Gifts

Its been a week of gifts this week.   Clive from the Lottie plot opposite ours left some onions for us,  Barney gave us some spinach, and a courgette was given by another neighbour.  My Girl and Mr Milly had fun stringing the onions.

And today my Lovely Brother and My Eldest Niece - affectionately know as DJ,  popped over to see me and another gift was received......  Thank you for my gift - I love her!!

My delightful scarecrow, garding the grass seedlings

I thought she might be a little lonely on the plot so found these lovely little flower windmills to keep her company!



How cute!



The Grass is growing

Ickle tiny little shoots have started to appear - thats good  as I was just about to give up hope for the seeds!  Mr Milly is not impressed - as I've used 2 different grass seed he tells me the grass will be different colours!  I did remind him it is an allotment and not a garden and really does it matter if the grass is different colours - it is all going to be green LOL!

You can just see the grass growing - and it is GREEN

We took Star to the allotment with us today, which was entertaining, she had great fun walking over all of my beds - I was NOT happy!   Then I picked another meal of runner beans and a few french beans,  my very peculiar dog has a liking for runner beans - is that normal for a dog?  One minute there was enough runners for a meal and then next there was one left - she had nicked and eaten them one at a time without us noticing!

Anyway Star liked the fresh and long grass that is now growing on the plot and took to lying on it and having a roll around - a couple of nice little pics of her.

Star enjoying the GREEN grass

Having a snooze after eating all the runner beans!

My camera has now been sent back so today we are off to hunt for a new one.  I think probably it will be one of these;

Hmmmm...... which colour to choose!!???

Creative

As with most things, I go through phases of things I like to be doing.   At the moment the Lottie is just ticking along - I still have the front quarter of the plot to be clearing - this is going to be quite a bit job and doesn't need doing right at the moment as this section will be for the soft fruit bushes and things which shouldn't be planted until October - so this can wait a little while.

I have such a job to sit still!  I've always been that way.  TV doesn't really interest me and there is only a handful of programmes that I actually like to watch.  So this week the sewing machine has been out and been stretched to the limit!  Its 24 years old and the first Christmas present my brand new Hubby gave me, it has been well used and although it is now very noisy it is still going strong.

This week started with a dress for My Girl.  Mr Milly had a bit of a moan as I started making it at 2.00pm for a party we were going to leave for at 6.00pm.   No problem - a very simple dress to make and she did look lovely wearing it!

Next it was an apron for my Lovely Auntie - it was requested sometime ago, but I just hadn't got round to making it.  It was her party we were going to Lovely Auntie has been married to Lovely Uncle for 40 years - that really is something to have a celebration for - Happy Ruby Anniversary to you both - the party was great and we really enjoyed ourselves!

This was a free pattern from Sew4home  http://sew4home.com/projects/kitchen-linens/578-retro-fun-vintage-style-apron

Strawberry Apron

My Girl decided she wanted to make something to,  so in quick succession 2 tops were made.  And what a brilliant job she has done too.   The shirring is a lot of sewing, round and round and round and round - it seems never ending.  But the finished results are really something to be proud of!  Well done My Girl.

Modelled by Mr Girl

Finally an apron for the Portugese Housekeeper,  another that has been promised for sometime.   I really hope she likes it - I think its cute and a lot of fun!

Cupcake Apron

I really like this apron - it is easy to make, but effective when completed.   I did buy the pattern from Etsy,  Its called Retro Chic Apron -http://www.etsy.com/listing/60773497/apron-pattern-pdf-womans-full-apron

The pics are not the greatest quality - I think my new camera has a problem and will be returned today.

A funny old week

I think it must be holiday blues - but everything is a bit of an effort this week!

Blogger hasn;t worked properly for the last couple of days, so no update from me.   It appears to be working now - fingers crossed!

