The unbearable rusticness of parsnips

A busy week so far.  On Monday I went to the big shops for paint.  On Tuesday I decorated the littlest boy's room.  It was a very long day, but I was so pleased to get it all done and dusted.  Something to cross off of The List!  It was touch and go whether he would get home from school and burst into tears, given his current emotionalness, but thankfully it all went okay.  He would of course have very much liked to help me paint (oh my), but he was happy and so I was happy.  I do like adding little touches to his room to make it cosy for him.  A picture here, a rug there, a lightshade, a quilt.

 Today I thought I'd go to the allotment, but then it rained.  But then I had an email saying that some of the sheds in the plots around mine had been broken into.  And then the sun came out.  So off I went...

My shed is right at the end of this path.

The view across to the park.  Sometimes I miss having a little pre-school boy with me, and I sigh a little sigh.

Here we are, my plot.  And all looks well.

Fortunately my shed hadn't been touched.  It has an odd door that looks like it used to be a door to somewhere else.  And the keyhole looks like it's upside down and the lock turns in the opposite way to that which you would expect.  I suspect it may have previously been a portal to an alternative reality.  The shed's fairly solid and doesn't have any windows, and I think all of these things are in it's favour when it comes to break-ins.  They don't make them like this at B&Q.

A quick look at my plot.  Not a thing of beauty at the moment.  And no things at all to pick.  Could do better.

This is a whole garlic bulb that got left in the ground last year.  I haven't had the heart to pull it up, it's trying so hard.  But I don't imagine the new bulbs will be very big.  I think I might keep it just to see what happens.

This is a plum tree on a neighbouring plot.  Trees aren't allowed to be taller than 7' otherwise The Lady With The Clipboard sends you a stiff letter.  When Gardener's Question Time came to our town, Bob Flowerdew suggested hanging glass bottles on it to make it a sort of weeping plum.  It always looks striking.

I like looking out for quirky things at the allotments.  There used to be a plot with lots of sculpture made from recycled bits and bobs.  Wonderful it was.  This shed is fantastic.  Look at that window.  How I love re-using.

I stumbled across a big crop of raspberries on my way out.  Masses of them.   In December!  No-one appeared to be picking them.  Such a shame.  If the littlest boy had been with me he would have helped himself to one or two.  I try and stop him and I explain he can't have things from other plots, but you know, small boys and temptation.

This is the view from the bottom of the site back up towards the high street.  The yellow house on the right is up for sale, and I kind of wish it was mine, even though it's on a main road.  It would be so handy for the allotments, no?  I saw Kirsty Allsop standing outside it the week before last, with a couple and a camera crew.  I had to resist the urge to rush up to her and show her a craft project.  Or take her down to the allotment and show her my exciting garlic.  You'll be happy to hear I played it cool and retained my dignity.  Of which there actually isn't much, but still.

The site wheelbarrows are kept leaning against this wall by the gate.  Several of them were painted red for the summer carnival - "The Red Barrows".  I don't know how they went down, we're always on holiday when the carnival happens.  

It was only a flying allotment visit, on my way to Tesco.  I'm well aware of the irony of going there to buy the family vegetables on my way back from the allotment.  But let's not dwell on that.  As I said, I shall try harder next year.  

While I was in the splendid Tesco store, I spotted these.

Rustic parsnips!  I was so excited, I've only ever had ordinary ones before.  Although to the untrained eye they do look quite similar.  Apologies for the poor photo, but it was all I could do to take my camera out in the middle of my local store (where there is always someone I know lurking nearby when I'm buying chips, ice-cream and cake).  I managed a quick snap, but standing around changing camera settings was a chutzpah too far.  I wouldn't want people to think I'm odd or anything.

I didn't buy the parsnips, as it happens.  But I shall try growing some next year.  If I can just find some properly rustic seeds.