May The Force Be With YOU!

Mrs_Toast

Morning everyone,

Kat, you're very lucky to have found somewhere where you can have a veg patch and a LLL to help with it. We only have a yard but am planning on using my Tesco vouchers to buy some nice things to plant in pots or hanging baskets while the exchange is on.

I had a LSD yesterday as only spent £1.50 on playgroup which was budgeted for. Today should be a SFD as no plans other than to organise a 'free' prescri[tion from the doctor. Had a call from midwife yesterday to say my bloods came back fine other than been low on iron. Easily fixed though and I was borderline with DS so not surprised.

Somebody asked about my rice salad. It's just boiled rice that's then instantly rinced under cold water to cool down. Add chopped peppers, tomatoes and sultanas/raisins. It's lovely as pilau rice as well and great instead of a salad. My step mum did it for us ages ago & it's now become a summer staple.

Please can I have lots of hugs & prayers. I rang my Gran last night and found out that my step-Grandad hasn't much time left . He's been in hospital for a while so was expected but still sad. I can't get over there until the bank holiday weekend so hope he'll be ok until then.

Hope everyone has a nice day. The sun's shining this morning so that'll cheer me up and maybe I can get some laundry out to dry.

angelpye

Great news re veg plot! Get the river cottage book - talks about growing varieties that are expensive to buy rather than common varieties that are cheap to buy. Toms, peppers, courgette and cucumbers all grow well started off indoors then under cover until our hottest months. But as its later in the year you could go to a garden centre and pick up ones started for you. The book talks about simple plot rotation to stop bugs and growing in succession which is great for salad and potatoes etc especially if only two of you!

I have been slow on my good life experience this year so will have to put some thought into my plot. Enjoy!

angelpye

Hugs mrs toast, I hope you manage to visit but also try to remember the love we show throughout life goes with them. He will know you would be there if you could

karmachilovething

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

In B&Q I got a chilli plant. I am going to make him big and strong and make him last forever..

I can recommend plant food, absolutely necessary for chilli plants, but also excellent for herbs. Ones made for tomatoes is best, just once a week keeps everything busily growing and happy.

AuntyRuby wrote: »

And kedgeree is a jumble of softened onion, turmeric, curry powder, rice, cooked and flaked smoked fish like haddock and chuck some hard boiled egg wedges on top. Think it's a love it or hate it dish :-)

Oh I looove kedgeree, totaly comfort food. I make it wil those vacuum packed smoked mackrel fillets, or even tinned mackrel, because it's cheaper. Kat, there's a river cottage recipe for vegeree which might be of more interest to you

rosiecheeksblossom

Hi everyone,
A SFD yesterday, I went to see a friend for the day which was lovely, although I think Ive picked up a cold and bad chest from her children:(. however she did make a fresh tomato bread loaf last night and give me some slices for my packed tea tonight. Im off to do another bank shift this afternoon so should be spend free.
Hope everyone is well xxx

NinjaSavingKat

Morning all..

OOOoooooh what horrid weather. But I shall clap my NSK hands as it is watering the soon-to-be-used veggie plot. Thank you to all regarding suggestions etc.. I just can't wait to get digging. If I don't get OT on the BH Monday we might end up mooching around sorting out where things will go.

It's not a massive area to grow in but the LLL said if there is anything else I want to grow to place it between her flowers and use any space I want. She spent £10K having her garden designed for her as it was wasteland for a long time. It has a few steps to a lovely mini lawn surrounded by flowers and the veg plot to the left near a mini shed but another two levels with more trees, shurbs, peonys and plants.. there is an 8 foot wall directly behind that with creepers... so there is a lot of potential... It's small but perfectly formed! :rotfl:

So I am going to get my herbs planted properly tonight in the beautiful blue ceramic pots the LLL scavanged. (I'll make an MSE'er out of her yet)...

Gonna do some research tonight into different types of chillies, and tomatoes, strawberries. My parents had a chilli plant that they never used ( typical Northern Irish palate is very bland) but my brother once dared my Dad to eat one whole for a tenner. Of course he did it. :rotfl:But I want a little chilli tree like they had..

My friend has the river cottage book - she made cold vinegarette style noodles with roasted peasnuts...DEVINE. I might ...ahem.... borrow the book!

Right.. I will check back later. This is to be an SFD for me...

Onwards and Upwards!!!

his_missus

Hello all,

Hugs to Mrs Toast xxx

Kat, salad leaves are easy to grow (must be as even I can grow them) and make a nice change to plain lettuces in a salad. What about herbs that you use a lot in cooking too?

A small spend day on some bits for Hubby's butties. Also booked an appt at vet for little kitty as he's hurt one his paws and his "toe" (for want of a better word) looks rather swollen. I think he's been fighting that tomcat again but he won't let me examine it (large, deep scratches on my hand now) sot hevets it is. I'm beginning to think it would be cheaper to catch the tomcat and pay to get him neutered - would that be legal?

AuntyRuby

Hi everyone, sending love, light and hugs to mrstoast x

Kat, I grew lots successfully in amongst the flowers and shrubs in my garden pre allotment. Leeks; beetroot; rainbow chard; spinach; strawberries and parsley all grew well. You've still got time to sow peas but I'd recommend salad leaves, onions, strawberries. If you like beetroot the leaves double as a tasty salad leaf and it's so easy to grow. I'd keep peppers indoors or in a greenhouse. Courgettes or squash are good too for the autumn months. I'm going to try glove artichoke as it's perennial so can devote a bed to that.

What an achievement paying off your bike loan and picking up a free breadmaker. Love it when someone's junk is someone else's treasure!

We were offered chickens for laying today but I was in the minority for wanting them so was outvoted in our family decision. Maybe next year...

Another SFD for me. Soup in fridge for dinner along with this orzo concoction. Sunshine here so mood is good. Need to get back to work though. I need to get debt and mortgage balances posted in signature, think the more visible they are the more motivated I'll be to deal with them. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day.
AuntyRuby

AuntyRuby

Wooops *globe artichoke... Predictive text on phone :-)

NinjaSavingKat

AuntyRuby I was just looking at globe artichokes. Nothing better than sitting with a whole one, a bowl of melted butter and garlic and dipping away..nom nom nom.... Would they be difficult to grow though?

I am guilty of turning this thread into a gardening one so I shan't go on about it. Suffice to say I am looking forward to picking things and eating it straight off one of my little plants... (herbs bought yesterday, strawberries and tom's planned with onions and garlic ).. need to speak to LLL about the rest.