Splinters everywhere....

Evening All!

We went on a train ride yesterday. The Watercress line offers trips out and a Sunday lunch along the way! It was a Christmas present from my Uncle for Mum, Dad, Jase and I.
I wasn't too sure at first, but we had a nice day. It was stinking hot all day and has been getting hotter all week. Expecting 30c+ tomorrow. Glad I am off and can wear shorts all day!

I have been busy today! I donned my carpenter's shorts (he didn't mind)! and decided to visit Wickes and get some wood for a raised planter for the patio. I can link it up to the watering system and make this a dedicated salad planter.



My wood working skills are not the best, but I do have a rather impressive blister on my palm now though. The splinters or 'skelfs' as Jase would say, are out and have been treated with tea tree oil!! Decided to use screws rather than my usual 'hammer and nails, give it a whack' approach!


Looks good in green! -




Was on a roll, so made a window box for the utility room window.








The carrot and onion bed are doing well. The tomatoes are on the left, broad beans taking over at the back.



Jase is feeling the effects of the radiotherapy now and is getting tired. Only 11 zaps to go though!

Work is getting everyone down, with constant talk of cost savings and working for nothing. I won't go into details here, but it is driving me nuts and I am glad to be away from it for a few days. My roster for July is good with several night stops which means less trips down the motorway!


My next project is lip balm, so have been 'brewing' calendula oil for a week now. Need to strain it through muslin and mix with bees wax and a few other choice ingredients. Doesn't look nice does it? Gorgeous colour though.



Heading off to the garden centre tomorrow to get some compost and a few herb plants, as my other window box dried up and all the herbs died. Might see if they have any perennials for the back garden too. The willow fence is looking a tad bare. Might even treat the girls to some dried meal worms. They are laying really well with 4-5 eggs a day. Although with the heat, they aren't too happy, spending most of the day sleeping under the shade of the privet hedge. Would it be too much to give them a sun umbrella? Probably.

Don't know my right from left....

Ok, some time to blog!

I have finally finished the wedding favours. They are wrapped, posted and have arrived safely! I think. Slight damage to the box, but haven't had a screaming bride-to-be calling yet!



And wrapped up! -
























As I mentioned before, Jase started radiotherapy last week and has had 10 'zaps' so far. 15 more to go. He is doing well and isn't too tired, but has the odd day where he feels whacked. They did advise him that the treatment might be tiring. I am secretly hoping that he will also gain super powers as is so often the case with radiation.


The strawberry cage is producing fruit! Here is our first harvest. Modest to say the least, but it is their first year in situ. Next year i will be jammin' for England!!




I am going to attempt my first craft fair this year The Fairground near me always hosts a Christmas fair in November and I am going to attend this year. That is, if they will let me!! I have to show them my wares to see if they are up to scratch. Blimmin' cheek really as I am paying for a stall!! If the timing is right, I will also do the local school Christmas fayre. I've been told it is full of 'Yummy Mummies' with more money than sense! "Anything with a gingham ribbon will fly off the stall" according to my source! Sounds like the kind of thing I buy!

Have already started making lavender bags using lovely fabrics from ebay. 40 down and lots more to go. Will post pictures soon. The jars and bottles have arrived -



On Saturday I braved the new Ikea in Southampton. A glutton for punishment. In fairness it wasn't too vile, but after nearly 2 hours sat on the motorway, stuck in traffic, I was desperate for meatballs and chips. Just to up my blood sugar level you understand. Picked up enough candles to last a lifetime. We should be self sufficient in candle light for several months. £45 total for a trip to Ikea is unheard of. Although a few metres of gorgeous fabric were purchased.


I am now back at work for 5 days, awful there and backs and no night stops. July is a much better roster, so looking forward to shopping my way around Europe. A quick Glasgow and back today (was up at 3.30am) but still feeling remarkably awake.
My new trial contact lenses arrived, so I thought I would wear them to work today. They were fine in the house but my vision rapidly deteriorated by the time i hit the motorway. Foggy eyes and 'surprise' road works, with cones everywhere, are not a good combination. Turns out I had them in the wrong eyes. I worry about me sometimes.

The girls are laying really well. We gave Mum and Dad 5 boxes yesterday. Next door got a box today too. 4-5 eggs a day and no sign of slowing down. Have just jinxed them now! I do wish they would take a break sometimes.

Time to sat nightie night.

