Tuesday 30 August 2016

A little catch up






Hi everyone, thanks for all your comments on my last post, I'm afraid I just haven't had the time to reply to them, but I am reading them all and they are much appreciated.  Our t'internet may disappear anytime (that's another tale of the previous owner not cancelling any of his services!) so I thought I would update you on some of our teeny tiny progress.....well it is too blooming hot to be doing so much physical stuff!!






 The fruit bushes are being choked by all the bindweed so I have been clearing them the best I can, damn stuff is everywhere.  They haven't been pruned for I don't know how long so they will be getting a good haircut later in the year.  Busy googling how to prune fruit bushes.



I don't know why I worried about Ziggy Stardust, she is such a lazy cat she can't be arsed to go out anyway.  She mooched around the outside of the house, totally ignored the lovely big garden for her to explore and decided to have a nosy under the decking instead.  She now spends her time in the conservatory looking out through the open door.



 I really could spend every evening just looking at the sunset and beautiful cloud formations.






I'm trying to think of things to do with the hundreds of grapes in the poly.   This lot are destined for the freezer, I love frozen grapes, I could probably fill a whole freezer with the grapes we have so many.  I thought I would also try grape jam as well as making some into raisins.  Thanks for the tip with the Aga Dawn,  the warming oven is a bit temperamental at the moment, but will do this in the future.  Sue - I have bought a cold shelf so that should help with cakes etc when I get around to it, again thanks for the tip I had never heard of such a thing.

The grandchildren visited and loved the ride on mower, grampa was not impressed when my granddaughter and I cut some figures of eight in the lawn.  They loved 'grazing' the raspberries, blackberries and grapes and are hoping the kiwis will be ready when they come down next.  There was also plenty of space for the big kids to play cricket and football without balls going into neighbours gardens.

As it's a Bank Holiday weekend we have had more time to tackle the garden, we have found all sorts of things including a rat.  I cut down a huge tree/shrub thing that was taking over the garden and in danger of bringing the fence down.  Now we just have to dig up the roots!



We have cleared around the oil tank, and I set up my compost bin for kitchen waste and have been burning the bindweed, though I think it will take forever to get rid of it for good.




It was Cornwall Pride on Saturday so we took a break from the toil to celebrate and help carry the rainbow flag.  Such a wonderful day and the sun shone again this year so the picnic in the park was a perfect end to the Parade.  


We also had a visit from a neighbour calling in on the horse and trap as you do.



As with my last post, I am knackered, covered in bruises and scratches, a tree hit me on the head just to spite me as I was cutting it down and a seagull shat on my head on the way to the Parade........but I don't regret taking on this project for a minute.  We will get it all done eventually, seeing deer grazing in the field on our evening walk and the bearded one spotting a white barn owl in our barn!! makes it all worth it.

Chickpea xx

Oh and I found my iPad, I was beginning to get a bit worried after over 2 weeks, I really don't remember putting in the blanket box.  Now hunting for the slow cooker.......



26 comments:

  1. We had a kiwi tree over hanging out back fence, the fruits were always hard as rocks, out neighbour cut it down, which is a shame because the blossom is beautiful.

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    1. Ours are hard as rocks, don't know if they will ripen

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  2. Great progress, I dont envy you with bindweed, its such a shame its a thug as it has such pretty flowers, look up grape juice that is a good one to do, there is also good old fashioned wine you will need a glass or two after all that work :-)

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    1. Yes wine would be good for a future project when we have more time, will look up juice recipes thanks :)

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  3. Raisins for the grapes?

    Fruit bushes - if they're anything like my raspberry / young berry bushes I tend to lob off those branches which show signs of previous year / season fruiting.

    I love sunrise and sunsets too. Living in a valley I was deprived of them for 18 years. Now - I can't get enough of either of them either 😀

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    1. Yes, I have a dehydrated so I will give them a go, I really like the sound of home made raisins.

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  4. Now is the ideal time to do the raspberries assuming they are the summer fruiting ones and not the Autumn. Just cut down to the ground any brown branches, they are last years canes and the ones that bore fruit this year, don't cut out the green canes, they are the new canes and will bare your fruit next year. if you leave it too long before cutting out all the old growth you will not be able to tell which is old and which is new. Hope this makes sense to you.

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    1. I'm not sure if some of them are Autumn as they have young berries on them and raspberries still ripening

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  5. Damn seagulls. You sound content. Thats really nice to read. Good luck with the weeds

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  6. Sounds like you are settling in nicely. Love ziggy stardust. He definitely looks like he has settled in. Never realised you could freeze grapes, what a good idea :) B X

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    1. Yes eat them frozen, lovely cooling snacks

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  7. Is there a greengrocer in the vicinity who would be pleased to take your surplus fruit? Despite all the work to be done, you do sound truly content in your new home. So pleased for you.xx

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    1. A lot of them are still bitter, will give them a while to see if they ripen.

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  8. Sounds like you deserve a large glass of wine! I had lots of grapes last year but never thought to make raisins, will do this year xxxx

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  9. You are doing really well! We have had to focus most of our time indoors in terms of jobs, but have also spent loads of time outside admiring the sky and clouds.
    We have a whole food shop in the town who will sell on surplus produce for us if necessary - might be worth looking in to? X

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    1. Yes our indoors needs a lot of work as well, holes in walls and pink flaking paint yuk, but thought we would get outside work done while we have the light evenings after work.

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  10. Ha Ha Ha,I can feel a book coming on.Love the pics of what's been happening.I love Ziggy she is soooo pretty,glad she is being lazy and just chillin hee hee.Good Luck with it all but don't over do it now ya hear.Huggles xxx

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    1. I think I'll just stick with the blog, no time for anything else :)

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  11. Hey Chickpea,
    Yes, yes, yes. It is all worth it. You are living my future dream. I cannot wait to have my own polytunnel!
    Leanne xx

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    1. I'm looking forward to getting started in the polytunnel when the grapes die back a bit!

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  12. It sounds as though it is all go but in a good way! Hope that the settling in keeps going well, sounds as though the garden will soon be in order under your watchful eye and pruning equipment! Hope that the AGA goes well. xx

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    1. I think the AGA needs servicing, the simmering oven is burning everything :(

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  13. What a fantastic post, sorry I have been a bit absent been offline for a few weeks. It sounds like you have been really busy but you sound so happy and upbeat! Wonderful :)

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    1. Thanks sustainablemum, it has been busy but good :)

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I love reading your comments and will try to reply to all you lovely people xx Spam will be deleted so don't even bother!