tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16779210029610876942024-02-21T04:51:59.830+01:00Silly Little Sheep's BlogVeronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.comBlogger343125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-63570148123465952732019-04-27T20:55:00.001+02:002019-04-27T20:55:21.849+02:00She's Finally Here!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">She has the tiniest hands and biggest blue eyes in the world. She
has a lot of hair and doesn’t like wearing hats. She likes being outside but
always cries on the allotment. She likes people and smiles in her
sleep. Like her Mum, she doesn't have a nice passport photo. She loves cuddles and has the most heart breaking cry I ever heard. Our little girl has finally arrived, four days later than she was expected. It is hard to believe
that she is almost seven weeks now, that is how much I have been enjoying my
time with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can a person be so tiny?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The birth itself was an intense experience on so many different
levels – physical (pain, oh the PAIN!!!), emotional (so much love and gratefulness
– for her, for my husband, for every single good thing in my life, no matter
how small) and even professional (they let me touch the placenta, woo-hoo!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Even before she was born she has changed so many things. I never thought you could love a bump but I did. I loved how she was a part of me, the mixture of both of us and yet a very defined person of her own, moving, growing and developing independently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So after two days in hospital we brought our little bundle home and I
haven’t been away from her since (except for one short walk in the park when hubby stayed at home with her). She is even right here with me now as I am
writing, wrapped up in a sling on my front, making little sounds and trying hard
to fight sleep but her eyelids seem too heavy somehow…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W0_GtBx8zmZS_vJc8BTzIile_Tvz06cv5lYjENbJ9WIlxt1yIEdu_9dJBQiIqIKJg28_Ev5uMQgoGiL_FVmxt4kLU2Su8k9yPj_KOLt7T7xcRsLfxNRdF6-d_VhQFoRVd33x5BO_WT1s/s1600/58978557_422166728584507_316060119257317376_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1080" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W0_GtBx8zmZS_vJc8BTzIile_Tvz06cv5lYjENbJ9WIlxt1yIEdu_9dJBQiIqIKJg28_Ev5uMQgoGiL_FVmxt4kLU2Su8k9yPj_KOLt7T7xcRsLfxNRdF6-d_VhQFoRVd33x5BO_WT1s/s400/58978557_422166728584507_316060119257317376_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Every day she seems to get bigger and cleverer as she discovers the amazing world and all the things in it that we so often consider ordinary. I can’t wait to take her swimming, show her off to <i>all </i>my friends, sow Nasturtiums and Calendulas and sunflowers with her and watch them grow, take Rocket for walks, go to the library, cook her spaghetti, take her on holiday, build a den and so much more. Life is one big adventure!</span></div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-23893818827528590672019-03-09T13:29:00.000+01:002019-03-09T13:29:54.598+01:00Pruning Purple Sage<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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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unpruned pruple sage plant</td></tr>
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When we took on the allotment last January, we inherited a pretty substantial herb patch consisting mostly of a well established giant <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/153600/Salvia-officinalis-Purpurascens/Details">purple sage (<i>Salvia officinalis "Purpurascens"</i>)</a> plant and rosemary bush of unknown variety, mixed in with some oregano and thyme and something I could not identify at the time which turned out to be a a kind of giant daisy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz07gX1DjOviru6qk3wcZ3hQUPTrAM92p0XwqTHKnGxtqQqWrfiPbhR2f7cuNkUGJHdTZu-_qQp_wVHV0lliSL-iH61UdNimyuEJ-ibzrfLSCojwk_Xmeb1Eys4PJQrgWMjN_V7ouKtdwz/s1600/ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz07gX1DjOviru6qk3wcZ3hQUPTrAM92p0XwqTHKnGxtqQqWrfiPbhR2f7cuNkUGJHdTZu-_qQp_wVHV0lliSL-iH61UdNimyuEJ-ibzrfLSCojwk_Xmeb1Eys4PJQrgWMjN_V7ouKtdwz/s1600/ladybird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The woken-up pest controller</td></tr>
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Thrilled as I was that I have all these plants, as the year went on I have not used the sage at all. I tried to reduce its size and gave the off-cuts away to friends to use in the kitchen but it wasn't until last week that I decided to go about it a bit more brutally and give it a proper prune. I was thinking about getting rid of it altogether, but as it is a good feed for pollinators, I decided to keep it. Moreover, I have read that drinking water infused with this plant can help with sore throats - something that I sometimes suffer from as a teacher.<br />
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Cutting away the lowest and widest branches I noticed that those that were lying down and touching the soil have developed roots. This is a commonly used method for propagating the plant asexually called "layering" - covering a lower branch with soil, waiting for roots to develop and then cutting it off and thus getting a separate plant. I am not sure whether the previous owners have done this intentionally or whether it just happened but I separated sections of those branches which gave me some really healthy looking cuttings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFucSa_OxV4fuqGHUKJjBdOnWJQHmTd0bd3Xktio3MnRX9W6sUsPSIvdfobbTTkmvCASFDGCv9STmyDd1cOTqVyyaTQ4dla5FqH4DQjH52W8LAWwe9X2uI3N3bC7nQOMrueSX7BqfUzw_/s1600/cuttings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1218" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFucSa_OxV4fuqGHUKJjBdOnWJQHmTd0bd3Xktio3MnRX9W6sUsPSIvdfobbTTkmvCASFDGCv9STmyDd1cOTqVyyaTQ4dla5FqH4DQjH52W8LAWwe9X2uI3N3bC7nQOMrueSX7BqfUzw_/s640/cuttings.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuttings from the lower branches that have already rooted</td></tr>
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I potted and watered them and I keep them in a shady spot behind the shed. I now have eight plants that I definitely do not want to keep but I am thinking I might give them away or wait until our allotment association's open day where I am sure we will have a plant sale.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1mIaiE966ZMvoh-VBEkninP0JwcTLy7BePpWqHbc1DjcqkR2wy1DNBpulM8OUFeMQJGJn-Ybmxqg8YzrLf0lOt6DtXPzMJo7J2usCUFK2s_dHaR3NqXP46BVqeO2oRf2V-e2vf4FhoNt/s1600/20190225_140335-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1600" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1mIaiE966ZMvoh-VBEkninP0JwcTLy7BePpWqHbc1DjcqkR2wy1DNBpulM8OUFeMQJGJn-Ybmxqg8YzrLf0lOt6DtXPzMJo7J2usCUFK2s_dHaR3NqXP46BVqeO2oRf2V-e2vf4FhoNt/s640/20190225_140335-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of the cuttings in their new pot. Pretty, aren't they?</td></tr>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0Surrey, Spojené kráľovstvo51.314759300000013 -0.5599501000000373150.678964300000011 -1.8508436000000372 51.950554300000015 0.73094339999996261tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-42823559678230690522019-03-05T15:20:00.004+01:002019-03-05T15:20:52.546+01:00Bumpy Allotment Visits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">❁</span>Today it has been two weeks since I have passed my practical driving test and with lots of encouragement from my husband I have been brave enough to drive my little red car, proudly displaying the magnetic P (probationary) plates. Of course, my first journey was to the allotment. I love the fact that I can just pack a lot of stuff in the car and take it right to the plot.<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">❁</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect day to take the bump out for a bit of fresh air.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">❁</span>Last time I visited the plot and did some proper work was in November when I cleared out the insides of the cold frame, which is where my tomatoes were growing last summer. They have gone a bit wild and the bed became a haven for many weeds. So I took the glass out, moved the frame away and cleared the bed underneath. I have also cardboard mulched it and am planning to use it as a seedling starting site this spring.<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">❁</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cold frame before and after. The plants on the left are self-seeded forget-me-nots. Great tortoise feed and pretty flowers for me and for the bees)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">❁</span><span style="text-align: center;">As we had a couple of unseasonably warm days (17</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">°</span><span style="text-align: center;">C in February!), I went back a few times and did little bits and pieces. Amongst them was cleaning the little patio in front of my shed and sifting through some compost.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">❁</span><div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The patio before and after.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">❁</span>I am slowly weeding the other neglected beds (and expecting a lot of volunteer tomatoes!), but as it goes with big pregnant bumps, I needed to rest frequently (thanks be to anyone who invented folding camping chairs). Cup of tea and a creme egg got me right back into it!<span style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">❁</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refueling.</td></tr>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-8992043915663126722019-02-25T18:04:00.003+01:002019-02-25T19:28:53.493+01:00Thirty-one <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl8fisfIpQl0cPJjGHAFqdda5qD755oGodBT3288ftrlb6uidom7wwSgofSbrmCw72vg_A25wT_07VD0XuPrr0yd-ZIBIIyaIGJu153Hj3n8PwDcE7t0bzkBTbSY472Pj9Nw_OTYn8Y4p/s1600/DSC_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl8fisfIpQl0cPJjGHAFqdda5qD755oGodBT3288ftrlb6uidom7wwSgofSbrmCw72vg_A25wT_07VD0XuPrr0yd-ZIBIIyaIGJu153Hj3n8PwDcE7t0bzkBTbSY472Pj9Nw_OTYn8Y4p/s640/DSC_2448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿ </span><span style="text-align: left;">Last week I turned thirty-one. A couple of years ago that number would have freaked me out. This year I just let myself enjoy some family time - sleepover with my niece and family lunch out. One of my birthday cards included a twenty pound note, so I treated myself to some double primulas in a lovely shade of orange. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYa9U7l7o43t-5WK-dhwUArmYLS5h11rivQyoWqROk2aprkk8JbYKCTCnI-EtH6ut4fiu9M5zzPlgR-DQWuwZ0g6Ebi5OW220ZGouGuTB15Ey-uZo5xPKg1nhLY5g5G2ur7irttFw_wqu/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1448" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYa9U7l7o43t-5WK-dhwUArmYLS5h11rivQyoWqROk2aprkk8JbYKCTCnI-EtH6ut4fiu9M5zzPlgR-DQWuwZ0g6Ebi5OW220ZGouGuTB15Ey-uZo5xPKg1nhLY5g5G2ur7irttFw_wqu/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿ </span>They lived on my windowsill for a couple of days but now they are decorating a freshly weeded corner on my allotment.From what I have read the double primroses are supposed to be much harder to grow than single ones, although it seems that this refers to their reproduction rather than just pure keeping them alive. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bfZMRA0hkZlPhEplEPt0h-FVChQRrCywS0Sz_Mz3QDnoLJU9lgTuUyUAKOVx2AMsJHVJpcHVGNyZcSV_tC4HJXSPraF1eMTkiI0KbcEPKvNb_rvPYkxO6PemLZGBHnz_y6JyQd9aEqix/s1600/DSC_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bfZMRA0hkZlPhEplEPt0h-FVChQRrCywS0Sz_Mz3QDnoLJU9lgTuUyUAKOVx2AMsJHVJpcHVGNyZcSV_tC4HJXSPraF1eMTkiI0KbcEPKvNb_rvPYkxO6PemLZGBHnz_y6JyQd9aEqix/s640/DSC_2476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span>Do you have any experience with growing double primulas? <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span></div>
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✿Are they as difficult as the internet claims they are?✿</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span>Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "source_sans_proregular" , "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">✿</span></div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-76377341426282901732018-10-22T17:12:00.002+02:002018-10-22T17:12:34.065+02:00All The Things That Grew This Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having been very excited about getting our little 5 rod
patch of land in January, I am quite sad that this year’s growing season did
not go to plan. I fully intended to visit the plot almost every single day
during the summer holidays, but it turned into not having been there for almost
two months straight and coming back to a plot full of overgrown squashes and
thriving annual weeds. Why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS_Tt-gChgVojDNj4wax__B0ULc_e1dNLoZrqddyZec4FEeawrss7r4Vs5uRWN2er3PqFGzA4ikv27zUXNF47-WDMr-GKFFBnQqlj_dUG_e3rPofoWfY4YUC0NZlGWg5a-JgcT-xN9hOl/s1600/20181022_094142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS_Tt-gChgVojDNj4wax__B0ULc_e1dNLoZrqddyZec4FEeawrss7r4Vs5uRWN2er3PqFGzA4ikv27zUXNF47-WDMr-GKFFBnQqlj_dUG_e3rPofoWfY4YUC0NZlGWg5a-JgcT-xN9hOl/s320/20181022_094142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is on our 20-week scan ♥ <br />(at least at the moment she seems to be a she:D) </td></tr>
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Well, that is the happy bit – instead of veg we started
growing a baby! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
And I started suffering from such bad morning (and day and evening and
sometimes night) sickness, that I could barely eat anything more than rich tea
digestive biscuits and water crackers. Moreover, every smell, whether it was my
husband’s deodorant, neighbours cooking with garlic or lavender or dry grass on
the allotment site was making me run and shout “Europe!” at the toilet. It was
a month and a half of hormonally induced digestive torture but now that I am back to normal and
eating well it seems to have been just a small unpleasant rough patch in the
grand scheme of things.</div>
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Talking about rough patches, the plot is definitely a big
one to handle. I like to think that whatever we do, there's always two of us doing it - even though I am the one putting in muscle work and the baby is just sleeping, wiggling and packing me an occasional kick or a punch from the inside. So we have spent two days gardening together so far, uncovered some
plants that were hidden in the weeds and gradually cleared one small area next to the
gooseberry bush. </div>
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Hubby helped me bring some cardboard from the school and I have used it to suppress weeds until I am ready to plant something in spring and the lovely allotment committee members have mowed my path so that I don't have to. They also keep telling me to take it easy. They clearly do not know me yet, as taking things easy is one of my hobbies - right after sleeping and eating! :D<br />
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Not everything has suffered during my absence. The mint that looked very poor in the hot summer has benefited from the rains and re-grew itself beautifully. I love brushing against it on my way to the shed and enjoying the fresh scent of the leaves and I look forward to drinking a lot of fresh mint tea on the plot later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtlBkPiDuWShdUCEdoc_vL68PNZiCTzKjXvep3xI65N8oca71PbRlMz49r2Ffqr7xS7GHVxX_9exq1WWKNidLE8KUcv-1yco4U_uYALE7Zm0h_IHL70-sbA4rXXWNyQu72hubZqiUqUM6/s1600/20181020_124450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtlBkPiDuWShdUCEdoc_vL68PNZiCTzKjXvep3xI65N8oca71PbRlMz49r2Ffqr7xS7GHVxX_9exq1WWKNidLE8KUcv-1yco4U_uYALE7Zm0h_IHL70-sbA4rXXWNyQu72hubZqiUqUM6/s640/20181020_124450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am not overly sad about the state of the plot, just a little embarrassed when looking at it and comparing it to others. Next year I am expecting a lot of volunteer plants, especially Cosmos, Verbena and tomatoes as all of these were left to go to seed. I will be adding spring bulb plants, developing the minipond and planting a wildlife corner. And bringing along a pushchair with the Tiddler in it! <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">♥</span>Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-71270772653871827752018-06-17T17:34:00.001+02:002018-06-17T17:34:16.154+02:00My First Ten-Stitch Twist Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuY2iNT3tsU5qU7V-pTg9_PTKMwXSqBdESZYEfGaSW4bOzQ7ZSDwC4D7F_Cqd5Qez0hq3I_ub2NV8fTLNEEeJLvNi0uEhWVCesd29hMh1FXKE32FstjQoXnujbBKdG193cMscHh4gWi6W/s1600/32252581_10157750793035329_9136593773122289664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuY2iNT3tsU5qU7V-pTg9_PTKMwXSqBdESZYEfGaSW4bOzQ7ZSDwC4D7F_Cqd5Qez0hq3I_ub2NV8fTLNEEeJLvNi0uEhWVCesd29hMh1FXKE32FstjQoXnujbBKdG193cMscHh4gWi6W/s640/32252581_10157750793035329_9136593773122289664_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have finished my first circular blanket! What a journey! It was one of those projects that I really liked working on, then wished it was finished already and once it was finished and I was taking photographs of it I felt sad that it was over. Who knew that knitting can turn you into such an emotional mish-mash?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOhj5IULpMcfC_RvPQ127R5FWw2TqHE6359zSoykRb-3BXoRNYbuKXVr7IAbju4r3BYIVLzAVQgKAlO0_IsZlPEWjOWNEFSVrJpazpPA0Ieup4z1-47kRHiIlOj18dy_559XNaOitihIg/s1600/32169009_10157750794185329_4690356788359331840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOhj5IULpMcfC_RvPQ127R5FWw2TqHE6359zSoykRb-3BXoRNYbuKXVr7IAbju4r3BYIVLzAVQgKAlO0_IsZlPEWjOWNEFSVrJpazpPA0Ieup4z1-47kRHiIlOj18dy_559XNaOitihIg/s640/32169009_10157750794185329_4690356788359331840_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Teeny</span> (<a href="https://www.jellycat.com/bashful-cream-bunny-bas3bc/" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bashful Bunny</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">by </span><a href="https://www.jellycat.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=jellycat&utm_campaign=Bing_Jellycat_Brand" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jellycat</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">is </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">enjoying a few moments of rest on this new blanket before it gets given away.</span></td></tr>
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The original pattern is <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ten-stitch-twist">Ten Stitch Twist </a>by Frankie Brown which is available as a free download on Ravelry. The yarn used is <a href="http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/sirdar-hayfield-spirit-dk-sundown-408-100g">Sirdar Hayfield Spirit DK in a shade called Sundown</a>. It was very pleasant to work with. I used 3mm needles because I like the knitting to be quite tight but in retrospect I would use slightly thicker needles (maybe 4mm) as they would not affect the tightness that much but would help the blanket be finished a bit faster. I used it to cover my legs whilst I was working on it and it is toasty warm.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I have taken this blanket on holiday and have knitted at my parents' house and spent many happy moments with it whilst sipping coffee and watching TV. However, I kept getting distracted and missing the point where I have to knit and turn an incomplete row. I only figured out that I can use stitch markers where I need to do this when the blanket was almost finished. Silly me!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The only slight problem I had was with the centre of the twist - I made it too large and so as I was knitting around it the whole centre bulged out and looked more like a hat rather than a flat blanket. I came to terms with this but in the end once I have soaked and stretched the blanket and let it dry the centre was almost as flat as the rest of it.</span></div>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-59600643742444636642018-05-05T19:40:00.000+02:002018-05-05T19:40:05.115+02:00Allotment Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year I have spent many happy hours on the plot. I have enjoyed the landscaping bit which included a lot of digging and weeding, filling the compost bins and moving and sifting a lot of soil.<br />
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We have divided the plot, transplanted the donated plants, repaired and re-positioned the cold frame, brought and planted my own plants and finally sown some more. Because of the really odd weather (heat waves and two loads of snow in April and as low as five degrees earlier this week) some plants suffered. My climbing beans did not make it. Surprisingly the tomatoes and peppers in the cold frame are still going, even if they look a little bit sad. The nasturtiums are well and the broad beans got nibbled but are setting flowers.<br />
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With the sun out everything has accelerated. The insects, the spiders, the crops and of course - the weeds. However, that is good news for Rocket who is very eager to help with thistles, dandelions and dead nettles :) I even created a little weed bed for her on my plot and tried out a pet run for the first time.<br />
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We now have flowering blueberries and strawberries and even tiny little gooseberries! And it's only the beginning of May!<br />
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I don't usually visit the plot on weekdays but on Thursday the weather was so nice that I was drawn outside. I checked a charity shop on my way and found this - an antibug mug! I don't have problems with bugs in my tea, but I often end up throwing soil into my drink by accident so this is a perfect solution. Funny how sometimes things work out, isn't it? This chunk of land really is my happy place.</div>
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Hope you had a joyful Saturday, too.Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-38732807822525121502018-02-03T17:00:00.000+01:002018-02-03T17:00:20.364+01:00Smelling the Spring<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I have been away from the blogosphere for a
long long time. Not because anything particular has happened, just general
everyday stuff. However, I tried to embrace everything that life brings and
enjoy the little things that bring a smile to my face and so far it has been a
good year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It seems such a bloggers’ cliché to say
that I cannot believe it’s already February, but at the same time I don’t
remember much of the January we have had, if I am to be honest. It just whizzed
past us. Working, eating, sleeping, gardening, all the good things which I was
enjoying rather than writing about for you to enjoy. So I am back now (only for
a while though, before it stops raining and I can run to the allotment again).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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From the very morning of the New Year’s Day we were frequent visitors on out allotment, plot 22A. One of the first things I did was to plant some <i>primula</i> plants that we bought the previous day. I decided that we need something pretty there to look at and keep us going whilst the other parts of the plot are in a bit of a state. We are still digging up weeds, re-potting plants that I grew at my in-laws’ garden, clearing brambles, setting up a new compost heap… However it is not as bad as some of those really neglected plots you see elsewhere online. All great fun and hard work but awesome exercise.</div>
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Apart from the green shed there were a few composters, some bamboo poles, a raised bed, a few slightly underdeveloped cabbages, rosemary, sage and some other herbs I do not recognise. On the front of the plot there are some spineless blackberries and what looked like blueberry bushes (later I found the name tags which confirmed that they are indeed blueberries). Wooden palettes and strawberry plants were scattered around the plot and even though the composters contained mostly plastic rubbish rather than compost, we have a whole army of earthworms in the soil!</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We met many lovely people who are always happy to chat and offer friendly advice and we even happened to run into someone who was in the
process of letting their plot go so they were clearing it out and donated a lot
of things to us, such as a water barrel, functional cold frame, crowns of
rhubarb and raspberry plants, just ready to pop in the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I have moved all strawberries into a new bed, am collecting rainwater and planning to build a mini pond and a temporary outdoor enclosure for Rocket to enjoy the UV light and fresh food whilst I do my gardening. As I was weeding last weekend on a rare sunny day, I realised that this time of the year, even though it was only January, felt more like March or April back at home. There was something in the air, the smell of soil and weeds (many of which I did not recognise but I definitely knew that I have smelled them before - funny how human senses and memory work, isn't it?) and it felt so warm and encouraging, like from now on we should not have winter any more and everything should just get on with it and grow.<br />
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The rhubarb crowns have definitely felt it, because they started pushing their leaves out and the raspberries are growing new canes from the ground. I have planted onion sets, garlic and broad beans and tomorrow is time for sowing radishes. I look forward to sharing more of my gardening adventures. Happy (almost) spring!! :)<br />
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<br />Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-75685694572998860052018-01-07T15:07:00.001+01:002018-01-07T15:07:31.626+01:00Happy New Year<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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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sempervivum - Rocket - Avocado</td></tr>
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<b>Dear friends, I wish you all a great year 2018.</b></div>
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May you be hardy like a <i>Sempervivum</i>,</div>
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slow down and take your time like Rocket does</div>
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and appreciate life's little beautiful details like this leaf of avocado plant appreciates the sun.</div>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-15632569588507707152017-12-30T23:21:00.000+01:002017-12-30T23:21:12.350+01:00Remembering 2017As a teacher I find that the "real" end of the year is in July when the academic year finishes. That is when I truly get to sit back and take stock of the year that has passed and I start making plans for the next one and get to wind down during the amazing summer holidays. However nobody can escape the Happy New Year messages and resolutions being taken up all around. I have given up on resolutions fr now, I just want to be a good person and lead a good and possibly healthy and stress-free life, doing the best I can in every way.<br />
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However, earlier this week I visited London with a friend whom I have not seen for more than three years. We walked through cold and sleeting London for three hours before he got on a bus that would take him back home. After that, having been chilled to the bone, I have set up base camp at a nearby pub. It took a cappuccino, fried vegetarian breakfast and a cup of mulled wine to warm me up, but whilst sitting there, people watching and sipping the hot yummy drinks, I started thinking about this year and the year to come. Now that I am wrapped up warm and sipping hot peppermint and nettle tea at home, I would like to share my thoughts with you.<br />
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This was the year in which we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We cooked, had takeaways and ate out. I <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/savoury-saturday-scones-with-recipe.html">baked savoury treats</a> for the Macmillan Coffee Morning. Whilst we relaxed at home we watched a lot of telly, explored the lure of virtual reality, I knitted <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/fourteen-stitch-knitted-blanket.html">blankets</a> and baby booties, babysat and cuddled my niece, we <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/mothers-day-gardening.html">planted potatoes</a> and shared meals together and video chatted with my friends and family via Skype and Facebook messenger.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Educating my niece. We fed the plush tortoise some dandelions.</td></tr>
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It was adventurous, too. I camped out with my students as a part of Duke of Edinburgh awards, barbecued, met some old colleagues and spotted badgers during a night time walk. I tried scuba diving in Woking pool and we took a t<a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/autumn-visit-to-lulworth-cove-in-dorset.html">rip to Lulworth Cove</a> in Dorset.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring bluebells in a forest in Surrey Hills</td></tr>
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In summer I took the almost three weeks long trip to Greece on my own and fulfilled a lifelong dream of working with marine animals whilst I <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/summer-full-of-turtles.html">tagged loggerhead turtles</a> with other volunteers. I missed my home and husband a lot and it made me realise not only where my roots are and where I belong but also how much I love where I am right now and what I do. It was a very good feeling.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having lunch in the shallows on the last day of my volunteering n Greece.</td></tr>
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I got out more. I foraged for blackberries, <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/mini-harvests-june.html">harvested bits and pieces</a> from the garden, <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/legging-it.html">took our tortoise Rocket for outdoor adventures</a>, saw <a href="http://reggiedabbsonline.com/">Reggie Dabbs</a> talk to my students, went to a f<a href="https://www.wokingfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk/">ood and drink festival</a> and <a href="http://www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk/home">Ocean Film Festival</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of our beans, picked just two weeks before Christmas.</td></tr>
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I have <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/plants-and-pets-meet-dslr-camera.html">learned how to take better pictures </a>and gave pottery classes a go.<br />
