all I got, whilst he stuffed his face. I rang my mum and listened to her complain about her hospital appointment, and then, when I was half way through a sentence I get cut off with "oh well, you better deal with the kids then. Talk to you tomorrow".
So I get to spend the evening in silence, by myself because apparently the things in my life are of no concern to anybody, not even the two people who are supposed to care about me the most. I expect the kids to walk all over me - they are kids, and that is what I am there for. Is it too much to expect some genuine concern from the adults in my family? Apparently so.
I am totally FED UP!!!
When I gave up my job for my kids I also gave up any hope friends or a life outside the home. Maybe I should just get used to having my thoughts and feelings ignored by everyone. Consider me beige wallpaper...ignored by all, but noticed when missing.
Rant over...for now!!!
Ps - And just as I was checking this post for errors, E did an enormous shit in her knickers, all over the sofa's, the cushions, her dress and her foot. I feel ready to cry right about now!!! And while I sob in the kitchen because this is just the cherry on the fucking cake of what has been a long, tiring and stressful day, when I tell my husband I can predict his response "that's my girl" he'll say whilst chuckling and then disappear onto his computer so he doesn't have to talk to me anymore.
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