tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31578504782345823692024-03-10T09:03:05.348-07:00Cornish ChickpeaChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.comBlogger296125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-81644750340400394962017-07-15T11:56:00.000-07:002017-07-16T01:26:37.613-07:00Yep I'm still here<br />
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Yes I know it's been a while but...... well you know what it's like, I keep meaning to write a post then life throws yet something else at you. I have been rather reclusive, there seems to be bad news all around, too much to cope with at times so I have withdrawn in to myself. Pulled the covers over my head and shut out the world. There is such heartbreaking news everywhere, the world seems a very cruel place to me at the moment, thank goodness for my peaceful little haven where I can potter in the garden and watch the wildlife. I know I take everything to heart, I always have. I worry about the planet, want to protect every animal from cruelty and fear for my fellow humans. Now I am cautiously dipping my toes back in the water and facing up to the world again. <br />
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So here's a quick update as I know how I feel when a blogger just disappears without a word. I'm not saying I'm going to disappear, just that I can't promise to post regularly at the moment. Our son is back to work full time and making the most of his time before his next operation which will be next year sometime. The bearded ones father died a few weeks ago so he is still coming to terms with it, all very sad really. Work is horrible at the moment, all stats and saving money rather than patient centred. I left you with some very sad looking plants in my poly tunnel on my last post but despite the best efforts of all sorts of creatures, things are growing rapidly and probably too crazy as I'm sure I should be keeping them under some sort of control but haven't had the time. I am reaping the rewards and cooking up some lovely meals with the homegrown produce. So chuffed about that :) <br />
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The photos were taking a few weeks ago so everything is much bigger now and looking more like a jungle everyday. I picked my first mini yellow tomato today, the yellow courgette was twice as big when I picked that today and made courgette fritters. Cucumbers are ticking over nicely, I have been growing minis as only two of us eat them. The pattypan plant is huge now and I can't walk up that side of the poly, and the outside squashes are taking over everything!! I didn't realise they grew so humungous!!<br />
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I thought this was a courgette, then thought it was a cucumber, now I realise it is a crooked neck squash. It doesn't help that the writing rubbed off all the labels so I have to guess what things are<br />
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The garlic have been pulled and are now drying.<br />
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Mini yellow cucumbers.</div>
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I have dug up all the early potatoes and stored them.<br />
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So for my first year and first attempt at many new types of vegetables, I am pleased with the progress so far. Just have to keep my fingers crossed they don't get blight and any other nasties.<br />
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We have eight Housemartin nests. One was washed away in the terrible weather we had a few weeks ago with the loss of the chicks. So upsetting to come home from work and see their little bodies with the parents frantically flying around. They now have a new nest in the pool pump house, every time I go for a swim I get attacked as they try to drive me away from their chicks. I'm considering wearing a hard hat when I go swimming from now on.<br />
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I have been vegan for six and a half months now, I have been doing a lot of reading around the subject to ensure I am eating healthily, I have been vegetarian for 27 years but a vegan diet means being even more careful to get all the vitamins and minerals I need. <br />
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I now have my electric car and the battery for the solar panels has at last been fitted, we will now be able be more efficient and use the power from this rather than the grid in the evenings. I'm getting a bit obsessed with looking at how much power we are using and constantly thinking of ways to use less. The dishwasher, washing machine and oven seem to take ridiculous amounts. Dinner was cooked in the slow cooker this evening, and I will be looking into lots of other ways to use less energy. It will help when our son moves out and there are just two of us again. He is buying a new house which of course is taking forever. Why are the solicitors so flipping slow!!<br />
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Well I can't think of anything else for now, stay safe and well my friends,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-90886179565657745502017-05-06T08:30:00.001-07:002017-05-06T08:30:29.961-07:00The Not So Good Life<br />
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I sort of had visions of this idyllic self sufficient life wandering around my garden full of home grown veg and wildlife.......the reality is somewhat different. I have spent weeks covered in compost and manure as I make my no dig veg beds only for the wildlife to eat everything I'm trying to grow. I go out in the morning to watch the beautiful sunrise only to find rabbit fur and birds feathers scattered across the garden where the wildlife are eating each other.<br />
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I love seeing the foxes but not the smell of fox poo when the dogs have rolled in it everyday.....yes you two!<br />
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I loved seeing the stag but he has killed one of the trees and I don't think another will survive.<br />
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Badgers and rabbits are digging holes in the garden and I have millions of ants making impressive mounds in the middle of my veg beds.<br />
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To top it all my tomato plants are looking sick and probably about to kick the bucket. I think our hunger gap is going to last all year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hPsh4b-_UJCeIziAO25A-PKZfcgb7qcWtVUisqSeqoB2Zd6SgJxTlQYZvE_swlwv1__my5HdDVFC_TonUs9NPinKJBDS9wUn4ezKWl48Qo87a5ZUfkS9iZowG3PZ8HQh5ba6KfnWmC8/s1600/IMG_8063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hPsh4b-_UJCeIziAO25A-PKZfcgb7qcWtVUisqSeqoB2Zd6SgJxTlQYZvE_swlwv1__my5HdDVFC_TonUs9NPinKJBDS9wUn4ezKWl48Qo87a5ZUfkS9iZowG3PZ8HQh5ba6KfnWmC8/s640/IMG_8063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The saddest looking tomato plants you are likely to see<br /></td></tr>
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and some little sods are eating the strawberries as soon as they ripen<br />
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Hey ho as they say, I still love it here.<br />
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..... and in other news, I have a school reunion next month. Anyone know how to lose lots of weight and look 10 years younger in a month?<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-68393361376654113442017-05-01T11:42:00.000-07:002017-05-01T11:42:01.643-07:00Growing, Eating and a bit of a rant.<br />
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I can't believe so long has passed since my last post, I have lots of 'drafts' of posts that never got finished and were then irrelevant as things had moved on. Life has been busy as usual, my head is full of plans but the body is just not keeping up at the moment. By the evenings I'm worn out, I've got to the age where I'm having 'Nanny Naps' yes it comes to us all, though there are still many nights when insomnia plagues me.<br />
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Thank you for all your good wishes for my son, and thank you to Doris for sharing her experience. He is on the mend, getting stronger everyday and going back to work this week. He is coping with it incredibly well and just getting on with life as usual, he has been out and about with friends all weekend which he hasn't been well enough to do for a long time. As long as he stays well the next major surgery can be delayed until next year so at least we have time to catch our breaths. Before my son, I had not personally known anyone with a stoma, in a sad twist of fate my friend has just undergone treatment for cancer and now also has a stoma. At least I have some knowledge and can support her a little better and my son has offered to talk to her about his experiences. Life can still throw the unexpected at you!<br />
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I now need to concentrate on myself and my health. As I'm sure like many, while I'm caring for others my own needs seem to go straight out of the window. I survived on whatever food was easy and quick, not always the healthiest however I have stuck to a plant based diet but eat far too many crisps and chips!!!! I do not call myself a vegan as there is so much more to it than what you eat. As I still wear leather shoes and boots and wear my own hand knitted wool items and don't intend getting rid of them I don't meet the strict criteria set by some, but I can live with that. I will gradually replace them with 'vegan friendly' items as and when. I have joined vegan Facebook groups and signed up for a Vegan Nutritionist Diploma to learn as much as I can about the vegan diet to ensure I am getting all of the vitamins and minerals I need to stay healthy. What is getting on my nerves .... here comes the rant....is some vegans views on vegetarians. I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years and brought my sons up as vegetarian and will not have someone who has been a vegan for all of 5 minutes ( and will probably only keep it up for a short time) looking down at me and saying vegetarians don't care about animals!! what twaddle. I won't be made to feel like I'm lesser than them. Vegetarians can be just as snooty about pescatarians or meat reducers. Why can we not just give people credit for what they have achieved and cut out the whole elitist snobbery crap. You do not further your cause by pissing off people who are making an effort. *steps off the soapbox*<br />
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Having said all of the above, I had a thoroughly lovely time at the recent Vegan Festival and stuffed my face with gorgeous food, I ate as soon as I got there luckily, as they ran out of food by early afternoon. I think they were surprised by the number of people who attended. There was a particularly interesting talk on feminism and veganism.<br />
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I don't actually miss eating cheese and eggs but do find it hard to think of alternatives for lunch sometimes, I love hummus but you can only eat so much. I decided to make this for my packed lunch. Along with rice cakes and salad it makes a nice change and tastes lovely and fresh with the herbs picked out of the garden. The recipe was in the Vegan living magazine and is really easy and quick.<br />
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WHITE BEAN DIP<br />
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2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling<br />
1 clove garlic, crushed<br />
1 x 400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed<br />
juice of 1/2 lemon (I used a lime)<br />
1/4 bunch dill, 1/4 bunch mint, 1/4 bunch flat parsley all with stalks removed<br />
sea salt and freshly ground pepper<br />
A few mixed seeds of your choice<br />
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Heat the oil in a small pan until hot. Remove from the heat, stir in the garlic and leave to cool completely.<br />
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Place the garlic and any pan juices, beans, lemon juice and 2 tbsp water in a food processor or use a hand held blender. Blend until smooth. Stir in half the herbs and season to taste. (I actually put them in the blender as I didn't read the instructions)<br />
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Cover and chill until ready to serve. When ready drizzle over some olive oil, the rest of the herbs and seeds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poly ready for the tomatoes. <br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squashes, courgettes and lots of piquant peppers<br /></td></tr>
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Sue (Beachcomber) asked how the growing is going. Well after all my hard work making veg beds I have very little to show for it. Garlic, a few rocket plants and 4 spinach plants and ready grown herbs. All the rest have been eaten. I have very fat happy slugs. As I am growing organically, pellets are not an option and they are turning their noses up at the beer traps preferring the plants so I have had to change my plans. I am starting plants off indoors and hoping they will be big and strong enough to survive attack by the time I plant them out. The indoor plants have been very successful, too successful you might say as I have more tomatoes and pepper plants than I have space and have been trying to give some away. My conservatory and windowsills are full of plant pots and trays, I can't wait until it is warm enough to plant them out. We are in the process of putting up a rabbit proof fence so at least one predator will be kept out. It is exciting seeing what is growing in the garden, the orchard has various trees in flower but I haven't got a clue what they are. Apples so I'm told but I don't know what else. <br />
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We haven't had much time to explore the area but ventured down to the woodland adjoining our field which is extremely muddy but very pretty. I got stuck up to my arse in mud on several occasions and had to crawl commando style out as the bearded one found it impossible to pull me out. The more we struggled the deeper I sank! At least I have learned the knack for getting out of quicksand.<br />
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I hope you are all keeping well and will try not to leave it so long next time,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-42741603678503912942017-03-29T00:46:00.000-07:002017-03-29T01:01:32.402-07:00Grabbing some normal while we can<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Life is gradually getting back to normal for now. Our youngest son will need further surgery when he is stronger but we are making the most of the everyday simple things that you miss when it all gets taken away. Our lives are gradually expanding from hospital rooms, to care at home to getting out and about again. I am now back at work and our son is enjoying little trips out with friends. He is getting used to life with a stoma and is determined that it will not stop him enjoying life to the full. Our worlds are expanding once again. <br />
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I love a simple life, I'm never happier than when I'm pottering around in the garden, cooking simple food, watching nature re awakening after winter. I have missed these little things so much over the last few months. It may seems boring to other people but these little things make me very happy. When my eldest son asked me what I would like to do for Mothers Day, I didn't want to go out for a meal, I asked him to come over and help me shovel barrow loads of manure into the poly tunnel. Yep I know weird.<br />
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I am in a desperate race against nature at the moment to get the garden and poly ready for planting, I just wish my old bones could achieve more in a day. The beautiful weather over the weekend meant I was out working in the garden for 2 whole days and I'm knackered! I am starting to see a little progress at last.......just a little.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We still have a little frost around</td></tr>
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The fence that followed the line of daffodils which was blown down before we moved in will need replacing to protect the veg patch from the high winds we get here. It looked very strange when all the daffodils started popping up across the garden.<br />
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I managed to get hold of some more cardboard so have progressed with the no dig veg beds.<br />
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Recycled, UV resistant pallets that were lying around at work and an old curtain rail have been put to good use to make compost bins.<br />
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I have been busy clearing the totally over grown polytunnel ready for growing our summer salads. The grape vines and kiwi have been totally cut back, hopefully they will survive but I wouldn't have been able to grow food that we could actually live on without this drastic action. It was also full of ants nests which didn't take too kindly to being disturbed! It is as dry as an old boot in there so plenty of manure and compost is going on top.<br />
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and yet another no dig bed in progress to accommodate all the seeds I got carried away buying<br />
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The piquant pepper seeds sent to me by fellow blogger Dani over at <a href="https://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/upgraded.html?showComment=1490772187388#c750201700196842552">ecofootprints</a> a couple of years ago are still viable despite moving house. Hopefully now I have a poly I can get some peppers to grow although it is nothing like the South African climate in Cornwall.</div>
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I have been doing a little bit of mindless easy knitting, yet another shawl. This time I made up the pattern which is turning out to be a strange shape!<br />
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I planted some winter lettuce in a container in the poly a few month a ago which has gone to seed after being totally neglected, but isn't it pretty!<br />
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Well that's it for now, all very garden focused at the moment I'm afraid. When I have a little more time I'm looking forward to trying some new vegan recipes which I will share with you. I am keeping an eye on you all, just not having the time or brain power to put together coherent comments!<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-55763373125638375482017-03-16T07:01:00.000-07:002017-03-16T07:01:47.318-07:00The Plan - I hope!<br />
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Sorry for the random posts, life is hectic as usual. Our son had another operation on Monday so I have been spending an awful lot of time at the hospital then I came down with a jippy tummy, the only thing I could put it down to was a coffee at the hospital cafe, I do wonder if they clean the machines properly! <br />
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Anyway I have lots of plans for the house and garden but with a very sick son plans have been put on hold for a lot of things. It would be very easy to just give up on it all what with everything else that has been going on, however I am determined to grow some of our favourite things in the space I have managed to clear. By writing this down I'm hoping to give myself a kick up the backside to get on with it. I'm sure it will all be very hit and miss as I am very new to this grow your own malarkey, but this is what I have managed to do so far. <br />
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I am a huge fan of the 'no dig' philosophy so have been putting this into practice on my totally overgrown veg patch. Rather than try to tackle everything which is pretty impossible at the moment, I wanted to get at least two little plots ready for planting. I covered the ground with cardboard to suppress the weeds then put several inches of compost and well rotted manure on top. The paths around the plot will have cardboard and compost put on them and the rest of the plot will have black garden plastic to suppress the weeds including bindweed until I have the time to work on them. I am hoping to get another small bed ready for herbs. The polytunnel has a few weeds and nettles around the edges which I can easily deal with then cover the rest with compost and manure ready for my tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, courgettes etc. This will mean a lot of lugging barrow loads around but I will do as much as I can each day. In the mean time I have planted some early potatoes in bags and buckets in the poly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have started to put cardboard around the beds, but ran out! These will be covered with compost.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleece covering the first bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting some early potatoes</td></tr>
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In the first bed I prepared I have some garlic growing and recently sowed radishes, kale, chard and shallots which I covered with fleece. In the second bed I sowed some carrots in a manure free section, ( I read somewhere that they can 'fork' with too much manure) I will be sowing spinach, beans, sweetcorn and pattypans. I have sown some peppers in a heated propagator so fingers crossed these will make an appearance soon. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bindweed everywhere! I'm sure it will take forever to get rid of it all<br /></td></tr>
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It doesn't seem like I've done much, but looking back at the plot when we moved in there is some progress and hopefully we will have some veg to show for the effort in the summer. The previous owner used it as a dumping ground and had bonfires there to burn all sorts of rubbish before he moved out. <br />
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Another bit of progress with the house is the wood burner, i'm chuffed to bits with it. It even has a little oven on the top. Having a living fire makes all the difference to a room, I love sitting a listening to it crackling away, so relaxing.<br />
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I hope you are all keeping well, I will be popping around to visit when I can,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-49728505900082616092017-03-01T11:22:00.002-08:002017-03-01T11:22:26.633-08:00A little premature?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I put the cucumber and tomato seeds into pots and came down this morning to find them popping up through the soil. Being a newbie when it comes to starting them from seed I am now thinking I probably started this far too early. Are they likely to be o.k. or should I get some more seeds to plant later? Any advice appreciated :)<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-74934677444654544202017-03-01T01:10:00.000-08:002017-03-01T01:10:41.692-08:00My turn to be trolled<br />
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I am afraid I have had a visit from 'anonymous' who is too cowardly to put their name on their sick posts. It doesn't bother me one jot, I'm used to fighting trolls but I don't want you to have to deal with their pathetic attempts at attention seeking so have put comment moderation on until they get bored or take up one of my suggestions on my last post.<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-71177602925480947832017-02-27T06:30:00.000-08:002017-02-27T06:30:50.475-08:00Kick me while I'm down why don't you<br />
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You know I told you my brain is all over the place at the moment, well the proof popped through the door the other morning. A speeding ticket!!!! The first one I have ever had :( I do vaguely remember driving through a village, completely stressed mind on other things then realising I was going a bit fast, just my luck that a mobile speed camera was lurking there somewhere. I am the one who always sticks to the limit, often to the annoyance of drivers behind me, and blow me I'm the one with a flipping fine. I wasn't going very fast but I was over the limit so fair cop. Of course I haven't changed the address on my driving license so that's a further complication I don't need.<br />
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The bearded one has also been ill for the last week with cold/cough combo which has now driven him to his bed, most unlike him. I am up and down the stairs with food and drink for both him and my son and trying to stay positive. I have to admit to shedding a few tears this morning. My mum has been gone 16 years now but I really wanted to have my mum around to look after me. I need a brake from being the adult, I just want to revert to being the child for a few hours. <br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-52692276384969341392017-02-20T03:15:00.000-08:002017-02-20T03:15:19.359-08:00The Long Road to Recovery<br />
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Our amazing, brave son has undergone major life changing surgery. After 24 hours on the recovery ward looked after by a lovely nurse he is now back on the general ward starting the long road to recovery. His strength and determination will get him through this and hopefully he will now have a better quality of life. We are so very proud of him. <br />
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I will keep you updated on him and our new life in the country as much as possible. Not much to report so far but the solar panels are now on the roof, we are waiting for the poles to the house to be upgraded and for the battery to be fitted. It will feel so good to be generating our own electricity. I have also ordered the log burner and am so excited, it even has a tiny oven in the top, ideal for cooking Cornish Pasties :)<br />
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I haven't managed to finish all the veg patches but have garlic growing in the one I completed and have potatoes chitting ready to go in. I have lots of seeds here I'm sure I'm meant to be doing something with but as you can imagine other things have taken priority. Oh well they will be potted at some stage. The poly tunnel needs sorting before they can go in anyway, and I need to get some sort of rabbit proof fence sorted. I'm not intending to open a cafe for rabbits!<br />
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I need to find another easy knitting project to take my mind off things, probably another shawl, mindless, repetitive stitching is what is needed at the moment. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature in our new home also helps sooth the soul during these stressful times. My mind is all over the place at the moment, I even tried to get out of the hospital car park without paying for the ticket, my brain couldn't comprehend why the barrier wouldn't go up. Even worse, when I was driving my son to the Emergency Department last week in thick fog I couldn't for the life of me remember how to work the fog lights, now that is bad!<br />
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There are half painted walls and half finished projects all over, including a channel dug out of the wall for an electric cable and flaking pink paint in our sons room. I will warn the nurses that it is a work in progress and the horrible pink walls and carpets everywhere are not our choice. Our priority now is to keep the house warm and comfortable for him, the titivating can wait.<br />
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I hope you are all keeping well my friends, and that life is good to you,<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-24056037215461128452017-01-15T08:40:00.000-08:002017-01-15T08:40:31.633-08:00"It's been interesting"<br />
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Going back to work you are greeted by all your colleagues and clients with "how was your Xmas/New Year?" Of course being British you don't say "well actually the New Year was pretty crap" and I'm sure most of them don't really want to know how it was, they are just being polite so I smile and say "it's been interesting" and move on to other subjects. I will however briefly tell you lovely readers of the blog that it started well with a good but exhausting Xmas but unfortunately our son became ill between Xmas and the New Year and was admitted to hospital again a few days before New Year and operated on yet again on New Years Day. He is still staying with us and is still feeling very unwell but trying to stay positive. There are an awful lot of horrible cold/flu type bugs out there and I'm really worried that he will catch something while he is so vulnerable. It really frustrates me when people insist on coming into work with bugs, they are putting people with compromised immune systems at serious risk. Please stay home! <br />
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We did manage some lovely days over Xmas with all the family staying, long walks and Xmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day swims in an icy pool. Spending our first Xmas in our new home was very different from previous years in some ways but the traditional shared meals and board games were all very familiar. The first thing we have bought for our home is a lovely large table that we can fit everyone around. It was made by a local family firm at a very reasonable price and put much needed money into the local economy. That was our Xmas present to ourselves. I had a couple of books to read but couldn't concentrate enough to read them, I found myself having to re-read the same lines over and over so eventually set them aside in favour of falling asleep on the sofa exhausted while catching up on box sets of The Good Wife (isn't Julianna Margulies just so beautiful)<br />
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I did manage to finish the shawl I started just before we moved. I could't concentrate enough to do the lace edging so crocheted instead and I'm pleased with the result. I find knitting very therapeutic during times of stress.<br />
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I haven't totally stuck with Veganuary but I would say 99.9% of what I am eating has been vegan. Where I have come unstuck is the odd ingredients in some of my GF food, usually egg. I haven't eaten any cheese, (I tried the soya cheese which was very weird), nor milk which I don't miss at all. I think the only thing I miss are eggs which are an easy snack option. I haven't had much time to experiment with new recipes, but managed Jack Monroes beetburgers which were easy and tasty. Considering work has been hectic and I have been caring for our son, cooking omni meals for the bearded one, vegetarian for son and gf/vegan for myself and don't think I have done too bad. <br />
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The kiwi fruit in the polytunnel have at last ripened. I really didn't think they would and if I had the time was going to cut it all back. Thankfully I didn't and have harvested a few pounds, they are very small but taste delicious. I have peeled and frozen them for when I have time to make jam. Has anyone a good kiwi jam recipe?<br />
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Sorry it's been such a long time between posts, I hope you are all well, I have missed you all and will hopefully find time to get back into bogland soon.<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-90010036859480629802016-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:002016-12-10T09:17:45.092-08:00I have a safety warning!<br />
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Cooking Xmas Dinner should be interesting this year! I have had my gas disconnected as there was a leak in one of the gas taps on the hob, and a notice is now taped on it warning that it is not to be used. It is an old model Aga and that part is discontinued, the engineer also turned the electric off and left me with nothing basically, and no solution. Well thanks for that. I am now in talks with Aga about the useless lump of metal in my kitchen that they need to sort out one way or another as I cannot afford to buy another. We turned the electric back on so I can use the ovens, that had a fault as well but it has probably been like that for years, along with the gas leak as the previous owner neglected everything in the house. My son lent me a single portable induction hob, and I have a microwave so with a lot of planning and prep before hand I will manage. <br />
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As if life isn't challenging enough at the moment, I have decided to set myself a challenge and join in with <a href="https://veganuary.com/">Veganuary</a> I have been vegan in the past but went back to being vegetarian while trying to get my head around the whole gluten intolerance thing. I'm looking forward to it......and dreading it in equal measures. I love vegan food and most of my main meals are vegan, but will miss cooking up a quick omelette when I get home tired and hungry, and cheese and rice cakes are my go-to quick snack. Eating out is going to be a nightmare, being vegetarian and gluten free is hard enough, I can hear chefs groaning from the kitchen when I explain my dietary needs. Oh well I won't have any money to eat out in January anyway. There are some who think I'm completely mad for doing this, but each to their own. Have any of you taken part in any of the month long challenges, Stoptober, giving up alcohol, giving up television/social media, buy nothing, daily drawing, doing something nice for a stranger? There's lots of challenges out there.<br />
