Friday 7 August 2015

And the summer winds on















A messy post-holiday week.  The allotment and garden are scruffy and in need of some attention.  There's a long list of uniform things and bedroom re-arranging things to be attended to.  But there have been simple moments of enjoyment.  A long game of Monopoly with the littlest boy, who had been desperate for someone to play with him for ages.  A trip to a park in Bristol that everyone likes.  We passed a couple of gypsy caravans on the way, old fashioned ones, I always think of them as vardoes.  On the way home they had set up camp by the side of the main road.  It's hard to find pitches these days I think.

We found the book at the library.  It jumped out at me after the hours spent skimming stones on holiday.  We found some elder in the back lane and had a go at making elder whistles.  They didn't work, but the pleasure was in the whittling I think.  Especially for the littlest boy who was allowed a go with a knife and a hacksaw.

The best surprise at the allotment was the mass of Japanese wineberries.  The sun shines through them and they glow, it was quite magical.  There was a cucumber the size of my arm.  I forgot to pick them before we went away.  Masses of beetroot and beans and sweet peas.  But I do feel that the garden and allotment haven't done as well this year.  Maybe a lack of attention, maybe it's just one of those years.  The runner beans are looking miserable, as are the swedes.  There have been hardly any strawberries and the squashes don't look particularly prolific.  The onions were small, oh I could pick fault with almost everything.  But still, there's always something to harvest at the moment so I shan't complain.  The tomatoes have started ripening.  Orkado looks promising.  I always like to try a new variety or two every year, in the search for the most reliable ones.

The circus came to a nearby village.  A bit pricey for us, plus I didn't realise they were there until we happened upon them.  We watched the acrobats do a warm-up tumble or two within their circle of caravans, and the lady in her costume checking tickets and a man cantering his horse up and down the village green before the show started.  I'd have loved to have taken the younger two to watch.  Maybe next time.

I watched my first cricket match last weekend.  I got to sit in a deckchair in the sun, it was lovely.  I even picked up a bit of knowledge.  Although as that was the last match of the season I shall probably have forgotten it all by next year.  But for now I can do the sign for a four and a boundary and for when you're out.  I like to do it at the kitchen window when they're playing in the garden.

Football training started again this week, and there's a pre-season friendly tomorrow.  And the blackberries are ripe.  Onwards, always onwards.  I hope you're having a good summer, enjoy the weekend.  CJ xx

32 comments:

  1. It's been a really odd year for veggie growing, not just you. You're ahead with your blackberries though. They are still well and truly greenberries here.

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  2. It sounds like you're having a nice summer, CJ. I'm sorry your vegetables aren't doing better this year but you seem to have a good attitude about them. The fruit trees did very poorly here, which has been disappointing for me. Normally, by this time in the summer I'd have apples galore but this year they're sparse and what we do have is bug-ridden. Hopefully next year will be better for both of us. I hope you have a good weekend.

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  3. I cannot tell you how excited I got over seeing the gypsy caravan! I am completely enthralled with them! Oh how I would like to see inside of their cute little rolling home. We leave for our camp at the lake in 4 days! We'll be living like gypsies for almost 2 weeks. :-) I can't wait to hang my rainbow bunting around our shade canopy. Enjoy the rest of your summer - fall will be here in the blink of an eye. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. This has been the summer for the heat lovers. Sweet pears would have been vaporized long time ago- I love sweet peas but I have given up growing them. Blackberries are so good, I'm sure you will enjoy your crop!

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  5. Ah brill, I was wondering what those red berries were...wineberries. I was clearing photos off the iPad last night ('cause it's full) and looking back at this time last year....I had so much more to pick, masses of beans, cukes, courgettes, plus apples in a couple of weeks, everything is definitely late but starting to get there now. Blackberries have properly got started and will needed picking every couple of days or so....my freezer will be full soon!

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    Replies
    1. PS your garden and allotment still look beautiful and more cared-for than mine, and I haven't been away!

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  6. I do love a photo of an apple tree, especially against an old wall... We're going to buy a little tree or two for the new garden. Those blackberries look good too. Joe says he's growing oranges and bananas when we move; not sure where he thinks we're going...
    Ditto here on the poor strawberry harvest. The broad beans were disappointing too.
    Wonderful pics of the circus and gipsy caravans. If the circus is Gifford's, I'd love to go but they don't venture up this way.
    Glad you enjoyed the cricket. Next year will be even better, especially if the ground's in a nice spot. You can observe the seasons turning week by week.
    Have a lovely weekend, hope the sun shines on the allotment :)
    S x

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  7. The allotment looks pretty marvellous from here in your pics. Maybe nature is having one of those years where you are? Ours are all doing well but I expect it will be our turn for a less productive veggie time next year, in the way of these things.
    Am impressed with your cricked know-how. My husband despairs of mine. Part of the fun is to see him raise his eyebrows and shake his head sadly. Well done to the Littlest One for his professional handling of knife and hacksaw- it'll be chisels next (watch out....) :o) xx

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  8. What a coincidence that you mention Japanese wineberries as this year it looks as though we will have the first picking even though it has been planted some years.

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  9. Those Japanese wineberries look very exotic. I'm now wondering what they taste like. Veggies have been a bit disappointing at this end of the country too. It has been so dry here but not much sun to ripen things. Blackberries too - is autumn on the way? Surely not!

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  10. My patch has struggled too & over abundance of cabbages & smatterings of other things & only the one courgette! Love the wineberries I want some for the front garden to eat as well as seeing the sun shine through them. Elder whittling sounds exciting xx

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  11. Your allotment is looking in pretty good shape to me, I am ashamed of my little plot at the moment. We have had so many visitors that there is not enough hours in the day to catch up with the garden. Its my priority for this weekend.

