Best wellyboot forward. Pips frugal edible garden adventures.

Pippilongstocking

Morning RT (waves back)

I've no lists today (in truth I tend to abandon them over the weekend, which is why the weekly ones look so nutty).

Plan is vaguely to catch up a bit here. Heads a bit fuggled still, have not shot this cold off yet either.

Hounds to walk, grub to prepare but like you the house is groaning in the cupboards so I'm more needing to be making in roads into it too.

Although puddings til april is pretty impressive.

Lots going on here about the independance debate. TRG was quizzed about it tonnes in America which quite surprised him I think.

We're popping some eggs to a chums later for cash
TRG wants to pick up his support poster in town later from a certain voting shop.
Might get the hounds out for a decent scamp.

I'm just taking five or ten quiet minutes until life gets buzzy again.

This becoming an empty nest malarkay is a bit of a head muddle. So happy for the young folks, so confusing to think, what next.

Which I know probably sounds very silly, its not like we've been planning this for the last 18 years eh?

I'm going to get a few books out the library I think and read up about things. I honestly didn't expect it to feel so strange.

Don't get me wrong more time to do my own thing is fabby, just shifting the focus which is a bit harder than expected.

Pesky kids.

PS Polishes halo here did most of washing last week between painting

I think I'll put the kettle on again.

re the baking, can you lob some savoury stuff into the mix?

Pippilongstocking

So the wages hit the bank (£416) another month we'll have some bonios and be able to lob the student types a few crumbs. Not that its cleared yet but its showing.

Teaching wages due in Nov - must send off expenses this week.

There's nowt like a cut in wages to focus the mind.

I must now that we've been here a bit do an average spends to see where/what we spend on and what's priorities. (Aside bonios)

Our spends are of course well down now that we're in one hoose.

rtandon27

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

... re the baking, can you lob some savoury stuff into the mix?...

therein lies the problem my dear pips...

bags of choc chips
bag of butterscotch chips
custard mix
cake mix
icing mix
christmas cake mix
christmas puddings (yes plural & enough to feed a small family each)
corn syrup
several kinds of posh sugar
molasses (lots and lots of it)
maple syrup
pumpkin puree
evaporated milk
dried fruit & nuts & seeds
r1ce kr1spie square fixings

(almost all of which was gifted by folks from across the pond thinking i might miss the stuff! truth be told i'd rather eat savoury than sweet too! - sugar is almost non-existant in my diet! - i can bake but don't!)

hugs to help you through the adjustment to missing the 'lil ones - think it's always harder on the parental units than the offspring!

starnac

Oh Pippi, feeling your confuddle-ness. I very often find myself thinking "If only I had a bit more time to myself" but I have to admit that I do miss them when they are not here and mine don't go very far or for very long. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

lucielle

Hi Pipster, you know that I know how you're feeling. Any more thoughts on the pm?
L

cazmanian_minx

You'll soon adjust and start grumbling when they come back

I weeded the veg patch today and my strawberry plants, having failed to produce a single edible strawberry over the summer, have put all their energy into throwing out runners and I now have about 25 instead of the 5 I planted. Any tips for keeping them alive over winter? Should I pot a few up and stick them in the cold frame as insurance??

Pippilongstocking

cazmanian_minx wrote: »

You'll soon adjust and start grumbling when they come back

I weeded the veg patch today and my strawberry plants, having failed to produce a single edible strawberry over the summer, have put all their energy into throwing out runners and I now have about 25 instead of the 5 I planted. Any tips for keeping them alive over winter? Should I pot a few up and stick them in the cold frame as insurance??

I feel your pain I got one strawberry. My issue was my soil was too rich and they put on too much growth rather than panic and produce fruit.

If you're very exposed (wind) I'd maybe put half a dozen of them in the cold frame over winter and leave the rest to get on with it. They're hardy little boogers. They should be fine outside but given your exposure (or potential for exposure) I'd hedge my bets.

As to the DD you're right she was making a royal right mess when she was here. LOL.

rtandon27

Pips - can you dish out some garden advice please?

When is the best time to prune a sage bush? Mine is overgrown again, but I'm worried that pruning combined with the cold nights might kill it! I do need to clear a path to the washing line stepping stones but don't want to loose a plant.

Same question for my butterfly bush (purple flowers) and the bay tree (which is now monsterous!) - both seem to have enjoyed the hot summer a little too much and taken off!

Happy Monday - hope you are doing well today & that the head is a little less confuzzled! XOX

Pippilongstocking

lucielle wrote: »

Hi Pipster, you know that I know how you're feeling. Any more thoughts on the pm?
L

Will pm ya me dear

Pippilongstocking

rtandon27 wrote: »

Pips - can you dish out some garden advice please?

When is the best time to prune a sage bush? Mine is overgrown again, but I'm worried that pruning combined with the cold nights might kill it! I do need to clear a path to the washing line stepping stones but don't want to loose a plant.

Same question for my butterfly bush (purple flowers) and the bay tree (which is now monsterous!) - both seem to have enjoyed the hot summer a little too much and taken off!

Happy Monday - hope you are doing well today & that the head is a little less confuzzled! XOX

Ah the monday head confuzzlement.

Butterfly bush - hard trim back at anytime - the birds like the seeds so if you can stand the mess let them have it a while yet then cut back to 1-2ft from ground. (or any height above that as desired)

Bay - evergreen and takes a hard hack at most times of the year. Take off the growth to contain it and save those tasty leaves. Should do OK.

Sage can be a bit of a menace. Really best done in spring if you can stand it can you trim the worst of it back to let you get access and do the dirtier deed in springtime?

A few hints and tips below. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenprojects/3337654/Your-garden-this-week-pruning-shrubby-perennials-and-bluebell-control.html)

Sage, whether grown for ornamental foliage or use in the kitchen, needs a trim each spring to maintain a neat crown. Cut back all stems by half or, if the plants have become bare at the base, prune hard to within 15cm (6in) of ground level.

• In most areas of Britain, it is safer to trim lavender in mid-spring rather than in the autumn. This is to save it from winter cold damage. Unlike sage, lavender should not be cut back to bare wood, but lightly trimmed. Retain about 5cm-8cm (2in-3in) of the previous season's growth. Hedging shears can be used on lavender hedges.
• Neither sage nor lavender is long-lived. Old, straggly specimens are best replaced. Either start with new plants or take softwood and semi-ripe cuttings later in the summer.


Me heids still mince but I'm sitting myself down today and doing a 'life plan' AKA what does make you happy young (ish) pips.

Hope the above help.

In a nutshell be canny with the sage but give yourself access - the others will tolerate a harder prune.

:A

Its this time of day and no lunch yet. Or brekkie :eek:

I guess thats :money: