Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Well, I've been busier today than I thought I was going to be.
Dgd came up this morning for a few hours and made the bread and butter pudding, it was her first try and its delicious, we had to sample it for quality control purposes!! So I'm set up for the next couple of days puddings.

I also made a cabbage pie and a large pan of tomato soup, so again sorted for the next couple of days.

Then we went to the allotment and she worked like a trooper cutting my boundary hedge down to size, it's not all done by a long chalk but a good start has been made. We had an inspection a few weeks ago and all the allotments where I am have privot hedges, in all the years I've been on there and all the inspections that have been done not once has the hedge been mentioned to anyone, but this year we have all been told off lol, perhaps they have someone new in the council looking after us!! Anyway, operation chop down has started and to honest I don't mind as it will make it easier for me to look after it and keep it trimmed. It's got to be 1.5 metres at its tallest!!  It does say this in our handbook lol! A very nice gentleman has volunteered to do it for me, and I'm letting him but I'm making a start to help!!

So what else, not a lot really. All's well otherwise, no money spent and only some aubergines were picked at the lottie they will go to dd tomorrow, I already have a few languishing in the fridge. I'm grandma sitting most of tomorrow and won't be in until late so not sure if I will post, but if I don't I will be back on Sunday.

Nannyg

Lunch - hm tomato soup and bread
Tea - hm cabbage pie. This never sounds appealing but has other stuff in as well as some cabbage and is quite nice and I have plenty of cabbages at the plot. Oh and a bit more b&b pudding.

Couldsavemore

Am amazed by how much you do!
Plus how super healthy your diet must be with all that veg.
You are really inspiring.

My parents have done ALL of my sons childcare and the school runs. I don't think they realise how much this has helped. But they say they have enjoyed it but now he's 10 they seem to enjoy him being more independent.

Keep posting your ramblings

WinterWarrior

What else does go into a cabbage pie? 

You were really busy …and the pudding sounds delicious. 

leftatthetrafficlights

I'd be interested in the cabbage pie too! 😊 I've currently got half of an enormous savoy that I cut from the garden to use up!! 😂 

I think you do remarkably well on such a limited income nannyg 🙌 and the fact that you can do so much on your allotment is brilliant- 10mins in my garden and I'm a physical wreck!! 🙈😨 

nannygladys

couldsavemore - I love eating so always trying different bits and pieces! I'm vegetarian and have been for about 35 years, 2 daughters suggested it when they were about 10 & 11, so I suggested we eat all the meat in the house first and then try it for 3 months to see how we got on. Eldest is still vegetarian, dd2 does eat meat and they youngest who was bought up vegetarian eats meat occasionally. I never stopped any of them having meat/fish at friends houses etc but they never had it at home, it was up to them to make their own choices. As for my diet , I suppose I'm quite/very healthy as I have never had too much wrong with me.

WinterWarrior & leftatthetrafficlights - the cabbage pie is one from a very frugal you tuber who has an allotment. It's very simple and I tend to add in other bits and pieces as well.
The basic ingredients are:
One tin tomatoes, chopped.
One onion, chopped
Half a cabbage, take stalk out and chop
Six chopped mushrooms
Herbs eg, dill, parsley or whatever you like 
Pastry.

1. soften onion and cabbage in a little oil until soft, can take about 10mins
2. add all other ingredients (not pastry), cook further 15 mins, add extra stock, Tom juice or even water if it gets too dry.
3.  make pastry, I usually buy puff from sm, line a dish and put in heated filling, cover the top with remainng pastry and !!!!!! holes in it, cook 200C for about 30 mins. 

I have tried it with just a pastry top or put mashed potato on top or sliced cooked potato sprayed with a bit of oil and browned is nice as well as a change to pastry. I've used many combinations with the cabbage depending on what veg/herbs I fancy/have in. It's a frugal filling meal and makes lots, I have frozen it cooked as well but mostly make enough for 2 days. I sometimes put a bit of grated cheese under the top as well, to make it a bit more tasty.

Well yesterday was busy and I got home about 8pm worn out but I didn't really do an awful lot, dgd is 8 so not a baby and likes playing board games and jigsaw. Dd treated us to a McDs, which dgd really enjoyed as she doesn't have one very often, I had a coffee as I had lunch at home before we left. Played quite a bit with puppy to wear him out, it'll be nice when he can go out walking and that was about it. Lovely looking after dgd.

Today I slept in!! Don't know why - oh because I can lol!! anyway just been pootling about, l did mean to go the lottie but couldn't be bothered so stripped my bed off and got that dried outside, cleaned the bathroom and hoovered through, so I must go to the allotment tomorrow to do a bit more of the hedge, little and often....

So as its raining outside and I have to take my library books back tomorrow I'd better go and find all 7 of them, I haven't managed to read them all yet so will renew a couple of them. I can't believe the weekend has nearly finished already it's happened so quickly. Take care everyone.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Went to b&m today and bought some butter, I don't usually go there but I was passing so thought I may as well try there. So that was £1.40 spent. Whilst there I got a couple of bags of gravel for the back garden, but that cost comes out of the gardening budget and this time of year there's very little in there so I won't be getting any more until next month.
This morning I made more soup, veggie scotch broth this time so lunches are are sorted for the next few days. This afternoon I went to the allotment and some kind person has cut my hedge, two people offered so I'm not sure who it was. They have done a good job and its surprising how much lighter it is. I have some debris to get rid of but the majority was cleared! I finally got rid of the last gooseberry bush - yay!! I have to start cutting the raspberry canes back next but that is once the nettles and bindweed have been dug out, it's all go. Picked aubergines, courgettes, beetroot, tomatoes and planted winter cabbage and more kale, I still have a few more bits to plant as well.
So, just going to have a wander around the boards before I see what's on tv. Take care everyone.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Is there a reason the gooseberry bushes are going? 

Well done at b&m..I always come out with sweets! 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - the gooseberries are going because they are old, very thorny and I've taken a couple of cuttings that I will be planting in two big containers. They will be standing on bricks so will be easier to get to and pick the fruit. That's the idea anyway! I'm not that keen on gooseberries but they are standard on any allotment lol

It's been a busy but quiet day really. I've been sitting dgs and the puppy, not sure who's the hardest to look after!! At least the rain held off until late afternoon so I got out for a walk this morning with dgs and he fell asleep for most of it and thankfully to school as well to pick up dgd before it started. And then home when dd3 got home, I'm glad I prepared my tea yesterday I just had to heat it up, oh and no money spent.

Tomorrow I have the day to myself until I pick up 2 other dgds from school as daughter is doing some college work that has to be in very soon, so hopefully she will get the bulk done tomorrow as its her day off. I love being in a position to help but not permanently, dd and sil work for nhs on opposite shifts so child care isn't normally needed so it makes a nice change for me and them to be on the school pickup for them!! 

So off to make a drink and do a bit of board surfing before I watch a bit of tv and bed, think I will sleep well tonight!!
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

That makes sense…I’m partial to gooseberry fool 😋

Couldsavemore

nannyg..
you've been off the meat for about the same time as me. There weren't that many veggies back in the 80's. I can remember it was a few years till I met another veggie. Plus if you went out for a meal.. there were no vegetarian options. I'm vegan now... don't personally know any other vegans but people seem to be getting a lot less weird about it.

Anyway.. raspberry cane question.
Bought one from Aldy this year. Its in a pot. It didn't even flower this year. Should I just leave it to die back naturally or when do I cut ✂️ it?