Finally the first of the Ouessant lambs.
Much later than normal, but better late than never
Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Monday, 30 March 2020
Snow!
It's been so warm, and we have been doing so much busy busy stuff trying to take our minds of the corona situation that we had kind of forgotten that it is only March and we should still in fact be skiing. Here was a little reminder from the snow gods. Didn’t last long...
The basil has finally shown signs of life also!
Sunday, 29 March 2020
Changing the beds in the potager
We had raised beds for some years but the wood finally rotted. I think I mentioned it before. We have decided where the fruit trees are to do away with beds and just mulch round the bottom of each bush. This creates a little more mowing, but a lot less weeding, and it is easier to mow without the raised beds as they made too many tight corners to manoeuvre the mower around - you do have to be careful now not to mow things in the beds!
Still a lot of weeding to do here, but you can kind of see the beds. We will grow veg at this end (there is one remaining raised one with strawberries in that will eventually move, probably to the bank behind)
This is the end with the fruit. You can see where the beds were, we hope the raised bits of ground will go away if we just keep mowing!
Still a lot of weeding to do here, but you can kind of see the beds. We will grow veg at this end (there is one remaining raised one with strawberries in that will eventually move, probably to the bank behind)
This is the end with the fruit. You can see where the beds were, we hope the raised bits of ground will go away if we just keep mowing!
Saturday, 28 March 2020
Keeping busy and seeing friend
Had a fun day ‘video call baking’ with Anne for her birthday challenge Hot cross buns. Yum! Anne’s yeast seemed a bit of a dud, so we are going to have a take 2 before Easter.
Also planted some seeds, mowed the lawn...
and Doug checked the bees and rotavated more space for the potatoes (not planted yet as frost forecast).
It was quite an exciting inspection as one hive has surprisingly replaced its queen. The new one seems to be laying, so hopefully all good.
The other hive has been queen less for a while, we gave them some eggs from the first hive and they seem to be creating a new queen as we hoped.
The resultant buns. Yum!
Vin d'orange and crisps
Happy Birthday (for tomorrow) Wee Anne, and have fun ‘video call camping’ xx
Slow Roast Mutton Leg
Roasted for 3 hours at 150C then about another 30 mins at 180C. I started the potatoes cooking before I did the meat and put them back in for the last 30 minutes.
Before roasting I put cloves of garlic and sprigs of rosemary under the skin.
We had it with roast potatoes and carrots and some beetroot I found hiding in the garden as I was weeding.
Came out really yummy!
Before roasting I put cloves of garlic and sprigs of rosemary under the skin.
We had it with roast potatoes and carrots and some beetroot I found hiding in the garden as I was weeding.
Came out really yummy!
Friday, 27 March 2020
Keeping busy to take our minds off the end of the world as we know it
Again not a surprise, but the lockdown has been extended. To the 15th April initially, but expecting another 2 weeks after that. They don't want to depress us with is all at once :)
We have to fill in a form when we leave the house stating the reason (shopping, helping others, walking dog etc). I have been out to the supermarket and animal feed shop a couple of times but generally we walk the dog on our own land. Which is just as well as the new rules say dogs have to be on leads - Poppy doesn't like the lead and doesn't get enough exercise unless she can run around like a nutter.
As well as walking the dog we:
Sangria and popcorn, beer and pizza.
Organised seeds,
planted seeds,
We have to fill in a form when we leave the house stating the reason (shopping, helping others, walking dog etc). I have been out to the supermarket and animal feed shop a couple of times but generally we walk the dog on our own land. Which is just as well as the new rules say dogs have to be on leads - Poppy doesn't like the lead and doesn't get enough exercise unless she can run around like a nutter.
As well as walking the dog we:
Sangria and popcorn, beer and pizza.
Organised seeds,
weeded, mulched, finished path up to pottage and strimmed lots of things.
Then sangria and popcorn,
and beer and pizza
This lockdown is not good for our weight!
Then sangria and popcorn,
This lockdown is not good for our weight!
Thursday, 26 March 2020
More gardening, eating and drinking
Is the garden getting boring yet?? As I said before, we would rather be skiing and living our old normal life, but there is a lot of satisfaction with getting the garden sorted, trees cleaned up and things we often don't find time for.
I planted these columnar trees two years ago. Despite my best efforts they have been a bit weed swamped and not maybe kept watered enough. This is the year they are going to be cared for well enough to fruit the following year! In this photo I have strimmed the bank, but not obviously right up to each tree
Break for lunch.
Bacon and egg sandwich!
This is after I have trimmed all the grass from round each of the 11 trees and mulched with material, with horse poo on top and staked each tree.
Sloe gin and tonic reward!
I planted these columnar trees two years ago. Despite my best efforts they have been a bit weed swamped and not maybe kept watered enough. This is the year they are going to be cared for well enough to fruit the following year! In this photo I have strimmed the bank, but not obviously right up to each tree
Break for lunch.
Bacon and egg sandwich!
This is after I have trimmed all the grass from round each of the 11 trees and mulched with material, with horse poo on top and staked each tree.
Sloe gin and tonic reward!
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