and it's goodnight from him!

Pure poetry! Poetry in motion!

Monday morning!

I definately like the close-up facility on my camera! Yesterday I went to a cricket match with my sister in law & mother in law. My oldest nephew had asked me to go, it was organised by his Explorer Group. Hubby was working and had to take part of a mould tool over for welding. As it happened the BBQ at the cricket match was late, and so when we arrived and found a place in the shade the cricket match started. MIL & I had some nibbles but I could see I wasn't going to be able to stay and have something to eat as Jon was going to ring me when he was on his way home. We both arrived home around 3pm and got the motorbike out. We went over Pickering Moor, via Malton and then decided to go through Scarborough, ending up at Whitby. It was a lovely afternoon. The roads, as ever were very busy but Jon turned off the main A64 and we just tootled along. We evetually came across a sign post to Scarborough and we just followed the B roads. As we were driving along I couldn't help but notice how lovely the many villages are in North Yorkshire and how so many of them have retained the traditional village features.... red telephone boxes, cricket matches - we saw three in all, no doubt the wives/partners will have prepared a fantastic traditional tea, road side barrows of home produce, village stores - so few these days. We arrived home and had a BBQ. Rib eye steak & lamb chops + potato salad. I must say the steak was excellent and I do feel ribeye is by far the best for the BBQ. We eventually came in from the garden just before 9pm and settled down to watch "Silent Witness." Jon had a bit of a rough night, un beknown to me. He was feeling ill and got up at 4am and went for a walk up the lane. He went back to bed and got up at the normal time but was understandably tired. So a new week commences! The few days Jon thought he would be having free are now a thing of the past as he is busier than ever. Today he is working on the mould tool reapair which he has said would be ready tonight. He has also got an order in for some couplers for a railway somewhere, could be London underground. I woke myself in a panic as I realised I had forgotten to water my tomatoes last night. They were just OK, so I gently watered them a couple of times first thing! A couple had some discolouration and I have given them some epsom salts, as from the books it looked like potassium deficiency....time will tell! Normal chores today. Later this week I will be collecting my ice-cream maker via Freecycle so I want to get some recipes sorted. Oh and ofcourse I want to do some more close-ups. Dx

At last! I have figured out how to take close-ups with my camera!

Wilma!

Our other rescued and loved German Shepherd! She is 5 now. We got her when she was 5 months old. I thought I had better put her photograph here because I put Max's here yesterday. I can't be seen to have a favourite now can I? I have been asking questions about my camera as I am certail I should be able to take close-ups. Apparantly I can, so I will be doing some experimenting later on. The BBQ was rained off last night. Torrential rain, thunder & lightning! Power off again! fortunately was back on this morning. Drank more wine than I should have done and have a slight head ache. Not too bad really but I do not feel 100%. Jon has had to go to work but should be home around 3pm, so we should get out for a couple of hours on the bike. There is a rush job on, a panic at the factory, one of Jon's customers. Jon will put it right ofcourse. It is for Hotpoint and if the factory stops production Hotpoint will fine them £60,000 per hour!! I am going to pick up my ice-cream maker which I got through Freecycle, so I will get some recipes sorted. I also have to order some materials for some Orders of Service I am making for customers. A bit cooler today! Dx

Max the Weather Forecaster!

Knew first thing this morning we were in for thunder! Max has been following me around all morning. His ears have been flat against the side of his head and he has been panting. As I type this at my desk he is lying at my feet, he hates the thunder! I, like so many other people will be glad of a break in the heat, and I am sure the atmosphere will be much more pleasant when the thunder and lightning passes. It hasn't actually started thundering here yet, but from the sound of things I would say it is thundering in Whitby, so it could go out to sea, but by Max's behaviour I think we are definately in for more thunder... Jon has just said it is brightening up which will be good as we were planning to have another BBQ tonight. Maureen, Jon's sister is coming over to stay the night and Enid is coming too, so hopefully we will be able to sit outside. We have spent the morning doing jobs. Jon continued with clipping the front hedge and I worked my way through the house with the hoover and a cloth. I also put a load of washing in ready to peg it out, but will hold back just yet! I am one of those people who deliberates over hanging out the washing because of what the sky looks like, only to then go out and fill the washing line up....and when I am pegging out the very last item you can guarentee it will start to rain! Dx

Friday!