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I have tried and failed to go off my anxiety medicine, but on the other hand with the support of everyone around me I got well enough to overcome my anxiety and found a new dentist (and he is awesome!) and GP (she is awesome, too!) and even started taking driving lessons (my instructor is awesome too, I am starting to realise how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many amazing people) and I feel more connected to the world than ever before. I contacted some old friends and uni classmates hoping to rekindle our friendships and catch up on everything they have been doing.<br />
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Yes, there were rough patches but that is just life. I am hoping that the year ahead is going to be equally amazing, if not better. Driving, growing food for us all on the <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/allotment-dreaming.html">allotment</a>, making more time for friends and family and who knows - maybe finally finding and buying a home of our dreams. I am sure the year ahead will be full of surprises and I am glad that I have people like you to share them all with.<br />
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I hope your old year was lovely and you made a lot of memories you will treasure and that the new one will be full of opportunities to fulfil your dreams.</div>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-5299193829934239182017-11-26T19:49:00.001+01:002017-11-26T19:49:45.037+01:00Allotment Dreaming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Greetings! Today we have visited our local allotment association and after waiting for a plot for five months, I have signed a tenant's agreement for a five rod (roughly 5m x 25m) plot . Until the end of the year the plot belongs to the current tenants who need to remove all of their property from there. At the moment there are blueberry and blackberry bushes, some lavender plants, sage and rosemary and quite a cure green shed with tiny patio made of stepping stones. I would be quite happy if all of these items stayed where they are but to be honest, I am so excited that even if the plot was covered in waist high weeds, I would still be jumping with joy.</div>
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Even though it was a cold November day and the water in the barrels was covered with a layer of ice, there were still some plants with flowers on and vegetables growing. This is one thing that I like about mild English winters. When we got home and had some lunch I went through my big box of seeds and wrote a plan of what to sow when and when to harvest it.<br />
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At the moment is all green and brown and grey and large portion of the beds is covered with black plastic, but in my head I can see how amazing this piece of land can be, with all of the greenery, flowers, veg and fruit bushes, bees buzzing around and birds chirping and in the middle of all am I sipping a cup of tea and observing it all, being a part of it. I look forward to feeding us better and feeding Rocket better and spending my Saturdays outdoors with other creatures rather than watching telly at home. And the best of all - the management is ok with me building a temporary tortoise run for Rocket, so even when we don't have a garden where we live, she can be getting her UV light whilst I am growing us both some food. It's a win-win.</div>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-32619632522921664622017-11-12T19:46:00.000+01:002017-11-12T19:46:46.518+01:00Fourteen Stitch Knitted Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp03TzK2adySGaw0eD5SOtVdfITFpqK_ibBCC7_lcwjIZIShH7GWmWRp_V-OU_pBkghDUWsxa0GU9gKiO5vVZuB53WEhBsWoraeqYzY4W9D2DYASYlvHcZamwJjWm5steeL46F7Iu7nyY6/s1600/DSC_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp03TzK2adySGaw0eD5SOtVdfITFpqK_ibBCC7_lcwjIZIShH7GWmWRp_V-OU_pBkghDUWsxa0GU9gKiO5vVZuB53WEhBsWoraeqYzY4W9D2DYASYlvHcZamwJjWm5steeL46F7Iu7nyY6/s640/DSC_1904.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy Sunday evening to all! After a really busy week this weekend was like a gift to the soul. I slept, drank a lot of tea and coffee, we visited family and did stuff together and there was lots of sitting down and watching "Stranger Things" and most of all knitting and taking pictures of knitting.</div>
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Just before we <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/autumn-visit-to-lulworth-cove-in-dorset.html">went away to Lulworth Cove</a>, I started a new project - a knitted fifteen stitch blanket. I have never been much of a knitter, all I could do were squares and rectangles (like the ones for my friends' <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/little-squares-for-little-baby.html">baby blanket</a>) until one of our friends visited and in an afternoon she taught me all about knitting and purling and following a pattern. Pinterest then threw <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ten-stitch-blanket">this free pattern</a> for a "ten stitch blanket" in my path and I was intrigued.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDTY7uAu1HHQXYtdTeV6UYX4fipn5JcoBghXq3vEczfwPmULaBfq6ThARq3_opIxGo7CuS8AFvcekAQvlPjRw9dDIPC_j_ltWiqYhUnwwfjSCUd5ag4VKEbBCen_vhKLZzwN-auor6KBd/s1600/DSC_1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDTY7uAu1HHQXYtdTeV6UYX4fipn5JcoBghXq3vEczfwPmULaBfq6ThARq3_opIxGo7CuS8AFvcekAQvlPjRw9dDIPC_j_ltWiqYhUnwwfjSCUd5ag4VKEbBCen_vhKLZzwN-auor6KBd/s640/DSC_1885.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I must admit, it wasn't easy to begin with, after knitting an initial square comes literally the hardest part of the pattern - knitting a corner and then straight away another corner! I did a training piece with some leftover old yarn just to practice and stayed up until after midnight on the day before the holiday - I knew that if I went to bed, I wouldn't fall asleep because it would bug me so much. Every row is only ten stitches wide and joining them onto the body of a blanket was another tricky bit for me - the pattern describes two different ways that create different effects, but I was so lost that I had to go on Youtube and just watch some videos of other people knitting it. I am quite pleased with what is coming out. As the blanket grows the corners get further apart as well, which makes the whole task easier and even the corners are now beginning to feel familiarly repetitive - ideal to enjoy whilst listening to something good and drinking coffee!<br />
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So, having my practice piece done and roughly knowing what I'm doing, we stopped at Hobbycraft on our way to Dorset and I bought a couple of balls of <a href="http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/sirdar-hayfield-spirit-dk-all-colours">Sirdar Hayfield Spirit yarn </a>(20% wool, 80% acrylic). I wanted to make a blanket in colours of autumn and I wasn't particularly pleased with the blues and greens, but that was the closest they had to what I wanted and I went with it. Now that a big chunk is done, I think they look great in there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3gcxOV8vMuCPN1w6tB1KEBDTgVpoAXCvDgeYdd0ldRQQd5wUH3qcfdpz4N0E9JpYTVq0jcnGYXBquWz52lspMp-6t6ymBiryOpxvncSH2F_EX8RtuVbTudjwhTYauQkKRH3A-qPxWdZg/s1600/DSC_1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3gcxOV8vMuCPN1w6tB1KEBDTgVpoAXCvDgeYdd0ldRQQd5wUH3qcfdpz4N0E9JpYTVq0jcnGYXBquWz52lspMp-6t6ymBiryOpxvncSH2F_EX8RtuVbTudjwhTYauQkKRH3A-qPxWdZg/s640/DSC_1913.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The instruction on the yarn suggested that I use 4mm needles but because I like my knitting dense, I went with 3mm ones. Also, the pattern is called ten stitch blanket, but I changed it to fifteen. With a yarn thin as this I thought the rows might look too narrow. I am glad I did this, because this pattern needs quite a lot of turning around, since the rows are so short. However, as you see in the picture below, I must have dropped a stitch somewhere, because there are only fourteen on the needle. I have literally no idea when this happened.</div>
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I regularly take my blanket to work to share progress with my crafty colleagues and sometimes, just for the sense of achievement, I put a stitch marker into the first row I knit that day and at the end of the day I marvel at how much I have done (which is not that much at all compared to what I did on holiday).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrscXxS-c1csAgpHXgYfvNy50OsxKySyGGBxHcdlp7qdI18Rr0fKhXE8ILWoQqRhY0wyJxZ8mSmHkc_THLtIM9TyZ6YP6Sz55uEUL3ZU3pYSO9JeHQ63N6w2XRxfRS6kwkINX9iS5_sEl/s1600/DSC_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrscXxS-c1csAgpHXgYfvNy50OsxKySyGGBxHcdlp7qdI18Rr0fKhXE8ILWoQqRhY0wyJxZ8mSmHkc_THLtIM9TyZ6YP6Sz55uEUL3ZU3pYSO9JeHQ63N6w2XRxfRS6kwkINX9iS5_sEl/s640/DSC_1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I would say so far it is looking great. this is the blankie on our dining table with barely two balls of wool worth of knitting. The loose ends will be woven in later. I have also discovered a Tunisian crochet version of this pattern, which I am sure I want to try in the future (it has the added bonus of only working with one tool, not having so many loops on the hook most of the time and no turning at all!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_V65mA6dkEoWprAzlycCQEtoWVkjpQEuttFy8o1h1c3lqCEuKA_mCTOCMCeY-_agSBJg1xnwWwndVqWuQMdAMdOXBn9x_65ifAsvg2vUx7lfoLALlgSlYStcJBHkjA29DJPeNcx7KDRL/s1600/DSC_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1600" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_V65mA6dkEoWprAzlycCQEtoWVkjpQEuttFy8o1h1c3lqCEuKA_mCTOCMCeY-_agSBJg1xnwWwndVqWuQMdAMdOXBn9x_65ifAsvg2vUx7lfoLALlgSlYStcJBHkjA29DJPeNcx7KDRL/s640/DSC_1959.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On one hand I cannot wait for it to be finished so that I can just wrap myself in all of the colourful warm fluff and on the other I want it to take as long as possible to savour every single day that I spend working on it, because I am really enjoying it.Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-30806227333844059842017-10-31T16:13:00.000+01:002017-10-31T16:13:34.319+01:00Autumn Visit to Lulworth Cove in Dorset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX7A1s_os-1yH7YUv-S5TVmnjdyeKunzzKlxbw3uSijRrGLhZgdZXpuUvHue9gLFNihyoQqrZv_TUWUech7uLHWYe3ht4PrzB_OE4Uo-05hNE3Xg_Lnvm5aXZBl30wJ0qrudQ-oaBXvvO/s1600/20171022_153352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX7A1s_os-1yH7YUv-S5TVmnjdyeKunzzKlxbw3uSijRrGLhZgdZXpuUvHue9gLFNihyoQqrZv_TUWUech7uLHWYe3ht4PrzB_OE4Uo-05hNE3Xg_Lnvm5aXZBl30wJ0qrudQ-oaBXvvO/s640/20171022_153352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">As the autumn is in full swing, my mammalian brain tells me that I need to slow down, wrap up and just be still and restful for a moment. Unfortunately, my job description tells me otherwise and so as the autumn progressed and the days started getting shorter, colder and darker I became more sad, uninspired and exhausted. Riding this wave of <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Seasonal-affective-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx">seasonal affective disorder</a> or whatever it is wasn't taking me anywhere nice. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So it was a great relief when half term holiday came and we could finally get away for a few days on our long planned minibreak in Lulworth Cove, Dorset. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We stayed in a nautically decorated room in a small local inn, with the view of the sea, even though lingering leftovers of storm Brian might have spoiled it a bit with a cover of thick dark clouds and persistent wind.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-inpauYuz8TswPPnA2xAAWoAjswNMNNBQByZliq1j2eKuhcopST5hJldc-uJ2NLdZU45DJmUGQqAINsUBbkHFCezi-KEXIU1xye5l5Qwt47D0Yr5BVpcEPKPhg2Hj9JB-KN9Y4CtvZOZP/s1600/20171024_121801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="1600" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-inpauYuz8TswPPnA2xAAWoAjswNMNNBQByZliq1j2eKuhcopST5hJldc-uJ2NLdZU45DJmUGQqAINsUBbkHFCezi-KEXIU1xye5l5Qwt47D0Yr5BVpcEPKPhg2Hj9JB-KN9Y4CtvZOZP/s640/20171024_121801.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lulworthonline.co.uk/">Lulworth Cove </a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We walked on the beach and the hills in the wind and the cold, looked for fossils in the cliffs and beach combed. We picked up many cuttlefish bones, mermaids' purses and strange flotsam and jetsam and saw <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_man_o%27_war">Protuguese man o' war jellyfish</a> for the first time. We ate fried English breakfasts and snacked on cream teas and spent many hours in our toasty little room reading books with cups of tea at hand whilst it rained outside. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I started knitting a new blanket (more about it later in a separate post), breathed the salty air that smelled of seaweed and felt very relaxed and happy and most of all thankful that we finally had some special time together after all the long hours of work we have both been putting in in the last few months.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jurassiccoast.org/walkthroughtime/highlight-lulworth-cove-and-durdle-door/">Durdle Door limestone arch </a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWtBKq0Gtcislw5gHK9hY_WQUuIMGyIyS4VWRxBT4KD87upvSDuScjjOh5hVTgiTKAFNdVGR2l_W3Brn-pV64mTjENyi9zBnf7Oejg8rj4dgk6sBfGt6JTfigbJwIE2ymAdall818Rzrq/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWtBKq0Gtcislw5gHK9hY_WQUuIMGyIyS4VWRxBT4KD87upvSDuScjjOh5hVTgiTKAFNdVGR2l_W3Brn-pV64mTjENyi9zBnf7Oejg8rj4dgk6sBfGt6JTfigbJwIE2ymAdall818Rzrq/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuttlefish bones of all sizes were everywhere.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvh7_rCWANy670S-bMsW3GWAf9gL6SC7ClWooOFfYFHjic6ZGaWvfMZZC4rz4GY5pFPsvhTKORk77TsuDAyiyN8WGluIoBrqfeEyx8QAJj3OYw1BrOKN7uvcoyDQHhqbapcPwFyToeDuy/s1600/20171023_110719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvh7_rCWANy670S-bMsW3GWAf9gL6SC7ClWooOFfYFHjic6ZGaWvfMZZC4rz4GY5pFPsvhTKORk77TsuDAyiyN8WGluIoBrqfeEyx8QAJj3OYw1BrOKN7uvcoyDQHhqbapcPwFyToeDuy/s320/20171023_110719.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A notice warning visitors about the jellyfish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2-4rs3AVd8mefqp5RntXj5nQdtd4vtKQyUetV1WIpDXZGhr5pfw0E8L4zciYpD0vEzh9oXBbAaTK-z8PKZ3qSfCUxa93xCWucLhLFzjyHeLLda5awHyTnQR_mngY0gqyPjgD8JwdeGf2/s1600/20171023_112721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2-4rs3AVd8mefqp5RntXj5nQdtd4vtKQyUetV1WIpDXZGhr5pfw0E8L4zciYpD0vEzh9oXBbAaTK-z8PKZ3qSfCUxa93xCWucLhLFzjyHeLLda5awHyTnQR_mngY0gqyPjgD8JwdeGf2/s320/20171023_112721.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon enough we found one on the beach. <br />The colours were striking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHBPEcI4oPTRs44As3MwcX6Z0_EKChsefba4R-qiFEy4otp5JdJ9vpBsUU0QOkvqrhawEQjtIDOhttes5CuagaFfQUGkmmZdZ3CbjOO-sUYKcnUMo0kB268i9gpx57MZWXQlXbh-FszJi/s1600/20171023_110329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHBPEcI4oPTRs44As3MwcX6Z0_EKChsefba4R-qiFEy4otp5JdJ9vpBsUU0QOkvqrhawEQjtIDOhttes5CuagaFfQUGkmmZdZ3CbjOO-sUYKcnUMo0kB268i9gpx57MZWXQlXbh-FszJi/s640/20171023_110329.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dorset-beaches.co.uk/jurassic-coast/man-o-war.htm">Man O' War Beach</a></td></tr>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-10201455556339247752017-10-11T06:30:00.000+02:002017-10-11T06:30:17.870+02:00Collecting Seeds of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc3Ymn0XKPcZFxk-fBBC8soNSAsqoqyajkiRUyC5ravGsWPfFGVGRaENNGfMAo2_UshAcJojrm_APkRwh5mMnDq3aEaA-40PXMl3CuARYwyIouU7Dv7K0NnRMKgj_idmUBcBjGWsaQfSy/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc3Ymn0XKPcZFxk-fBBC8soNSAsqoqyajkiRUyC5ravGsWPfFGVGRaENNGfMAo2_UshAcJojrm_APkRwh5mMnDq3aEaA-40PXMl3CuARYwyIouU7Dv7K0NnRMKgj_idmUBcBjGWsaQfSy/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula_officinalis">Pot marigolds (<i>Calendula officinalis</i>)</a> were my favourite flowers this year. I do not remember where the seeds came from but I picked them myself and had them stored for a few years, yet they germinated perfectly. I primarily grew them for their leaves as food for Rocket (yes, <a href="http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/search/?searchtogglestatus=&searchchoice=exactwords&searchtxt=marigold&x=0&y=0#.WdjoO2jWyUk">tortoises can eat pot marigold, but not other marigolds</a>, which might have the same English name but actually are not related to each other - English can be very confusing. It is always better to go by the scientific Latin name). They did not do very well until I moved them into direct sunlight. It is almost middle of October and they are still flowering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUKNf7h_-ObfDjlBJ3MFIwdVmGmcDUEmQVM0ltBkfdUi1XSbuQjMsqVQ3oIaQkXIfcVc8AlBWvqov4RALFCtNHetezPe5_V2FtsE10_jMP-aIvA3619YQHf-yPLklIRl3i9EmyOBfwLnC/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUKNf7h_-ObfDjlBJ3MFIwdVmGmcDUEmQVM0ltBkfdUi1XSbuQjMsqVQ3oIaQkXIfcVc8AlBWvqov4RALFCtNHetezPe5_V2FtsE10_jMP-aIvA3619YQHf-yPLklIRl3i9EmyOBfwLnC/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I was little and wasn't such a huge fan of creepy crawlies as I am now, the marigold seeds terrified me because they looked like a cluster of caterpillars. I'm sure you'll see what I mean when you look at the picture below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHShXvEh1GVoBJ4mYDiZBj_n8U8-C79nOr6UIpC85PryoZgWYgONj9xjEbou-ZYaiIhoFjSBzwb0IqpHO6YzEJi9vh9L470yMvq_WSVwDVaSm1H7tdFjiv4Nt-6lu2Zj5f0FKuKMIzc2T/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1600" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHShXvEh1GVoBJ4mYDiZBj_n8U8-C79nOr6UIpC85PryoZgWYgONj9xjEbou-ZYaiIhoFjSBzwb0IqpHO6YzEJi9vh9L470yMvq_WSVwDVaSm1H7tdFjiv4Nt-6lu2Zj5f0FKuKMIzc2T/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I let the seeds dry on the plant and then cut the whole head off and let them dry thoroughly on a tray at home. Then I store them in a labelled paper envelope where they will rest until spring. With so many seeds already dried and many more forming, I will probably have more than enough for a nice flower border <i>and</i> more than enough tortoise food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWwbeu5B6HT0MTMuu0NBClgPS8LgrVopNNZNAs10YE509XhyAS44df-K-zq70oEIxUkwFOQuYRhdIlUWfV9UKAkIRhh_txAYQjCFDg_lIt1IquTNils0Kax-ZElJwP7dJEAaTTjliLEU7/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWwbeu5B6HT0MTMuu0NBClgPS8LgrVopNNZNAs10YE509XhyAS44df-K-zq70oEIxUkwFOQuYRhdIlUWfV9UKAkIRhh_txAYQjCFDg_lIt1IquTNils0Kax-ZElJwP7dJEAaTTjliLEU7/s640/IMG_5899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-51279288575840790012017-10-07T13:09:00.000+02:002017-10-07T13:09:05.057+02:00Sempervivums in October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyokcW-d_iJPtanh6JC917uOhmq-A1yuZKyEEXLnxpBg3ItgeZJUXqMJukqMFcLIcQlVZ1ZeiQZ12ukrOdN4poCNPmE4KcnjceuiRNWa7bqqqvt8WqDy8TFpTO7-69YClh67YU9osA5e6e/s1600/20170731_161616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyokcW-d_iJPtanh6JC917uOhmq-A1yuZKyEEXLnxpBg3ItgeZJUXqMJukqMFcLIcQlVZ1ZeiQZ12ukrOdN4poCNPmE4KcnjceuiRNWa7bqqqvt8WqDy8TFpTO7-69YClh67YU9osA5e6e/s640/20170731_161616.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is a bit hard to believe that October is already here. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. Autumn is really letting us know that it's here, whether it is in the leaves changing colour, morning chill that makes me feel like I need to wear more layers or acorns that bombard me every single day as I wait for the bus home. Grey overcast days take priority over the warm and sunny ones and if the latter happen occasionally, they definitely get many mentions in the casual short over-the-cup-of-tea conversations in the staffroom<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></div>
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The garden is becoming less busy. By now most of my plants have died down or been harvested. The only vegetables still going are runner beans and sweet potatoes. From ornamental plants nothing much survived apart from a few pansies which I grow as tortoise food and those will go as soon as the weather turns properly cold. However, one plant that I can always rely on is <i><a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?query=sempervivum">Sempervivum</a></i>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW0Z4t4Sqf2rWtJJTWO9XFZhcrRto3QbJelLJI9B1FvjhKV5cLJw7IG87sfyu4XWKYnUfhbBL5DCGdo8J5kURB6JCfVyiIVYtb25hligMTz3oHRi5p1EzQZ2rwRdIWeoOlTekFwnb86IG/s1600/20170731_161546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdbOrZ_akC_632pbYtxtKgtP2E8c5ltFUVcDh5zJEQDPSQsKAjUcCHv24yzQLO5hJsGCYhZtIe48lNSVcxODap9RuHPXNTwFNSWHe8l2HolqRfY8q7aXYNZ4sZuTvlte31NtE-vn5uYPE/s1600/20170731_161525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdbOrZ_akC_632pbYtxtKgtP2E8c5ltFUVcDh5zJEQDPSQsKAjUcCHv24yzQLO5hJsGCYhZtIe48lNSVcxODap9RuHPXNTwFNSWHe8l2HolqRfY8q7aXYNZ4sZuTvlte31NtE-vn5uYPE/s400/20170731_161525.jpg" width="300" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW0Z4t4Sqf2rWtJJTWO9XFZhcrRto3QbJelLJI9B1FvjhKV5cLJw7IG87sfyu4XWKYnUfhbBL5DCGdo8J5kURB6JCfVyiIVYtb25hligMTz3oHRi5p1EzQZ2rwRdIWeoOlTekFwnb86IG/s400/20170731_161546.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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I am not sure which variety I have, there are many, but these are offsets of the plants that my mother grows at our cottage. I brought five of them over last spring. Somehow that makes them have a sentimental value to me as well as aesthetic. They are hardy perennials with succulent leaves able to withstand direct sunlight and drought, but do not mind the abundant rainfall that we get either.They coped well throughout the last English winter and now they are even producing offsets themselves! One day I might separate them from the mother plant, but at the moment I m enjoying the slightly crowded look. And once I started taking pictures of them, I could not get enough.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcVoAjH8fpas__gFDOd9Es1j-tKYo2HqUQdUNnF65qNkrh6PmW4Mgcpo05ROpwKn2jYyLK1-6KiGiGhdDNZm65Ik249OIv5b1e94-7hMcDQFwdYS9QGCwZwCqld0Qqmtxxkmj1sLmrNGt/s1600/20170731_161644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcVoAjH8fpas__gFDOd9Es1j-tKYo2HqUQdUNnF65qNkrh6PmW4Mgcpo05ROpwKn2jYyLK1-6KiGiGhdDNZm65Ik249OIv5b1e94-7hMcDQFwdYS9QGCwZwCqld0Qqmtxxkmj1sLmrNGt/s640/20170731_161644.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sempervivum offsets grow from the base of the original plant. When they touch the soil, they start developing <br />roots of their own.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xNDMaAGE1pStB9cMVGcW8UHV83SUYjJDj-QZdPYWeURzB1Q8BCT0bewPlQDTXO4smVcnysIXNkXCtV-KPBkkuLaotH0pegSPoGZJepl7ehq-qI9Wvy34vmt2i2ji5L6SHIamxwwWNt0r/s1600/20170731_161706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xNDMaAGE1pStB9cMVGcW8UHV83SUYjJDj-QZdPYWeURzB1Q8BCT0bewPlQDTXO4smVcnysIXNkXCtV-KPBkkuLaotH0pegSPoGZJepl7ehq-qI9Wvy34vmt2i2ji5L6SHIamxwwWNt0r/s640/20170731_161706.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-36715164982289392832017-09-23T11:49:00.002+02:002017-09-23T11:49:50.771+02:00Savoury Saturday Scones (With Recipe)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GRLpyoOq5_5MqUAIkH6JmfxV_4hWjyNPR5-EzYuLq0LCqq9fD5eVtqs41vdfcc6FViilvRHx9YB8-3cmXQn2KSm4UJrNb9YtheEMaQ9xkGUq7iw13QffATbeMmDuHMniyG1CC0ElA6QE/s1600/IMG_5876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GRLpyoOq5_5MqUAIkH6JmfxV_4hWjyNPR5-EzYuLq0LCqq9fD5eVtqs41vdfcc6FViilvRHx9YB8-3cmXQn2KSm4UJrNb9YtheEMaQ9xkGUq7iw13QffATbeMmDuHMniyG1CC0ElA6QE/s640/IMG_5876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love Saturdays. They are the only day of the week that I don't set an alarm (I do tutoring on Sunday mornings, so I have to). I wake up whenever I feel like it (usually at the time when my bus to work would be leaving) and have a nice slow morning. Sometimes I knit and watch telly, sometimes I make a cup of coffee and catch up on emails on blog posts, but whatever it is that I choose to do, it is always non-forced andI do it because I want to, not because I have to.<br />
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Today my morning included, apart from doing the dishes and two loads of washing, making savoury strudels and cheese scones for today's Macmillan Cancer Support Tea Party at my sister-in-law's - a part of "<a href="https://coffee.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx">The world's biggest coffee morning</a>" taking place later in the week. Its main purpose is to eat cake, drink coffee and collect money for a charity that heps support people with cancer and their families.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyfQ_aSjslVdv8lakqZ80LgvbzhoAkpOqC-dfYuwUrEQb110PoaukugquASruID9vCsM-GhGwPHUHttL1bt2DDy6-5Nw5XZOKKWVuJfB90LbT4b0Soj4-2c0a96kZUlgp4EkCHSR8RpCw/s1600/IMG_5874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyfQ_aSjslVdv8lakqZ80LgvbzhoAkpOqC-dfYuwUrEQb110PoaukugquASruID9vCsM-GhGwPHUHttL1bt2DDy6-5Nw5XZOKKWVuJfB90LbT4b0Soj4-2c0a96kZUlgp4EkCHSR8RpCw/s640/IMG_5874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I find making scones incredibly easy. When I first moved to the UK and started working as a teaching assistant (because no school wanted to employ me as a teacher), Food Technology (now called Food and Nutrition) was one of my favourite subjects. Mostly because I got to put on an apron and get on with the cooking hands-on just like the students that I was supporting. I do not remember the teacher's name but I remember how encouraging and calm she was even though the class asn't exactlyideally behaved. It is her recipe that I wrote down have used ever since. Here it is.<br />
<br />
<b>INGREDIENTS:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>150 g of self-raising four</li>
<li>50 g of butter (if you are making savoury scones, you can use salted butter)</li>
<li>50g of sugar or any sweet or savoury ingredient you want to add</li>
<li>a couple of spoonfuls of milk</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>METHOD:</b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Mix the flour and butter together by hand until crumbly (if you are making sweet version, add sugar now, if savoury, add the savoury ingredients)</li>
<li>Add milk bit by bit and gently mix until the mixture joins together</li>
<li>Flatten by hand and cut out shapes</li>
<li>Bake on approx. 180°C until golden brown</li>
</ol>
<div>
I made mine with the most ordinary hard cheese I could find in the supermarket and grated it on a coarse grater, so the chunks of cheese are quite large and visible in the scones. They are delicious with a bit of butter and fresh chives. Enjoy!</div>
</div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-75438234534370887522017-09-10T18:09:00.000+02:002017-09-10T18:09:01.476+02:00Summer Full of Turtles<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Hello again. As you may have noticed, I was
not around much this summer. The reason behind this awkward silence
is the fact that I was gone for most of the summer, volunteering for <a href="http://www.archelon.gr/index_eng.php">Archelon,the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece</a> which works incredibly hard to protect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle">loggerhead turtles (<i>Caretta caretta</i>)</a> and their nesting and foraging sites all around Greece. Great part of this work is done by an everchanging team of international volunteers. Ever since my acceptance just before
Christmas, I have been getting ready for the trip on which I will have to work
hands on with turtles, one of my favourite animals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">So at the beginning of August, as
I stood in the security line at Gatwick airport, clutching my boarding pass, I
could not stop myself from thinking -<i>what the hell are you doing</i>? </span><span lang="EN-GB">I imagined having to work with many young, fit and beautiful
gap year people who will put me to shame and I will become forever known as “that older lady who thought she
could do it”, but instead found a nice small group of people roughly my age who
were equally or even more enthusiastic about marine conservation than I was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps8PrzR-VXqNkzIaC6lSpwDhBEnLHGqA8h6oVaO7Z0428xLG9TdxiOU4MwePH-mOyuDC5bCdtRh9Hv1StgOAPK_Pqtm4cAhyphenhyphenKdApayr5Fto0z63PYsKZUHtV1dHyjesvmUB6pwDybdAFq/s1600/DSCF3604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps8PrzR-VXqNkzIaC6lSpwDhBEnLHGqA8h6oVaO7Z0428xLG9TdxiOU4MwePH-mOyuDC5bCdtRh9Hv1StgOAPK_Pqtm4cAhyphenhyphenKdApayr5Fto0z63PYsKZUHtV1dHyjesvmUB6pwDybdAFq/s640/DSCF3604.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loggerhead turtle just before release</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the fear of saying something
scientifically inaccurate I will refrain from writing elaborate posts on
loggerhead turtles, but I can say that those two weeks were a dream come true
and an adventure to be remembered for the rest of my life. The photo above is a quick snapshot of a newly tagged and measured turtle just before it was released back into the sea. There really wasn't enough time to take arty pictures (but if you want to see some underwater ones, check out </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bugatsas/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">professional photos of sea turtles by Kostas Papafitsoros</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I have been following his work for quite some time now).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>Overall, the slaps, bruises and scratches were totally worth it
and knowing that I have put my little bit into helping preserve this beautiful
animal and the habitat it shares with so many other species fills me with
content. Sadly, there are still many places where people disrespect rules that
are in place to protect them and keep on carelessly endangering them by fast
driving or even feeding them in front of tourists for money which can become fatal to them
later. We even saw some turtle feeding tours advertised last year on out
honeymoon in Zakynthos, which is a marine park! Unortunately the tourists that do go on these tours go because they like turtles and do not know how devastating the impact of it can be. Some examples of turtles and humans clashing (in some cases literally so) can be seen in the <a href="http://www.archelon.gr/eng/pedio_rescue.php?row=row5">sea turtle rescue centre in Athens</a> (below) which is open to visitors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IIyqMcYOlr-k90tU2PGBp7T5kxrFTm_gB8PuGLT6YLC3g_kB1YIHJ4YNE5jHHdPS-TtenqSG3beuAFiazZ3GNSWWawq96kt9zzd61kLAM9zsA9HWNsTCQSgFBFGz3qdn1Jer7jWg_F4T/s1600/DSCF4765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IIyqMcYOlr-k90tU2PGBp7T5kxrFTm_gB8PuGLT6YLC3g_kB1YIHJ4YNE5jHHdPS-TtenqSG3beuAFiazZ3GNSWWawq96kt9zzd61kLAM9zsA9HWNsTCQSgFBFGz3qdn1Jer7jWg_F4T/s640/DSCF4765.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loggerhead turtle at the rescue centre in Athens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As life changing as the
experience was, it was also eye-opening. It made me realise that no matter how
much I dream about it, I couldn't do conservation work full time. I am not the
right type for it and I lack the enthusiasm and passion for data that you need
to be a scientist. And also, I really and truly love teaching, bringing the
science to the masses and helping them love and care for the world we live in.
I like being comfy and cosy and organised in my classroom, having certain level of
independence in how I do things and working with young people. It was nice to have some confirmation, now
almost in my thirties, that I chose my career path well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't think I will volunteer again but I will always remember the sounds of loggerheads coming up for breath when the sea was calm and the boat engine was off.</span></div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-3355729047924353412017-09-04T17:30:00.000+02:002017-09-04T17:30:20.851+02:00Garden Sludge Party - Organic Matter At Its Best<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO09pz2WhGjMcRlXr779bhyjql8goDAuufTLY4UOHHion3854XwmznlR8-oSpZ5zfp6xNcfel8nyfOFlH0jzjjcEW8KgH2xmzNnmNjV097gH61cZcsOo-u55xO-7sXuOibBSRyJgbMNC2/s1600/IMG_5794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO09pz2WhGjMcRlXr779bhyjql8goDAuufTLY4UOHHion3854XwmznlR8-oSpZ5zfp6xNcfel8nyfOFlH0jzjjcEW8KgH2xmzNnmNjV097gH61cZcsOo-u55xO-7sXuOibBSRyJgbMNC2/s640/IMG_5794.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When we set up the <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/the-barrel-of-stink.html">nettle barrel</a> the idea was to create a nettle fertiliser to help some of the more needy plants in our little garden. However, we made way too much of it and later we ended up just throwing any inconvenient weeds into it, particularly those that root well from cuttings, to rot down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPVJe7cXkHKtGpzPG2iWAzumMTuqKI9IhQJTnzzfFNQANs4rq4u_efXZaLiFAl-Wv2F3Xcec-6yEn0x0_gBxGuYV9DOXe9xvUwuhx3LXgUkeL9jcwic3WgWBHz4UkVD3aSiy7VjayFi_a/s1600/IMG_5796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPVJe7cXkHKtGpzPG2iWAzumMTuqKI9IhQJTnzzfFNQANs4rq4u_efXZaLiFAl-Wv2F3Xcec-6yEn0x0_gBxGuYV9DOXe9xvUwuhx3LXgUkeL9jcwic3WgWBHz4UkVD3aSiy7VjayFi_a/s640/IMG_5796.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I added the fertiliser to water when watering to gradually supply nutrients and as the time went on, rain kept topping up the barrel, leaves fell in and decomposed, mosquito and hoverfly larvae happily lived and developed in, but it was becoming apparent that the contents itself are becoming very diluted and that there is way too much solid stuff still on the bottom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUh2tU_Bh4g8tl4jxTe2ajr5v-xab7JGqE5VsDM8UgpeCBHLFD-0XPO4YcXglRXo_qXsiPJTJjTrkBHjarB6rcftm6PFu3ttocG-gBGRPZy5WyleEocJJ6F6WVRbBzrEink8Z5wjY6RO3/s1600/IMG_5808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUh2tU_Bh4g8tl4jxTe2ajr5v-xab7JGqE5VsDM8UgpeCBHLFD-0XPO4YcXglRXo_qXsiPJTJjTrkBHjarB6rcftm6PFu3ttocG-gBGRPZy5WyleEocJJ6F6WVRbBzrEink8Z5wjY6RO3/s640/IMG_5808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was my aim to empty it all before winter. Firstly I used most of the liquid when watering. As I got to the thicker sludgier bottom, I tried everything. Scooping, pouring, even shovelling it out. Eveuntually I tilted the entire barrel and used the shovel to pull the sludge out into a bucket and then distributed it around the garden, hoping to enrich the soil for the years to come and maybe help the plants a bit as they are approaching the end of growing season. The barrel is now free to be used again, maybe for more fertiliser, maybe as a sore of rainwater, we shall see.Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-54809749383166015402017-09-03T22:52:00.002+02:002017-09-03T22:52:10.388+02:00Back to School<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I must admit, I do not want to go back. Not ever, just not yet.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
If I recall the last year's me, I see a woman who'd rather get shredded than go back to work in September. Crying, I was clutching and clawing my husband's shoulder the night before the first INSET day, begging him not to make me go back. I remembered only too well the nights spent worrying, the long parents' evenings and the crippling feeling that it will never get better, ever, and I spent all these years studying for this and yet I cannot do it. I looked for other jobs, I got more and more depressed realising that they are far away or I am not qualified enough, more and more broken every single day. I hated it.</div>
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Until one day at the end of 2016 that I did suddenly realised that I no longer stay up until eleven just to finish the next day's presentations or get up early to mark the remaining few books that I just couldn't do the night before. Nor do I carry so many books home or spend all my weekend indoors closed in a room with textbooks and computer. Some of it was because I got a teeny bit relaxed and stopped worrying and micromanaging so much, but also because somehow the job has become less daunting and I had more free time but rather than resting or spending it doing things I loved, I spent it worrying. So I decided that I will stop - and that was somehow enough to make me do it. That simple shift in mindset.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViwiQXGqMuL0_1NQuepfibfPwQSoQLXptH3q15KJM-a6d_UU3Iol_MphZDwngycVLw88w5m-h5xI5aumC-F4jTCVstq89UgZ8dOK1OIcA8psiDSLnbKtjrb_Pzti632fbcnPHo4wGfd1/s1600/IMG_5448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizViwiQXGqMuL0_1NQuepfibfPwQSoQLXptH3q15KJM-a6d_UU3Iol_MphZDwngycVLw88w5m-h5xI5aumC-F4jTCVstq89UgZ8dOK1OIcA8psiDSLnbKtjrb_Pzti632fbcnPHo4wGfd1/s640/IMG_5448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So now I am actively making myself think about and appreciate what I have been through, what I will go through and what I definitely have coming, because - big revelation - teaching isn't easy. I won't go as far as saying it is one of the hardest jobs in the world because I really don't think it's true (surely mining sulphur at a semi active volcano somewhere in Indonesia is more demanding), but it is hard enough for us pampered first world types.</div>
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It means a lot of sitting down getting a nice carpal tunnel syndrome from using the red pen a lot, rushing around, caling the IT guy when the printer doesn't work and you're convinced that it hates you, saying 3-2-1 a lot and sometimes being cried to, being shouted at and having to carry out polite "arguments" with both parents and their offspring but it also involves the things I love most - helping young people learn how to be organised and focused, how the world works and introducing them to the wonders of Science. That's what I do, that's what we all do. So next time a school year comes close and threatens to smash me in the face, I say:"Just bring it on and get it over with. I am ready."</div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-77531115593379904192017-08-28T10:54:00.001+02:002017-08-28T10:54:57.400+02:00Our Domestic Reptile Celebrates Her Second Birthday<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK">Our little Rocket has turned two on 25th August. I could not
believe that it has only been a year and a day since <a href="http://sillylittlesheep.blogspot.sk/2017/01/the-surprising-tortoise.html">we brought her home</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK">We had a lot
of fun in the past year – watching her „surf“ her food bowl every morning, run
perimeter checks of her tortoise table, climb her house and rocket down to face
plant into the substrate, growing her food and letting her explore the lawns in
front of our building, introducing her to our little niece and of course worrying about
her when something doesn´t look quite right, because she is our little baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK">I am also
very proud and happy that she is growing, slowly but surely. At least once a month
I weigh her on kitchen scales and use digital calipers to measure the
straight length of her carapace (the top half of the shell).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJqvQjSXt2djhY9zNLuDA7kgXPSPeZWHMHS8T5OQhT7RsVbNb_DsUxSRVS2ibRFVJT4il3iztVfLjLdMLINX4glb2LZtWE-nYZnmXW4y5XW32rccuWOpMH_naXG4HgeJAJ70DwxDcMO4P/s1600/rocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJqvQjSXt2djhY9zNLuDA7kgXPSPeZWHMHS8T5OQhT7RsVbNb_DsUxSRVS2ibRFVJT4il3iztVfLjLdMLINX4glb2LZtWE-nYZnmXW4y5XW32rccuWOpMH_naXG4HgeJAJ70DwxDcMO4P/s640/rocket.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see in the picture above, the difference is not huge, but it is there! The box is a smallest one of a set from <a href="http://www.paperchase.co.uk/">Paperchase</a> and is added there for visual reference.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
August 2016: <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>Weight: 94g</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>Straight length of carapace:
76.3mm</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK">August 2017: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>Weight:
151g</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="SK"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">•</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>Straight length
of carapace: 88.56 mm</div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-16944556365822354452017-08-01T14:15:00.001+02:002017-08-01T14:15:32.192+02:00Shark Week Biscuits and Visit to the Aquarium <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgfQnpIyafi90OV6Q61NG_NvxslEhVMf207gW3P8q8OvISGKuOiEZ6BpTFWPrGAWkzNSoq0uGZm1JTVq-utU2SBkReA4Z6iOA9xbBsiP319k5zudlruFiRA476vqqCJvarTADShpTf6tL/s1600/20170724_155421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgfQnpIyafi90OV6Q61NG_NvxslEhVMf207gW3P8q8OvISGKuOiEZ6BpTFWPrGAWkzNSoq0uGZm1JTVq-utU2SBkReA4Z6iOA9xbBsiP319k5zudlruFiRA476vqqCJvarTADShpTf6tL/s640/20170724_155421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A while ago you could have seen a picture of my very messy kitchen worktop (below) on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SillyLittleSheep-138977902803357/?ref=settings">Facebook page</a>. It wasn't my intention to make Linzer biscuits in shape of little sharks straight away. I was baking birthday treats for someone else when the idea occured to me - and since it was Shark Week and I had some cookie cutters from the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/">Natural History Museum</a> shop, I gave it a go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgFfHfodfjVCRRPGF0OLpCzRcF-gtpuvo1CnsLUzbyNSRH50w2IZHDEacL4ouHjzvA1PxC9HiEVsQJYEs2v4aXNd5tv9quu976SeDh-54Fv1DLOp92LCfkrDXrOkQmEt7jslLhF51EJI_/s1600/IMG_5409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgFfHfodfjVCRRPGF0OLpCzRcF-gtpuvo1CnsLUzbyNSRH50w2IZHDEacL4ouHjzvA1PxC9HiEVsQJYEs2v4aXNd5tv9quu976SeDh-54Fv1DLOp92LCfkrDXrOkQmEt7jslLhF51EJI_/s640/IMG_5409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After baking (I promise to publish the recipe here soon) and cooling I joined them together with jam and decorated them with melted milk chocolate. So here they are. I guess they resemble <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacktip_reef_shark">blacktip reef shark</a>s best, what do you think?</div>
