Putting my back into it

This morning Nigel banned me from going to the allotment on the basis that I have hurt my back, however I managed to negotiate a 'picking only' trip.
After harvesting the courgettes, french beans and black currants I just couldn't ignore the take over of the brassica patch by weeds so managed to get up quite a lot of them using a bizarre lying on the floor sort of technique to avoid bending. I then took to pulling up the remaining broad bean plants to give on poor struggling courgette some much needed light.
After about ten minutes I had had enough, but this made me realise just how important that allotment patch has become to me. When I was initially considering not going, I felt a genuine sadness - like not being able to get to see a close friend when you have arranged to do so.
Hopefully my back will clear up in a couple of days to enable me to get up to the allotment to tackle the weeds properly as we are off to Dorset next weekend to take Timmy for his first holiday.

Knitted single covers

These are some of the results of our labours for the knitted single covers for our friend, Jason's record label.

It was great fun trying to find wierd and wonderful yearns to knit them up in. I certainly ended up with knitting RSI after a couple of sessions though!

Harvest!

Garlic and peas!

Also mange tout, onions and courgettes. The raspberries are fruiting their little socks off (despite supposedly being an autumn fruiting variety). Every trip to the allotment at the  moment is a tasting session!

In the garden I've got some beautiful french beans which are growing really well. They're grown from some heritage seed that I got given last year. They are said to be purple podded. The flower is the most beautiful and delicate pinky/purple.

It is so incredibly hot but despite the soil being so sandy, everything is thriving well without requiring too much water. A good soaking once or twice a week seems to be absolutely fine at the moment for the plants. Unlike for me, when I feel like I need a good soaking once or twice an hour! Nigel, Timmy and I went down to Southwold this morning to take advantage of the lovely sea breeze and righteous paddling ensued!

Four generations

A small boy joining three generations of formidable women!

Timmy meets the allotment

Today was Timmy's first trip to the allotment. Nigel brought him down after I had spent an hour or so clearing weeds (where had they all come from?!) and planting courgettes. He seemed to like it there.

Next weekend I am taking advantage of the 'special offer' that Nigel gave me as my wedding anniversary present - I have compost bins in urgent need of renovation and replacement with my new compost bin that was one of my birthday presents.

Yesterday Timmy had his first trip to Shingle Street - it met with his approval. We also discovered that he is definitely a water dog after he launched himself into the stinky mud of one of the lagoons there. We had to keep the car windows open on the way home because the smell was so bad!

He wasn't so sure about the sea though. I suspect that he may not have been to the seaside before.
Here are Timmy and Nigel before the entry to the mud.

Excuses for not blogging for ages!

First Alfie came to stay... (and this is the only time he cried whilst he was here) and then

we got a new dog! This is Timmy, an eight year old Bedlington Terrier X. As you can see, he has made himself at home very quickly. We are getting to know him and he is a really lovely boy who loves his walks and his food.
I have done loads at the allotment. I am going to take Timmy for his first visit later today so will post a vegetable update after that.

Growing

I went down to the allotment this morning and was amazed to find so much change in just a week. Peas and broad beans are poking through the soil - although it looks like pigeons are pecking at the peas so I have now netted them.

Radishes and beetroot are coming up as well. I planted some carrots, harvested some leeks and did loads of hoeing.

I also mulched the rhubarb and raspberries with some well rotted manure.

I have a fondness for my two rhubarb plants. They are the only things that were in the allotment when I took it on a year ago (except mountains of weeds!) and they feel like they are the connection with what has gone on before in that space.

..and talking of Alfie

Getting bigger!

Textures

I have had an idea for a project for ages. I really like the textures that you find in fishing nets and lobster pots, so today when Nigel and I went for a walk at Felixstowe Ferry I took loads of photos of nets and pots and gravel and drift wood and river plants. I want to try to use other mediums to recreate some of the patterns and textures that I found in them. It's still a seed of an idea at the moment, but I'm going to set it for myself as my summer project. However Callie and Nigel will probably remind me that one of my other projects (from about ten years ago) - a textured embroidery of standing stones at sunrise - is still knocking around somewhere unfinished! I'm still knitting Alfie's baby blanket because it took so long to source the wool. I think that Callie is a bit worried that he'll be a teenager before I get it done.

First baby picture

Am I getting boring yet?! Image sneaked out from Callie's mobile phone from hospital.