Ooh! two for the price of one! Today has been another very hot day! What is your favourite household job? Mine has to be washing & pegging outside. Because it was so warm I managed to get two loads washed & pegged outside! Gave everything a good water before the sun reached it's hottest point and moved some of my tomatoes into the shade as a couple of them were wilting. Fully recovered now! I spent a few hours on a wedding order of service and then went to the local council office to get my permit for the recycling place & tip. Because we have a pick-up we need a permit. This is to stop businesses using the site. Another chap came into the reception and was wanting a permit for his trailer. The receptionist kept saying to him.... "We are lucky to have a tip.....it's a luxury!" It got me thinking! I will be allowed 5 visits per annum. On each occasion I present my permit and it will be stamped. However I do know the chaps at the tip due to frequent visits last year, when we were allowed umlimitted visits. I used my psychology on these visits.................. Hubby chopped, we both loaded up the pick-up then I would drive it to the tip, alone. On reaching the tip I would find the council workers so keen to help me unload the garden rubbish into the skip. It was typical to have 4 or 5 helpers at any one time..... whilst all this help was being channellesd my way I could see men lugging heavy rubbish on their own.......wonder why I got the help? Blonde in a pick-up????? Anyhow I took the chaps chocolate biscuits! So I somehow think they may allow me a few more than 5 visits....the biscuits are in the cupboard! A BBQ tonight. Rib-eye steaks, mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Got some cava on offer at Tesco and wine was 20% off if I bought 6 bottles. Well, it would have been rude to let such an offer go! A nice night in store, I hope anybody reading this has one in store too! Dx

Harry had a good send off!

This picture was taken in April 2005 in the Yorkshire Dales. A typical day out with Harry! from the left, Trevor, Harry, Enid, Jon, me, Lesley and on the back table Steve & Carol! As you can see....we were always laughing! And so to today, Harry's funeral. Could not believe the much welcomed change in the weather! By all accounts the weather was going to break, but we all know how wrong the forecasters can be, but today they got it right. It is so uncomfortable wearing bike leathers in the heat, it's not so bad when you are moving, but the minute you stop you begin to overheat as you struggle to get your jacket/helmet off etc. We knew there would be some waiting around today so when we awoke to a cool, slightly overcast sky we were quite pleased! Ideal, a lovely cool breeze! Talking to Jon this morning we wondered how many bikes would turn up. We agreed 10 would be great! Our neighbours Ang & Derek, both keen bikers who knew Harry, were on our drive at 10.10am. Together we drove to Saltburn where 20+ bikes were waiting! I had made the black and white ribbon tributes and had counted 27! All went. We then drove to the end of Harry's road and waited. Trevor was riding Harry's bike. He came to the front. At the appropriate signal all the bikers reved up! It was awesome. We set off, the bikers leading Harry's coffin and the family cars. Enid in front with Trevor. As we were going up Saltburn bank I looked behind to see the whole road filled with bike headlights..leading all the way back to the cortege.... very emotional! We drove on the A174 and evetually onto the Parway. At one point Trevor put his foot down and we all followed, Enid loved it. As we approached the road that would take us to the crematorium. Kenny a pal came foreward to say one of the funeral cars had a puncture, so there would be a delay. However as we later discovered, the bikes nearest to the family cars pulled in when they realised there was a problem and changed the wheel in record time! We drove into the crematorim, parked the bikes and lined up our helmets. It's a biker thing! The cars arrived and Jon and Trevor together with the funeral bearers, lifted Harry's coffin into the chapel. Harry had lost his faith and had stipulated a humanist service........... which is what happened. We listened to Harry's chosen music, Local hero by Dire Straits.. The Way It Always Starts It gets so dark before the dawn That's when it gets to me Before the city symphony of taxi horns That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart. Last night I thought I heard my name Well it was too dark to see, but it had to be, The voice was just the same That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart. So tell me why should it have to be this way Why can't it be all right,Why can't I sleep at night? Why should it have to be this way? Why must there be this price to pay? Now all the streets are dark and bare, Oh, if you can live in this town, And stick around, you can live anywhere That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart.

KOCKIN' ON HEAVENS DOOR(Guns and Roses version)