Hope you all have a good week. The temperature is set to soar this weekend. Oh, and in answer to your question Chickenlover, my legs are still gloriously brown!

C x x x

A quickie!

Have been off for nearly 2 weeks, so no excuse. Just busy pottering around, getting stuff done as always.

Back to work tomorrow, which I am looking forward to. *cough* However, July roster is so much better than June's.

Will update you all on the goings on soon, I promise.

Jase started his radiotherapy last week and all is going well. He is tired but managing ok. At least he is off work and can do some jobs around the house *wink*

Will leave you with a little picture of some strawberry jam I made. Easiest jam in the world! Tastes good too!






Speak soon!


C x x

Spotted in public.

Ok, finally a couple of days off and time to update you all.

It has been fantastic weather since we got back from holiday. Today it changed though and I had to wear jeans. Most upset as my legs are never this brown and I wanted to show them off! Hee hee.

There is a local craft centre down the road that I visited today. Looking for a Father's day pressie for Dad. The centre was featured on Village Voices last year (you remember the one with me on - shudder). Managed to get him a hand made 'scientific' pencil, made from laburnum. The Lady that works there was so excited that I came into the shop. She screeched "it's the Chicken Man", as I walked in. Celebrity. Apparently. Lots of people have been coming to the craft centre asking about chicken courses, so I said I would drop off my details next week.

I did ask her about the Christmas fayre that the centre holds every year. It is open to anyone with 'craft type things' to sell. Local people only. Might be another chance for me to sell some bits and bobs as I am only a few miles down the lane.

I then went into Stockbridge to get the raffia that I need to wrap the wedding favours. Simple white tissue paper and a raffia bow. Bought a couple of packs as it is nice stuff and will come in handy for something I'm sure.

I popped into the Garden Inn, my favourite shop, and was very restrained. To be honest I was chomping at the bit to get everything in the shop, but luckily the Lady who works there distracted me by asking how the courses were going and what I was up to, not that I was acting suspiciously!

Came home via Waitrose, with a boot full of food (well, boot, front and rear seats - it is a Mini after all) and a very long till receipt. It is never a quick, cheap shop, is it?

Finished off the first batch of elderflower cordial.


You can tell summer has arrived at last. The utility room smells heavenly. I made about a litre of the golden stuff and it is decanted into sterile bottles ready for later in the year. A second bowl is brewing nicely. Will probably make another couple of batches next week.

The Girls were honoured earlier in the week. We put up the netting and allowed them to free range on the lawn.


Elsbeth and Winifred fascinated by a bucket of water. Agnes just amazed that she is allowed so close to the 'top' hens!




"You keep a lookout and I'll try and grab the geraniums"




We harvested our first lettuce this week. We splurged on a new Barbeque as had friends staying for the weekend and our old one was beyond cleaning. *Top tip, when you have used the barbie, clean it and put it away for the winter! Life forms grow on barbeque grills if they are dirty* Local sausages from the Butcher and home grown salad. Lovely.




I have been quite concerned about Cornelia all week as she hasn't been eating much and her crop is practically empty at night. Checked again yesterday and she was bulging with food *smiles*. She hasn't laid in weeks due to being broody, but we finally got a lovely dark egg from her this morning. She was happily scratching at the grass all day, picking up bugs and tasty morsels.

They all look so healthy and content. The lawn is not faring so well.


Time to say goodnight. I am so hungry and need to make a cake for Mum and Dad visiting tomorrow.

TTFN.

C x x

A pot addiction?

Good evening everyone. I am back from holiday and am sorry I haven't been blogging of late!

The holiday was wonderful. Lots of prawns and garlic, lying by the pool relaxing. Doing very little. Read a few books and got a tan. Was so relaxed that I caught a cold on my last day and am still suffering a bit. We got back on Sunday morning at 3am! Have been off all week sick. Never mind, I am sure work coped without me.

We did manage to visit the pottery place that we went to last year. I made a few *cough* purchases!


I have explained about my terracotta pots addiction before. They were really cheap and I plan to use them at the Christmas fayre later in the year.

I got some lovely presents for my birthday. A water butt for the shed, (only I could get excited by that), several books , a pastry brush, jelly mould, pot brush, lip balm kit, t-shirts and a selection of 'old time' sweets like cola cubes, flying saucers and sherbet dipdabs!! The range of chicken related cards was amazing!!!

The veggies have come on leaps and bounds in the week we were away.

