My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary

AnimalTribe

Rhyddid2026 I hope you managed to make a start. Unfortunately, I haven't managed to plant any seeds today, but I definitely will tomorrow.

I woke up to an inch of snow this morning and DH had drawn a huge heart in it. I’ve been smiling all day. We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day we just do something nice for each other.

Rhyddid2026

My day has been taken up with animal related tasks but I have a little pile of seed packets ready to sow tomorrow.

peb

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884952#Comment_81884952

How lovely. Snow Friday didn't lay here for which I'm grateful

AnimalTribe

Rhyddid2026 what animals do you have? I miss my tribe, I had goats, sheep, hens, ducks, dogs, cats, and hamsters.

Peb DH is so sweet. Fortunately, it’s rained heavily here today and the snow has all melted.

I finally got to sow my seeds. I’m not sure how well artichokes or strawberry spinach will do here, but time will tell. Here’s what I managed to sow.

Artichoke: Imperial Star

Broad bean: Oscar

Wild strawberry

Celeriac: Giant Prague

Parsley: Envy

Strawberry spinach

Nasturtium: Paso Doble & Tall mix

Courgette: Diamant

Cucumber: Market more

Chilli: Scotch Bonnet orange & Quick fire & Spangles

Sweet pepper: Etiuda & California wonder

Tomatoes: Red alert & Golden sunrise & Hybrid-totem & Marmande

Rhyddid2026

Ducks, chickens, dogs and a tortoise. It was the tortoise causing problems this time, he injured his head. If I had a bigger garden and more money I'd have loads.

I just sowed a few seeds today, I'd like to do a bit more garden and conservatory prep before I fill them. I sowed mixed winter salad, lettuce (Till), cauliflowers (old seeds but worth a try), white kohl rabi, and perpetual spinach. I'll prep a bed this week and sow radish and field beans.

AnimalTribe

Rhyddid2026 how lovely. Hens & ducks have much more personality than people give them credit for, and of course, you get the benefit of eggs, and I love dogs. When I was little, I was desperate for a tortoise (and for some reason a squirrel and a frog).

Well done on the planting. It’s always worth a try with old seeds as it costs nothing.

DH had to go into town today so I asked him to do the grocery shop. He stuck to the list, except for pizza and chocolate. Since I love both that’s OK.

Today I’ve just done general tidying but I’m itching to do some cross-stitch so I’ll be pulling out one of the small kits I have tomorrow.

AnimalTribe

For the first time in ages the wind and solar were enough to top up the battery bank without the generator needing to be powered up.

DH put up 2 new shelves for my ever increasing DVD collection and I finished a cross-stitch kit. It's for Xmas but I just picked an easy one to do.

peb

Hurrah for self sufficiency on power

AnimalTribe

Peb yeah, it's a good feeling, roll on the summer when the solar panels will fully kick in.

Today I've sorted my DVDs into alphabetical order. Just becase I wanted to and because I had room on the new shelves DH has built for me.

DH and I have been to a village for lunch. DH went into the charity shop, but I just stayed in the car and read my book. I'm avoiding temptation. DH came out with a couple of DVDs, after I'd just organised them, but they were easy to put in the right place. The charity shop also has groceries outside that you can take for a donation. So DH got a pack of hotcross buns.

Tonight I'm just watching a DVD and DH is working on his hobby.

AnimalTribe

Today DH trimmed the fuchsia hedge, the Russian vine and an elder tree to be ready for nesting season. There are still the willow hedges and the ivy to trim, but that will have to wait until he has the time and the weather.

I’ve been re-organising some shelving to make space for DH’s hobby stuff. There are still cat flaps in some of the doors that I’d like to replace with solid panels. I’ve taken measurements for replacement panels and DH is going to try to find a supplier in the city as he is going there for a dental checkup tomorrow.