Saturday, April 28, 2007

VEGGIES HERE WE COME!



Well I've bitten the bullet and made the beds myself! Went to Wickes and bought the wood and bits and pieces. Spent a couple of hours hammering, being all butch etc and ta da! Here they are!


Yes, that is weed suppressing membrane - only 50 m2 of the damn stuff, stapled round the edges and inside each bed to stop the bl@*dy weeds that infest the garden. If any do get through, they deserve to live!

And with 15 bags of bark chippings!








Mortimer the Mini did extremely well with the carrying of compost!
How many bags can you get in a Mini??


With only a minor injury to my finger, (hand modelling days are over) the job was done in just under 2 days!!! Saving several hundred £££ and the knowledge that I have done it myself. How happy am I feeling right now???



I had another physio appointment this week. She cracked me and prodded and pillows were used again! She was very impressed with my flexibility (must tell OH :o) - down to years of yoga and pilates I told her) *nose growing longer* She has given me exercises to do every day *mental note, get lycra out of wardrobe*, which will strengthen my back and i'll be a good as new!

We are driving to Scotland tomorrow to visit OHs Mum. Only 480 miles sat in the same position, I'm sure my back will be fine! I've made up a cool bag of delicious, nutritious snacks; Rolls, chocolate hobnobs, ritz crackers, crisps, fairy cakes, crunchie bars and the token banana each!!!! That should fill us up with 'good' cholesterol for the journey!

Enjoy the weather and see you all soon!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Good and Bad News!

On the positive side, my OH has finally gone back to work after nearly 4 months off. He had a benign tumour removed from his head at the beginning of Jan. The latest MRI scan is clear so all seems well and can breathe a sigh of relief. Getting up at 5-30am is a shock to his system, but he'll get used to it! Hehe.

Well here goes...................! After waiting patiently for months to get my veggie garden sorted, with new deep beds, paths etc, the guy didn't show up yesterday! I have called and left messages, but no answer. I'm raging. I hate being let down like this. (i will feel really bad if something has happened to him, but until i know otherwise his name is mud).

Really not sure what to do now, as the house has been taken over by seedlings ready for planting. God i'm so mad.

Just taken a fresh loaf out of the oven and will 'drown my sorrows' with that and a packet of Lurpak 'slightly salted'!!!!

Its been raining on and off for 2 days which hasn't elevated my mood either. Luckily OH is at work so doesn't have to suffer my crabiness today. Think I will pop to the garden centre to cheer myself up. Chilli plants should be ready by now as mine are crispy things in pots!

More to come when the bread kicks in and i'm in a better mood. Peace and goodwill to all men - yea right!

UPDATE!
15.53 and still in a stinking mood. Been out to one of my old beds and those B@st*rds slugs have eaten some of my carrots and lettuce. More bread I think. Maybe chocolate? Chinese? Pizza? I can't lose weight and I have no idea why. God i'm depressed.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Days off again




My hazel rods are finally in place!!! Yay! I hammered a deep hole in the ground for each stake to make sure they stay in place with the wind we get here. Each one has a couple of sweet pea plants next to it, and I will plant some beans too, when the weather is warmer. It looks ugly at the moment as i've had to chicken proof the sweet peas from the raptor hens! I'm sure it will look fab when the beans and flowers start growing.

The veg garden is just outside the kitchen window, with this bed at the front so it will look lovely from the house! I hope!







The house has been taken over by seedlings! The window sill in the lounge, the dining table, shed and outside the back door!







Here are French marigolds, sweet peas, nasturtiums, sweetcorn, borlotta beans, french beans, chillis, tomatoes, sunflowers and onions in individual pots (had to plant in pots as the mice ate all the others)!

My next door neighbour has just popped over to give me some spinach and lettuce seedlings as she has too many! She also has 30 or so tomato plants to give away! I am dedicating a whole bed to tomatoes this year as we use so many. I can always make tomato and chilli jam with the rest, so will gladly take her spares!

Had a major incident with Laverne the other day. She had laid a soft egg, but not the shell. I heard a shout from OH and by the time I arrived the crumbled shell was half out of her backside! She was straining so hard that her 'vent' had prolapsed and was blood red. I got some clean gloves on and managed to push the innerds back in! She jumped down and was happy as Larry afterwards! The joys of chicken keeping!!! It was a bit icky, but needed to be done. Luckily I had the Omlet website and had read up on medical procedures. Was tempted to 'scrub up' and wear a face mask before the op, but decided clean marigold gloves would do!!!! :o)
Isn't she beautiful!?



Back soon as I keep being reminded to update my blog! (c/o Martin :0p) See you soon!