Saturday 9 May 2020

Saturday

Good morning.  It's quite early but it looks very promising out there at the moment and the forecast is for wall to wall sunshine and a temperature in the twenties.  Fine by me.
Tomorrow it's supposed to drop by ten degrees but overall, in the next days, it's still in double figures during the day so I'm not too fussed by this colder spell that's supposed to be coming.  It will stop me planting out the babies until next weekend, that's all.
And now, having said that, just watch while the blizzards strike, the winds howl and I have to be rescued from my allotment by helicopter!!!

At eleven, half way through personal training, we stopped and I went out the front into the cul-de-sac where I'd arranged to have the two minute silence with the neighbors.  I was touched to see that all the children also took part and, to be honest, my eyes started prickling and were a bit damp by the end.  I'm glad we did that.

Later on, when the cleaners arrived, I popped round to Beth's to take some food, a garden tool she wanted and Alex's card.  I saw Al briefly but he soon disappeared to get on with the game he so wanted and which Beth and I clubbed together to buy for him.  Goodness, they are expensive, those computer games!

Anyway, we had a good chat, me and Beth, before I drove back to the allotment.  My main aims were to water (which I did) and to put out the allotment plaque that Beth made at pottery last term.
It seems an awful long time ago, those pottery classes, and I know we both miss them very much.  Still, they will be back at some time, I hope.
We were hoping to put it out together but we have no idea when Beth will be OK about going out for anything but the direst emergencies.
The plaque looks very nice, lashed to the bottom of the tree with twine.  We really want it hanging from a branch but it's quite heavy so heavier fastenings will be needed.  We're not fussed that it will be nicked - there's only one 7L plot there, after all, and it has no value for anyone else.


I'm really pleased with the way the sourdough starter is coming on.  Day three and this morning there were bubbles, lots of them.  I fed it half an hour ago and the bubbles are back.  I may just possibly be on the way to success this time, fingers crossed.  Last time I tried, it was as dead as a doornail at this point and ended up going mouldy!

Once this process has finished, I will use the also very detailed instructions to make some sour dough bread.  It's a bit long winded but I'll give it a go.  I may have to write out a schedule as there's lots of stages.

By the time the evening arrived, I was shattered and kept falling asleep so I decided to set everything on to record and have an early night.  I can't remember turning out the light but I must have done and slept well until nearly five which is about normal for me.  Nine hours of sleep, more or less.  No complaints!

So today I have plenty to watch.

While looking around yesterday, I noticed that weeds are daring to show their faces again so I will dig out the nasty ones and those around the edge and hoe over the others.  I might get the strimmer out and attack the edges too.  Apart from that, there's not much to do - yet - apart from the regular watering.

At home, I really MUST sort out that front strip.  The poppies are coming up and there are always thousands of baby plants more than needed so they needs dealing with.  Round the back, the bulb leaves are finally dying back but I will give them a bit longer before getting rid of them.  Finally, I want to get some big pots out of the garage and into the back garden, ready for tomato plants.

Apart from that and a bit of ironing, it looks like being a lazy day.  Fine by me - bring it on.
Enjoy your day too, whatever the plans are.  xx


14 comments:

  1. LOVE that plaque.

    I'll listen to the news for the helicopter rescue! The way the weathermen were talking it sounded like we were going into minus figures but not that bad, just a huge change from today.

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    Replies
    1. Me too - I think she did an amazing job with it. Unique too. Thanks, Sue.
      xx

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  2. The plaque is beautiful. Great work, Beth. And I do think it sits rather well at the foot of the tree.
    You have me in two minds about trying to make a sourdough now, it sounds a little complicated.
    Here's hoping we don't need to call for that helicopter :) X

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    Replies
    1. Fingers crossed, eh?
      I think the process is quite simple, it's just that it has several stages (making the actual bread, I mean) and takes time.
      Yes, IO rather like it there too. Maybe it will stay there. :-)
      xx

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  3. The plaque is beautiful and it looks good at the base of the tree. Did you have any luck with the pottery link I added in a comment?

    Fingers are crossed for a successful sourdough loaf!

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    1. Oh, dear, I can't remember - refresh my memory, would you, please?
      xx

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  4. Same as the other comments, love your plaque x

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  5. This is the link I was talking about

    https://www.timeout.com/london/news/a-london-pottery-studio-is-sending-diy-clay-kits-to-homes-033120?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&cid=~london~natsoc~facebook~echobox#Echobox=1588079424

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The second one takes me to links to extreme right organisations < grin >.
      The first one looks good but the kits have tools included and I have loads of tools.
      When I'm able to chat properly to Beth, we can have a proper chat about what we could do. Thanks very much for forwarding them again.
      xx

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  6. Good luck with the sour dough starter. I have some in the fridge but no idea if it's still alive or not. I made two loaves with it initially but haven't been feeding it.

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    Replies
    1. I gather you can find out easily by giving it a feed and seeing if it activates. Fingers crossed.
      xx

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  7. I love poppies. Enjoy your lazy day.

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    Replies
    1. Me too. They are so free and flouncy and just live gaily and with abandon for the moment. Truly free spirits of the plant world.
      xx

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