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  12. i used to love whittling when i was young -- i never actually tried to make anything i don't think -- it was just very satisfying to do the actual whittling. :)

    even your scruffy veg patches put mine to shame. harvest has been a bust so far this year -- other than the wild raspberries and the early peas -- a combination of turkeys and drought have me looking ahead to next year.....;)

    those wineberries are very exotic-looking. dare i ask -- are you meant to make wine from them? [a noble pursuit, i must say]

    xo

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  13. Sounds like quite an exciting time when the circus comes to town. Love the picture of the horse and cart.

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  14. An enjoyable post and lovely pictures. I'm envious of your tomatoes as I've had just one red one so far, with few more to come. Flighty xx

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  15. Lovely summer memories. Our blackberries (though we call the fruit brambles here) are hard and green, or even still at the flower stage, which is fine, no rush!

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  16. We kept vegetable growing to a minimum this year because of puppy, but I couldn't do without growing some beans, toms and courgettes. Unfortunately the runners are struggling, although we have a few flowers and some tiny beans coming so we're still living in hope. Love the look of those Japanese wineberries! Jxx

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  17. I love this post. Am I allowed to say that your holiday time sounds more like a Famous Five adventure than real life? Whittling whistles? Gypsy caravans? Circus performers? All you need to tell me is that the circus was actually a cabal of russioan spies undercover to make it perfect summer reading!

    Actually, I may well have to go and find my favourite FF book to read; which one first? Five go Off in a Caravan, or Five have Plenty of Fun?

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  18. We saw a gypsy caravan this week too - I don't think I've ever seen one in use before. I love the sound of making an elder whistle and the produce from your allotment always impresses me - my toms seem few and far between this year and not a single ripe one yet. Enjoy your book. xx

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  19. What an idyllic way to spend the holidays. You must go to see Gifford's Circus next year - I went with my littlest about ten years ago and it was fantastic - they're very much an old-fashioned, traditional circus rather than a glitzy, modern affair. I think they have a website. My little boy really loved it and he still remembers it to this day. Judy.

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  20. Hello CJ, I've just discovered your lovely blog. We too have an allotment and I created a post about it last weekend with photos you might enjoy seeing. Best wishes, Fiona - Lucy's Cottage

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  21. We used to spend a lot of time sitting under trees whittling and making 'things'. At this age cricket is over almost before it gets going. Just as well cricket trousers come with about 6 inches of hem. Watching the Test highlights last night reminded me of the times my son used to go with his cricket club in their whites up to the Oval and entertain the crowd at lunchtime by playing a short match and I will never forget listening to the cricket commentary on the radio while rowing on the river Wey with an 11 and nine year old. Don't worry about the allotment too much. I always used to neglect mine during the summer holidays, it was enough to go every other day for harvesting. Come September it will be there ready and waiting for you.

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  22. Hey CJ,
    I don't think it's just you; I'm rather disappointed with garden and plot too. I have had to content myself with what is rather than what isn't. So yay for tomatoes, cues and courgettes. And boo to
    all beans, dahlias and gooseberries.
    Leanne xx

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  23. Well we know my small garden was rubbish this year so anything you are getting from yours is fantastic in comparison. Love that you are taking the time to enjoy the summer, lazy days and also those filled with adventures.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  24. Wow - a real Gypsy caravan! Break out the Van Morrison. That is definitely not something we see here in the US. The closest thing to that on the road would be Amish buggies. (Though the lifestyle is quite different!) Those red berries are impressive - similar to our red raspberries, but much fuzzier.

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  25. What beautiful photos. The post-holiday week can be hard but it sounds like you're settling back in. The start of the football season and the blackberries remind me that we are drifting into late summer already. xx

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  26. blackberries, warm from the sun ... oh, summer, hurry up.
    and I would say your allotment looks wonderful!

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  27. Lovely photos; sounds like a good week. Your allotment looks great from here! We've had mixed results too but are enjoying delicious tomatoes at the mo. Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Sam x

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  28. Your summer sounds pretty blissful so far - time with the boys, whittling and skimming stones, and cricket. You gesturing benignly out of the kitchen window - all you need now is a ridge tent in the back garden, a rope swing and a little wood fire to toast marshmallows on twigs and you'll have taken me back to my own childhood! There are highs and lows in the veg garden here but at last I'm moving on from kale and broad beans to french beans and tomatoes! And soon there will be pears and apples - yay! Wishing you continued summer enjoyment, Caro xx

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  29. Aw I just love that you guys do things besides sit in the house and play video games. Your boys were whittling, how cute. Also I wish I saw real gypsy caravans!!!!!!! That is so cool! I'm glad you didn't go to the circus because they are mean to animals!!!!

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  30. I'm happy to be harvesting anything this year, the plot has been somewhat neglected so anything I get is a bonus. It looks like it's going to be a good tomato year though, the plants are loaded with fruit. Do give Maskotka another go, they're not compact plants, they grow fairly tall for a bush variety and they sprawl somewhat but they do give such a good yield and the tomatoes they produce taste delicious. I have to stake my plants otherwise they'd topple over, they're so heavy with all the fruit.

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  31. Lovely images as always the wine berries look stunning in your picture too. Your allotment looks better than our vegetable plot. The dry weather hasn't helped with the vegetable growing this season. The book that you picked up from the library looks good did it give you the idea of making the elder whistles? Sarah x

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