From debt to freedom...

janb5

Hi HSL I`ve had problems with caramel in the past but if you use an elderly aluminium pan which I do then you`re fine.  The caramel instructions come from the Carnation site and the combination of the two sugars certainly stops it `catching`.
You inspired me to plant cerinthe.  Do you find it self seeds in future years and once I`ve soaked the seed can I plant the seeds straight out? 

Cherryfudge

Millionaire's shortbread is amazing! Try it with a bit of instant coffee melted into the chocolate.

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said: There is a long  raised border in stone, which I planted up with blackcurrants when we first moved here ( before we had the allotment). These blackcurrants seem to have had a real drop in growth over the last couple of years so am wondering if they haven’t been pruned  enough. There does seem to be a lot of old wood, so am thinking of digging them up and moving them to the allotment where I’ve got more space for them and neatening up the garden with some flowering shrubs.

My blackcurrants and red currants are sadly neglected but looking happier this year as I've weeded around them and taken a lot of dead wood out. I'm wondering if the wet winter somehow made them die back or something. I grew them from cuttings from a friend's garden many years ago and am wondering if I still have the green touch to start some more this year. I think it might be autumn cuttings of this year's growth, but I need to look it up.

savingholmes

I chopped my fruit bushes back hard last year -  it seems to have done them good. I have also sprinkled some pelleted chicken manure. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Jan, Cherryfudge, & SH.

I have my grandmother’s old porringer pan, so could give that a try, thank you for the tip.

Re cerinthe, it should be ok to plant out. Mine are in the ground, having started off in cell trays in the greenhouse. They are putting on good growth outside. I must confess it’s been some tIme  since  I last grew cerinthe so can’t remember if it self seeded but will ask a friend here, who grows a lot of them.

Interesting thoughts on the currant bushes. That’s a good idea about taking cuttings Cherryfudge 🙂. 

Friday was spent doing work tasks...all day, so no chance to get to the allotment.  I took a break at 7.30 and went to Mr T’s. Seems to have gone back to being a quiet time to go. 6 pint cartons of milk are back 😃, which I’m very thankful for and there were eggs in stock- hurray! My spending on groceries has gone up. I think it’s due to feeding everyone all the time whereas at work / school there is less grazing going on. I’m using the petrol money saved each week to cover the extra on groceries.

I had a letter from HMRC today...I think they have had my annual income level direct from my employer which has resulted in  a slight rise in the tax credit amount, which means there is a little wriggle room, where there has been absolutely none. I’m very thankful for this 🙂.

I was able to catch up with DD1 by phone which was good. Hoping to spend a good chunk of time at the allotment today. The cauliflower plants have put on a fair amount of growth so will see if I can get a bed ready for them. The Apple blossom is out,  both in the garden and at the allotment which is such a beautiful colour.

BalanceBy50

So glad you now have a bit of wriggle room in your budget it really helps. I feel like I am constantly feeding my family and I only have 2 boys! I take my hat off to you!!

All our seeds are doing really well. Dh has cleaned all the panes in the greenhouse and dug another bed out so we now have two.  I have save all the plastic trays that mushrooms, strawberries, tomatoes etc come in to plant the seedlings. It's frightening how much plastic waste we get through 😠 

Also thank you for the brownie recipe you posted on someone else's diary. We have made it 4 times now and the boys love it 😁

Enjoy your weekend x

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Balanceby50. I’m glad the recipe was useful. It’s a regularly made recipe here, so much so that DS3, who is a pre-schooler knows we need 3 eggs and will go to the fridge and count them out in readiness☺️.  Great  news that your seeds are coming along well. 

Honeysucklelou2

Today has been quite productive. I spent a few hours at the allotment.  I dug over another overgrown bed, but compared to last week, this bed was much tougher. I got out 2 wheelbarrow loads of weeds and roots 😳. It needs a good raking over before planting  anything, bu5 it is looking distinctly better than it was.  Another bed was ready, so I turned it over again, raked it and got the cauliflowers planted out. The mangetout are really starting to put on good growth🙂.

On our return, I got stuck into the home  garden. There were quite a few nettles starting to grow up amongst a couple of trees, so those are now out!  I planted out some cerinthe ( had a couple left over from the allotment, so they went into a pot)  and added some nasturtiums.

After tea, I went for a run! I thought it was about time I got cracking on the C25K programme. I left it quite late so that DS3 was asleep and did the run in the last of the evening light. I was pleasantly surprised that I got through  without feeling too wrecked! I remembered from  last time about the need to stretch so hopefully have done enough.

NSD today🙂.

savingholmes

I an in awe of gardening followed by a run and looking after a gaggle of kids. Glad your tax credits went up. Child benefit hs gone up a little too

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH. The girls and DS3 are happy to be at the allotment so they pitch in, even if it’s just watering. The teenage boys will appear if marshmallows are in the offing! They prefer the heavier chopping back.