Wednesday 8 May 2013

Busy,Busy......



Well it's been a fantastic but extremely hectic and busy past week and a half. Originally I was going to write this post on Monday but then to my delight I found that I hadn't missed the dead-line for the fire-pit competition and although I don't expect to win I thought it would be a fun post to write anyway.

So over the past week or so I have been spending plenty of time down the allotment getting caught up on tasks that really needed accomplishing. This means that now all of my potatoes are in the ground, Nicolas for the second earlies and King Edwards for the main crop. I also have some French potatoes in the ground that were given to me by a plot neighbours and just a few Charlottes and Swift that I managed to find a bit of room for which another allotment holder couldn't fit in and I can't stand to see anything go to waste!!

It hasn't all been hard slog though...  

Toad being nosy whilst I clean the pond. I also spent some time over the week carrying out less strenuous tasks such as giving the pond a bit of a clean out.  Whilst cleaning the pond I even had the chance to meet a couple of toads who popped there heads up to see what all the fuss was about. It's nice to know that it's being used by more than just the birds for a bath.                     

My onions have finally gone in the ground and also the peas, mange-tout and sugar-snaps. These are all things I sow directly and don't start off in the greenhouse so they did need to get in pronto so they could start growing. I am growing both red and white onions from sets again.

As I said the weather has been glorious and even the wind has died down so I spent the time filling the tubs around the greenhouse with new compost to start off the salad crops...did hit one minor hitch whilst doing this though......

Mouse nest with babies.As I picked up the last bag of compost out of the shed I noticed a hole in the bottom of it though I have to say didn't think too much about it at the time. But then when I ripped the bag open I encountered what you see here. A very quick check confirmed the presence of babies. I couldn't harm them so I have put the bag back very carefully and now I hope the Mum will still come and tend to them. They were too small to fend for themselves or be reared by me. I haven't checked yet if they are okay but will do so this weekend. I couldn't consciously harm such defenceless animals even though I may live to regret that choice!!

Most of the seeds are through in the greenhouse now with just the pepper, tomatoes and chillis being left behind but they always take longer to germinate so I'm not worried about this. One thing I did think I would see some sign of by now though it the parsnips so if they don't make any show at all by the weekend then I will probably sow some more.

I did sow some more marrow and butter-nut squash as germination rate on these was low so I hope more will come through very soon.

Hardening off ready for planting out at the weekend.
Hardening off those wonderful plants!!

 As you can see above the plants are doing well and in the suddenly warm weather I am having plenty of chance to harden them off ready for planting out this weekend, though I hope it turns back around again as today the temperature have dipped a little and we have dark black clouds and even a little rain. No matter what the weather though they will get planted!

Apart from this I have been burning rubbish on the bee plot and burning my ears with the sun, so much so that when we visited Denton street market on Monday afternoon I bought myself a hat. It's not overly flattering but it does the job and even has a drawstring so it won't blow off in the wind. I would sooner look silly and be protected than look good and be a fool!! Maybe I will get a pic of it for you next time the sun comes out!

And talking of being protected and not exactly looking cool I have another purchase to show you this week too.....

Bee keeper headt to toe suit!
I'm under there ...Honest!
I also bought a be suit this week...Don't I look great?? I guess the good thing is you can't actually see me so I suppose I can claim that it isn't me. The dog in the photo belongs to my Mum but I didn't really want a picture taken so decided Louie should be a part of it too. Only problem with that was we saw how incredibly dirty he was (yes he is supposed to 'BEE' the same colour as the suit!!) So we gave him a good bath!

Well I think that is me all caught up now...hopefully I will get time to catch up with all my favourite blogs again soon but with the bee course and extra hours at work time keeps flying by, I didn't even realise we had reached the month of May last week and so missed my hair appointment....Well no doubt after planting things will quiet down a little and I will be able to breather a little easier....never mind all the running around is worth it once you start harvesting your own crops!!
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16 comments:

  1. You've been so busy. It's nice to see that the pond is being used, I love my little pond in the garden, we get lots of visitors to it. I think you may live to regret putting those babies back, but I'd have done exactly the same thing.

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    1. Possibly Jo...but I think all life deserves a chance!

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  2. Bee suit looks great! Wish i could have bees, but hubby is allergic so its not very safe on my small property. We also have feral children who could stir up some real trouble if tempted.

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    1. Maybe the bees could tame those feral children a bit...lol

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  3. What do you have in the compost bag? I have looked and looked but can't see. I can see the nest but no animals. Do you have a little mouse nest?. I have oodles of plants to put out too, far far too many for my tiny plot & I like your bee suit, you look like an astronaut.

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    1. In the compost bag is a mouse nest complete with healthy pink babies...I'm too much of a sucker to harm them so just carefully put them back!!

      My Dad said I look like an astronaut too!!

      I will no doubt be giving away seedlings as I won't have room to plant them all. I had a very good germination rate this year!

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  4. Dear Tanya, Love catching up with you and I feel like I can hear you talking to me.
    Our plants had a little accident last night. We had them outside and the nights get chilly here so we were bringing them in and tripped at the door. Well, they came apart and don't look so good right now. I think it is still early enough to start again though.
    You sound happy and excited about this season. I am glad to hear that.
    I bet you look very fashionable in your new hat. Tammy has a nice big hat, I think I need to get one too.
    Keep well and stay happy. Blessings dear and a big hug, Catherine xoxo

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    1. I had an accident with my sweetcorn Catherine...dropped the WHOLE lot upside down when carrying it out of the greenhouse...seems to have recovered well though!

      This is my favourite season, new growth always gives me so much hope and joy!

      Definitely get a hat....better for your health!! Having said that I think I doomed the weather to change with my purchase...lol

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  5. Fun to read all your busy doings and with pics! Your seedlings look great and I have more garden envy. Growing up on a farm made me heartless about pests - I would have given the rodent nest to the cats. Love the bee suit. Looking forward to your continued adventures!

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    1. If the cat had found the nest then so be it...but I would never put it in harms way on purpose. Everything has it's uses. Plus I don't know what sort of mouse it is as the babies were so small and pink and we do have some that are protected!!

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  6. Louie doesn't look impressed does he? So what type of babies were they?

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    1. Louie was a little scared....mind you it quieted him down..lol.
      It was definitely mice..not sure what kind though and I am very close the the fields!!

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  7. You have been a busy one lately. Was the nest mice? I couldn't really tell in the picture. Love the picture of you in the bee suit. I'm sure that if Duke was standing next to you it would show that he needed a bath too....lol

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    1. Yes a mouse nest Ann. Lol on the Duke comment....bless him...I bet he is just like our Louie and loves to roll in the dust or newly mown grass!

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  8. Dear Tanya, Visiting to say hello and hope all is well. Have a beautiful Sunday. Blessings and hugs, Catherine xoxo

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    1. Hi Catherine, posts are coming thick and fast now, all nice short topics and over the next week I am hoping to get caught up with everyone too. Thanks for bearing with me!! :-)

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!