And Now We Have Rain.

That winter hit us with everything it could throw,
Yet, here I am, sitting just so,
Looking out the window and still seeing snow!
A very bad poem, indeed! But it's true. Now, to add to the mix, the rain has begun to fall. I doubt very much if it will be enough to wash away the acres of snow we still have around this area, but it's a start. Take a look at the photo - that's me standing next to one of the drifts that still blocks a local lane. Time to light the stove, I think, as I can see my breath in here again!
The prolonged cold spell hasn't done anyone any favours, that's for sure. The garden has barely been touched this year, other than some basic tidying and clipping the straggling brambles that nothing seems to stop from growing. There are buds on many of the trees and fruit bushes, so they must sense something better coming our way soon.

Alternative energy that's helping to reduce our overall carbon emissions! Dry firewood, hand collected, brought home by bike.


makes you think more about how far you are going and how heavy the load will be that needs carrying home. I have now switched to a wicker basket on the back of the bike for collecting sticks, as it's far easier to just lift that off and sit it by the stove.
In the greenhouse, which is unheated barring any sunshine, the wormery has been safely under cover and its occupants are thriving. Last week, while feeding the wrigglers, we spotted several babies wiggling about the place, so it may well be tme to start tapping off that lovely 'worm juice' soon and preparing the raised beds for this year's veg-growing. Just send us a little more sunshine and a lot less frost to arm the ground enough to sow something soon.

"What if the Famous had Allotments? A quirky guide to vegetable gardeners of fame and fantasy." It was written by 'Northsider Dave', whose blog you may already read. The new ebook should, hopefully, be available to download to your Kindle by this evening. I'll post the link here as soon as it becomes available.
Good luck with the new book, Dave! :)
After brief glimpses of the sun the other day she seems to have gone away again now, it's amazing how much snow you still have left :-(
ReplyDeleteI've not even starting to plant in my draughty old greenhouse yet, each night the temperature is dipping below freezing. We have our fingers crossed for warmer weather soon.
We too are benefitting from lots of lovely dry kindling that has been plummeting down from the trees in our far paddock, slightly worrying when you are walking the dogs directly underneath them. I nip back every few days with the wheelbarrow and have a picking up session.
Other news - we might, just might have found a fixy up all of our own, we are going for a pre-auction outside visit this Saturday to see if it's worth getting our solicitors involved ready, to be followed by another visit next weekend (when we will be able to get into it) if the outside of it looks okay this week.
Our fingers (and everything else) are firmly crossed.
Sue xx
Sue, that sounds brilliant! I rellay hope things go well for you and the place is everthing you hope for - it may take twice as long and twice as much as we always imagine, but it's still fun! :)
Deletehave you thought about looking at freecycle to see if anyone is giving a bike trailer away. there was one recently offered at my work. one of the other girls took it, she took the childs seat out and put in a ply wood bottom. She now uses it to go shopping. I thought that was really clever. I wish I had thought of that
ReplyDeleteHi Sol, nobody in my immediate area seems to be on Freecycle or Freegle and we're in a fairly rural area that's spread out over many miles, so few opportunities like that here - I do watch the updates, though. In saying that, I have been offered a bike trailer for £35, but that's almost the price of a load of logs, so I've not even considered it as an option. (Not yet, anyway.) :)
DeleteThey are called Burley here in the States, very light and fits on the back of the bike although I dont know if you could use it up hills loaded with shopping, maybe better to get the bus and a basket on wheels for a big shop.
ReplyDeleteThe Spring is a long time coming here in the mid-west - this is definitely climate change as it is tied to the warming poles and the jet -stream. Hope you get some decent weather up there soon.
It is amazing to think of the things we could without if we tried !
Thanks Susan, for helping with the editing and launch of my new E Book: 'What if the Famous had Allotments?' If any of you writers need help with editing or launching a book, get in touch with NYK Media! Thanks again Susan, Des (Foreword comment) and Harvey for the illustration (front cover).
ReplyDeleteGlad you are keeping warm and in a carbon neutral way too -bonus! Manchester is begining to warm up a bit at last, though I have my fingers crossed. I am spending most of my time housebound due to Hubbys deteriorating health but I have my garden to keep me going and of course my crafts. I guess its similair to being in the middle of nowhere like you, I have to be very organised and stocked up. Took delivery of 4 apple tree's today, my last major investment in the garden and they are beautiful. Look forward to seeing the next batch of Mcgonks, doubt they will be on the shelf long as they are fab xx Ginny
ReplyDelete