The broad beans are in flower -











The potatoes are doing ok -












....and the potato bags -







I have been feeling ok in the day, but come 7pm I was feeling bad again. Popping paracetamol every 4 hours helped! I went into Marlborough to get some more fabric to make a few more cushions yesterday. They had sold out of the fabric I wanted! I did pick up a few nice pieces though!!






Will use this to make hearts for the hot water bottles I plan to sell.











Too nice and soft to refuse! I am a nightmare in fabric shop and feel like a child in a sweet shop. My friend Kate did warn me, but I didn't believe her!!













As 'my' fabric was sold out, I bought another one and made a few cushions.




They have pride of place in the spare room, as we have friends staying this weekend.

Have just finished baking a victoria sandwich and 40+ oatie biscuits. As the weather is so good, we will probably do a Barbeque tomorrow. Need to head out early and get supplies. Potato salad is a must for outdoor dining. Will make a batch in the morning.

Next door did a marvelous job at looking after the chickens. They didn't get many eggs all week, but judging by the amount of mixed corn that has vanished from the tin, I am not surprised. They got 2 eggs a day, most days. We got 4 the day we turned. The Girls obviously knew we were due back! Cornelia was a full blown broody hen the day we left, but snapped out of it according to the text message I got. She was so funny, sat fluffed up on the nest. I dragged her out and she just sat on the bark, squawking again. She still isn't laying though. 15 days now!

Right, time for bed. Will have to get up early to get everything ready. Promise I will be back soon. My roster for June is the worst I have ever had. No nightstops, only day trips, so I will be around more!

Night night

C x x

See you soon.......

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Loads done in the garden and busy with work and other projects!

This is only a flying visit as I am off on holiday tomorrow! YAY!! A week in a villa in Portugal. Can't wait. We did think of just taking one case but have settled on two as far too much stuff to take with us. Jase has packed some of my birthday presents as I will be 21 again next week *wink*.

I have left next door in charge of the chickens. They will have a job on their hands as Cornelia went broody yesterday! She has been squawking like a banshee all day and fluffed up, strutting around every time I kicked her off the nest. I hope she has snapped out of it by the time I get home.

The rabbit has not been spotted in the veggie garden for weeks now, but we have another couple of enemies. The first is a mole, which despite having literally acres of fields around here, has decided to ran sack my veggie garden. Birds are the other enemy. They have pulled up all of my pea seedlings which were doing so well. It can be soul destroying, but there is nothing I can do until I get back from holiday.

Bags are packed, passports, tickets and money sorted. leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow, so will say goodbye now. Promise to be back soon and keep you all up to date with the garden, the girls and any other rambling that gets a mention!

Have a good week.

C x x

Crafty cushions....

Just a quick entry as I wanted to show off my creatiion! I drove into Marlborough today to visit my new favourite shop - Dibble and Roy. Thousands of different fabrics and I felt quite light headed. I was after something with dark red in, to make some cushions for the lounge.












The picture doesn't do it justice, the red is warmer and not quite so bright. I made 1 with a pillowcase type arrangement and 2 like envelopes with a flap at the front. Need to find a few large wooden buttons now. I fear that I won't just stop at a few! This is the first cushion I have made and really enjoyed doing it. A few pricked fingers and mild swearing, but all in all, a pleasure to do!

Had 5 eggs today, good girls. They are heading off to bed soon, so better give them a handful of mixed corn before they start complaining!

Bye for now...

C x x x

Hilda, my new addition

Now that he has gorged himself on my crops, the rabbit is too fat to get inside my heavily fortified vegetable garden! I saw him this morning, trying to get from the back garden into the chicken area. He got wedged in the willow fencing but managed to free himself!

After a very misty start this morning, the sun finally came out. I have lots of days off now and am slowly working my way through my job list. *Obsessive list maker alert*!! You may remember my satisfaction at list making and, more to the point, my glee at ticking them off! The list has to be written in pencil, don't ask me why. One of my many 'quirks'.

The Postie arrived today with lots of parcels for me. He threatened to black list us, as Jase had a parcel too! Hee hee. I have been ordering a few things on ebay recently. Before you say anything, 3 items were hair products to tame my thick, wild locks, I wish, and the others were vintage fabric - which is allowed!

Will try and make a cushion cover out of this fabric -











.....and this one is just too gorgeous to use. I would like to make lavender bags with it, although it does strike me as Christmassy. Not sure yet. Might save it. I was so excited when the Postie arrived. Been waiting with baited breath for days. Hold on a minute. What has happened to me?? I have become a fabric collecting freak!








As it has been so lovely for the past few days, the garden is getting long awaited attention. Last year I used some old bricks, from the paddock next door, to make a cold frame. Topped with horticultural fleece, it does the job perfectly. Now home to my sweetpeas seedlings, a few pumpkins and my sunflowers.








My shorts got their first airing this year, as I bimbled (thanks for the new word Kate *wink*) around the garden. I finally got round to planting up the long bed under the loathed conifer this week. Raspberries, a fig plant, redcurrants and blackcurrants in their new home. Up against the fence, so that I can net it if birds threaten my berries/fruit.










Potted up the lettuces into individual pots and gave a few to next door.











After the disastrous sweetcorn crop last year, I vowed never to sow it again. However, a new packet ended up in my shopping basket somehow and I have planted up a few pots. I plan to put them in the front garden as a backdrop to cover up the bare fence.











Even the dedicated flower bed is doing well. Not that good with flowers, so quite surprised at this bed. The daffs have done well and given us a fair few vases of flowers. The tulips are the next to brighten up the house. They look like man eating triffids at the mo, but will soon colour up. I have planted calendula next to them and anemones which should spring into life soon. Need to find a few more plants to fill the daff corner. Something hardy to give me flowers into autumn.









Another parcel I received, was this gorgeous pin cushion!! Admittedly, I thought it was a cute chicken 'ornament' when I first opened the package. Even with the pack of pins with it, I still didn't twig was it was.!! Jase had to explain it. I worry about me sometimes. Thank you Kate, I love her. She is called Hilda, the pin cushion hen!



Jase is on a 3 day trip from today, so had left over pasta with lots of grated cheese for dinner. Sat here in my bedtime attire, please no visions of Wee Willie Winkie hats, fire roaring. Horrified to see an advert for Doner Kebab flavoured pot noodle on the telly. As if the noodley chemicals weren't bad enough, they add kebab flavourings to it. *vomit* I wonder what rabbit pot noodle would taste like *wink*

C x x x

Where's Elmer Fudd when you need him?

Sorry I haven't been blogging! Have had a very busy week, with work and next doors new additions, but more of that later.
Jase is in bed as he has an early tomorrow. Work have VERY kindly given me a very late shift before my days off, so I don't finish until 10 o'clock tomorrow evening. Am raging if I don't finish by noon on my last day, so a late shift was not welcome.

Every time I come down the lane I marvel at the view. Have been meaning to take a picture for 3 years and finally pulled my finger out! The view from the top of our lane.














The garden is looking better now. It amazes me how much it grows in just a few days away.
The lupins and euphorbia are doing really well. We don't have many slugs and snails here, so the lupins are safe from attack.





















The broad beans are doing well and seem to have doubled in size in just a few days.


The carrots are up finally. I clearly didn't sow them as thinly as I originally thought. Will need to thin them when they are slightly larger and hope the carrot fly doesn't smell them. Noticed a tiny shoot in one of my potato bag today. Kind Edwards are the first to show signs of growth. I still have some of last year's stored in the outbuilding in a paper sack.

Unfortunately, we have a fluffy, bob tailed marauder back in the veggie garden. After 3 days at work, I returned to no foliage on my strawberry plants, raspberry canes nibbled to the ground, all the radishes gone and onion shoots eaten! I spent today, stapling chicken wire around the rest of the garden in an attempt to stop them getting in. I really don't want to have to cover every raised bed and just hope that the chicken wire stapled to the fences and blocking up gaps will do the trick.

I still haven't set up the watering system, but have time next week. After tomorrow, I have 13 days off (16 if, I get my days off for May) and am desperate for it! Loads to do as always, but need to be outside and get close to the garden. I am not talking growing dreadlocks and not using deodorant, just getting some soil between my fingers! Maybe I should leave work and become a gardener? Doubt it would pay the mortgage though. Shame.
The weeds are doing extremely well, as I have neglected the back garden somewhat. I am loathed to use weedkiller, but after discovering ground elder today, I might not have a choice. I have dug up so many weed roots now, that I am gradually losing my rag with it. Some chemicals are essential ;0)


The girls are all fine and laying well. We have 5 boxes of eggs in the utility room! With my Mum and Dad away last week, we didn't sell any eggs so they are stacking up. Will pop over and visit them next week and give Dad a few boxes to sell at work.
The hens are like feathered JCBs as every time I go into their 'garden', another pot hole has been dug! Agnes and Cornelia are always the first for a picture. Very photogenic aren't they? The others just run under the privet hedge to escape the camera!