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Later in the week I also had to visit London, which gave me the perfect excuse to check out the <a href="https://www.visitsealife.com/london/">Sea Life</a>. I sat in front of the massive tank for good twenty minutes, just watching these majestic creatures swim past me and then more time reading all the labels and displays, trying to soak up as much information as I could.</div>
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I know some things that happen during Shark Week have been criticised because they are controversial and don't have much to do with the original purpose of it - education and conservation of these beautiful marine predators. It is sad. However, I prefer to focus on the original message, thatour planet is a balanced system, full of magnificent creatures that need to be protected. We cannot protect them without understanding them and education is the first step towards gaining this understanding.</div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-24190869988294670102017-07-22T21:55:00.000+02:002017-07-22T21:55:27.470+02:00Mean Summer Rain <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcQq9n8CFBZmkUlQP0VmqqU5Jzzs3NyjCrM1L9nsZNrrtuROQUcmdqDqsXRSuNsijPPTENtxa67cB4z0yKaHV-tbYsV-BDKuEQyY5dZUxNMbg9bUgohYlzwvr9io_pC6rBZTRVWv8klx-/s1600/DSC_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcQq9n8CFBZmkUlQP0VmqqU5Jzzs3NyjCrM1L9nsZNrrtuROQUcmdqDqsXRSuNsijPPTENtxa67cB4z0yKaHV-tbYsV-BDKuEQyY5dZUxNMbg9bUgohYlzwvr9io_pC6rBZTRVWv8klx-/s640/DSC_1518.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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The summer holidays have started. And they have started in a very traditional English way - with rain. Sneaky rain, though. Hot and warm morning that tricked me into a sleeveless top, skirt and sandals, only to turn into downpour whilst we were in the supermarket picking up food for the week to follow. In hope, we went to my in-laws, thinking it might stop, but after getting wet and trying to garden under a family-sized umprella (yeah, naah, not possible) I gave up and retreated into the house to read some gardening blogs instead - in the same summery clothing, only with the addition of fluffy socks and a warm cardigan. </div>
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Even though I really wanted to do some gardening (my plan was to sow some green manure in the gaps where the plants died or I harvested them to enrich the soil with nitrogen), the rain was quite a pleasant visitor, I only wish it announced itself. A couple of days ago we received a leaflet from our local watter supplier stating that "<i>After months of low rainfall, water resources are below average</i>". Well, not in our garden. Both of the water butts are full of rain water (and flourishing colonies of mosquito larvae) and there is always enough water for the plants. I only wish we had rainwater supply at our flat, so that I didn't have to water my many plants with water from the tap. I am sure that if it becomes a big problem, we'll find a way around it though. </div>
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So - how did <i>your</i> holiday start?</div>
Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-81609765448783603402017-07-20T23:50:00.001+02:002017-07-20T23:50:49.041+02:00Waiting List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhtLLEt1RD5n9C8uV08qHZh3OCubfFDG-9qksGp5f2V9TBY3llD7lOOnn-BXo3sBs5xLUjCnwpv_3Yieffy6a6e_ma3tpKT4hIN5syGJf9WQe2CiM_-iUS6kydh323x69WDNJyGxI-omD/s1600/20170611_111429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhtLLEt1RD5n9C8uV08qHZh3OCubfFDG-9qksGp5f2V9TBY3llD7lOOnn-BXo3sBs5xLUjCnwpv_3Yieffy6a6e_ma3tpKT4hIN5syGJf9WQe2CiM_-iUS6kydh323x69WDNJyGxI-omD/s640/20170611_111429.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple mangetout 'Shiraz' grown from seed in my current garden</td></tr>
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I can barely contain my excitement today! After a short string of emails to various allotment societies I am now officially on a waiting list for an allotment! I spent most of my waking hours fantasising about a sunny spot of land with a little shed where I could grow all sorts of fruits and vegetables for us and food for Rocket, meet new people, drink hot tea from flask and enjoy being outdoors.<br />
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I love the place where I garden now, because it is where my husband works and where his parents live, but it is shaded by many trees and overgrown by their root which absorb a lot of the moisture and many plants don't do very well there. Having a little plot somewhere else would be a dream come true, even if it was just rented.<br />
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The waiting times for allotments vary but can be as long as two years - even so, all that time to prepare! My mind is buzzing with ideas for interesting crops to grow and ways to encourage wildlife to come and help with it.<br />
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How about you? Where do you garden? What do you grow? Do you have any experience with allotmenteering? Please share in the comments section.<br />
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-23908112254069865712017-07-01T13:16:00.002+02:002017-07-01T18:20:47.721+02:00Legging It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week Rocket has been proving that not only she doesn't need me on our walks outdoors, but also that if she wanted, she could disappear really easily. For some reason running was more important than eating and she kept on trying hard to get lost in the little neglected jungle of ivy, bindweed and brambles next to our building.<br />
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People imagine tortoises as these slow, heavy and stupid creatures, but they couldn't be further from the truth. A healthy tortoise is incredibly agile and can cover quite a distance before you realise it is missing.<br />
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As a child I had a Horsfield tortoise called Pu<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ť</span>a. We used to take her to the cottage. My Gran has been watching her, but seeing that she was preoccupied by digging a hole next to a gazebo leg, she went in to do the dishes. Mistake! After fifteen minutes of frantic searching we finally found the tortoise - eating a fallen apple under a tree about twenty metres away (she had a sweet tooth)! Lesson learned : tortoises are fast!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a run for it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging in.</td></tr>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677921002961087694.post-30425100741776428322017-06-25T16:26:00.001+02:002017-06-25T16:26:18.226+02:00Mini Harvests - June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6ZtX-dNH92qi91D8R4QavkP2ek4uR_JOMur4mrXhMWrBZWDVzs0iNcj27RJMbx4Cfqt12Yb03BrJkPIkCVf06_lesEjmTPWn5aNBCG0dNvwpxbKkkZ_dtOJX8BBYW1FlnI4BHEZdqx3v/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6ZtX-dNH92qi91D8R4QavkP2ek4uR_JOMur4mrXhMWrBZWDVzs0iNcj27RJMbx4Cfqt12Yb03BrJkPIkCVf06_lesEjmTPWn5aNBCG0dNvwpxbKkkZ_dtOJX8BBYW1FlnI4BHEZdqx3v/s640/IMG_5183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty and edible <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools/family-activities/grow-it/grow/nasturtium">nasturtium (<i>Tropaeolum</i>)</a> flowers and some fascinating <a href="https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/pea-shiraz-mangetout/gww4959TM">purple poded mangetout "Shiraz"</a>. These are some of the crops that make the garden colourful and interesting.</td></tr>
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June has been incredibly warm. This week was probably the warmest one of year so far. Even though the garden is only about eight minutes uphill from our place, I don't go there much, except for the weekends. When I do it is just to check that everything is ok, fill up the bird feeder and give the plants a thorough watering. </div>
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Ours is a small-scale garden, it doesn't feed us much except for potatoes but it keeps me entertained and outdoors and I am thankful for it. Occasionally I get to pick something that wasn't eaten by birds or slugs and I do a bit of jumping around with joy and then a bit of eating :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LGWWwEeDwqcfwtImAsWhSyxA-PANjuI6slbqp8fBiu9g2sHeKjsvQ9fgI_UQtHPVjNEBxkSqmGWPNJyq_dAIybU_Ka2ovy6t6kjgaIHw7B3qBe-e2igdwmm1JDPgIRAnaKkPuyVtGHqw/s1600/20170625_125433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LGWWwEeDwqcfwtImAsWhSyxA-PANjuI6slbqp8fBiu9g2sHeKjsvQ9fgI_UQtHPVjNEBxkSqmGWPNJyq_dAIybU_Ka2ovy6t6kjgaIHw7B3qBe-e2igdwmm1JDPgIRAnaKkPuyVtGHqw/s640/20170625_125433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first actual harvest of gooseberries! They are ripe and sweetly tart as they should be. My last year's crop got eaten by birds. I believe this year's one survived because of my neglect - the bush was overgrown with weeds and nettles and not so visible to the hungry birdies. I bought the bush from Poundland just to give it a try and it worked out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG7VOkrdnB4SJEnjHPXLgopOLA0G07k0yrrqnN_qg6jh0yI-Exlsk6Jfu6rQ95uGjzBUtE8nL2xaRNvUaDsUHNvSJWvIS-iSv0NGAovzgaug8PMwRlwPsc50DYFvPAuzkzuGmA9idgE6T/s1600/20170625_125616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG7VOkrdnB4SJEnjHPXLgopOLA0G07k0yrrqnN_qg6jh0yI-Exlsk6Jfu6rQ95uGjzBUtE8nL2xaRNvUaDsUHNvSJWvIS-iSv0NGAovzgaug8PMwRlwPsc50DYFvPAuzkzuGmA9idgE6T/s640/20170625_125616.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More mangetout Shiraz. The youg flay pods can be eaten raw or steamed or it can be shelled and eaten like normal peas. I think the mature seeds will go purple as well, because the original dried seeds from the packet wee very dark. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EqGBdV8J84da6XFL2KjSPBXqWxUpIpRkcK01Fc5q3DznyEjXphcVwPAAYYn8y0l-jLZsK2fk1aEvK3D3fg-eAPCojAe_NeWBkorknR92d4z0hlmF0e-sMHnOmaKlfsccKiYW0WT2XKHe/s1600/20170625_125652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EqGBdV8J84da6XFL2KjSPBXqWxUpIpRkcK01Fc5q3DznyEjXphcVwPAAYYn8y0l-jLZsK2fk1aEvK3D3fg-eAPCojAe_NeWBkorknR92d4z0hlmF0e-sMHnOmaKlfsccKiYW0WT2XKHe/s640/20170625_125652.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More nasturtium and mangetout. You can never have enough (especially if they are this tiny :)) Both of these ended up in my afternoon salad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm3THZjhXabZ2KAX-fsKA3UyW3ZokanXD6uXTSYjemJshoAxNhnvLoqo6Awy0j1b4bgIjBIquWQlT_t7ZTgYQJKDR3yEhme6lBQOg2raxwjutJmQkPdsVfA2BKXm7vxvEI0LSN8iMx4kE/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm3THZjhXabZ2KAX-fsKA3UyW3ZokanXD6uXTSYjemJshoAxNhnvLoqo6Awy0j1b4bgIjBIquWQlT_t7ZTgYQJKDR3yEhme6lBQOg2raxwjutJmQkPdsVfA2BKXm7vxvEI0LSN8iMx4kE/s640/IMG_5243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lavender bush is gradually producing more and more flwoers. I dried a small batch for our living room but kept the rest for the bees.</td></tr>
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Veronikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355072950243739240noreply@blogger.com0