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My son is still staying with us (along with his dogs) while he recovers. We are hoping he can get through Xmas without further dramas but his surgeon has said she is on call between Xmas and New Year so just to go into the hospital and see her if he has any concerns. I don't seem to be able to get into the Xmas spirit at all, but I am like this most years. There is far too much pressure on people to spend lots of money, have ridiculous amounts of food and have the 'perfect' family Xmas. Just sharing a meal with our family is enough for me, all the rest is just optional. What I am really looking forward to is the winter solstice, I am so fed up with dark evenings and can't wait to be able to get out into the garden after work. I will be celebrating the return of the light by filling the house with candles, all very hygge. <br />
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Have a good week everyone,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-18224988561376677102016-12-06T12:31:00.000-08:002016-12-06T12:31:14.476-08:00Shameful<br />
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First I would like to thank you for all your supportive comments on my last post and apologise for not replying. It has been a rollercoaster of a week for the family as my son has been back into the hospital again for further surgery. He is now staying with us again while he recovers, but he really has been through the mill and it is going to take a while before he is fit enough to do much. The treatment he received was excellent, his surgeon came in first thing Saturday morning to operate on him, the nurses and doctors were very professional but the food and cleanliness of the hospital left much to be desired. It has been privatised and the firm now responsible for catering and cleaning should be ashamed of themselves. It has made me even more determined to fight privatisation of the NHS if this is what we can expect. Overflowing clinical waste bins and out of date food. Awful. Thankfully he is here with us now and getting some home cooked food. <br />
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When people ask 'if you had one wish what would it be' I would wish for a cure for Crohns Disease, it is such an awful illness. He has been in and out of hospitals since he was 14, and I have to say we are both sick of the sight of the bloody place, but are very grateful for the NHS. Anyway I'm rambling, and tired so I'm off to make a cuppa before sorting out the next lot of tablets to take up to him. <br />
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I hope you are all keeping well, health really is the most precious gift any of us could have.<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-70094348728247752132016-11-27T01:23:00.000-08:002016-11-27T01:23:24.902-08:00Stuck<br />
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I'm feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment. I have been looking at the whole, and it is just too much, way too much for me to deal with, even think about without getting stressed or depressed or freaked out or all of the above. My expectations of my physical abilities are unrealistic, the time I have to do everything is limited, especially as the daylight hours are so short. I have been trying to make things work that are just not workable. As a consequence I feel stuck, both mentally and physically. So although I can't just click my fingers and come up with solutions, what I can do is try to think of a way to make it all manageable and less overwhelming. <br />
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Bear with me here as I try to sort things out in my head by writing it down and breaking it down. The areas that need to be sorted are<br />
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Home renovation<br />
Vegetable garden<br />
Work<br />
Social life.<br />
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HOME RENOVATION <br />
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We have been working on the basics, the drinking water is now safe, the boiler has been serviced, we have an electrician checking and sorting everything at the moment who will then issue a certificate. There are many faults and loose wires hanging out of uncovered sockets, not good when you have young grandchildren. Most of the lights have been replaced with low energy fittings and bulbs and solar panels and battery will be fitted soon although we have to wait for the poles to the house to be upgraded. This will make us more self sufficient. The stove has been serviced and will work more efficiently and we are looking into log burners and planting some willow for future fuel.<br />
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I knew I would need to update the bathrooms, fill and paint walls and re carpet but it just hasn't felt like that will make it the house we want. I have been going over and over it in my head and it just doesn't feel right. A builder suggested getting in an architect, something we had not even considered. He was a breath of fresh air, challenging us to throw out all of our preconceptions, climb out of the box and come at it in a totally different way. The house just doesn't work, it is badly designed. So instead of patching up and making do, we need to totally rethink the space. The house came with planning permission and foundations for a two story extension so that was what we were trying to find the money to build. He made us realise that by totally rearranging the space we already have we do not need to do this. By moving walls and repurposing areas we will have the space we want. I know....obvious really but sometimes you are just so stuck in your thinking you need someone else to point out the obvious. He has advised us to take our time in deciding what we want from the house and how we actually use the space, all good advice. We have been so determined to 'get on with it' but as he said, that's when expensive mistakes happen and you wish you had done things differently. We have to redo all the bathrooms, so that would be the ideal time to move walls and create more space for the bedrooms. So we will now take our time to decide what we want. I may paint some walls to make it feel fresh and clean in the mean time but we can live with the rest of it. Phew, the pressure of trying to make something work that was never going to work is off. There will be other pressures, finding the money to do this but at least I can now see a way forward. <br />
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VEGETABLE GARDEN<br />
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This has been an absolute nightmare. My dreams of a no dig garden have been scuppered by the previous owner using the veg patch to burn rubbish. I have found glass, plastic, metal including bra wires!!, a battery and lots and lots of screws. So I have been taking off the top layer of contaminated soil to be replaced with soil that I will be happy to grow our food in. It is a very large vegetable garden, the same size as the whole of the garden in our last house so it has been overwhelming thinking of all the work that needs to be done to the totally overgrown mess. I have decided I need to concentrate on one little thing at a time and block out the rest of it as it stresses me out. So I have created one vegetable bed in a none contaminated part of the garden. I laid cardboard and over the last few days have been wheelbarrowing compost and manure to cover it. I will have a go at growing some garlic in a little part and leave the rest to settle ready for the spring. I'm also going to get some compost into the poly to get a little area ready to plant some winter greens and lettuce. Little areas, little steps and realistic expectations of my time and physical abilities is the way I can move forward without too much stress.<br />
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WORK<br />
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There are huge changes happening at work and I'm not very happy about the change in direction. It will be a totally different way of working, instead of being out in the community I will be more office based and I'm not sure this will suit me. The hours are also changing and will not fit in with home life in some ways. Although I will not be getting home at 7 o'clock in the evening which is horrible in winter, it means I will have less time during the day for working on the garden etc. I would love to get a dog and chickens but not sure how this will fit in with my new hours. Decisions decisions...... I have been looking at giving a home to a retired greyhound but am worried about our cat and as they are sight dogs, that it would head off across the fields after a rabbit as we don't have an enclosed garden. Any personal experiences from greyhound owners out there would be appreciated.<br />
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SOCIAL LIFE<br />
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For all the above reasons I find myself working all the time and having no time for fun. This has to change but how I'm not sure. I started typing this a 5.30 this morning, trying to cram as much into my day as possible. After a melt down yesterday I met up with a friend for a walk on the beach, listening to the waves crashing on the shore as dusk descended was just what I needed to feel better (well that and the hot chocolate and brownie from Swanpool cafe). I need to build these times into my timetable. Crafting and cooking also lift my spirit so need to be included somewhere. I was very excited to find red cabbage in my seasonal veg box so my first batch of braised red cabbage was made. It's the little things that bring me joy.<br />
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Anyway, that's my life at the moment. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for all I have, I just have to manage my time so I can actually enjoy it. It is dark and cold but there is still beauty to be found. I will keep you updated on our progress on the house and garden, but don't expect it any time soon.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-18181645449065294942016-11-12T09:04:00.000-08:002016-11-12T23:58:07.438-08:00Permaculture, Activity and Diet Courses<br />
