Wednesday 4 March 2015

Huffing and puffing








Germs are circling the homestead this week.  Nothing major, just colds and shivers, that kind of thing.  I've taken the children to school in the car for the past two days.  They were making noises about staying at home.  I said something like, "We can go in the car, but you'll have to get ready now".  It worked like a charm thereby avoiding an epic battle.  I felt guilty all day both days though.  And it means I haven't had much exercise, which has left me feeling a bit grouchy.  Maybe the germs are circling me as well.  I've been horribly snappy and grumpy and I feel like I need to run up the road as fast as I can.  I'm in my pyjamas though, so I probably won't.  Although let's not rule it out.

We're still enjoying a few home grown veggies.  I'd been thinking that there was nothing home grown left, but when I really thought about it I found quite a few things.  The last of the onions and garlic, a couple of big turk's turban squashes and one last small ukichi kuri, leeks, the last of the sprouts, a little kale, chard and spinach, in the freezer: the last tub of tomato sauce, borlotti beans, blackcurrants, tayberries and blackberries.  Quite a feast.

I used the last of the little squash to make soup.  Some onions, carrots, red lentils, coconut, ginger and nutmeg.  I put the first few snippings of chives on the top.  It was good, thick and hot and fragrant.

I planted some tomatoes today.  I'm sure I sowed some in February last year, but early March is good enough.  They're tucked up in the nice warm kitchen now.  No heated propagators here, but the kitchen is a cosy place, never particularly cold.  The chillies germinated beautifully, no doubt the tomatoes will too.  I've sown Sungold, which always do well for me, Ferline, which have some blight resistance, Golden Sunrise (thank you Flighty), Mastkotka (thank you Jane) and Totem, which I've seen recommended by a couple of bloggers.  I've also ordered some Orkado seeds, they've had good reviews, and I like to try two or three new varieties every year.  I don't know what it is about them, but growing tomatoes is quite addictive.  They're tricky, and sometimes the yields are really low, really low, but every year I keep on trying with them.

The tree picture is from a very brief walk we did on Sunday.  Everyone let me choose what I wanted to do.  (This almost never happens).  I picked a walk up on the common.  Twenty minutes in and the horizontal icy rain started.  They all wanted to go home.  So we did.  The did manage to climb a quick tree first, and pick up some sticks, do a bit of whittling and I found a golf ball.  So it wasn't a wasted trip.

I'm going to have a bit of a sit on the sofa now with my eyes closed if you don't mind.  Enjoy the rest of the week friends.  CJ xx

41 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good plan to sit on the sofa with your eyes closed. Enjoy and I hope you keep germ free. x

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  2. Lovely photos, I love squash soup, I've sown my tomato seeds too, no germination yet, but the kale and broccoli are sending out wee fuzzy roots. Hope you feel better soon.

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  3. Keep well CJ, there are a lot of germs doing the rounds at the moment. Some time in PJs should help a little and that lovely soup looks like it will help a lot x

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  4. I do so look forward to and enjoy reading your posts. I know exactly how you felt on those two school days as I have been there myself on many an occasion! I know too the feeling of wanting to run about in the fresh air regardless of pyjamas :o) and I also sat on the sofa tonight and wanted to close my eyes but couldn't on account of the enormous chocolate bar I was eating xxx

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  5. Be gone germs!
    I am horrendously behind with seeds this year. Well, with everything really. Can we stop the clock and run February again?

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  6. I'm planning to sit on the couch with my eyes closed this evening? How did you know my plan? I think it's a universal mom thing. I hope everyone feels well soon and that you never get too sick yourself.

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  7. Such adorable little lambs. Do you know why they have numbers painted on their sides?

    Hope all are feeling better soon. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...a sit down on the couch. Sounds like you needed it.

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    1. I don't know why they have numbers, they weren't in a big herd or anything, there were only three of them there!

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    2. Excuse the butting in (no pun intended) The numbers on the lambs show which lamb belongs to which mum, Their mother and any siblings will have the same number. I guess this ensures that if they are moved they are kept together.

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  8. Sounds like an amazing feast!!! And that soup...I need some of that right now as the cold has struck us all down here too. Loving the seedling shots friend! You are on top of your plot planning for sure!!!! Loving those tomato picks!! You take care this week and I hope everyone feels better soon!!! Nicole xo

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  9. R has a severe case of 'man flu' at the moment. So far, everyone else has managed to avoid it, although, given his theatrical sneezing, I'm sure it's only a matter of time! I've never added coconut to squash soup - I'll definitely have to give it a try. Those lambs are adorable too. Hope everyone gets better soon. x

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  10. Hope the germs don't get you CJ. There's some nasty viruses around still - I had a week off last week, so many plans for all that free time and then I spent the entire week in bed, so so ill. So there's been no seed sowing and no blogging, except in my head. Keep well, a little lie down on the sofa is a jolly good idea!

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  11. Lovely photos - and those little lambs!!! So sweet.
    Sounds like you've got quite the hoard still from the allotment. And thankyou for the idea with the soup. I've got a coconut and a squash knocking about so they can now be used.
    It's Germ Central here too. As soon as we shake one nasty illness off another arrives to take its place. I even resorted to gargling with TCP last night. Absolutely disgusting.
    Good for you, taking a bit of time out. Nothing wrong with that.
    S x

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  12. Hope everyones on the mend soon, so good you are still eatting home grown at this time of year the soup great.
    Clare x

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  13. After all the good reviews we have added Mastkotka to our already substantial collection of seeds. Hope that the germs move on soon,

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    1. Yes, I've heard good things about Maskotka too, so it was on my list, then I was lucky enough to win some from Jane at Flowerhouse. Let's hope they're a triumph.

