Preparedness for when

D&DD

I have been a norty gal and been a shopping on Ebay again
I did however get an absolute bargain on widemouth lids so thats my excuse..and the other pack of jars is an investment for our huge apple and pear crop we are going to get this year *wishful thinking*

I see preserving kit as a necessity though as we use everything each year and most stuff we always need more of! It helps so much to have the right sort of jars available now.I just need a preserving room now lol.

Had a nice visit from my mate earlier and she brought me a brownie cooking set it's so nice I shall have to christen it tomorrow.

Been a wet,cold windy day here so no gardening done but the rest of the week is looking better in between the showers..

GQ I'm growing amongst others, Red duke of York tatties for the first time this year and OMG they're growing like triffids :rotfl:

Have a load of stuff prepped for the dehydrator so that'll be going on again in the morning.

I need to do some sewing repairs but my industrial machine is currently awash with trays of peppers and my aubergines

GreyQueen

(((((((((BB)))))))) you poor gal. I'm shuddering at the image of what you're to have done but I'm a freak about toenails and get the shudders if ever they're mentioned.

I like to keep my toesies decently covered; I have long bony feet and they aren't objects of beauty......:rotfl:

Got in from the allotmentino just before 6 pm (went up after work). I'd obviously annoyed the weather gods by saying it was sunny this morning because we've been on a rapid cycle of showers (30 mins heavy, 10 mins light, 5 mins off - repeat to fade) ever since then.

My spuds are about the size of small lettuces atm and my broad beans have been extensively nibbled by the blackbirds and have scalloped edges. They do it to the peas as well. They'll get over it but they don't half look funny.

The countryside has gone bananas with all this rain and everything is beyond verdant. I'll soon need a machete to get up there, cannot believe how much everything has grown. Lotsa work to do.

My new-to-me lightweight hiking boots are fab and have acquitted themselves very well today. After all, what can you get for £5.99 in this vale of tears?

Going to have some supper now, love and peas, GQ xx

lisakay_2

GQ, google pea and bean weevil, I reckon they're the little beasties that are having a nibble on your plants, they've just started on mine. they look like little fleas and make the same kind of satisfying pop when you squish them between your nails (if you can find/catch them) xx

eta: pineapple, if you haven't already got you copper tape, I saw some in one of the pound shops at the weekend, think it was 4 metres in a roll.

also, just for you GQ x
https://www.facebook.com/groups/493892713996571/

Butterfly_Brain

Try a Garlic spray to keep beasties away from veggies
This is James Wong's :lovethoug recipe from his new book Homegrown revolution
Blitz a bulb of garlic with a litre of water in a blender, leave to stand for a good couple of hours then strain (You can add a bit more potency by adding some marigold leaves when you make the infusion) Spray all over your plants in the early evening when the slugs and snails are just about to emerge to start their night time raids works on caterpillars, aphids and whitefly too

pineapple

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

If you ever do want some bags PINEAPPLE I'm a 30 minute bus ride from Ikea and have a bus pass, so it's free and easy. PM me where to send them and you can have them as a pressie, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Thank you Mrs L. I'm going to take another look at them. Surprise surprise it appears they don't sell them online!

D&DD

ooh that reminds me must get my cucamelons in tomorrow! *James Wong* thanks BB Did you manage to cook up a bit for the freezer in case you don't feel up to cooking,or are you going to be waited on



GQ I agree with Lisa that does sound like weevil damage

Butterfly_Brain

Spent hours cooking today and will do the same tomorrow.

I have made mince and tatties x 3 (Had one lot for tonight's dinner) and froze another then I made a plate pie with the second lot.
plus
Cottage pie x 1
Spag Bol x 2
Lasagne x 1
Toad in the hole x 2
Sausage casserole x 2
6 pizzas (2 veggie, 2 ham and pineapple and 2 pepperoni) They just have to get them out of the freezer and put them in the oven to cook.
24 batter puddings
2 trays of Roast potatoes

I have got some braising steak out of the freezer and will make a casserole with that tomorrow.

I also found some cooked slices of lamb which DH can just cover with gravy and heat in the oven so that is Sunday's dinner sorted.

I want to make some puddings and desserts so I am thinking a couple of magic chocolate puddings, fruit and custard tart, rhubarb crumble, apple crumble, 2 lemon drizzle cakes, and some fairy cakes for treats.

I know that they are capable of looking after themselves cooking wise, but they will be doing all of the housework and working or at college as well, so this will help take some of the pressure off.

D&DD

Blimey you'll be needing to put your feet up anyway after that marathon session
One less thing to worry about tho eh?

My late FIL was diabetic and he was ultra careful with his feet and rightly so they can get very nasty in a very short time.People don't realise how many complications you get with it sadly.

You do realise they'll have to take Mum shopping for nice new shoes though :whistle:

GreyQueen

D&DD wrote: »

Blimey you'll be needing to put your feet up anyway after that marathon session
One less thing to worry about tho eh?

My late FIL was diabetic and he was ultra careful with his feet and rightly so they can get very nasty in a very short time.People don't realise how many complications you get with it sadly.

You do realise they'll have to take Mum shopping for new shoes though :whistle:

I'll second that, as will friend and neighbour SuperGran (retired nurse).

A relation of mine in his early 80s but fit as a fiddle and not diabetic, went to a private chiropodist on a friend's recommendation to get treated for a bunion caused by wearing winklepicker shoes back in the 1950s.

He had treatment. The bunion was cut into savagely. It didn't heal. 9 months ago, pre treatment, he was driving, walking socialising and had barely seemed to change the whole of my life.

Since then, he can't drive, he can barely walk, he's lost a huge amount of weight, he's been in hospital over it several times, amputation is in the offing, it's really broken his health, and it's turned him into an old man overnight.

SG has many similar tales of older friends being done a severe mischief by chiropodists. Take care of your feet, people, and take about who does what to them, as well.

ETA lisakay, can't see that linkie, it wants me to log on and I don't have an FB account and no desire to get one. I will go a-hunting for weevils.

Mind you, I have caught blackbirds in the act; mebbe they're doing it because there's weevils on the leaves? By the second set of leaves it's stopped happening so I don't know if that puts the weevils in the frame or the birdies.

D&DD

Morning all Blowing a gale here still and getting fed up with the plants growing horizontally!!
I was hoping for a better day today..

Need to make some marmalade as I've just finished the last pot *breaks out in a sweat* I thought I had another one left still. I bought a few of the Lakeland tubs of marmalade mix thingies so shall try out the lemon one They had them knocked down and I thought they worked out more cost effective than buying the raw ingredients this year will let you know if its edible,but then I am a human dustbin and like most things so thats not much help is it :rotfl:

Parents are due later so I need to clear them a path through the latest Approved foods order/tesco delivery that I have yet to cram into my cupboards.

Bob those little round led lights are fab I got a few from Amazon when they were about £3 absolute bargain

Funnily enough peeps I had one of those wicker thingies delivered yesterday! I found one on Ebay for a fiver and I bought one of the bags a few years ago just needed the surround for it to make it look tidier as its sat on the massive draincover they kindly placed in the centre of my front garden,if it only lasts for a year or two thats not too bad its got to look better than it does now without it.

Right off to track down an offending smell by the front door thats driving me mad..think someone has walked something in! :eek: