TARRAGON & THYME

I have been able to spend the best part of the day out in the garden, working on trying to tame the garden.  I have found the greenhouse frame and removed all the pots from within it and culled the brambles in it and been nabbed; the thorns getting everywhere.  Will need to slap some antiseptic on to make sure no nasties.  I have also had another extensive culling of brambles on the other side where the Buddleia is situated and I have managed to strip a lot more out of that.  There are about three main branches that OH will have to deal with as well as the root ball ( Buddleia) .  Everything I have dragged out has been cut into small pieces in order that it will go into bin liners in readiness for the tip.  Long boring work but I am methodical about it, getting it sorted and tidying each area as I go.  I have also located my water barrel.  As a consequence the shed base is littered with loads of rubbish which I will also have to attend to.  M...

...... after a difficult day yesterday and one that really took the rug out from underneath my feet as I had not expected it.  Molly had been quiet during the week and intermittingly seeking cuddles but that is how she was.  As long as she got her cuddles, grooming, could sit on a windowsill and her food each day she was happy.  My cats are indoor cats because of the road in front of the house.  I thought that she would go on for a while yet.  I am sorry if these posts are not your thing, but my pets have and always will be members of my family; a part of me. I am an animal lover and have always spent a lot of time with them enjoying them and their unconditional love.  It is just our way. Mischief has come in with us and is not where she used to be with her Mum.  She seems content as long as she has someone around her.  She chose to sleep on me last night, despite being provided with a comfy bed, but it is what it is.  It will settle in due c...

I am sorry it is not a full post today.   Unexpectedly my cat Molly passed to Rainbow Bridge this morning which was very much a shock.  I went downstairs first thing  to feed them first and make the first cuppa of the day as is my usual routine.  Before doing anything else, went to call them and only one cat put in an appearance.  Mischief.  I proceeded to call Molly - she was always prompt on parade for her food.  No appearance at all which got me seriously worried. I knew this day would come one day, but not quite so quickly. I found her passed away peacefully on the floor under the dining room table.  She was still warm, but had started to stiffen. It looks as though she had gone peacefully this morning . She will be buried along with the rest of the cats down by the Cherry Tree stump. Molly came to us 10 years ago as a stray kitten I took in off the street. Molly was a really pretty, cheeky, feisty, sassy puss who I thought the world...

I managed to get the first tranche of the crafting stuff sorted out last night and into new bags.  There were a few kits I had forgotten about as per usual.  I am being good though hands off.  At least I now know where they are.  Another part of a much bigger jigsaw sorted.  I still have a fair old bit to do which is going to take ages.  At least now I will be able to locate things if I need them.  Was very tired last night and crashed a bit.  Still not firing on all cylinders. This morning when I did my morning inspection of the seeds, the Green Courgettes are now through.  I do the inspection twice daily as some of the trays dry out extremely quickly and there are also those that remain moister. I am keeping an eye on things as I do not want any of the seeds damping off.  It does not help that this is an old house and it is not particularly warm in the kitchen and bathroom which is where the seeds are being stored but it is a lot warme...

Today when I checked on the plants I now have 6 yellow Courgettes that have popped through and more than 30 Roma Tomatoes. Some pricking out is on the cards by the end of the week. I also have about 10 of the Yellow Pear Cherry tomatoes that have come through too and the Courgettes are getting a wriggle on.  Needless to say the planned setting of seeds did not take place today. Forecast for tomorrow is rain from about 2:00pm although it may not happen. I am therefore hoping to get out into the garden for a while in the morning instead and get them sown. Today I have been on the computer quite a bit as I was trouble-shooting. For some unknown reason I suspect it was a crash everything went wrong and as a result I ended up with my settings being changed and my keyboard would not work. I therefore spent quite a few hours re-setting and sorting and then even after all that it would not work. Changed the batteries as a last resort and we have lift off. It is working and letting me...

After a cold night last night (Monday night) where I made sure that there were no seed trays on the windowsills and that everything was covered up, I have woken to find that my Yellow Pear cherry tomatoes are starting to put in an appearance and there are a few more Roma Tomato plants popping up as well; I counted about 30 sprouts all told. I think that there is a Pumpkin starting to sprout as well as some of the Yellow Courgettes. Nothing on the Cayenne Peppers yet or indeed the Gherkins.  Still nothing on the Herbs either. Things are starting to happen little by little. Only little simple things; they bring much pleasure.  New life is always wondrous and full of joy.  Makes me smile as I love growing from seed. Sometimes it does you good to do the things you love.  Makes you grow in a different way.  If  you are working all the time and do not get times of pleasure inbetween, it is a pretty dreary life.  Have been there and worn the sweatshirt. ...