Mama take this badge from meI can't use it any more

Its gettin dark too dark to seeFeels like I'm knockin on heavens door

Kn-kn-knockin on heavens door

put my guns in the groundI can't shoot them any more

That cold black cloud is comin downFeels like I'm knockin on heavens doorKn

"You just better start sniffin your ownRank subjugation

Jack cause its just youAgainst your tattered labido, the bank, andThe mortician,

forever man and it wouldn'tBe luck if you could get out of life alive

Kn-kn-knockin on heavens door

heard an account of his life and I read my poem. I nearly lost it on the final sentence, but I held it together.....just. You see, it was all about the journey! If you went for a ride out with Harry, You knew it would be an event, Cos somebody out there would annoy him And his anger he would have to vent! Often it would be a car driver Who failed to let us know – What he was really thinking Which way he had chosen to go! Once Harry had spotted his error And with a shake of his head.. You knew the chosen car driver Wished he was somewhere else instead! When we would stop for refreshment Often the subject of conversation Would be about Harry’s many and varied Choice of gesticulation! When we think of Harry One thing will remain Those days out with him laughing Will come round again! Now the sun will shine forever On Harry’s smiling face, and we know this friend of ours Is speeding in another place. Too soon he left to travel beyond where we can see, remember it’s all about the journey, and now Harry rides on, Free. Enid had chosen "Simply the Best" just for Harry, this was played at the end of the service. I call you when I need you, my heart's on fire Youcome to me, come to me wild and wild When you come to me,Give me everything I need Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams Speak a language of love like you know what it means And it can't be wrong Take my heart and make it strong baby You're simply the best, better than all the rest Better than anyone, anyone I've ever met I'm stuck on your heart, and hang on every word you say Tear us apart, baby I would rather be dead In your heart I see the star of every night and every day In your eyes I get lost, I get washed away Just as long as I'm here in your arms I could be in no better place Each time you leave me I start losing control You're walking away with my heart and my soul I can feel you even when I'm alone Oh baby, don't let go Afterwards we made our way to the pub for lunch. Several people came up to me and commented on the poem, so all in all I think Harry had a terrific send off! I was so proud to be a biker. Later on we went up to the histestop cafe in Whitby where we meet up regularly with our biker pals each Thursday night. Quite a few of them had attended the funeral and said how moving they had found it all! One pal commented we should have videod...I disagreed and with photographs. Some things are not tasteful!ful, What happened yesterday was special, spiritual and meaningful to those who took part! We were all bonded together! Most importantly, it was what Harry & Enid wanted.

Cup of Tea?

It's Wednesday and a scorcher of a day! I was up early as I wanted to do a couple of jobs to do with Harry's funeral tomorrow. I drove to the crematorium using the route we ill use tomorrow. Harry left details of his funeral with Enid. He wants to go to the crematorium with his friends the bikers, leading the way. I have been in touch with all of our biker pals and organised the meet-up tomorrow. We will meet at 10.30 am in the Ship Inn Carpark where I will give people the black and white ribbons I have made to be tied to the mirrors, Harry supported Newvastle United. We will then wait at the end of Harry's rearse comes , Trevor, Harry's best friend will drive Harry's bike, with Enid on the back in front of Harry, to the crematorium. We will all be in front, Jon and I leading the way. I have viewed the parking area and spoken to the administator at the crematorium so I will be able to tell people where to park tomorrow. I am tweaking my poem later today and practising reading it. I want to be strong when I read it tomorrow! I also want to clean our bike leathers as they are covered in flies...Harry would not have liked that! I am looking forward to sharing a cup of tea this afternoon with a friend from the "It's Not Easy Being Green" forum, http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/ Fiona and her family, from South Wales who are on holiday in North Yorkshire. I will be making strawberry teas all round. Dx

It is the start of something big!

This is the very bottom of the paddock. The area under the Sycamore tree is very shaded. The brick structure at the back of the picture is the remains of a septic tank. One idea is to fill in the septic tank with hard core and this will form the base for the shed. I could also plant my wild flower meadow here..........??? The shed is currently next to the goose hut on the main part of the paddock... where it does get light! We could move the shed, onto the septic tank area and dig over the ground currently which it is currently standing on.

So basically, on this picture, imagine the shed wasn't there and an imaginary line going across from the front of the shed would indicate the boundary of the veg plot! Yes it is on a slope but that will be our next task! Hubby is taking some time off next week, so with the help of Chris and a couple of nephews + friends we should really see progress taking place.

What's this rose?

This is in my shrubbery,no idea what it is but the perfume is outstanding! I will have to find out how to prune it as it is quite large. We have a rotovator, I amled to believe it is a Wolsey Merry Tiller. I found out by a very helpful response over on The Kitchen Garden Forum. hubby had been wanting a rotavator and we had been looking around. One of his pals was wanting to get rid of his, for a price ofcourse and so we went round to look at it last night! It needed some attention (don't they always) and after parting with £20 we made our way home with one rotavator firmly strapped into the back of the pick - up. Because the land has not been worked for over 15 years we were advised to plough it over first. Fortunately we have a neighbourhood of farmers wh o would be only too keen to do this so we will think the next plan of action through. ROCKET! I love it! Last week when I was using up my vegetable box I received some rocket....I had it in a free range egg sandwich and it was out of this world. I am going to grow some in my greenhouse. I also want to try some seed sprouts... Radish sound lovely, peppery which I love. DISCUSSION Rows or raised beds? Remember this is all new to us and I dont want to make a rod for our own back? Will do some asking about, but would welcome any thoughts. ANOTHER SCORCHER! Very hot here again, so I got all of the housework done whilst it was cool. I think I will spend some quiet time thinking about my poem for Harry and also my garden.......which is now OUR project! Dx

Fruit of my Labour!

