12 months (Jun&Jul)

June 2016

The start of June signalled a very important birthday for mum and as I headed off to see her for a week M was left to look after the house, animals and plants. We also experienced a mini heatwave which lasted for 2-3 weeks and was most unexpected but wonderful nevertheless.

We had spent the spring watching and waiting for leaves to appear on the trees and trying daily to spot which buds had started to develop first.

Perhaps it was like waiting for a kettle to boil but I was amazed at the difference in the woods when I returned after my week away. It looked as if the leaves had all appeared at once. The above photos showed the difference in just one month.

 

The veg patch was thriving with potatoes, beans (broad and runner), peas, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and sweetcorn. However, the weeds were another issue, the creeping buttercups were getting everywhere and seemed to grow overnight.

  

We decided that we didn't want to wait until next year to get pigs and so planned a suitable spot for their ark. While I was away M started preparing the pig area and after lots of strimming and grass cutting the fencing began. I was most impressed as the fencing was completed really quickly and now all we had to do was wait patiently for the arrival of the pig ark.

 

The baths were proving to be really useful with an array of garlic, onions, salad and carrots. This was definitely the best crop of carrots we have ever had and only a fraction of those we grew. As the baths were raised above the ground we did not have to contend with carrot fly and this was one success which we hoped to repeat again.

 

As summer was in full swing we were able to enjoy the flowers around the garden and the promise of flowers in the many, many pots we had planted up. However, we were slightly disappointed that once the daffodils had died back that there was very little colour left in the garden and so M started to plan some flower beds.

 

In an attempt to get some instant colour we bought a couple of half price hanging baskets and planted up a couple of old baskets we found. They did look surprisingly good although the bought ones were a bit brighter.

I had been dreaming of having a fully functional kitchen again and couldn't wait to get started with baking. Some fruit scones were the first experiment although it had been a long time since I'd baked scones and they were extremely small but tasty, more practise required declared M. Next up were cheese and chorizo scones, they were heavenly but unfortunately didn't last very long and there are only a few in the top left of the photo, they were something delicious that I would have to try again. 

 

The greenhouse filled up really quickly with tomato, jalapeno and pepper plants. However, it soon became apparent that we didn't need quite so many in future, once the tomato plants were established there was less and less space between the rows. We did manage to squeeze a pot of sweet potatoes in but that was an experiment as we had no idea what to do with them.

We hadn't realised how long the days would be in June when it didn't get dark until almost 11pm and we frequently had the most beautiful sunsets to enjoy.

At the end of June I finally finished my C2C blanket from The Patchwork Heart. I had started this way back in December but it took a back seat as the weather improved and we were spending so much more time outside. I also couldn't decide on a border and ripped it out a couple of times until I was happy. On the bright side I had tennis to keep me company as Wimbledon had started and with the red button there were heaps of matches to watch.

July 2016

We had so many plans for July that, sadly, tennis viewing was relegated to evenings only. There was flower planting, pig preparation, harvesting and preserving to get on with, to name but a few activities.

 

Keen to get stuck in to the garden, M dug out the prospective flower bed to include the area where we had planted out our roses. Once it had been rotivated and compost added we began the planting, actually M did the planting as he was much better at the colour combinations than me. Some of the plants were from seed, some from cuttings taken last year and a few from the hospital corner at the local garden centre (I always hated spending lots of money on plants).

The final piece of the kitchen/den jigsaw was completed with the arrival of our new chairs. We had promised ourselves a little treat and we weren't disappointed. M wanted a swivel chair so it was easy to interact between the kitchen and den and I wanted a comfy chair to curl up in - mission accomplished.

Having spent so much time working around the house and garden we decided we needed a little treat and off to the Open we went. We managed to get twilight tickets and from 4-8pm did a lot of celebrity spotting, we got seats at the 13th hole and saw loads of the big names. (We even spotted ourselves on tv that night.) It had been one of the hottest days of the year and as we passed a lot of badly burned people we were glad we hadn't gone for the whole day. M had got a new selfie stick which we couldn't resist trying out but we needed a little more practise. We also had a long time friend come to stay for a few days which provided us with a great excuse to test out some local restaurants. Even Jess and Finn got spoilt rotten in the local pub.

