Last week

Last weekends Bank Holiday weather wasn't a complete washout, the worst day was Saturday and even then we didn't get as much rain as forecast.  It did put me off going to the allotment though and Instead I took a trip to the library.  I have plenty of books on my 'to read' shelf but none of them were calling to me and I hadn't liked our book club choice, (again).  It was our book club this Thursday and after we all had something to say about the book choices over the last couple of years we were told that a new list is being put together, fingers crossed that we get some better titles in the future.  

In the meantime I chose these three and have already read both Beautiful Ugly and The Invisible Hour this week and enjoyed them.

I've spent a lot of time at the allotment this week clearing weeds and topping up the compost, I've also planted the broad beans, sweet peas and some lettuce, rocket and sowed some parsnip seeds.  I took a chance and planted out the runner beans but I don't think they will be any good and I will need to plant more later on.  It's my own fault, I didn't realise that I started them too soon, I have enough beans to start over so nothing lost really.

My bargain £5 growing tunnel from fb market place

All weeded, top up compost added and looking neat, there is something therapeutic and satisfying about pulling weeds, especially when they pull up easily 😉

 

The carrots I sowed a couple weeks ago haven't appeared yet but I have loads of radish seedlings which will need thinning out next week.  There's not a lot else to plant out at the moment, I don't think we will bother with cabbage or cauliflower this time, they take up too much space and we didn't have much luck with them last year.  I have got some more seeds to sow in trays tomorrow but will have to do some jiggery pokery in the greenhouse to make room for them!  Plus I have a few trays of seedlings which need potting on this week If I get chance.

I didn't leave the allotment until around 7pm yesterday, there were only a few of us by that time and just as I was packing up one kind fella came round and gave us all a bunch of flowers, he said he had too many on his plot to take home, I love how everyone on the site is kind and friendly and will share whatever they have, such a small gesture but it made my day.

I've got a couple things to look forward to this coming week, Sunday I'm at a stitching day and on Monday I'm going on a coach trip, I'll tell you how I got on on both next time.

Have a good weekend

-X-

Progress and ripping back

 Hoot in a Boot was a new start at the Somerset retreat in March, It's the only thing I've been stitching on since so I've made good progress.

The making-up instructions use felt for the backing, I need to have a look around to see where I can buy some wool felt, I think the wool kind will be much softer and easier to handle than the synthetic.

Remember the Whitmore sweater I was knitting?

I'd knitted the second sleeve down to the cuff ribbing a few nights ago and tried it on again.  When I looked again I thought It looked too big.  I did knit a gauge swatch and it's the same size I knit previously, but this one just feels too big in the body, and I've got a sneaky feeling it might 'grow' when washed, perhaps this yarn wasn't the best choice for this project.   So, I've decided, (more  or less) to rip it all back and use the yarn for something else.  

I know, all that work,😭

 I do love how it looks on the hanger, but I probably wouldn't wear it if it feels big.  I'd considered ripping back to the underarms but I think the increases start in the yolk, I'll check first before ripping it all out.

Arty had a birthday this week, can't believe he is seven already!

He's such a cheeky monkey, and the complete opposite to Oliver.  Oliver is the spitting image of his dad and can be quite serious and Arty is just like his mum and a bit of a rascal, but a very lovable rascal. 

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We haven't had the promised rain here yet, well, not enough to make any difference anyway so I've popped down the allotment this morning to water what we planted and now I'm going outside to plant up my sweet peas.  My conservatory is in danger of being taken over by the runner beans I planted too early so I'm going to throw caution to the wind and plant them out over the weekend.  If they survive, great, if they don't I have some more beans I can put in to replace them.

We haven't got anything planned for the Easter weekend, Mark is off work until Tuesday and other than taking some flowers to the crem tomorrow I don't think we will be doing anything.  The kids will pop in on Sunday for their Easter eggs, I'm not doing a egg hunt this year.  I've bought them one egg and some sweets each, It's hard for me not to over-indulge them but with four children to buy for it can get out of hand.

Hope you have a lovely Easter weekend whatever you are planning.

-X-

Springing up all over

 We're only a little over a week into the lighter nights and already I'm not keen.  I struggle with lighter nights much more than when the nights draw in, I find it hard to call it a day and be done when It's still light, It seems there is always one more thing that has to be done and then before you know it it's time for bed!  I need to be stricter with myself, set myself a reasonable cut off time for the day to be done.

I have been making the most of the nice weather though and spent some time Monday afternoon at the allotment and got carrots and radish seeds in and also planted some of the onions I'd started off at home, (thank you to whoever mentioned starting them in cells, I'm sorry I can't remember who it was now to give you credit).  

I've covered them all in mesh just until the seeds start to pop up, then I'll set them free.

I've tidied my greenhouse out again and moved some of my sweet peas and sunflowers into there.  Mark got me a couple pieces of wood to make more shelving space, I have plenty more seedlings to go in there over the next few weeks.  Everything is doing really well at the moment, the only things that don't seem to be showing any signs of life yet are the dahlia's.

I made the mistake of sewing my runner been too early and now they are already quite big and it's still not warm enough to put them out!  They're in decent sized pots so I'm hoping they will be ok until at least the end of the month.

I bought two dozen hazel sticks locally from fb market place so we are all set up ready to plant them out once the weather warms up a bit more.

We have a strawberry patch all planted up and a few more added today because I drove past somewhere that was selling them for 50p each, couldn't pass up that bargain.

I collected our Spring seed pack today, we get a free one twice a year, 26 packets of mostly veg and salad but there are some flowers in there too.  Looks like I'll be busy again over the weekend, ha ha.

And there is a plug plant party at the allotment on Saturday morning so I'll be going to see what's on offer, they are all free so might as well take advantage.

My garden is coming to life too with all the sunshine we've been having.

My hosta's have grown such a lot in a week and there are alliums popping up all over, the Pieris is putting on a lovely show.

I came across this photograph on Google showing a completely cloud-free sky across the whole of the British Isles, apparently the image, which was taken on April 2nd, was so clear that sediment patterns could be seen off the coast.  March was the sunniest since records began with 185.8 hours of sunshine.  It has certainly been a lovely start to Spring, much better than last year when we had snow and sleet in April.

We are still getting wonderful blue sky's here, although we are forecast some much needed rain on Sunday and into the following week, the kids break up for Easter on Friday so of course it was going to rain, lol.

 In-between all the outside jobs I have been knitting and stitching and I will share an update on that next time.

Take care

-X-