We were so excited, it really did taste like no other strawberry I had ever eaten! We ate it on Saturday night. We had a BBQ on Friday evening and had some lovely rosemarry marinated lamb steaks, together with a burger and some pork & leek sausages. J always does the BBQ cooking and I made a potato salad to accompany the lovely meat. My organic vegetable bag arrived on Thursday andI was determined to use the veg whilst it was fresh. I cooked and froze the spring cabbage, sugar snap peas with the carrots. I had never cooked with fennel before so I had a search for a recipe and came up with this... Chicken Stew with Fennel & Saffron Recipe Ingredients 4 tomatoes, peeled, cored, seeded and chopped 2 large onions, quartered 4 garlic cloves, crushed 4 large fennel bulbs with feathery leaves attached, coarsely chopped 3 Tbsp olive oil 1/3 cup Pernod licorice- flavored aperitif 2 pinches saffron 1/3 cup fresh thyme 4 bay leaves Salt Black pepper 4 chicken legs with thighs attached, skin removed 1 pound boiling potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 cups chicken stock Instructions The day before: combine the tomatoes, onions, garlic, fennel, olive oil, Pernod, saffron, herbs and seasonings in a large covered casserole. Stir to blend and add the chicken, stir to coat the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to blend the seasonings. At least 1 hour before you begin to prepare the dish, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Stew the chicken in its marinade, covered, over medium heat, stirring from time to time, for about 30 minutes. Add the potatoes and chicken stock, simmer until the potatoes are cooked (30 to 45 minutes). Taste for seasoning and serve in warmed shallow soup bowls. It was lovely! The salad which came in the veg bag was from Norfolk, I was a bit miffed at this, food miles etc. However the Rocket was lovely and I can't wait to grow our own. Talking of growing our own, we are both very excited and are planning our plot. I spent all Saturday cutting back the shrubbery in the back garden, planning my pink roses, pinks, delphiniums & foxgloves for next year. J cut back all the hedges on Saturday late afternoon and all Sunday morning. We have help in the shape of Chris this week. He normally helps J at the workshop but we are soo keen to get going J has allowed me to give him some jobs.........all to help us get on with our plans. Sunday afternoon was warm and we went out for a ride on the motorbike. We went to Fimber, just outside Malton then on to Scarborough and Whitby. The roads were very busy, it was nice a breath of cooler air from the coast! Harry loved Fimber and we were talking about him whilst we were there... we remember him laughing! The funeral is set for Thursday, I am currently writing a poem to read out at the service. Dx

I am a Daffodil What Flower Are You?

Thursday!

Enid phoned last night, returning my call earlier. From personal experience I knoeel how important it is to feel supported during grief! We do not know when Harry's funeral will take place, but it will probably be next Tuesday or Wednesday. Harry knew he was going to die and had obviously discussed the final arrangements with Enid. It will be a Humanist funeral at the crematorium. We lost another good biker friend just over a year ago.. http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/7000digest/tm_objectid=14932377&method=full&siteid=50080-name_page.html#story_continue Ian's family requested a biker pressence and it was J and I who organised it. It was quite emotional to see a line of motorbikes leading the hearse to church. Harry and Enid took part in the ride and Harry had found it very fitting.... he wants the same! So throughout the day I will be contacting as many of our friends as possible and make provisional arrangements, until we know the definate date. We will meet at a local carpark and then all ride to Harry's house and escort him on his final journey to the Crematorium. We will wear black and white ribbons for Harry, he supported Newcastle United! Still, I guess he couldn't get everything right! Do not stand at my grave and weepI am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousands winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush,I am the swift uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die. Mary Elizabeth Frye - 1932 If Death is Kind Perhaps if Death is kind, and there can be returning, We will come back to earth some fragrant night, And take these lanes to find the sea, and bendingBreathe the same honeysuckle, low and white. We will come down at night to these resounding beaches And the long gentle thunder of the sea, Here for a single hour in the wide starlightWe shall be happy, for the dead are free. - Sara Teasdale

Harry is now at Peace!

Our dear friend Harry died at 4.30 this morning, after losing his fight with cancer. With us being out for most of the day our friend has just told us. Enid his wife will be lost! Dear Harry, Goodnight and God Bless! Dxxx

Oh What a Perfect Day! I'm glad I spent it with You!