Sometimes there is an odd carrot or two leftover and kicking around in the fridge; sometimes more than that.  I have a bag of carrots not yet touched residing in the fridge at the moment. Since the cost of living has gone up so much, I am looking more and more to making things with those items that I do buy in on a regular basis and today I am focusing on Carrots.  Generally, I am also looking at Vegetarian recipes as well.  You do not need to be a Vegetarian, but as in many cases vegetables are still an option and if you can make something cheaply, that is tasty and nourishing it would be a waste not to take advantage.  Many of us are limited by our own choices and sometimes you have to expand the recipe repertoire to introduce new tastes and new flavours into your household eating.  I include myself on this one and, I hold my hands up here, but certain recipes which I have seen recently are really grabbing my attention at the moment.  There have also been...

 Been a bit of a miserable day here today and a little chilly.  I have been working in the kitchen again (never-ending) but there we are.  Such is life. Due to me doing stuff in the background we have had a quick scratch tea i.e. egg, bacon and tomatoes, with bread and butter on the side; using stuff I had easily had to hand and making sure that everything gets used up.  Sometimes it is good to do so to clear stuff up that needs using. Today's tea involved using up the last of a packet of bacon, and some eggs.  A tin of tomatoes was added last minute just to make a bit more of a meal of it. As I am now into growing stuff from seeds I am getting into the habit of moving stuff around on a daily basis and spraying with a little water if necessary.  I use a water spray so that I do not drown them. I am using limited space in the house which has not necessarily got the best light, but it is what it is, at least they are warmer in the house than outside. The Roma...

 Not firing on all cylinders first thing; had a rough night with my arm. Woke early at 5:30am to the dawn chorus.  Promptly fell back asleep again. However as the day has progressed I have got into the swing of things that little bit more. Had told OH to expect the warning signal on our phones test.  Then I promptly forgot all about it.  Frightened to death when it did go off as it startled me but quickly realised what it was and switched it off.  I understand a lot of people did not get the warning or indeed it was a few minutes early or few minutes later for others. Have been kitchen bound this afternoon, sorting stuff out, prepping and cooking tonight's tea using what I had already in the fridge.  We have had roast chicken and it has gone down very nicely. Served it with roasted Leeks, roasted Onion and roasted Potato.  These were all popped in the pan with the chicken for tonight.  Made the gravy from the gravy and juices from everything as a ...

I have been assessing the situation in the garden.  I ventured into the top jungle and have found the second greenhouse.  Phew.    I have also located my Dad's old fork which needs a new shaft and my mum's which also needs a new shaft.  I do have my new one though. However I have a lot of work to achieve in getting this garden straight so that I can get the greenhouses up and my plants transferred into them.  More to do than I envisaged, quite honestly I have my hands full, but the sooner I can get stuck in the better. I am not afraid of hard work, it is just I am a lot slower these days and with my arm there are some things that I cannot do easily.  I am still having a go mind you. Loads of brambles and rubbish to clear.  Think if weather holds himself will be going down to the tip this week so that I can move and organise things a bit better.  There are quite a lot of bags to get rid of. Today has been a day for getting washing dry, mostly ...

Last night the Sweet Pea seeds were soaked and were ready for me to plant this morning.   They have since been dealt with, in their pots and hopefully fingers crossed they will now grow.  I have used the Old Fashioned Mixed, Heirloom Bicolour Mixed and Giant Waved Mixed varieties of seed as they are perfumed. Three varieties in all. Sweet Peas have a special memory for me from when I was a little girl, as my Mum always used to grow a trellis of them.  When they were ready she would then cut  the stems and bring them into the house whereupon they would scent the room.  Summers always seemed a lot warmer when I was a child. Happy Days. We have had another sunny day here in Peterborough thank goodness as it has given me some "Me time" to potter in the sun and just mindfully set about the task in hand. Even though it has been windy, it has been superb washing drying weather and I have taken full advantage even doing a load of handwashing to get out on the ...

Tuesday I checked on my seeds today keeping fingers crossed that I would have some sprouting and to my delight some of my Roma tomato seeds are coming through.  I counted four earlier on.  Just taken over a week to start to come through. The Ghost Chilli has grown a little more and has thrown up a second sprout (which at the moment we are not sure whether it is going to make it or not).  My PP chilli is not showing yet.  Needs a few more days. I am going to plant up some Runner Beans later on; Scarlet Emperor -  two to a pot as I always do and I shall look for my Sweet Pea seeds as well.  Lots more to go in yet, but today has been a washing day whilst the weather is warmer (we have a wind as well) which is ideal for getting the washing dry.  So it is all systems go in the kitchen.   We were supposed to have steak, chips, fried onions and mushrooms last night for tea and again tonight, but changed our minds and had a couple of Ham buns each (M...