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  14. It's good to get going on the sowing front again, isn't it? All those tiny seeds holding so much promise. I'm a huge fan of Maskotka and I grow Totem too, they're a nice, compact plant. Hope all the germs are gone soon.

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  15. Come in number nine, your time is up!! Just a guess but do the numbers on the lambs correspond with the ear tag on the mums? Or maybe it's a secret code...
    Hope you're all feeling better and fending off those germs xx

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  16. I hope that you're all feeling better now. Thanks for the mention. I'm still deciding what to sow here at home, which I probably won't do for a couple of weeks yet.
    Thanks, and you to. Flighty xx

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  17. definitely a good plan to stay in your pj's if you're under the weather and fighting germs, hope everyone back to full health soon x

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  18. Take care of yourself - you'e probably coming down with what the rest of your family has. It's hard to avoid the germs when children are around. They seem to pollute every surface of the house. I've learned the same is true of grandchildren. :-)

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  19. I am very impressed with all of the food that you have to eat that you've grown yourself! Soup sounds good - I've made a similar recipe in the past - easy to throw together. Turmeric is good for colds - could have thrown a pinch of that in too.

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  20. I'll whisper so as not to disturb you too much! - those lambs are adorable and your soup sounds delish. I hope it helps you to fight off those germs.

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  21. Like your tomato choices. We also always grow Gardener's Delight. I have tried all sorts of alternatives for cherry types but nothing beats it for me so far! You have reminded me that I also need to sow my sweet peas. I have tried autumn sowing for those but the mice always seem to beat me.

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  22. I hope that things with the ickies have improved. Soup and feet up sounds like an excellent plan at this time of year! xx

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  23. Bless your heart, stay in those PJ's and have some tea. Forget about all the germs floating everywhere and just take a few moments for yourself.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  24. I'm so ready for a little warmth now - for growing and to feel a lot healthier...in ridding the germs. Stayed cosy. X

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  25. Gorgeous photos CJ....I love those lambs.
    Hope you are all feeling better soon.
    Have a good weekend
    Jacquie x

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  26. Ohhhhh those lovely lambs, CJ! I'm so glad you took a photo of them and had the energy to post it to share with us :-) My youngest daughter and granddaughters just planted seeds indoors yesterday...some heirloom seeds a friend gave my daughter. It will be fun to see what grows. For my birthday last month my oldest daughter painted a picture with lambs and a cherry tree in it. I posted a picture of it recently that doesn't show the lambs frolicking very well, but some of them are, and I imagine your lambs did as well. One of the most delightful dances of Spring...although the numbers on the sides of your lambs rather worry me... Wishing you and yours good health and happy days :-)

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  27. Whyyyy are those sheep/lambs numbered? I honestly don't even know the difference between a sheep or lamb. Whoops. City girl over here. I think that everyone is just going to be in a crappy mood until it's warm again! I hope that the germs steer clear of you and everyone feels better soon. Also, that soup looks delish! I still have never made a pureed soup!

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  28. Sometimes when I look at lambs I think "yarn on the hoof!" (And sometimes "mmm - chops!") They are so darn cute.

    Primroses and hyacinth and snowdrops, oh my! How lovely they look. And how comforting to see the pot of squash and onions - the soup looks delicious. I can't wait until our chives sprout - have used up all the ones I froze. Have you read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver? If not I think you would enjoy it. Your list of remaining homegrown veggies reminded me of her experience.

    This is a draggy time of year for us too - lots of fatigue, sore muscles, and a desire to sleep. It usually gets better when the weather warms up. :)

    Baby plants are so exciting. Thanks for that photo!

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  29. Yum to the soup. I have one squash left that will probably end up in soup too.
    And yay to the seedlings and a new year of growing.

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  30. I love seeing the numbered lambs in the field across the way here. It's always the same few tearing about like idiots, no mum in sight, maybe even sheep have that wild bunch of children the other mothers keep their offspring away from!

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  31. I hope the germs have gone. Nice to see some seedlings, I haven't sown anything yet, still working out how to puppy proof the garden - getting my allotment plot back is probably the only way. Lovely that you're still reaping the rewards of last year's plantings. Have a great weekend. Jxx

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  32. I love, love, love your silhouette shot! I took one this week after having serious camera envy with the man in my shot and his huge camera lens! However, I smiled when he told me hadn't managed to capture the seal in the river (I had!!). I have yet to see a lamb but will make it as one for my list. I have just taken a look at my greenhouse (or should I say my hubby's winter shed!!) and I think tomorrow will be a sorting out day and then the seeds can reign once more in there rather than drills, hammers, odd bits of wood etc etc. :-) Have a wonderful weekend xx

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  33. That soup looks a big bowl of delicious, always makes you feel better! Let's hope the spring sunshine and fresh air blows away those annoying bugs, bring it on March! :) x

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  34. I never thought I would describe a tree picture as poetic but that's the only word that came to my mind. They should let you pick the walk more often :) x

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  35. Blog catch up night here! I hope everyone is feeling better by now. I love those little yellow flowers close to the ground, whatever they are. I had no idea there are so many different tomato varieties! Have a great Sunday (hopefully not too wet). x

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  36. Lucky you with the tomatoes! We don't have a greenhouse, and it's too cold in Scotland to grow them outdoor successfully. There's nothing to beat a home grown tomato.

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  37. Ugh, germs here too. Hope you're all better now. Since we've moved we have to drive to school and I miss the daily walk to and fro we used to have in Leeds. It sets you up for the day, that blast of fresh air and exercise. Absolutely flipping gorgeous photos here by the way. xx

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