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I have been on several courses lately and my brain is frazzled, it's like being back at Uni, trying to take it all in. I think I lost the plot towards the end. The Permaculture course was a personal choice, the others mandatory for work. So what did I learn? I have been doing 'permaculture' for many years without even knowing it.....well I am an old hippy at heart. We had a really enthusiastic tutor full of ideas and energy. Putting his ideas into practice in his own home. Compost toilet, rocket stove mass heater, all in his eco hut that he built himself. I love all of that but there is no way in hell I would pursued the bearded one that we should have a compost toilet. These things are all wonderful but both of you have to be on board. He is keen on us having solar panels as they are pretty mainstream now, but as for some of the more way out things, it's not going to happen. Having grown up on a farm his dad and himself look with amusement at my overgrown veg patch with cardboard scattered around, including in the neighbouring trees as it dries out and peels off. ' Could do with putting a rotavator over that" they chorus. After growing things in a certain way for decades they do not get the whole 'no till' thinking, but I will persevere. I do think the permaculture way of thinking is a really good way to approach things, we really need to step gently on the earth......literally.<br />
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The Encouraging People to be more Active course was a lot better than I thought it would be, having good tutors makes all the difference. They were not your usual sporty types who run 50 miles a day and make the rest of us feel like sloths thank goodness. It is about getting everyone to do something as it helps not only with physical well being but mental wellbeing. I know I for one feel a lot better after going out for a walk, even if I have moaned and practically had to be dragged out. I have actually started swimming in the outdoor pool in the evenings, it is painful to start off, it involves a lot of shrieking but once I'm in as long as I keep swimming it is wonderful. Swimming under the stars and moon is bliss. Anyway as far as I can remember, people aged between 19 and 64 need to do at least 150 mins exercise a week of moderate intensity, which could be 30 minutes a day for five days, OR 75 minutes vigorous intensive activity spread across the whole week. Plus muscle strength exercise 2 days a week, which is why I'm swimming in the freezing cold weather!<br />
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As for healthy weight, well I already knew I was overweight, ( or too short for my weight) but after being weighed on a body composition analyser found that my visceral fat level is healthy YESS!!! I knew there was a thin person inside :) Your visceral fat is very different from the squidgy fat you can squeeze on the outside. It wraps itself around your organs and makes you prone to heart disease, diabetes etc. It is a hidden fat that even if you are thin, can be lurking inside. I eat healthy food, vegetarian and gluten free, just much more than I burn off which may account for my results. <br />
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I am saddened by the news of Trump winning the election but can't say I'm surprised, after Brexit, nothing surprises me. Michael Moore who predicted the win months ago warned that people who struggle to put food on the table and roofs over their heads are desperately looking for someone who says he will listen to them and fix everything. Sadly they will be bitterly disappointed, a bit like the 350 million that was going to the NHS, yeh pigs might fly. In my opinion he is a thoroughly nasty piece of work who shouldn't be in charge of a car park, let alone a country!<br />
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Anyway, enough lecturing! The next post will be on lighter subjects I promise :) I will leave you with some photos from my week. <br />
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The deer spotted on a dawn walk, sadly we haven't seen them for days, I think they were scared off by the huge firework displays going on all around us.... and there was me thinking that living out in the country we would avoid all the fireworks!<br />
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Some photos taken at the fabulous <a href="http://www.mpecopark.co.uk/">Mount Pleasant Eco Park</a> where the Permaculture course was held, we had the delicious vegan roast for lunch accompanied by the owner on the decks playing reggae in the cafe.<br />
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Beautiful sunset, frosty morning and the venue for other training.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-71626373444414203492016-10-24T11:12:00.000-07:002016-10-24T11:59:30.469-07:00All things Autumn<br />
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We had some frost on the field one morning last week so I guess it's officially Autumn in Cornwall. Sunday roasts are on the menu most weeks now, no getting away with a bbq outside so the bearded one has hung up his pinny for another year. I have been fiddling with the lentil bake that gets trotted out regularly to go with the roast for us veggies in the family and so far this is my favourite version of it. If I don't write it down somewhere I will forget what I actually put in it and it went down so well I'm thinking of making it for our Xmas dinner. Nothing fancy but something all of us like (which is a flipping miracle in our family) It is gluten and oat free so I can eat it, no mushrooms which youngest hates and no nuts which both of them hate. As usual my cooking involves throwing in whatever I find and not measuring anything so these are rough measurements. Adjust them to your own tastes, excuse the terrible photo, everyone was too hungry to wait for me to faff around with the camera.<br />
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LENTIL AND SWEET POTATO BAKE<br />
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A couple of cups of red lentils (very approx, )<br />
2 small red onions<br />
1 large sweet potato<br />
1 sweet pointed pepper<br />
handful of spinach<br />
1/2 tsp of thyme<br />
1/2 tsp oregano<br />
1 tsp basil<br />
2 - 3 oz Grated cheese<br />
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Cook the lentils in your usual way, drain well and set aside<br />
Cook the sweet potato in the microwave and scrape out when cooled and set aside<br />
Saute chopped onions and pepper until soft,<br />
Add herbs, salt and pepper stir well and simmer for a further minute<br />
Put the lentils and sweet potato into the pan with the onion and mix well<br />
Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted.<br />
Mix in the cheese.<br />
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Grease a loaf tin and pour the mixture in, smooth the top and place into a medium oven until heated right though and the top has browned slightly. <br />
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I actually made it in the morning and put it in the fridge ready to put in the oven with the rest of the roast in the evening. Things that can be made ahead make life a lot easier!<br />
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It has been absolutely chucking it down here today, the cows are huddled against the hedges seeking shelter while the deer seem oblivious. We needed something warming for our evening meal, as usual despite having lots of lovely cookery books I went online and found this Moroccan Chickpea Stew from <a href="http://thefirstmess.com/2013/09/26/moroccan-style-vegan-vegetable-chickpea-stew-recipe/">The first mess</a> We had cavolo nero in the veg box so that went in as well, it made a lovely warming stew that certainly hit the spot.<br />
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I am still working on my shawl, I think I must be the worlds slowest knitter and could do with wearing it this winter not next! I am o.k. with the shawl itself but it has a frilly bit to add to it which is looking pretty daunting so I may be asking for help from the knitters out there some time soon. It is a Debbie Bliss pattern knitted in Fine Donegal from <a href="http://debbieblissonline.com/books/fine-donegal/#">this</a> book. My wool is actually more of a green/blue than the photo shows, it reminds me of the winter seas.<br />
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Work continues slowly on the house and we are working outside at weekends (don't you just hate getting home from work in the dark!) We are waiting for the power company to upgrade the poles to the house before we can put up the solar panels, we are also in the process of replacing the light fittings with more efficient energy saving ones. On the day we moved in, as it got dark we realised that most of the lights were not working, it seems that as they blew they were not replaced, we could barely see a thing!<br />
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I was delighted to see several goldfinches in the garden this morning, they were occasionally seen at our old house tempted by niger seeds, but were pecking away at the grass here. I have also been watching the mother deer with her youngster who are often in the next field. The baby isn't completely weaned yet and I managed to get a photo of it feeding when it was in one of the more distant fields. Not a great photo but you can just make them out.<br />
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I hope you have all had a great weekend.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-14980786231268435772016-10-18T11:32:00.000-07:002016-10-18T11:32:59.868-07:00Visitors<br />
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Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post, and sorry I have not replied, life is a bit hectic as usual. I have had a busy but lovely long weekend, it is the Samba Bands 10th Anniversary so to celebrate members old and new gathered for an evening of fun and music. Starting with playing Samba around a fire pit in the field, watched by a beautiful moon. Then three members played their guitars and sang in beautiful harmony. The evening ended with another member of the band on his 'decks' playing some 'funky' music that had us all throwing some shapes on the dance floor. (yes I have all the terminology) Oh to be so musically talented, I would love to be able to strum a guitar and sing along. I do love it when other people make a gathering special by sharing their musical abilities. Unfortunately, the instruments in a Samba band are not really something to play solo and are very very loud. Unless you have the whole band and somewhere with no neighbours it is not really something I could bring to a party on my own, banging on my little tam tunelessly would soon annoy all the other guests. However the full Samba band playing together is a thing of joy and has everyone jigging around. It was a wonderful night full of fun and friends, my friend came all the way down from Norwich to attend. She stayed with me (among the boxes I'm afraid) and we had a lovely few days catching up. Lots of coffee and cake was consumed, we nosed around the charity shops in Falmouth and Truro and I even found a place that sold gluten free veggie pasties whoopee!! It is so lovely to have friends visit and I'll miss her.<br />
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I was also delighted with another visiter, as you can see from the photos above we had a visit from this magnificent Stag. Isn't he a beauty! I first spotted him from the bedroom window, went into David Attenborough mode and crept down the field to get closer. As you can see it didn't take him long to get wind of me as I balanced on a hedge trying not to fall onto the barbed wire. I then crawled up behind a mound in the field thinking I could fool him, as I peeped over the top there he was staring straight at me, probably thinking what a plonker. Just look at those antlers, he looks ready to protect his ladies from any interlopers. Just to be near such a powerful creature was absolutely thrilling. He didn't stay long after giving me the stare, and ushered his ladies off to safety. I love living here so much, I wake everyday and think how lucky I am.<br />
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My craft room is coming together, I had the floor laid yesterday and I love it, I can't wait to get everything set up and start a new sewing project. It's all very 'shabby chic' but this is exclusively my 'woman cave' so I can go mad and have whatever I want. This is the first room I hope to finish, It is the smallest and had the least to do, just a few holes to fill in. I keep forgetting to take 'before' photos, but it had pink walls, a grubby pink carpet and a huge curtain pole and curtains in what is a very tiny box room. The pole and curtains have come down and as we are not overlooked probably won't be replaced with anything. I'll share some photos when it is finished, I now have to fit all of my many boxes of craft bits and pieces in here!<br />
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I hope life is good to you all<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-9563679190555713582016-10-10T06:53:00.000-07:002016-10-10T06:53:23.319-07:00Annoying the Country Folk (Controversial post alert)<br />
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I knew moving back into the countryside would bring up very different issues than living in the city, one of which is hunting and the whole 'Countryside Alliance' So when the local hunt sent a card to the house addressed to the previous owner saying they would be hunting in our fields I rang them and pointed out that we now owned the property and would not be allowing hunting in any shape or form here. Evidently I was not believed and the very next morning someone came to the door asking for the previous owner while refusing to say who they were. No doubt they will try to find the person who bought the rest of the fields to get permission to hunt all around us. I found it all rather menacing as he told me on the phone that 'no doubt I would be seeing them sometime'. Many years ago we rented a winter let on a farm, early one morning the hunt turned up and I had to rush out to rescue my two terrified cats as the hunters laughed making lewd comments about my 'pussies'. All very unpleasant and not an experience I would want to repeat. It is a subject that people feel very passionate about on both sides, I have had chickens killed by a fox, I didn't blame the fox who was doing what nature intended, I blamed myself for not keeping them secure. It is awful when lambs are killed by foxes but I don't believe using dogs to hunt them is the answer. None of my farming uncles and cousins have ever felt the need to don the scarlet. It may not make me popular with some local landowners but I will not be welcoming them.<br />
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Of course there is the good side of living in the Countryside, someone from the local village knocked on the door asking if we could store his camper van in our barn - it's surprising how popular having a big barn can make you ;) When he discovered we are new to the area he went out of his way to tell us all the goings on in the village and dropped by this morning with all sorts of info about activities including the W.I. My only experience of the W.I. was when I worked in Sheltered Housing and the lovely ladies from the local W.I. would come around with all sorts of things for our residents. My immediate thought was I'm far too young for the W.I., and it's all jam and Jerusalem, but realise that I may be doing them a disservice. Are any of you members and what are your experiences? Would they welcome a left wing, gobby atheist?<br />
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Our local town recently elected a Mock Mayor after throwing the real Mayor into prison. He processed through the town, in and out of the shops while people threw sprouts at him. I have no explanation......but I love weird goings on.<br />
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In the evening the history of Penryn was illuminated onto the towns buildings. Luckily my friend who is a born and bred 'Rinner' did a running commentary for me which included the fact that the towns people hid a very infamous lady pirate. <br />
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Life has been extremely busy but came to a halt of the weekend when I came down with a horrible cold and spent most of it sleeping. I hope you are all keeping well, there seems to be a lot of things going around at the moment.<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-11632358575476500652016-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:002016-09-29T13:30:39.565-07:00All Change?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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We have our sons dogs staying at the moment, I had forgotten how much they influence your life, we have been walking several times a day rain or shine, no slouching around indoors when it is chucking it down, they are keen to be out in all weathers unlike our much missed Cavalier who hated the rain. I really feel getting our own dog will be a positive change which will be good for my mental as well as physical health. The wet weather blues will have to take a back seat with a dog to walk.<br />
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Growing up I was passionate about saving whales and seal cubs across the world but I took for granted the local wildlife, they never seemed so interesting. Over the last few years, talented bloggers out there have opened up a whole new world of little creatures to me. I now find myself creeping up on butterflies and I am absolutely blown away by their beauty. I rescue bees and and sit watching my bird feeders hoping to attract many different varieties. I never thought I would take such an interest in tiny little creatures. They are equally as impressive as the whales, you just have to look harder to see them. This new found interest has spurred on our move back out into the country, and changed our lives in a huge way. Who would of thought such tiny little things would bring about such a change.<br />
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We have a new home which although it already feels like home needs a lot of work. It is exciting as well as daunting deciding on colours and styles, I don't really want to recreate our old home with my choices but it is scary branching out, trying something new. I know for sure the pink walls everywhere and dreadful tiles will have to go but what do I replace them with? What if I hate the colour/style of the new decor. Think of all the money wasted! Do I take the opportunity to try something completely new or play safe. Decisions decisions.......... Do you always stay with the same style or have you made huge changes in your home? <br />
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Our grandchildren came to stay at the weekend, what joy they bring, not only to us but our sons who love being uncles. These little people have completely changed our lives and the whole family dynamics. Apart from having our children, grandchildren have made the biggest difference to our lives. I feel even more passionate about fighting for a world that has beauty and peace for them to grow up in.<br />
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Life never stands still, there are always changes big and small, good and bad. What has brought about changes in your lives, big and small? I would love to hear.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-70547270354304155702016-09-16T11:07:00.000-07:002016-09-16T11:07:52.933-07:00Wild Life<br />
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Moving back out into the countryside from the city has been a lot easier than I imagined. I thought I would miss the street light, local shops, takeaways and being able to walk to the local bars and restaurants......well I can't say I really miss any of it, perhaps I'm getting old :) It is strange to actually have dark nights, to need to grab a torch to go outside (of course most of the outside lights don't work) and to listen to the strange noises of the night, not the usual drunk people coming home at silly o'clock in the morning, but foxes, a sound we used to hear in the fields next to us before 200 houses were built there. A cockerel crows on one of the nearby farms at random times and the tractors are pretty busy at this time of year early in the morning to late at night. I find myself inspecting poo I find in the field trying to guess what animal left it, yes our 'wild' life gets that exciting. We have settled into our quiet life amazingly well after urban living for 16 years, though we have yet to experience a winter here. Even this time of year has been very different from our previous location, I have used my fog lights more than ever before, it seems to have a unique climate of it's own up here, as I drive to work I discover that everywhere else is clear of fog and the sun is shining. It's like those old horror movies where the fog drifts across the moors.......<br />
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During the huge storms we had recently, our son and I sat in the conservatory watching the sky light up every few seconds, it was like being outside without getting wet. I don't know why I had such a downer on conservatories before, we practically live in it now, watching the moths, stars and distant lights in the evenings. The rain caused flooding in towns across Cornwall and when I noticed the dog bowls moving across the floor I realised that the kennels where my sons dogs are staying were flooding. The drain was blocked (oh what a surprise) but after clearing it out and putting dry bedding in their sleeping area they were happy and didn't seem bothered by the storm. They are loving their stay in the country with runs around the field several times a day and their luxury kennels with separate sleeping and outside areas. Our cat is loving it even more that she hasn't had to hide the whole time they are here. She looks out at them smugly.<br />
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I have been out photographing what wildlife I can find and hope to encourage more to our home by creating a wildlife pond. (still to be negotiated with the bearded one) and leaving the edges of the field uncut (also to be negotiated) In the mean time I have put out feeders which so far has only been visited by a brave blue tit There is also a scruffy little Robin who follows me around the veg patch, I think it must be moulting as it is a sorry sight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The underside of the Red Admiral is just as beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't think I would be seeing the Speckled Wood here in the field</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of rabbits</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the House Martins seem to have left for the winter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Cross spider creating beautiful webs in the garden</td></tr>