 

Harvesting began in earnest. We lifted our garlic which we were slightly disappointed with and think it had been planted too late and missed the frosts. On the other hand we had a glut of broad beans and peas and much of my time was spent blanching and freezing veg. Having planted early and main crop potatoes we lifted a couple of plants to see how they were getting on and were pleasantly surprised.

There were numerous brambles, gooseberry and currant plants around the farm so many of the fruit also ended up in the freezer until I could decide what to do with them. I had always loved panna cotta and decided to give it a go and even managed to make a fruit coulis from some raspberries we found. It was so simple and absolutely gorgeous although the sauce was really too sweet so would have to be changed for next time.

Having been to the Open we couldn't resist a trip to the Ladies Scottish Open. It was great to see that they were playing a pro-am group as well and we walked nearly a whole round following Naga Munchetty (am), her husband James (am), Laura Davies (England - pro) and Caroline Hedwall (Sweden-pro). We took the plunge and booked our first golf lesson, it seemed wrong not to have a go when there were so many courses around us.

 

Oh the excitement, the pig ark arrived!!! Yes, we were going to wait until the next day to erect it but as per usual we couldn't wait. It was incredibly easy to put together and fun too.

 

Yes, we had to get inside and see what it was really like. Now all we had to do was get the straw in, set up the feeding area and wait until our pigs arrived.

This was a busy time of year with successional sowing of salad crops, wild flowers and some late greens plus trying to keep on top of the grass and weeds. In addition to all that M had painted the entrance at the back door as it had the same pine panelling and yellow and green theme from the old kitchen. He also painted the laundry room as the old pipe work from the stove had been removed and the place was a bit of a mess. To cap it all, his wine production line was in full flow and we were fortunate to have some dull days as an excuse to get inside jobs done.

12 months (Apr&May)

April 2016

The new month began with rain and wind which enabled us to catch up on boring paperwork and a vague attempt to clean the house and try to get rid of some plaster dust.

 

I thought I'd start with a quick catch up on the kitchen saga: plaster dried, walls and ceilings painted and lights and sockets fitted, floor sanded, oh it almost felt like a room again.

 

We had decided to stain the wooden floor in the kitchen a dark brown as a contrast to any other woodwork as we didn't think we'd be able to match it. Despite pushing the workmen to finish the floor it was down to M to put 2 layers of stain and 2 layers of varnish on. We just never thought the kitchen would be finished if we didn't chivvy them along. Delays continued through April, sometimes I think it's just us being unlucky again with builders, but promises of work being completed dragged through the days and weeks. We spent the majority of April waiting for workmen to appear just to have no shows or an excuse of "I can't do that until ... is completed first". I have to admit that my patience ran out and I had to leave M to deal with them in case I said something I might regret. Eventually the actual kitchen fit began on the 7th, it'll only take 3 days they said... more next month.

Anyway, aside from the kitchen lots was going on. One of the things I loved about this time of year was the start of plants, flowers and seedlings emerging and the promises held therein. I think I was most pleased with my tiny oak trees as they started to grow from the acorns I planted last year. In anticipation of my greenhouse being built I (avoiding the builders) spent a lot of time cleaning and painting my old potting benches and my wooden greenhouse staging.

 

However, the best thing to happen during April was the realisation of the greenhouse from a grass field to a little growing micro-environment. I just couldn't wait to fill it up. M even made me a ramp for the greenhouse, painted green as there was a lot of that paint left!