When we moved into this house in May 2006, I put a bird box on the garage. After nearly 3 years, we have residents! I think they are blue tits, but haven't had a really good look yet. You can just see the straw sticking out of the bottom. Must remember to give it a lick of paint later in the year and a good scrub.



Nearly forgot to mention next door!! They finally decided to get chickens!!! Well, I say chickens, they are bantams ;0) Tiny, cute, little fluffy knickered madams that pootle around the garden! I cannot believe how small they are. Very nice to be responsible for 'spreading the chicken word'!! I will try and take some pictures next week.

Right, fire is dying down and I have to go to bed. Please excuse the typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, but I was up at 4am this morning. I feel like a little mole, barely seeing the screen and really should head up the wooden hill.

C x x

Little Miss Laverne

I have bad news. I got back from work on Friday to discover Jase in the garden, holding Laverne. She was just sitting in his arms, quietly sleeping. He had been holding for over an hour and she was clearly not right. I dashed to the vets and we discussed what was best for her. I think she had egg peritonitis, which is what both Babs and Shirley suffered from. She had been slowing down for a number of weeks and I think she was just worn out. The vet and I agreed that the kindest thing to do was to send her on her way. *sobs*

The others were calling for her that evening, which was sad. Cornelia was quite upset, judging by the noises she was making. Strange as Laverne used to bully her quite often. Even though she hadn't laid a single egg for over a year, she was the last of my original hens and will be missed.

This is my favourite picture of her. Not good quality, but it shows her silly floppy comb!

RIP Little Miss Laverne.


Work has been busy and after a thick blanket of fog and low cloud, my flight was delayed from Hamburg and they re crewed my Aberdeen nightstop. It was nice to come home. Managed to water the garden and get a few things done, before flying off to Oslo and back yesterday. I have 2 days off now.

Autoglass have replaced my windscreen, as Mortimer is due his first MOT on Saturday and the chip was getting bigger. He has 2 new 'shoes' on the front and hopefully will pass with flying colours! All a bit of a mad rush as I though the MOT was due at the end of April.

The garden is springing to life again. Lupins and foxgloves are popping up everywhere and I need to set up the watering system before we go to Faro in May. The broad beans are doing well, no sign of the carrots as yet, but the parsnips, potatoes and salad veg are all in their permanent beds. The days are getting warmer, but it is still cold at night. A few of my tender fuchsias have frost bite, but they should come back.

I am holding off planting any more seeds for now. I should get the tomato seeds planted but have run out of space in the greenhouse. It is full to bursting with yellow pots of nasturtiums, sweetpeas, squashes, spinach and chard.

My attempt to outsmart the mice hasn't worked. I found a few pea seeds, that had started to germinate, on top of the soil. At least they didn't eat them. I have replanted them and will keep a close eye out. Might be worth sowing a few inside to fill any gaps?

I haven't posted pictures of our egg boxes. Or have I? My brain is not what it used to be, so here you go anyway!




20 minutes to go until my windscreen is 'set'. I have the shakes as we have no diet coke in the house and the fridge is bare. Jase made a list of essentials that we need; tinned tomatoes, meringue nests and red wine! Oh, how differently we think. Hee hee.

As it is so nice outside, I plan to do a spot of gardening. The washing is done and on the line, drying in the breeze. The house needs a good hoover and tidy up, but will do that this evening, with the fire lit.

Jase is staying at a friends tonight, as there is an important union meeting near the airport tomorrow and she doesn't have a car at the mo. He will take her and bring her back again in the morning. Won't bore you all with the details, but it doesn't look good for our Terms and Conditions.

Will treat myself to a healthy, deep fried Chinese takeaway for dinner I think. It has been a while since I had prawn wontons!!

I can hear Agnes calling, so she must have laid an egg. That is 5/5 today. What good girls. Will give them some baby leaf spinach at a treat later.

That's all from me for now, have to crack on. But, (sorry I hate starting with a 'but'), I would just like to thank everyone for their kind comments about my so called 'writing', especially Kerry who emailed me. Will look into writing 'properly' and keep you all informed.

C x x x