We are on TV!

If anyone watched tonight's Inside the factory : Cider, on BBC 2, the orchards they harvested the cider apples from are either side of our house and grounds, and in one shot you could see our wood.

Interesting to see how Bulmers do it, bears no relation to our craft cider making, though! 

Sadness

"And when every hope has gone, let the Raven call you home"

Listening to the Lost Words Blessing just now, and feeling sad. 

Personally, for me (long covid effects) my husband (older male) and especially our daughter.

Who was just starting out on adult life at uni in 2019, and should be flying free now, but instead was trapped back at home for 6 months this year, and is now back at University with her wings clipped doing classes online and stuck in her expensive flat with her 7 flatmates. Who she loves, but it's NOT the Uni experience she ought to be having.

So sad for her generation, as well as all of us.

When will all this end? When will we have a Government who are adults, taking charge, doing what is right?

Rather than the incompetent, criminal, feckless, shower of shit we have now?

Climate change, evidence from crops

Says a lot about Climate Change, that in the last few years damsons have been finished at least 6 weeks ago.

Damson tree in this photo from 2018,  the damsons were ripe  least six weeks ago, this time that  year

Happy memories of Algy

Memories from 2015 of having a drunken Algy Serama chicken sitting on my computer desk. As you do. He had been at the over ripe fermenting cherries on the ground.

Memories, bittersweet

Oh, this gave me a bit of a heart pang. Such a lovely memory from last year. How things have changed.

A rant.

Why do some people (now unfriended) think it's ok to have their hair done for hours and hours, or go to pubs and mingle socially like they did before COVID-19, or think clubs should be open, or not wear masks in shops and then complain if challenged ?

When we are still in the middle of a pandemic ?

*edited to add for clarity, that I am NOT talking about a physically distanced drink in a pub garden, or a visit to the hairdresser for a relatively short period of time, or about those who cannot wear a mask. I'm referring to those who *choose* to flout the guidelines; say "its all a conspiracy"; behave in an anti social manner;

 and then boast about it, after.

Making and mending

Cotton Pajama bottoms for me shortened, double hemmed (and then  close sewn because I hate the rubbing feeling from the edge of turn ups)

And a child (or emergency backup adult) washable face mask made from the material I cut off, plus two hair bands.

#washablemasks

#recycledmaterials

#handmade

(I'm 5'4", so why do I have to cut off 3", at least , from everything?)

Planting stuff! A little bit of normality

Today I spent 3 hours in my polytunnel planting tomato and pepper and cucumber plants. So good to be able to be doing stuff in there, after the horrible Post COVID-19 weakness stuff I've gone through. Felt really wonderful to be getting my hands dirty, again. Definitely an improvement in my recovery post COVID-19.

And 32 beans planted outside by Ian

All a bit later than normal, but we live in not normal times, and I've been very ill for 8 weeks, so stuff I normally get on and do just has not got done.

Frankly, I'm impressed we have collectively managed to get any vegetables in the soil, roughly around the time when they should be.

So very, very angry today

Absolutely livid now. Watched Cummings disrespectful delayed media announcement (wtf? Why does a spad get to do a press conference in the Downing Street Rose Garden, unprecedented )

He dissembles, confounds, just wtf.

Then Boris comes on and opens up everything.

So R is reducing because us plebs have done what we were told (driven by Dominic Cummings rules) but he breaks those rules with arrogance "because he felt it was ok"

So You, the toffs, do what you like. We, the plebs, have to do what you tell us.

Oh and car showrooms can open. Fossil fuel consuming car sales.

Climate change issues, anyone?

Virtual Hay Festival

Today sees the start of Virtual Hay Festival. Which is wonderful, and I've signed up to loads of events to watch (although our rubbish rural broadband will probably make it very difficult)

But... 😔 I want to actually BE at Hay, meeting up with friends, going to events, going to bookshops, laughing and hugging and queuing and chatting, enjoying the atmosphere.

And I can't. So I want to go "wah it's not fair" and other rather childish utterances. And maybe stamp my foot a time or two. 

Tantrum over, normal service resumed.

Feeling very unwell.

This article, from The Guardian newspaper, describes exactly how I've been, since mid April, after having had what I was told was COVID-19.

I was really poorly( but not hospialised)  and was assured after "a couple of weeks" I'd start to feel better.

Its now nearly seven weeks since I first felt ill, I'm getting slightly less unwell now, but I still feel very poorly.

 As regular readers of my blog may remember, I have had ME since 2001, after I developed an unusual autoimmune condition overnight, due to an antibiotic reaction in hospital.

I was severely incapacitated for many years but it has been mostly "managable" since I cut out gluten and lactose back in 2014.

What I feel like now is like I'm back in the very worst part of the time 20  years ago.

I hope I feel better, soon.

Weird as hell’: the Covid-19 patients who have symptoms for months

Researchers keen to work out why some people are suffering from ‘long tail’ form of the virus

New Recorder

Hmm. Just taken delivery of a new recorder. Comes from Italy. From a hot spot COVID-19 region. Didn't know that when I ordered it. Recorders are tested by using them, before dispatch, ie blowing down them to play them.

Wonder how long I need to leave a wooden recorder in quarrentine?

100 days sober

Really pleased that I have done  this, I feel so much better now I am not drinking (even with the current, highly stressful situation we all find ourselves in!)

Having had what I think was coronavirus over the last 10 days, I dread to think how much worse I might have been with an even more depressed immune system due to alcohol consumption, on top of the autoimmune issues I have.

Sitting on the patio, just breathing in the air.

It is truly lovely here. I have been quite unwell this last week, been in bed and have struggled to breathe sometimes, so to sit outside in the sunshine, breath the sweet air and listen to birdsong is a joy and a gift.

Birdsong

One of the benefits of the lockdown situation is that the lack of traffic means we can hear even more birdsong than usual.

I was awake early today, (I haven't been sleeping very well due to feeling unwell)

So I had a cup of tea in bed and wrote in my journal

Then I opened the window and just listened

listen to the birds singing. Glorious.

A walk in the wood, 4 April

Cowslip area

 I love cowslips they are so beautiful and smell divine.

Wild Garlic, tasty but smelly!)

Wood Anemone

First hint of Bluebell

Compostman, sawing wood.

Some advice, to grow food

So, we are now told to stay at home, to protect the NHS and to stay safe. Wise words.

It occurred to me that lots of people may now decide to grow some of their own food for the first time, or maybe to expand on what they grow, already.

I have a host of "how to" posts on growing, composting and assorted other things which I have written over the years.

If you look at the "How to" tab at the at the top of this page and click on it, you will see what I mean , collected together in one place for ease of use and to save you having to use the search posts faculty (although please do use that to have  a wander around my blog, as well)

A trip out , locally

Drive out to local woodland for a walk with Ian. 

Fabulous wild daffodil, violet, wood anemone, celendine on display.

Going to be featured on Countryfile this Sun, if you are interested in seeing where we were.

Lovely day.

Rats ( again!)

I keep getting asked questions about Rats , on Facebook,on  the various fora I frequent, when I was on Compost stands and when I am out and about ( before the start of the social isolating against Covid -19)  so I thought I would  repeat my advice in one place on here.

So here are some tricks you can try if your compost bin is infested with rats.

1. Get some metal mesh..chicken wire would do or weldmesh sold by builders yards...and put it on the ground under your bin so that the whole of the base area is covered then resite the bin on top.

2. Make sure you go to your bin at least every day and hit it with a stick or give it a kick...just to disturb it! Rats are neophobic..they don't like anything new..and they don't like being disturbed...ideally resite your bin so it is close to the house and where it gets walked past a lot...

3. Keep the lid on the bin...

4. Rinse out any eggshells before adding them to the bin as Rats LOVE the smell of egg....

5. It is said male urine acts as a deterrent...and wee is also a good compost activator...

6. Dog wee around the outside of the bin would work, too!!

7. If you have a dog then that might help scare them off

Very important, whatever you do...wear gloves when handling the compost bin or the composting stuff...rats urine can carry Weils disease ( and other nasties!!) and if you get wet wee on a cut you can catch all sorts of unpleasant illnesses.....so obviously plasters on any cuts is a must, too.

They are a huge problem at the moment everywhere I am afraid.

April 1st, seeds growing well

Every year I get out the heated propagators and set them up in the porch, which becomes my growing area

This is the second tranche of seeds in the hot boxes, more tomatoes and some peppers.

The poly tunnel now getting so hot during the day that it needs ventilating

Finally, the overwintering Cavallo nero and Chard, which has given us a few good feeds for a few months

Free seeds!

Right, lovely friends, I've sorted through my veg seed stash and I've got surplus seeds.

Some are past their "use by" date (lol) but all are new and sealed up.

There are cut and come again lettuces x 5, mizuna, rocket, beetroot x 2, chard, kale, basil, sage, dill, coriander x 2, radish, spring onion.

 I might also have some spare loose tomato, pepper, climbing french beans, courgette, pumpkin, marrow, cauliflower, sprout, cabbage, kales, parsnip, turnip seeds if anyone's really desperate for them, not in a shop packet though! 

If you message me with what you need (either a packet on offer, or type and a rough number of loose seeds) I'll give you my address and you can send me a sae and I will post some seeds to you.

Anyway, anyone need some seeds? First come, first served, and for those who want to grow food please. 

(friends who were on the INEBG forum Jennie Craine, Fi Sharp, Salena Walker, Brigit Strawbridge Howard Bronwen ,Carol Hunt, Anne Christine, Portia Hussey, Jo Barlow may remember our epic seed swap lists from this time of year!)

A walk in the garden - 27 March

Looking up towards the house from the vegetable garden

Standing by the road looking down across the pool and wood

Mistletoe on a free

We were followed by the ever present chickens, as usual!

A walk in the wood - March 23rd

Love Lula #2 and Vintage Treats #3 deliveries

Two deliveries for me today!

Moors Wood closed.

All schools and nurseries have now been closed. As a result and with immediate effect, my business activities in  Moors Wood are closed for the foreseeable future.

Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

Making washable face pads from recycled towels.

After a shopping trip to Hereford last month, I noticed there were a lot of washable cotton face pads for sale in various shops. A great idea, but very expensive I felt. So I had a look through my fabric stash and found some warn out hand towels and flannels which were going to go into the rag bag. 

A bit of work with scissors and then my sewing machine and I had 16 washable face pads to replace the organic cotton wool pads I usually purchase. More will follow! 

I compost the cotton wool pads after use, but they are still imported and I'd prefer not to use disposable product,  if I can avoid it. And now, I don't have to! 

A walk in the wood

Those of you who are not familiar with my blog may not realise we are lucky enough to own a 3 acre wood as part of our smallholding.

So, I thought it would be good to take you on a walk with me, into the wood

Walking into the wood, past swathes of wild daffodils.

Over where the badger path crosses ours, and to where they go down and then up the ditch that runs all the way down the middle of the wood, bisecting it from top to bottom

Back up from the bottom of the wood past yet more wild daffodils

Can you see Compost Mansions in the image, above?

Back to the top of the wood looking across to the composting area and the outside raised beds

Some wild daffodils I picked while we were out in the wood

Calligraphy workshop

I went on a lovely workshop today in Ledbury, run by Caroline Owen Thomas. 

There were 7 ( I think?) of us and it was a most enjoyable day

Vintage Teatime#2 treat!