Winter preparations

With rain forecast on and off for the rest of the week, we took advantage of some sunshine yesterday to do some more tidying up in the garden.  This season we had a good number of pots in production (tomatoes, peppers etc) and now the veg has all been cropped, all those pots needed to be emptied and cleaned.  The compost is good to use again but needed to be put through a riddle to eliminate roots, stones and such like.  It's good exercise for the stomach muscles!  The sieved soil is now bagged up and will probably be used when we come to plant the garlic for next year.   Today N is in the greenhouse cleaning pots. 

The carrots planted in the summer have now been pulled - a really good crop to tide us through autumn and into winter:

When we returned from our break we were a bit alarmed to see the cabbage plants sporting a rather holey look, reminiscent of lace doilies ;( .   Despite netting the bed some time ago, the cabbage white butterflies have found a way in and the caterpillars have been munching away.  That is not the idea at all!  We are now having a daily caterpillar patrol in the hopes of stemming the onslaught of little green marauders!  Those cabbages are destined for our Christmas dinner table.

Having reacclimatised ourselves to English temperatures again, the heating has been firmly switched off and hopefully will stay that way until the end of the month at least.  The mornings are getting darker, and it always surprises me how our bodies readjust to that; we're waking much later than during the summer.  We've rearranged a couple of rooms, as we tend not to use the big lounge during the winter, preferring the cosiness of the dining-room; it also means we're not heating the entire house unecessarily.  The quit is now in use on the bed (and it keeps us lovely and cosy at night), and winter woollies are being dug out of cupboards.  Keeping busy and active through the colder months helps too, and we have more than enough projects lined up to keep us occupied.  The summer days of salad are now at an end, although there are just a handful of cherry tomatoes left on the kitchen window sill together with a couple of rather skinny cucumbers, and we are looking forward to warming casseroles and home-made soups.  I have promised myself a new pair of 'proper' slippers by the end of the month and I shall then be all set for winter.  

Maintaining a positive outlook helps too ;))

September gratitude

A few pictures to remind me of the garden in autumn; there's still so much to enjoy out there.

Palest pink cyclamen

The cotoneaster is smothered with berries

Yellow peppers!  A first

Under the netting the winter carrots are growing strongly

Our squash harvest!  Not quite enough for a pie ...

October began as September ended, with glorious sunshine, but today it has poured all day.  We made the most of the good weather knowing that it couldn't last and the garden is pretty much tidied up for the winter.  Thoughts are very much turning indoors and we both have plenty of projects ready for the winter months.  

September has been a highlight of the year with the birth of a little grandson, a very precious and welcome addition to the family, and we look forward to our role in his life as he grows.  At the moment, that means lots of cuddles ;))

I've not really given October too much thought, to be honest.  I think I'll take a bit of a breather and simply enjoy what we have.  Our life is full of good things and for that I am very grateful.

Early autumn morning in the garden

I took the camera out into the garden first thing this morning, hoping to capture this trail through the wet grass:

We are fairly certain this winding path, all around the back lawn and again on the front lawn, is made by our hedgehog.  We haven't actually seen him for several months, but his night-time meanderings are much more visible in the autumn dew, and if we search, we can often find other evidence of his visits ;)  Perhaps we need to mount a nocturnal vigil to see if we can spot him.

I love the garden early in the morning while the dew is still on the ground.  And this morning, there seemed to be colours of autumn all around me.

Don't laugh; this is our best squash!

I need to make the most of these glorious autumn days.  Before long, we'll be huddled up against the wind, rain and cold.  Days like today are to be stored up and remembered with gratitude.

Autumn mists and classic cars

Misty morning

Autumn is definitely under way here.  Temperatures have fallen off in the morning and evening (and during the day, according to N!), and some parts of the garden no longer get the sunlight at all.  I often open the curtains to find a mist hanging about and the grass stays damp with dew most of the morning.  

The last of the peppers being prepped
 for the freezer

Homemade tomato soup served with homemade bread - delicious!

We're doing our best to spend some time in the garden every day, rain permitting, and it's surprising how much can be achieved in just an hour or so.  The sweetcorn, beans and some of the tomato and pepper plants have been pulled, the beds weeded and dug over.  Considering that this time last year we barely had a garden to speak of, we are very happy with how productive our little plot has been this year.  The beds that are being rested over winter will have a covering of manure to replenish nutrients, to prepare them for  the next growing season.

More time is being spent with indoor pastimes and hobbies - crafting comes to the fore in the colder months.  I seem to have more sewing-related projects on the go (or in the pipeline) than I can sensibly manage; I always like to have plenty to do but it's all got a little out-of-hand recently.  That may, of course, have something to do with a certain tiny person who has crept into my life :))  

A trailer just big enough to sleep two!

Over the weekend, we managed to get out for a walk along the front.  It was the annual classic car rally, and there was a magnificent array of cars parked all along the esplanade.  We were duly impressed; much gleaming chrome and polished paintwork, and trips down memory lane.   There were so many people there, admiring the wonderfully restored old vehicles and chatting to their owners.  Another very enjoyable day out.

While we waited

The past few days have been a bit of a rollercoaster as we have first waited for, and then delighted in, the birth of the newest member of the family.  It has been a very special time.

We tried to fill our days beforehand but to be honest, our thoughts were always elsewhere, so it is surprising that much got done at all.  However, in between the waiting and anticipating of phone calls, the vacuum cleaner has been taken to pieces, cleaned and repaired, and we have saved ourselves the considerable cost of replacing it - a definite result.  If something can be mended to extend its use then we will certainly have a go, and it is quite satisfying knowing you have saved a few pennies in the process and prevented adding to landfill.

Not much room left in the preserving pan 

Our first sweet corn

When the weather has allowed us (we have had some torrential downpours recently) we have spent some time in the garden, preparing it for winter.  With the colder temperatures, fewer tomatoes and peppers are ripening now, and we had the usual glut of green tomatoes left on the plants.  Not wanting to waste them, we made them into a spicy chutney, adding the last couple of courgettes and the remainder of the cooking apples we were given.  The smell may linger overnight but the chutney looks wonderful.  And this evening we enjoyed our first full-grown sweet corn cobs - with a dab of butter, they were delicious!

I still make bread every week but I'm keen to learn and make improvements where possible. Although the bread is very tasty, I think it's a little on the heavy side, possibly because I think I get the dough too dry so I have been experimenting with a much wetter mixture.  It's certainly very sticky to work with so I have had to find something to assist with mixing it - I found the little plastic scraper used to de-ice the freezer is ideal!  However, using more water and working with wetter dough, and baking at a higher temperature for a little longer seems to be resulting in a much better-textured loaf.  I'm glad I persevered; a bit of trial and error seems to be paying of and my bread-making skills are gradually improving.  The loaves always seem to get eaten so they can't be too bad :)

A walk (in the sun) down memory lane

September is spoiling us with glorious sunshine, it's been just beautiful this week.  We're doing our best to take every opportunity to get out and about and enjoy these end of summer/early autumn days.  

Another walk earlier this week, something of a nostalgic wander along half-forgotten pathways I used to know as a small child in the company of my very special Auntie S.  Happy memories came flooding back, and I recalled ice-cream blocks in wafers, and paddling in the island-shaped pool.  It was such a delightful walk, and so peaceful in the woods.  We spotted two red squirrels in the trees (always a treat), and spent what seemed like hours just looking out to sea.  In the midst of so much rushing around and general busy-ness, it was such a pleasure to be able to just sit and be still.

The good weather means we can continue the garden tidy-up in sunshine, a real bonus.  Gradually the summer crops are coming to an end - the runner beans are finished and the fine green beans are not too far behind.  N's called it a day with the squash plants, sadly they never really got going and the very few fruits that formed have failed to thrive and survive.   We had the last of the lettuce leaves yesterday - we haven't bought salad leaves at all this year, so that's been very successful.  A few days of sunshine and warmth has been very beneficial to the tomatoes and peppers, and every day a few more fruit are turning red.  More tomato sauce for the freezer.  The courgettes are almost at an end, I think there are 3 left to crop, and the sweet corn is coming along well.  We're looking forward to sampling those in the not too-distant future :)  And on a walk into town we spotted damsons for sale in someone's garden, so we bought a couple of bags to make jam.  I remembered to count the number of fruits that went into the preserving pan (124), so I could make sure I retrieved the same number of stones before bottling - it makes for a bit of fun.  Sadly we could only find 123 stones.  Oh well ...

A little (more) summer rain

So after Monday's downpour, Tuesday and Wednesday followed suit.  I really do feel for those holidaymakers looking for some sunshine.  However, things seemed to have brightened up towards the end of the week and all fingers crossed for the weekend as the town is welcoming the annual Scooter Rally, always a bit of a high spot on our incredibly hectic social calendar ;)

Ripening toms in the conservatory

Rain-bashed lettuce (and weeds!)

The garden has taken something of a battering in the rain and accompanying high winds; several sweet-corn, tomato and pepper plants needing re-staking after literally being knocked sideways, and the lettuce was in a very sorry state - I cropped what could be salvaged but I think we are coming to the end of those salad leaves for this season, they have done us proud.  The peppers are gradually turning red (loud cheering) and by upping our cucumber rations, and giving one or two to grateful family members, we have just about kept pace with their production.  We could really do with a few days of sunshine to ripen the masses of green tomatoes still growing; it's always a problem to deal with the 'green tomato glut' that is almost inevitable.  We'll see how things develop.

The dismal weather has meant we've needed to find indoor things to do, and thankful there are plenty of those to keep us busy.  A couple of really good ideas have emerged as a result of enforced indoor pottering which we are quite excited about, and I don't think there should be any reason to be bored at all this winter - I need to remind myself of these optimistic words when it's freezing, dark and dreary in a few months' time!  And there has been plenty of sewing and knitting and general craftiness going on, too, so we've kept ourselves busy and productive.  

We're waiting for some news, some very exciting and happy news.  Every time the phone rings, my heart jumps.  One day soon . . . 

In the skies overhead

Sometimes, it seems that we've had a quiet few days, not doing anything special, just this and that around home.  Yet when I come to look back over the week, it's surprising what we've actually done.

From Culver Down we could see St Helens Fort (on the extreme right) ; strange to think we walked to it a couple
of weeks ago

This week has seen events around the country commemorating the 75th anniversary of 'The Hardest Day', a major air battle in the Battle of Britain.  On Tuesday, 18 Spitfires, in three flights of six, took to the skies over southern England.  One of the flight paths included the Island, albeit briefly, and we joined several hundred people on Culver Down to watch.  Telephoto lenses were required, although N did get a photo from a distance, but perhaps it was more a time to reflect on the past.  

Then today, quite out of the blue (no pun intended), a rumble of aircraft engine had us peering into the skies above our house, and we caught sight of the very distinctive delta wings of an RAF Vulcan, and watched with awe as it passed right over our garden.  Another great photo opportunity.  The Vulcan, was apparently participating in a number of events today as part of it's final flying season before it is retired, and we just happened to be on the flight path, again. A pretty incredible sight.

A hint of red ....

.... and now in full technicolour!

The weather has been decidedly un-summery, and I even found myself reaching for a fleece earlier in the week.  In August!  However, in between the rain, we've been fitting in some maintenance jobs inside and out, all of which are on the grand list of things that need to be done this year.  Why we had been putting off doing them I don't know, because as is so often the case, they didn't take any where near as long to do as we thought.  There's been some general tidying up in the garden, too.  The salad crops continue to pay for themselves many times over, and this week we have been delighted to spot our first red pepper - previous years have only ever resulted in green ones which have refused to turn red, so this is a real achievement.  We are hoping it's the first of many.

Flowers, birds . . . and a water slide

These pots of flowers sit on the steps outside the conservatory and provide a lovely splash of colour in the garden.  They're a mixed bunch - quite literally - being the odds and ends I found in the shed earlier this year; marigolds, cornflowers and mesembryanthemums.  The seeds took a long time to germinate, and some didn't germinate at all, and I think it was most likely because on closer examination of the seed packets I noticed that they were all a couple of years out of date.  Oh dear.  However, despite not being 'fresh' seeds, they are blooming away quite happily.  

We're noticing quite a few young birds (recently fledged and still learning) in the garden over the last few weeks, often accompanied by mum or dad to show them the ropes.  Blackbirds, goldfinches, robins and especially green woodpeckers, who frequently wake us up very early in the morning with their distinctive call.  

Yesterday, on our way into town, we spotted an entire family of no fewer than five woodpeckers feeding on the grassy bank.  We were so thrilled to see so many all together we just stood and watched.  All five little heads were nodding up and down as they pecked away, it was great.  My little camera managed the nearest bird but the others were just out of shot.

We finally got the promised rain, but it arrived as a very fine drizzle which hasn't filled the water butts at all and has barely dampened the ground.  It's been a little frustrating for us gardeners who would have preferred a good downpour for a couple of hours but we have to take what comes, weather-wise.  

Now here's something you don't see every day - a giant inflatable water slide running the length of one of the main shopping streets in town.  It was a charity event, people donating for the chance of sliding down the slide (in the rain!)  There didn't seem to be a shortage of sliders, some in fancy dress, and it was certainly different.  Just such a shame the weather was so inclement.  (much better photos on the link)

(First post on the Mac; bit of a learning curve but so much quicker)

From garden to plate (and freezer)

The promised rain turned out to be a bit of drizzle; not really enough to make a difference so we are stepping up the recycling of kitchen water to top up the water butts.  A good downpour would be very welcome for the garden.

The first peas . . . 

. . . and the first courgette

The beginnings of tonight's dinner

Basil leaves - a quick wash before freezing

While I'm currently otherwise occupied during the week, N has taken ownership of the camera to record the latest vegetables to be cropped.  This week has seen the first of the peas picked - and are they sweet! - together with the first courgette of the season.  We usually end up with a glut of these, but they are so useful in winter stews so we will be glad of them later in the year.  The basil has been cropped four times now, and fresh basil - indeed any fresh herb - added to a meal makes such a difference to the taste.  And we are continuing to enjoy salads from the garden - we now have tomatoes (again, the taste is so good), cucumber, beetroot, spring onions, potatoes, lettuce and salad leaves.

I am hoping the fine weather holds over the weekend as I want to start on the side gate and that seems like a do-able project.  And I have just remembered a sewing project that I agreed to do is now only a few weeks away . . . and I haven't even got the fabric yet!  Whoops, how did that happen?  I need to get my skates on with that as time is now most definitely of the essence.

Blooming at last

The rambling/climbing rose has proved itself a winner:

When I think of the state the poor plant was in this time last year, sprawled across the lawn in a tangled mess, it has certainly benefitted from a little tidy-up last autumn.  It is smothered in buds and should be an absolute picture in a few days' time.

Laundry liquid has been made again, using Rhonda's recipe from Down to Earth.  This batch has cost me less than £2.50 and should last for several months (and I know exactly what's in it).  It's been a great weekend for washing - sunny and breezy - the wash basket is empty and everything's put away. 

In this sunny weather it's a real pleasure to spend time pottering in the garden, there's always weeding to do and veggies to crop.  More and more of our meals are accompanied with home-grown produce and there is still so much more goodness to come.  We are definitely winning the battle of the weeds (grim determination on our part) and just a few minutes here and there keeps on top of them.  We must surely reach a point where there are no more pesky weed seeds left lurking in the soil!  

It's been a purposeful weekend with quite a lot achieved and plans and ideas discussed.  A drop of rain wouldn't go amiss for the garden - we now have a small barrel by the back door for 'clean' kitchen water, as there are a lot of crops needing watering now - and there is some rain forecast for this week.  We'll wait and see if we actually get any or not.