Change of plan today! I had seen this foxglove last week at the garden centre and had thought about it for a whole week. The Garden Centre http://www.klondyke.co.uk/index.htm is quite expensive, but I told myself the £9.49 for the plant would be money well spent as I can take seeds from it and have many more next year............so first thing this morning off I went and bought it. It just to say fit inside my car. When I got home hubby was home and due to a change in his work schedule he found had a few he hours to spare. We discussed the Lakes but I just wasn't keen.....I was thinking about the garden. In the end we decided on Plan B. We would go and talk to Stokesley Lawn Mower Services about a rotivator for the preparation work to be done in the paddock for our vegetable plot, and then go onto Easingwold, just outside York to see what they had in store. This is the place where we got our sit on mower a few years ago. So off we went. First stop, Stokesley. Had a great chat with one of the chaps. He had a Honda Rotivator and couldn't sing it's praises enough. As we have 2 honda motorbikes hubby was quite keen. The chap then went on to tell us all about his allotment. It was just great listenino to him and also to hubby who was saying how we want to get into vegetables and the possibility of digging over more of the paddock depending on how well it all goes. This was music to my ears. We then had a lovely drive over to Easingwold. I was doing quite a lot of thinking on the bike, all to do with the garden. I have decided to do some work on the shrubbery in the back garden. I have been reading quite a lot of books lately and one picture which really inspired me was a bed of delphiniums, foxgloves, lupins and roses...all in various shades of pink.... I am going to move the shrubs that are curently there, to various locations round the plots and replace with the above...the scent will be lovely and I can sit in the chair which I will have next to my greenhouse and smell the fragrance and just look at the shere beauty! Back on the bike we arrived at Greens and had a look round. There wasn't many people around, they were at the Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. However the assistant showed us a secong hand rotavator and we left our phone number, they will contact us in a couple of days when the bosses return from Harrogate. Apparantly it doesn't work which is just up hubby's street. We found a lovely little tea shop/bakery and had ham salad sandwiches and creamcakes together with a lovely cup of tea. Pleasant drive home and now just catching up with what's been happening! I can pat myself on the back too. When I visited the Garden Centre I did think about buying another duck...............but resisted! 3 is a nice number! Dx

Garden Inventry 1

As promised, I have been out this morning and made a comprehensive list of all shrubs/flowers & trees in our garden..................... Front Ornamental Cherry Tree Hawthorne hedge Holly Tree Shrub area Ornamental Grass Lady's Mantle * Aquilegia * Hedge/Shielding at side of house Small boxptype shrub, very overgrown Elder tree x 2 Horsechestnut Tree Sycamore Tree Lilac In back garden 3 pine Trees Various conifers...dwarf??? 2 established older apple trees 1 younger apple tree (Discovery) Laburnum Tree Perimeter Hawthorne May Blossom? About 20 damson/plum trees Shrubbery Euphorbias Escallonia.Crimson Spire? * Hydrangea - Macrophyllia? * Yellow Rose - not sure of name * Lady's Mantle * Flowering Currant Periwinkle Sedums Laurel Spirea Patio/Kitchen area Tomatoes * Strawberries * Geranium * Varigated Ivy * Lavender * Rosemary * Chives * Primulus - many of * Violas * Pansies * Basil * Peppers * Rhubarb * Mint Thyme * Dry Stone Wall at side of Drive Various succulents * New plants this year...... 2 New Dawn Roses * 1 Delphinium * 1 Ceonothis * * Denotes plants I want to split/propogate for next year.

Tuesday!

Every day I receive a reminder from the link below and just by following the links provided and by clicking in the appropriate place I help fund mamaagrams for underprivelaged women. Yes there are sponser sites but there is no need to purchase anything, just click on the appropriate pink bar! Talking of pink.....I want some pinks in my garden and from them I want to take some cuttings for propogation. I also want to propogate my lavender, hydrangea and fuscias. I think I will do my inventry today so I can list everything of interest in our garden. from this list I will be able to make a list of everything I want to propogate/take cuttings of or split. Hubby is very busy at work so it looks as though the greenhouse foundations wont be dealt with just yet. I am not too disappointed, just a little bit. The fact of the matter is J is the breadwinner and part and parcel of our new lifestyle is his work has to come first, otherwise there wouldn't be any money available. On the upside of him being self-employed is the next time he isn't busy we are going to go over to the Lakes for the day, so that will be something to look forward to. The veg plot is still a matter of conversation and we are both really excited about it all. Talking to a neighbour yesterday, he offered J the use of his rotivator so this is great. J has a lad who works for him so he is going to put it to him today...to help J rotivate & prepare the plot. Join The Breast Cancer Site's "Chain of Hope" by spreadingthe word to friends and family about this free and easy wayto make early detection and survival of breast cancer possible for women in need. Click here:http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/TellAFriend The number of people who click on the "Fund Free Mammograms"button determines the amount of free mammograms we make possible for women in need. By using your own voice to helpraise awareness, you give help and hope to those with nowhere else to turn. Thank you for your support!

Possibly the best Quiche you have ever tasted dear!

are the words I spoke to hubby! I used up all of the double cream left over from Apple Flapjack Trifle! Just with 4 eggs & mature cheddar + organic onions. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Planning yet drinking some champagne............................. ahemmmmmmmmmm any highly intellectual thoughts I had have gone................. will make a note and post tomorrow! Dxxxxx

Good News on the Tomato front!

