Thank god we paid the mortgage off

themadvix

I'm with you on the watering and weeding! My beans are all in now and my squashes, but I need to get the Brussels in and I haven't even sown any parsnips yet 😬 Probably a bit late now…

ladybird1106

It’s not too late themadvix to sow parsnips , you can sow up to mid June. They won’t be huge but you’ll also might avoid parsnip canker by sowing later.

Love

greenbee

You're both way ahead of me! Beans haven't even been sown, nor have carrots or beetroot or any of the other things I can't remember that are sitting in a pile waiting to be dealt with (oh yes, salad - not sure radishes will like the current weather). Squash are in pots as I want bigger roots on them before they go in the ground, and I desperately need to get the greenhouse set up for toms/cucs/aubergines, the broad beans supported, investigate whether the late sowing of peas has taken or whether to use the bed for something else, and MOST importantly, get the irrigation pumps set up so everything survives me being on holiday at the end of the month. I really don't have time for work … unfortunately the garden doesn't pay the bills!

ladybird1106

Greenbee that’s a big list of things you need to get done. You’ve still got plenty of time though.
Today we are both at the plot. Feels very hot, we’ve had to have lots of regular breaks in the shade of the orchard. We’ve had a break from the leek area. Potatoes mounded up and all seem to have grown, no gaps as of yet. Strawberry bed has been fed, mulched and netted to stop the birds pinching them. The other one will get done next weekend as they are a later variety. Greenhouses watered. Fed and added compost to the citrus trees. Hoed and dug up more weeds. 5 warty pumpkins in with their wind walls for protection. Lots of lovely worms in the compost. Stood and watched ants rescue their eggs. We had some weed suppressant down plus cardboard which we took off today.
The youngest has been in to town to pick a few things up for us, will just de-duct from what they owe me for the holiday.
Sent a text to a very old friend, whom we just send messages to for birthdays and Christmases and told them we will be in their neck of the woods later this year. We are planning on meeting up🥰. Can’t wait to see them. So happy

Love 🐞

teapot2

Lovely to have a plan. to meet up with old friend. Are the ants in your compost? I've had a nest in my compost bin for a few years now. I've seen the egg removal behaviour too when I take the lid off to top it up in the summer, it fascinates me, every visible ant cooperates and has a job.

ladybird1106

No the nest wasn’t in the compost teapot2, it was under a tarp and cardboard that we laid down in the winter to suppress the weeds. You could see the tracks they had been using in the soil to move about. It covered an huge area. Absolutely fascinating to see.
We finally sorted out the guttering on two of the greenhouses by using the remains of a disposable bbq Mr🐞 wombled whilst out and about at work. Although I did cut my fingers whilst cutting it up. He then came home and sorted the down pipe on the house that has been leaking. It was blocked up and smelled awful, but at least it’s fixed now and we’ve not had to pay someone to sort it. Although I did say if it wasn’t fixed soon I would get someone to do it. Works every time 🤣.
Tea yesterday used lettuce and radishes. I forgot to bring mint home to make virgin mojito.
Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Sunday started very slowly, long lie in followed by brunch. Managed to squeeze in our monthly challenge of visit a nature reserve a month. Saw lots of lovely flowers, several species of butterfly and huge dragonfly. Called briefly at the plot to harvest broad beans for tea.
Yesterday I managed about an hour at the plot before it started to rain🥳. Got some of my climbing beans in. On the evening I went out with cat friend and they paid to say thank you for looking after their 🐈‍⬛. Other than that not a lot else to report.

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

just been reading an article on the beeb about how much is deemed as a comfortable pension for 2 people 😱. We are no where near that level. It also talked about moderate level 😱 and then a frugal level 😱. I think we are just at the tip of frugal level for 1 person but will have to make it stretch for 2. 🥺😫😖. Good job I’m on here to learn
love 🐞

peb

I find frequently that I don't, working a four day week, have the amount considered necessary for a retirement. I wonder what on earth the expectation is you will spend money on.

Cherryfudge

I think these things are calculated on certain 'norms', but they don't tell you what those are, so it's hard to see whether that's normal for us.