I sowed some more grass seed at the weekend - I've decided that Grass paths are the way to go.  The first lot of seed we sowed has come up lovely,  it could do with a little cut now though, but I have yet to find a lawnmower.  I'm looking for a simple dimple little push mower - none have come up on Freecyle in the last month or so, and none showing on Ebay near enough to home to make it worthwhile bidding on one.   I think I will leave it another week or so,  visit the  car boot sale on Saturday morning, and if none has still appear I might have to bite the bullet and buy one!!   Anyway - back to the grass seed,  this new lot has not yet germinated and no little grass seedlings have yet appeared.   The pack did say 4 day germination and today is day 6 and not a single sprout in sight!  It is a different seed to the one I used before, I'm going to give it until the weekend and if there is still nothing I'll go back to the original seed and try again.

Another little harvest has come home from the Lottie;-

The tomatoes are from the garden

Lots more french and runner beans growing but not quite ready for picking.  We we are going to freeze these ones until we have enough for a meal or two!   Its exciting seeing things beginning to grow and working out whether they are ready for picking.   My Girl would be picking as soon as they appear - she has to be restrained!!  LOL.  It is fun though!

We wandered around the lottie plots today - I like to do this now and again - gives a bit of motivation and lots of ideas.   Today we found this one,  with the most delightful pumpkin patch - something to add to the list I'm thinking!

An ingenious use for pallets - grow the pumpkins and squash through them, 
keeps them off the grown and stops them rotting - Brillinat!

This picture - just because its pretty!

Green Fingers

Look what we picked today;-

Our very first Allotment harvest!!  Woohoo!!!  A little round courgette!  My Girl had the honour of making the very first harvest - we were quite excited!  I think they are supposed to be picked when they are about tennis ball size - this one is a little bigger,  there is also a yellow courgette nearly ready and lots more little round and yellow courgettes starting to grow!  How exciting is that - we might have green fingers after all!

The garden veggies are doing OK too,  we have had a little harvest of the cherry tomatoes, lots of lovely bright red ones and some Sungold ones too they are really sweet - delicious!

I had pegged some strawberry runners a little while ago and today was the day for them to leave their mother plants and new little strawberry plants are ready for the Lottie - just have to get their bed ready for them,   that will be a couple of weeks away yet as we have a couple of busy weekends coming up.

And the latest injury for our house -  it's Mr Milly this time!   He had a good time at the go carting yesterday with My Boy and his friends,  but Mr Milly is in a lot of pain today it looks like he has cracked a rib!  He has been sitting very uncomfortably all day, unable to do anything at all and a sneezing fit this evening was very very painful (I must admit me and My Girl did have a little giggle - he did look funny and we couldn't decide whether he was trying hard not to sneeze again or not to cry!!  LOL)  Lots of TLC for a day or two required!

Our little harvest did make him smile though - or maybe it was the happy dance me and My Girl were doing as we presented it to him!!  LOL :)

Teeny Tiny veggies

Didn't manage to get to the Lottie yesterday - it was hot and Mr Milly had spent the day clothes washing and cleaning the house, so we spent the evening sitting in the garden having a leisurely and easy supper instead.

Today Mr Milly has gone go-carting with My Boy - I am sure they will have fun but I do hope they come home in one piece!

I spent a couple of hours at the Lottie today - weeding, weeding and more weeding - quite satisfying when I'd finished but not a very interesting job!   

And today I have proof that I do have green fingers -  can't wait for my first harvest!

Ears of Corn

The beginnings of a Pumpkin

Rainbow Chard

Tiniest little white cauliflower!

Fishes

Whilst we were away I visited a Fish Spa,  I have wanted to visit one of these for ages, but never really had the time or the inclination to visit one inside a busy shopping centre.! So what better time to try one whilst on holiday in a fish spa sited on a beach promenade.

I wasn't sure what to expect, so duly perched on the little seat and hesitantly dangled my feet into a tank of little fishes -  it felt like the water was vibrating as the fish began their work on my feet!  It is a very strange but highly relaxing  and enjoyable experience and one I would definately like to repeat! 

And the final picture from our lovely holiday in Tenerife - we were positively delighted with our room,  a Master suite!  The room was huge, light and airy with our own terrace overlooking the sea - Perfect! 


So that is it - holiday is now over, the tan is already starting to fade, but lovely memories to cherish.  Tomorrow it's back to work and hopefully some time at the Lottie at the end of the day.