All is well with my lovely tomatoes! My neighbour popped over. She has grown her own vegetables for years. I nipped over the road and was having a chat. I noticed her tomatoes looked exactly the same as mine. I asked her about them and she said "Oh it's nothing, I just break the leaves off. So when she came over to our house she had a good look at mine, said they were really healthy! She showed me how to pinch off the unecessary leaves & what to look for. I can't begin to tell you how happy and relieved I feel. She also gave me some pepper plants. I felt really really chuffed. She also said she would buy some plums from us. We have about 10 plum trees and 3 apple trees. When we grow our vegetables we are going to sell mixed weekly bags to friends & family. I think we should put some fruit in too. It wont be this year obviously, but planning for the future I think it would be a good idea. I could also put chutneys and pickles into the bags. I think we need to put some netting on the apple trees this year to prevent bird damage. Received a phone call to say "My Allotment Book" had arrived. Rushed to the school to pick up my bargain book @ £6! It is written by Jekka McVicar......... check out her website... http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/ The sun is shining both outside and inside (and that's just me!) I am off to tidy the house and get rid of the flies, then settle down and read my new book! Dx

Pink Champagne!

The book said 500g of Rhubarb, my tiny harvest yielded 100g but I was not going to be disheartened! I chopped and cooked the rhubarb until soft, together with sugar and water. Soft yet still could feel the structure. Blitzed in the blender. Chilled. Sieved added to champagne................... Wonderful! Will do this again! Wonder why I have a slight headache this morning!

Hope or Hopeless?

Somebody once said if hope is crushed the heart is dead......... will check it out, but looking at this glimmer of hope on my tomato plants this morning leaves me feeling so frustrated. It would seem my tomato plants have blight, yet seeing the 1cm little dots ( I counted 3 in all this morning) did build up my hopes. I discarded all of the affected leaves last night and actually moved the tomatoes into the kitchen. I was just about to put out the light when I noticed a snail had crawled into one of the pots! Well we have no non-paying lodgers here so I escorted him from the premises! Today I will be having a thinking day. We are going to Scarborough Bike Races and I will be spending some time on the back of the motorbike for the duration of the journey.......... so I will be thinking! About......... my greenhouse the tomato problem........ my strawberries... I will plan the week's menus and try to come to terms with the tomatoes. I am so so gutted.... Dx

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green. ~Nathaniel Hahorne, Mosses from and Old Manseis Found this quotation today, just seemed to sum up how I feel towards my little bit of progress with growing my first fruit and vegetables. I have attached my tomatoes to bamboo supports today...noticed this on the leaves..worried now,any ideas?

The Greenhouse Project!

This is a picture taken from the B&Q website of the greenhouse hubby bought for my birthday present. Mine is 6' square.

We are working on preparing the plot at the moment.........which you can see above the greenhouse.

The site is quite sloped so we are looking at all of the alternatives .hubby is quite keen to have a concrete base, but I have my reservations due to the environmental issues.

Hubby has had to go to the workshop so I am going to spend some time researching alternative ideas...will post my findings later.

I just want to get into my greenhouse!

Am sooooooo excited!

Update..1.25 Saturday afternoon........

Received some advice via Downsizer and River Cottage.........

How much of a slope? Any structure is going to be better on a level setting - is it feasible to dig into the slope and use the spoil to provide a level base? And concrete isn't necessary. Dig the base out to the same depth, but use rammed hardcore blinded with sand with stone slabs on top. That would work just as well. There's too much blooming concrete in the world as it is (it accounts for a high percentage of CO2 emissions and can't be recycled, except as hardcore)!

You could create a terrace using sleepers or blcoks and then put the house ontop. This would give you really deep soil on one side to make an old fashioned hotbed or grow deep rooting plants like extra long straight carrots. You could then use any base inside that you wanted ans it woould be contained by the external walls of the greenhouse.

Lots to think about there!

Right posting this now...........lost the last one!!!

One Year on from the London Bombings

At 12 noon 2 minutes silence was upheld to remember the poor innocent people who lost their lives as a result of the terrible events one year ago. I was listening to Classic FM at the time and thus hymn was played... I found the words of verse 3 particularly moving. "Be Still, My Soul"by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897 1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake To guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below. 3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart And all is darkened in the vale of tears; Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears. Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay From His own fulness all He takes away. 4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. Here is the list of all 52 victims. James Adams Samantha Badham Philip Beer Anna Brandt Ciaran Cassidy Rachelle ChungFor Yuen Elizabeth Daplyn Arthur Frederick Karolina Gluck Gamze Gunoral Lee Harris Ojara Ikeagwu Emily Jenkins Adrian Johnson Helen Jones Susan Levy Shelley Mather Michael Matsushita James Mayes Behnaz Mozakka Mihaela Otto Atique Sharifi Ihab Slimane Christian Small Monika Suchocka Mala Trivedi AnthonyFatayi-Williams Jamie Gordon Giles Hart Marie Hartley Miriam Hyman Shahara Islam Neetu Jain Sam Ly Shyanuja Parathasangary Anat Rosenberg Philip Russell William Wise Gladys Wundowa Lee Baisden Benedetta Ciaccia Richard Ellery Richard Gray Anne Moffat Fiona Stevenson Carrie Taylor Michael Brewster Jonathan Downey David Foulkes Colin Morley Jennifer Nicholson Laura Webb

Surprise Surprise!

I love surprising people! It was my sister in law's birthday yesterday, no special age just a 40 something occasion! Last year whilst we were away on holiday she, together with her sons, our much loved fantastic nephews and he mum, (my mother in law)....yes another Mrs Nesbitt!!! all took turns to look after our house and animals. When we arrived back home from a fabulous time in France we were shocked when she told us her husband had decided to quit the marriage. We spent the following months helping her and the nephs as best we could. Everybody was dreading Christmas but we did have a good time together round the Dinner table. The two eldest nephews belong to Explorers and had an organised Christmas Dinner event. You will know the set up....they cook & serve the meal to paying guests, in order to raise funds. Obviously SIL went along and took her mum.....who invited her friend along too. Well it just so happened this friend's son was over from Canada........................ he too was on his own as a result of his wife leaving the marriage! and so..............................they clicked! Last month SIl visited him in Canada and he has been over here a couple of times. neither of them were looking for love yet they have found it! SIL still has a lot to deal with, a divorce, running & maintaining a home and bringing up 3 sons aged 13, 15 and 17! Last week she had a rough couple of days and I caught the jist when talking to her on the telephone. She wasn't looking forward to her birthday at all, the first one as a single parent,and infact wasn't going to celebrate at all....... enter moi! I suggested we all go to our local pub for a carvery! I spent the day preparing the meal. Everybody knew it was a surprise, everybody except SIL! Melon, Strawberry & Grape Platter Roast Organic Beef & Onion + Pepper Gravy Yorkshire Puddings Champ Potatoes Roast Root Vegetables in Herb Olive Oil Apple Flapjack Trifle Cheese & Biscuits The table looked lovely. I have white crockery & together with the white table linen and my birthday flower decorations set the pace. The family arrived and we sat outside on the patio for pre-dinner drinkies. I even used my mobile to ring our landline pretending it was Jill from the pub letting us know the table was ready! I had closed the vertical blinds in the main lounge..... so I opened the blinds, & the patio door and just said "The table is ready" SIL was absolutely thrilled. We had a fantastic evening! I think I will try and organise a surprise a month! So who knows, it could be you!

New Dawn! My beautiful birthday present!

My friends Carole and David bought me two of these beautiful climbing roses for my birthday! I know they were chosen because of many things........ the fragrance is absolutely wonderful, the colour is amazing and the name................so appropriate for such a significant birthday! I am going to plant them on either side of an empty arch situated on the edge of the patio. This will enable the fragrance to be enjoyed by all who sit in the seating area. Whilst out at the garden centre a few days ago I saw a beautiful Foxglove which although was rather expensive will complement the rose so much, so I am going to buy one with my birthday money. I will be able to collect the seeds and have many more next year. It is great that hubby is so enthusiastic about the garden... our projects are as follows..... The Greenhouse................ preparation of the plot, erection, the staging of the shelving etc. I bought "The Greenhouse Expert" yesterday and must say it is full of useful information. I particularly like he month by month section. This means I can plan what I will be planting/growing etc. I will post here. The Veg Plot! By far the biggest surprise! The paddock attatched to our house has a covenant.....we can only use it for horticultural or aggricultural purposes. Hubby wants to dig over the bottom part and plant vegetables. They will ofcourse be organic! We have lived here for 15 years and have never used any chemicals on the paddock so we will check re soil association so we can state our produce will be organic! There is potential to increase the veg plot and take up more of the paddock which is currently just grass. The Maintenace of the Hedges This is like the Forth Bridge..............we have an abundance of hedges to be clipped etc. Being only 5' 2" rules me out! We normally get the local farmer to cut the front hedge but it has been great to see hubby taking this on board. The Lawns Hubby is in his element here! Sit on mower etc. In the past this has been hubby's only interest so it is great that we now have more projects as listed above, it is indeed a new dawn!

Some words to think about and make you smile!

I was sent the following today! Thanks L! GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED: 1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats. 2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair. 3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person. 4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato. 5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food. 6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair. 7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time .8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. 9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. 10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap. GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED: 1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree. 2) Wrinkles don't hurt. 3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts. 4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. 5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside. 6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy. GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD 1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. 2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get. 3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there. 4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster. 5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. 6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. 7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE: 1) You believe in Santa Claus. 2) You don't believe in Santa Claus. 3) You are Santa Claus. 4) You look like Santa Claus. SUCCESS: At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants. At age 12 success is . . . having friends. At age 17 success is . . . having a drivers licence. At age 35 success is . . . having money. At age 50 success is . . . having money. At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers licence. At age 75 success is . . . having friends. At age 80 success is . . . not piddling in your pants. Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.

It's Ralph!

I think the family looks complete now! We just need some females! The ducks are made from bamboo. Here are a few facts that you may find interesting. A sixty foot tree cut for market takes 60 years to replace. A sixty foot bamboo cut for market takes 59 days to replace. Millions of people depend on this plant for their livelihood. It has become so much a part of the culture and memory of societies that the existence of a Bamboo Age has not been ruled out. Bamboos are giant, woody grasses which put out several full length, full diameter, naturally pre-finished, ready-to-use culms ("stems") each year. A single bamboo clump can produce up to 15 kilometres of usable pole (up to 30 cm in diameter) in its lifetime. Over one billion people live in bamboo houses

And here's one I made earlier!

My neighbour gave me the roses and I just finished off with my favourite, Lady's Mantle [Alchemilla mollis] Did you know........ A frothy haze of tiny, chartreuse yellow flowers appearing from June to September above softly hairy, rounded, pale green leaves, which catch water droplets like pearls. No garden should be without this charming perennial! Ideal for groundcover or edging paths, it tolerates a range of adverse conditions including heavy clay and, once established, is drought tolerant. Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: moist, humus-rich soil Rate of Growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to September Flowers: greenish-yellow Other features: excellent cut flowers Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Cut back the faded flower heads and foliage in August and the plant will often produce a second flush of flowers. Alchemilla has a tendency to self-seed freely, so to minimise the spread of the plant remove the seedheads carefully after flowering

Full report on my birthday!

The day started with a visit from the postman...............

15 exotic orchids courtesy of Marks & Spencers.

Each orchid meticulously packed in an individual mini water vessel!

I have never had orchids before and was thrilled to receive such a wonderful gift.

I was wrestling with the packaging in order to find out who had sent the flowers......

I should have known, Margaret & Francis, our friends who are now living in Turkey!

Marks & Spencer's number 1 fans!

Lots of cards to open then out to the shops.....important supplies.

Friends and family were visiting during the afternoon so I prepared cheese scones with cream cheese & smoked salmon and strawberry tarts for desert.

I arrived back from the shops to be greeted by my friends Carole and David from Nottingham.

I worked with Carole over 20 years ago when we both taught in an inner-city primary school in Nottingham.

My my the tales we could tell! ....infact we did for the best part of the afternoon, much to the amusement of our guests.

For some reason the male contingent were watching the football match in the main lounge, but we all enjoyed the afternoon!

My family arrived and everybody simply enjoyed the whole event!

Carole and David bought me two beautiful rose bushes which I will plant this week and train them to grow up and around the arch in the garden.

My friends lesley and Jane bought me two beautiful calved wooden ducks, a definate hit! So much so I bought a third member only yesterday!

As the afternoon progressed we made our way over to the village hall.

I had spent some time making table decorations with flowers from the garden.

The hall looked lovely and we had a fantastic evening.

We danced away until midnight and everybody had a good time, which is all that mattered.

Introducing.....Alfred and Casper!

One of my favourite birthday presents!

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

No it's a generator! The whole village has been supplied with generators, following a major cable being cut! They were delivered at 3am on the morning of 30th June. This is ours, located in the field opposite our house. We are still being powered by these generators 5 days later!

Back to Normal!

I have had a wonderful few days! It seems ages since I last posted here, but life has been so hectic. My actual birthday was June 29th. I spent the morning teaching then had lunch with a friend. I returned home to a pile of cards & good wishes and as we were going out for a meal I wanted to re-charge my batteries, so had a quick nap! I awoke at 3.30 to discover we had no electricity, it was the same throughout the village! Fortunately there was sufficient hot water for a bath before going out for dinner! We went to Green's of Whitby for dinner.. http://www.greensofwhitby.com/index.html I had Fillets of Whitby Turbot with Sauteed Potatoes, Hollandaise and Dover Sole Mousse for my main course and hubby had Malton Peppered Pork Chop with Apple Chutney, Local Black Pudding, Potato rosti and Reduction Sauce ............absolutely delicious! We will definately be going there again! Yes it WAS quite expensive, but as we only go out for very special occasions we felt it was justified. I do a lot of cooking and like something special when we do go out!