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I have also managed to make some blackberry and grape jam, and stored the rest in the freezer for when I have more time for jam making. It would be lovely to have more time at home to get things done, but I love the weekends here!!!<br />
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Thank you for all your well wishes to our son, he is still staying with us as his recovery is not going as well as hoped. On a purely selfish level I am loving having him here and his friends who come to visit, it makes a change from just me and the old man :) We are also getting out in the field several times a day walking his dogs which is lovely. I'm still looking to get our own dog but can't decide on a breed. All the rescue dogs I have seen have said not suitable with very young children or cats so not really an option. Retired greyhounds would chase the cat and anything else that moves so again not suitable. The dog for us is out there somewhere.<br />
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Hope you all have a lovely weekend,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 6392px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 6392px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-63921519673173108422016-09-06T13:54:00.000-07:002016-09-06T13:54:51.533-07:00The Good, the Bad and the downright rude<br />
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Life on Chickpeas farm continues to be busy, exhausting and wonderful. We have been here a whole month, I can't believe it! We still have bedrooms full of boxes that haven't been touched, the third bedroom where the grandchildren will sleep and the box room which will be my craft room. Our son is having an operation on Friday so will be coming over to stay for a few days while he recovers. We are not exactly ready for guests, the room he will be staying in has peeling paint and a channel dug out of the wall, (not sure the purpose of it) but is reasonably clear of boxes. The main bathroom had a cracked cistern which leaked all over the grotty carpet on the floor and through the ceiling downstairs, and a cracked seat (as did the downstairs loo). The first thing I did was change all the loo seats, I'm a bit fussy like that :) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet you're so glad I shared this with you</td></tr>
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The whole bathroom will be ripped out and replaced in the future but other jobs take priority now so we have tracked down a replacement cistern which should have turned up today but hasn't. So he may have to stay in our room with the working toilet but shower cubicle with the door hanging off. I did say we had taken on 'a project' didn't I?<br />
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The gas boiler should have been serviced today but he didn't turn up, not even a phone call and after ringing several tree surgeons none have got back to me. I have had to chase the council about our recycling twice now as they don't bother to come out here. We are still waiting to hear back from several other 'services' as well......are you starting to get the picture? What is wrong with people, they could at least ring to say they can't make it or are too busy to take on more work. Even the doctor in the surgery was downright rude, we were discussing my blood pressure and I said that I knew I needed to lose weight, she said well it's not difficult just eat less. No shit Sherlock as the youngsters say, I would never have guessed that. True, but not very helpful.<br />
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The good things this week have been getting my books out of boxes, thank goodness for cheap and cheerful Billy Bookcases. Yes I should have waited until I painted the lounge but I missed having my books around me, is it just me or do other people love looking at their books on the shelves. I really enjoyed getting them out and arranging them on the shelves.....yes I am sad like that.<br />
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I rang Home Farmer magazine to update my address and Paul the editor answered the phone and was absolutely lovely. Wishing me well in our new home and discussing the magazine. Now that's what I call good service.<br />
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I also went to see an exhibition in a container called The Aftermath Dislocation Principle which has been touring the country. I loved it, brilliant idea and very cleverly done. Passersby were wondering what the hell was going on as they saw people peering into a graffiti covered shipping container. It's Art darlings :)<br />
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I also shook my booty to an amazing band called the Broken Brass Ensemble who had the whole audience at one stage crouched on the floor ready to leap into the air (yes I did have a momentary panic thinking I'll never get up again) I really really needed a night out to let my hair down!<br />
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Anyway, more news soon on all things jam and grapes, I'll leave you with a little clip of Saturdays shenanigans.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-21336482759994267222016-08-30T09:26:00.000-07:002016-08-30T13:47:40.775-07:00A little catch up<br />
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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!! <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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I really could spend every evening just looking at the sunset and beautiful cloud formations.<br />
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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.<br />
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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. </div>
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We also had a visit from a neighbour calling in on the horse and trap as you do.</div>
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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.</div>
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Chickpea xx</div>
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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.......</div>
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Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-89971406887260263132016-08-21T11:49:00.000-07:002016-08-21T12:01:01.444-07:00Knackered but Happy<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 'hygge' house in the fog</td></tr>
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It's been a busy time and my old bones are complaining, but I'm not, I'm enjoying every minute of it. I was determined to make a lifestyle change and my body will just have to get used to it. No more soft city life, oh no, it's spending Sunday mornings in the wind and rain pulling up ragwort in the field from now on! I know how to rock and roll :) I now own lots of brambles (not something a lot of people would be pleased about) so I picked the first few blackberries to appear, only half a pound but with apples they will make a nice crumble when I have time, so they have gone into the freezer. Hopefully I will have tamed the Aga by then, if I turn my back it goes from uncooked to burnt. I also rescued another exhausted bee clinging onto some ragwort and revived it with sugary water, the storms seem to be taking their toll. I could then be seen kneeling in the veg patch in the pouring rain pulling bindweed from what may be gooseberry bushes. I'm not sure what to do with the ragwort or bindweed so I put them in an old bin for now out of harms way. <br />
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I then decided on a bit of light indoor work......which turned into hauling boxes up into the attic. I did cull some more books though, but I just don't seem to be able to let go of the boxes of my sons paintings and school books, even though they would happily throw the lot in the bin! We still have way too much 'stuff' I don't know how I managed to cram it all in our other house, it was literally full to the rafters, hidden in every crook and cranny. <br />
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Talking of stuff, I am about to bring more into the house as I will need another freezer for the various wild and hopefully home grown fruit and veg. We had an integrated freezer which I left at our old house. I'm debating whether to get a chest freezer which is more efficient and has less waste of space or an upright which takes up less floor space. I'm tempted by the chest freezer but have visions of little old 5' me leaning in to get something and falling in, the lid closing and a frozen Chickpea is found hours later....yes I have a vivid imagination. I'm also thinking of getting a dehydrator which among other things could be used to turn some of the hundreds of grapes in the polytunnel into raisins. This self sufficiency thing is turning out very expensive!<br />
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Oh and for the first time in my life someone knocked on my door to ask me if I had lost any cows. Never thought I would be asked that :)<br />
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Ziggy Stardust is still being kept in, she doesn't seem too upset about it, it will be interesting to see how this city cat copes with becoming a country cat. I will be very nervous about letting her out for the first time. I have put butter on the feet of previous cats when I moved, yes it probably is an old wives tale but may be worth a try.<br />
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So my new life involves getting up even earlier than I used to, more physical work than I am used to and evenings in the conservatory knitting, reading or listening to music, before hobbling to bed.....literally. The television hasn't been on (apart from the bearded one watching a football match) and I haven't missed it at all. I walk around the field at least once a day regardless of the weather and I am absolutely loving it. I really needed to get out of a rut and this has certainly kicked me up the backside. Lets hope it lasts.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzV9EaK09prSxMbq5kLq6ECocXC2My2G8ucvHQF3OaZb11wUTL8Cv5Bfw8j67rdK2DRt4-zgLcCKUlXmzThlQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I will leave you with a little film of our favourite lodgers the House Martins,<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-64894685806461314102016-08-17T12:36:00.001-07:002016-08-17T12:36:38.955-07:00I don't know where to start!!<br />
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Thank you so much to you all for your lovely comments on my last post. We have been here a week now and I feel very at home. The amount of work needed to be done is a little overwhelming, the bearded one could only take one day off, which was the day we moved and I only had a few days. Fitting it all in after work and weekends means it is going to take a while! I also have an extra 30 minutes on my drive to work which meant tonight I got home at 6.45 driving through thick fog for an hour. No fun. I have been watching the progress of a certain Cornish blogger who has the whole summer off to do up their new place in France and feel very envious. I have also found that physically I really can't do what I used to and think I have actually done some damage with all the lifting boxes. So I have to be patient and do what I can when I can. <br />
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Anyway I can't report any progress at the moment, it will be 'before' pictures for quite a while. The list of things to do grows by the day! We are having the water, electric and boiler checked ,it seems to have been many years since they were looked at. We have been drinking bottled water in the mean time. Luckily my hair has not turned green as happened in a previous property we were renting with it's own water supply! We had the oil tank topped up, the cost of oil is frightening. We are looking into solar panels to help keep the cost of energy down. At least the water is free, well sort of we have replaced the filter and may have to fit a ultra violet thingy, oh and one of the tanks will need replacing at some stage. Half of the bulbs in the house need replacing, some of the light switches don't work and there are bare wires sticking out of sockets. I have booked someone to strip down and clean the aga, I'm gradually getting the hang of it but my timings are still all over the place. I have managed to burn several things in the 'warming' oven, seems to be all or nothing with it. The boiler sounds like an airplane taking off with bangs and clanks all over the place. Unfortunately all of these essential but boring things need to be sorted before we can get onto more interesting and creative projects. Although it is not an old house and a great deal of money was spent on it at one stage, it seems to have been neglected in recent years so needs repairs and replacements. <br />
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So here are some 'before' photos of the 'veg patch'. It is very overgrown but I did manage to pick some blackcurrants which have gone in the freezer ready to make jam. There are some raspberry plants with a couple of raspberries on them that need rescuing from weeds and apparently some gooseberries but I can't find them. There are some strawberry plant and I found a sage plant. I need to find the time to get in there and have a good old root around. There has been a load of grass cuttings dumped on there, huge thistles and nettles. I really don't know where to start! I am saving all the boxes from our move and will be laying them on the patch to suppress the weeds. It is a 'no dig' method which is about all I can manage. By next spring I hope to have the patch in a reasonable condition to start planing some things.<br />
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The property is surrounded by huge trees which act as wind breaks but they need trimming which will be a huge task.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is growing on some of the raspberry bushes, any idea what it is?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two raspberries, we might have to fight over them</td></tr>
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What a faff it is picking the blackcurrants, someone has since suggested using a fork to get them off, I will try that when I tackle the next bush. Picking the stalks out was also a pain, any suggestions for an easier way of doing this?<br />
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Well that's it for now, I'm shattered so apologies for spelling mistakes etc, I can hardly string two words together at the moment. I'm hoping to blog as much as possible as a record of our new life in the country.<br />
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Chickpea xx<br />
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p.s. I will get around to visit your blogs as soon as possible, I miss seeing what you are all up to.<br />
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p.p.s. I also treated myself to some new wellies - oooh get me, quite the country lady :)</div>
Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-69338587383389821702016-08-13T16:08:00.000-07:002016-08-17T12:37:29.241-07:00We have moved!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across our field to the purple heather covered moor.</td></tr>
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After many stressful weeks, many moments thinking it wasn't going to happen at all and then exchange and completion happening within four days we are at last in our new home!! The problems with buying it had taken away some of the excitement and I just couldn't look forward as so many things had gone wrong. I am now pinching myself as I can't quite believe this beautiful place is ours. We have an awful lot of work to do as it has been neglected, we will take our time and work on it over the next few years, but I have totally fallen in love with it. I feel like I have been here for months not days, it really feels like home. I love the peace, the space, the big skies, it house been worth every stressful minute.<br />
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Here's a little taster of our new home. Our internet isn't great and as you can imagine I have an awful lot of unpacking to do but will be back again with some more updates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvnKR661b0xgdnaCVx5itVZs9oDIVqMaL_tpwXVcrwRdTgmTm8AlrUl7ed6XJlYjdKwDyqX8qfTtGMfG7vND2UxfAD4_TL8Ilkkm-9SFrzl5wOIi47D3uqz1JCMAidyQwGJr1RFJP7pm_/s1600/IMG_6639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvnKR661b0xgdnaCVx5itVZs9oDIVqMaL_tpwXVcrwRdTgmTm8AlrUl7ed6XJlYjdKwDyqX8qfTtGMfG7vND2UxfAD4_TL8Ilkkm-9SFrzl5wOIi47D3uqz1JCMAidyQwGJr1RFJP7pm_/s640/IMG_6639.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we spend most of our time looking out at the view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o-i1cSQfMNh2WOb_kXOnvJc0mqOshFzrFagX9cerTpp97Ydfl7GJR-mMRFmofU7IDf0_SdP9vR1XoGsxIfehI2_PSqPRX4ndASSC9dqBpWQGO73o_utBoGBLsyafIs2ksJN6nzDDOnnF/s1600/IMG_6640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o-i1cSQfMNh2WOb_kXOnvJc0mqOshFzrFagX9cerTpp97Ydfl7GJR-mMRFmofU7IDf0_SdP9vR1XoGsxIfehI2_PSqPRX4ndASSC9dqBpWQGO73o_utBoGBLsyafIs2ksJN6nzDDOnnF/s640/IMG_6640.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across our garden to our neighbours munching away in their field</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orchard, fruit trees and an overgrown polytunnel</td></tr>
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The polytunnel and garden have been neglected and are very overgrown and full of weeds. I have no idea how to look after the grapes and kiwis but they seem to have thrived on neglect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QJAL7fasqwl2iRqfMLmY9e2kfWShmdEdde4WTS1P64Iq_t6-OoreXjVdDEty_f7dw_37L8xhHprM0aodARX_DW1RpQup8xzo0gUSID1K-Ezg9ffrvI48P1OBOMzJWrnipKDkMxfno-K3/s1600/IMG_6655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QJAL7fasqwl2iRqfMLmY9e2kfWShmdEdde4WTS1P64Iq_t6-OoreXjVdDEty_f7dw_37L8xhHprM0aodARX_DW1RpQup8xzo0gUSID1K-Ezg9ffrvI48P1OBOMzJWrnipKDkMxfno-K3/s640/IMG_6655.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a purple Aga!! Those tiles will have to go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATQ4-vPrLUsG53U7si8VESMMvMr7q4YROjHH3K9mgAQrECAdmKKr8JcUnoBqXfAyQMfeQNOnJhgYgJAALCHnCL11pT-xYGrC2IUw0cqNVWiYh0FAMA-C-Yzyps_-bJw4zyG1GHmUYy5cg/s1600/IMG_6672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATQ4-vPrLUsG53U7si8VESMMvMr7q4YROjHH3K9mgAQrECAdmKKr8JcUnoBqXfAyQMfeQNOnJhgYgJAALCHnCL11pT-xYGrC2IUw0cqNVWiYh0FAMA-C-Yzyps_-bJw4zyG1GHmUYy5cg/s320/IMG_6672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first meal cooked in the Aga, chickpea casserole of course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After living in a valley for many years, I love the big skies I can see from our hill<br />
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Chickpea xx</div>
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<br />Chickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3157850478234582369.post-24178133515620392822016-07-23T03:50:00.000-07:002016-07-23T03:50:50.114-07:00She loved knitting in the rain<br />
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To say I am stressed at the moment is an understatement, buyers threatening to pull out etc....... I had booked this week off as I thought we would be moving, silly me, but decided to take it off anyway as I am emotionally and physically drained. In-between packing yet more boxes and chasing our elusive solicitor I have tried to give myself some TLC.<br />
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Heres a few photos from my week, taken on my phone as I have lost the leads for my camera grrrrr<br />
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In the first part of the week the weather was so humid I found it too hot to sit in the garden. After the bearded one got home from work we headed down to the beach in the evening air to paddle in the sea, perfect for de-stressing and cooling down women 'of a certain age'.<br />
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I have packed all the books away so had to buy myself one to read.....um o.k. any excuse to buy a new book. The police on the Isles of Scilly have a Facebook page, the posts by Colin are hilarious and have a huge following. He is about to leave the islands and has written a book about his time there, the local characters and the resident police cat. I chuckled out loud as I sat in the park reading, drawing some stares from the people on the next bench :)<br />
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I have also started some therapeutic knitting, drinking Earl Grey tea and knitting in the garden is my favourite pastime at the moment, especially if it is raining, I can be seen cooling off under the parasol knitting away. The neighbours already think me a bit strange....<br />
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On another drizzly day I packed lunch for myself and headed to the park in the city. In between showers I strolled around the gardens before being mobbed by the local bird gang who were after my sandwiches. I'm not sure they would have bothered if they knew they were made with gluten free bread. The gardeners in the city parks do an amazing job, I hope they can continue with all the budget cuts forced onto the local council. I particularly like the wildflower area, absolutely beautiful.<br />
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Perfect excuse to use the Pano on my phone.<br />
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The rare Egg Box Bees could be seen lurking among the flowers<br />
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and finally as I walked along the path by the river I came across these lovely memorials to loved ones. I hope I am remembered for more than stressing herself out trying to buy a 'nice house'. She loved knitting in the rain perhaps.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'she loved her bingo' wonderful :)</td></tr>
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Have a good weekend everyone,<br />
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Chickpea xxChickpeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17010543012720394937noreply@blogger.com32