  

It probably seemed a little silly but I was so chuffed with the first fruits of our labour and the radishes flourished under the cloches with the first picked in mid April. One of the spare baths (near the greenhouse) had been planted with cuttings of willow at the end of last year and by now they were all sprouting, oh how it warms the soul to see these growing. We also planted out the seed potatoes under the plastic to try to give them an extra couple of weeks of warmth before exposure to the elements. We had 3 huge patches of snowdrops in the woods which had become so overgrown that they needed to be lifted and divided. I didn't realise it would be such a massive job but with a wheelbarrow full of bulbs we transplanted them across a large area of the woods. Hopefully they will manage to survive to next year.

One thing I had always wanted was a quad and after convincing M that we really didn't need to get a tractor (it's not really a big smallholding) we began our research and my dream came true.

While I was busy sowing seeds, pricking out and potting up flowers, fruit and veg M had been pottering in his barn. From a selection of pallets and old telegraph poles (given to us by the electricity company) he had produced his first bench. Thankfully we had the quad and trailer to take it out to the woods where we positioned it facing south to capture the best of the sunlight.

The month ended with a lovely visit from relatives which meant a thorough clean of the guest room (above), it was incredible how much dust and grime had accumulated. Although the kitchen wasn't finished it was usable and so we sent the workmen away for week of peace. It was lovely to get out of the house exploring new towns and villages and continuing our quest for the perfect jam and cream scone, despite the freak snow showers.

May 2016

Where April ended like winter, May began like summer and we were able to get outside and enjoy the outdoor jobs while the workmen continued with the kitchen.

A final few words on the kitchen!! 

 

After yet more delays the project was finally finished on 25th May, the day before the carpet was to be fitted in the 'den' side and 2 days before our visitors arrived.

 

It was with great joy we celebrated the final farewell to Billy the builder (although to be honest he never did say goodbye to me) and the next day we had carpet - yay!! We loved the kitchen and were really pleased with how it all turned out in the end. So to summarise, the 3 week project last 13 weeks, we definitely learnt a lot and in the future hoped to do most of the rest of the house ourselves and in our own time. Now we could really get on with all the fun stuff.

 

M had a tidy in the byre and managed to clear 3 stalls for me to put all my gardening stuff, although it was a bit of a mess it was great to have everything together and to be able to find things again.

 

The woods were coming to life again and the buds were starting to open to reveal the leaves which we hoped to identify. We already knew we had lots of Conifer, Willow and Ash and a couple of Horse Chestnuts but now we could start to put names to some of the others. In addition to those already identified we spotted Birch, Beech, Larch, Rowan, Alder, Oak, Sycamore, Lime, Hazel and a few more apple trees. The sun in the afternoon fell on the orange bench and was a lovely secluded little place for a rest. The greenhouse had filled up and we had erected the netting ready for when the runner beans were big enough to go out.

In the middle of May we were excited to spot a duck and 7 ducklings swimming in the midden, they were so cute and were sharing their days between our midden and the neighbouring farm's. Unfortunately everyday we saw them there appeared to be one less duckling until the mummy was left alone. She did stay for a few weeks on her own but hopefully I managed to persuade M to build a duck house for them next year.

The new fruit trees were all doing well and although we didn't expected any fruit for a few years we were pleasantly surprised to see some blossom appearing.

 

I have always liked to be frugal when it comes to planting, I got a lot of plants from the hospital corners in garden centres and saved seeds and bulbs and took cuttings to increase our stock of flower plants. Our motto with planting was often 'it'll live or die', we laughed that Monty Don would have been horrified by some of our gardening skills and techniques. I viewed this time as a learning curve, we tried lots of different plants and methods and hoped to discover what worked for us and the climate. There were many successes and a few failures but thankfully we were able to fill all our pots and baskets with flowers and had lots of fruit and veg on the go.

 

Along with our newly acquired rhododendron we purchased 2 other cheap ones from a local supermarket. We were both amused and frustrated to find that the 'expensive' one did not have a single flower while the cheapy ones were beautiful.

 

The month ended with long, bright sunny days, lots of grass cutting and a house full of relatives - bliss.