Living richly; simply and debt-freely

mothernerd

Dear Greying, so glad you are feeling better and think you are very wise to listen to your body when it is telling you to take a step back.

I tackle vac pack beetroot by putting a small cross shaped cut in the top in the centre and 'peeling back' from there. If I only want one or two from the pack I find this allows me to safely put the pack back in the fridge with the juice inside or can pour part of it away. Not foolproof but works most of the time.

The ivy was originally grown against the back garden wall (6') with trellis (18" strips cut from a panel) on top. It was put there to hide the multi storey car park they were building at the back (side of theTown hall is on the far side and the side of the library is on the left hand side, right side is shops but no access on that side.

I used to chop it back several times a year but DS2 said I was interfering (he and a friend were renting the house) and last year I wasn't really able to do much. DS2 has just chopped at the edges so loads of dead branches in the middle and large misshapen leaves instead of little ones with green centres and cream edges. The car park has been flattened again so no need to hide.

I have thinned it out so you can see daylight along the top of the wall (pulled out dead leaves and broken 'branches') but above that it bushes out into a 'tree' shape with several 'branches' (which are stems really but have been left so long they are 4" - 5" thick) twisted round each other. If I could get it flat against the wall and leave the bushy part overhanging the outside, that would be fine for now.

However for the long-term health of the plant these branches need to come down - the crossover bits make it vulnerable to disease and there is so much dead material in there as well.

I have got one bit down which gives a lot more light and the rest I will wait and see. It can only be tackled safely from the top ie branches off from the problem bits need to come down first before sawing through the big bits - otherwise it's like felling a tree above your head. So depends on the conditions - dead leaves and soil underfoot which I can't bend or shovel yet and when I can go up the ladder. I have an excellent tree saw and a smaller folding one but not going to do anything rash or foolish so the blackbirds may get there first.

I will be limited in what I can do this year. I don't think I am going to wake up in a couple of weeks and suddenly have a full range of movement. Each week I can do more than I could but I still need to keep within safe limits.

Anyway my bargain today is better than yours. A few weeks ago the small charity shop round the corner had some sacks of carrots for £1 but I had only just started going out after the ice and hail and couldn't carry them (gradually increasing what I carry). They normally sell eggs and have 25kg sacks of Maris Piper for £4.99 but have not had any carrots since.

Set off to go to the old house as someone wanted to view it and they had one sack of carrots in the corner. Went in and asked and agreed a price of £1-20 and when I said I would have to go for my other rucksack, the man offered to carry it for me. Glad he did as when I returned I found I couldn't pick it up, must be at least 10kg, possibly more (will weigh it tomorrow - cut the sack open and carry through to the kitchen and weigh them in stages). I have big carrot plans. Oh the things that give us pleasure.

Only 9 and a half kg but still "I have enough". Managed to carry it through.

kdalwayskint

Hi GP, sorry to hear that you've been under the weather and glad to hear you are feeling better x

Greying_Pilgrim

Let's finish out January on a high, eh?



Pineapple curry, Tina's Dhal and boiled rice.

Greying x

greenbee

With the amount of garlic in that dhal your immune system will certainly be getting a boost!

liltdiddylilt

So lovely to see you back Greying. glad you are feeling much better, and wow to the curry!

sugarpuss27

YAY Greying's back!!!:T:T I empathise with you GP, sometimes one's health and well-being can only be focused on by what I call 'stopping the world and getting off' and concentrating on the basics for a while. I know I don't post often but I catch up when I can, soooo glad you are feeling better. It is evident that so many people including me have missed you, keep well. As usual your curry looks scrummy.:D

Greying_Pilgrim

greenbee wrote: »

With the amount of garlic in that dhal your immune system will certainly be getting a boost!

ha ha! I clearly thought that when I read the original recipe greenbee - as my version doesn't have that much in at all! :rotfl:

Right, away to cheer on Mr Murray on t'telly.

:T C'mon Andy, C'mon. C'mon Andy, C'mon! :T

Greying

maggiem

Thanks Greying for information about Maggies. I had been trying to think what to do about making some form of donation for Kissjen so have sent money winging to them.

Lovely to read your diary as always and it's inspiring me to try more vegetarian cooking too.

judi24

The curry looks amazing!!!! I really love the look of your meals - gives me inspiration to try to make more vegetarian meals


What a lovely thing to do in Kissjen's memory - I am sure she would love the fact that the donation came from your grocery budget!

beanielou

Glad to see you are recovered.
What a lovely thing to do in KJ's memory.