Saturday 15 July 2017

Yep I'm still here











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  I have been rather reclusive, there seems to be bad news all around, too much to cope with at times so I have withdrawn in to myself.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.

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 :)

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!!





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





   The garlic have been pulled and are now drying.




Mini yellow cucumbers.





I have dug up all the early potatoes and stored them.




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.




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.

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.

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!!

Well I can't think of anything else for now, stay safe and well my friends,

Chickpea xx






43 comments:

  1. Golly I know just how you feel. Every time you turn on the tv or open a newspaper there is another terrible happening of some kind. These latest acid attacks show what a very sick world we live in and the ages of the attackers are just shocking.
    I have also had a bereavement losing a much loved younger sister which has devastated me and my family.
    I try to keep going and although some days it's very hard I do try to find something to smile about.
    Spreading a little love your way in the hope that you will pass it on and it will travel far-x-

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    1. Oh I'm so sorry about the loss of your sister, sending you a big hug and thanks for spreading the love xx

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  2. The world may not be a good place to be in just now but your own little world looks amazing. So much fruit and veggies, that must have been a lot of work. I am glad it gives you joy. We just returned from Cornwall, it was lovely to be there for two weeks. It is a great place to live. Hope you feel a little more upbeat soon despite it all. x

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    1. It is a wonderful place to live, I feel very lucky and yes the garden has been a lot of work! The house in the meantime has been sadly neglected, half finished painting everywhere! Oh well winters the time to work inside. Hope you and your lovely family are well xx

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  3. Oh poor little chicks! I'm glad that the parents have built another nest though, even if your swimming is now perilous! Your veggies are doing fantastically well. My vegan daughter is coming home from uni tomorrow - perhaps you could do a favourite vegan recipes post at some point? I know what you mean about the news. My aunt refused to watch it as it always upset her - I think she may have had a point! xx

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  4. I'll get my act together and come up with some vegan recipes I have found recently. This is what I made yesterday with my glut of courgettes. Vegan, gluten free and seasonal, I added a chilli and used fresh garlic to give them a bit of a kick. Also used Orgran an egg replacer, helps bind things. http://jessicainthekitchen.com/vegan-zucchini-fritters-gf/

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  5. We're in Cornwall at the moment camping I never realised just how gorgeous it is. We're planning on moving in the next couple of years and Cornwall may well be the place. Where about in Cornwall are you? You're so right about all the news I regularly take news vacations otherwise I find myself overloaded and it affects my day to day life I also practice yoga and meditation in order to combat the stresses of daily life mind you finishing work has done wonders for this lol. Your veg production is very impressive too.

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    1. Yes it is beautiful, we are so lucky. Our nearest town is Falmouth which is lovely. Yes I could do with taking up yoga or tai chi to deal with the stresses of everyday life. :)

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  6. So sorry to hear about your father in law. Hope that things get easier for you over the rest of the summer and that your garden and tunnel continue to produce lots of great produce. Hugs. xx

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    1. Thanks Amy, and thanks muchly for the hug, sending a hug right back at ya :)

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  7. Hurray!
    You're back and though tough things have happened I sense more lightness than last time you posted.
    The produce looks amazing and given all the battles you should take great encouragement from it.
    The bunch of grapes is fantastic.
    I'm so glad that your son is better and able to be more independent. Harsh though it sounds, to have him living in his own home will be a relief.
    When they are in your home you watch for every tiny sign that may herald another bout of illness. ( I know, I've been there with one of mine.)
    Now some of that tension will leave you even though there are still tough times to come. You'll be able to relax and he will have the fun and pride of setting up his own home.
    I hope that work becomes less of a chore and that, in your time at home, you snatch the odd half hour to realise how far you've come since you moved and to enjoy the stunning views. Sue

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    1. I will miss him when he moves out but it is so true what you say about watching for every little sign. I fear that work will just become more of a chore :(

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  8. The world is not always good, the latest attacks of acid throwing has left me reeling but despite it all I have found some inner peace with our move to the Isle of Lewis. Your garden and poly tunnel look amazing. We are planning to get some sort of garden ready for next year, on paper anyway. Hope all goes well with your sons move and that you too will be able to start enjoying your new home. Take care.

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    1. Thank you, and so glad to hear you have settled in to your new home so well.

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  9. A wonderful post, so glad to see you back. So sorry to hear about your bereavement.. life is cruel and can be hard to deal with at times. I love to see the pics of your new life and applaud your efforts in trying to reduce your carbon footprint.

    I too am vegan, for over 20 years. It can be hard at times, especially when you eat out but things are getting so much better in that respect as people are realising a vegan lifestyle is not just nut roast and veg😀

    Thinking of you and your family and hope things improve for you.

    Hugs
    Sue xx

    PS - got a vision of you swimming with a hard hat on which made me smile..xx

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    1. awww thanks sue, yes eating out can be hard but it is getting easier.

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  10. I have missed your cheery posts so much Chickpea, glad to see you're still around. Wow! Your produce is amazing especially the grapes :) and the size of that potato!!
    I know what you mean about the awful news every time you turn on the TV or radio. I've stopped watching TV news again as it makes me so depressed and to feel unsafe. I worry for my grandchildren too. What kind of world are they inheriting?
    Very well done on your lifestyle Chickpea. Sometimes it pays to shut the world out and just do your best xx

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    1. Thank you PP I have missed being on here but sometimes you just have to 'hide away' for a while :)

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  11. It was so nice to see a post from you when I went online this morning! You are doing an amazing job with your gardening. Your efforts to cut back on energy consumption are inspiring. I have to confess to not being very careful about it, except for the heating in the winter which costs an arm and a leg. In British Columbia our electricity all comes from hydro electric dams, so in some ways has much less of a footprint environmentally. But I really shouldn't use that as an excuse to not be more careful. Life is such a mix of happiness and what can sometimes seem to be crippling sadness. I'm glad to read that your son has returned to full time work, but so sorry to hear about the loss you've suffered.

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    1. Thank you kristie, we are trying to do our little bit : )

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  12. Good to know all is well with you if not with the world!

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  13. Sorry to hear of your loss. Your poly tunnel and garden are looking lovely and abundant, you must be really pleased.

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  14. Glad to hear your son is back at work and buying a house, great news and all your home grown produce looks fantastic.

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    1. Thank you, tastes pretty good as well :)

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  15. Great to see you back posting again, your tunnel and garden look great, well done.

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    1. Got a long way to go with it but pleased with what I have managed so far :)

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  16. Hey Chickpea, good to see you back. So sorry to read about your Father in law passing away, very hard times indeed.

    your vegetables look A MAZ ZING! but I am green with envy over the grapes! wowsers!!!

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    1. Hey there my lovely, hope all's well with you. Sorry I missed all your posts, couldn't get it to work and was in the middle of hospital visits etc. :)

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  17. Nice to see you back - I've not been around for a while either. Life just gets in the way sometimes, doesn't it? I know what you mean about the times we live in. I must say I don't watch the news much lately as a result. Your produce is all looking good, especially the grapes. I like the look of the yellow cucumbers too. Happy gardening! x

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    1. Yes it does indeed! They taste nice as well :)

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  18. Goodness me I've discovered your post. You had got lost when I started my new blog.
    Coincidence - Col's Dad died a couple of weeks ago, but it was expected and he didn't suffer at the end.And we are waiting for Col to have a donor stem cell transplant in a few weeks time.
    Your Polyt looks amazing and that sweetcorn - wow. We never ever grew sweetcorn inside as its wind pollinated so I didn't think it would - obviously it does!.
    Sorry your job is rubbish at the moment hope things improve.
    Don't stay away so long next time!

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    1. Hey Sue, sorry to hear about Cols dad, and good to hear that Col will be having a donor stem cell transplant, it is amazing what they can do. Sweetcorn? I did see some growing in a poly in another blog and thought it was a good idea as it is too windy to grow it outside here. I'll try not to stay away so long :)

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  19. So pleased you are back. Nice surprise to see your post. Thank you Jan Bx

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    1. Thank you Jan, I like to give people a nice surprise :)

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  20. So sorry to hear of your struggles over the past few weeks but hopefully things will start picking up for you again now - I know it just gets overwhelming when the bad seems to outweigh the good. I've found that being in nature helps - just getting outdoors and taking some deep breaths and appreciating the simple things can be really uplifting ;)

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  21. Wow your veg look good! So satisfying to grow your own I bet you are really proud. It is lovely that you are back blogging. I am also glad to hear you have stuck with being vegan and don't worry yourself over vitamins if you are eating a good diet and not allowing yourself to go hungry you will do well. Take B complex supplement that is a must but other than that you are unlikely to be lacking unless you rely on processed food. I don't preach to anyone and my husband is a meat eater but as you are already in, a vegan diet is best, I have certainly never felt better. If you read up on what is actually in dairy you will never want to touch it again. Well done for sticking at it! xx

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  22. Aah ! Lovely to hear from you again ! Brilliant pics of the homegrown veggies ! We have Swallows but they have not made nests here..they would go in and nest in the garage though if we left the door open ..we can see them nesting in our neighbours open stables .( grrr ..very annoying spell checker making me think I,d spelt neighbours incorrectly !!! grrr ! ) :)

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  23. Hey Chickpea! Hope you are well. I forgot to ask what car you got? I am interested in how you find the electric car and the pros and cons so far.

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    1. Hi Sol, I have the BMW i3, I absolutely love it! The whole car and even the factory it is made in is very 'eco' which for me is very important and relevant to the ethos of buying an electric car. We charge it from our solar panels so it is very 'green' and have a Tesla battery to store the energy from the solar panels. At the moment we are generating most of our energy, will have to see how it goes over winter though! It is very easy to run, I just plug it into a charger on the wall at home. It has a range of about 200 miles.

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    2. sounds really good, will have to look into this!

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    3. Snap - we got ours just days ago. And yes, learning curve, and love driving it. Photovoltaic panels is the next dream.

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