Chocolate straight after Breakfast!!

Easter Monday ~ sitting in my dressing gown beside my equally clad hubby, enjoying the sun and watching a kids movie on the TV. Maggie has successfully 'killed' her favourite toy and is now sleeping off the battle on the rug. All is well.

I think it's time I wrote a little about the other Eden Lottie Folk. Boy, have I noticed a big surge in activity, not just in those who are new to the project and therefore have lots of enthusiasm and ideas bursting out of their heads (i.e. those in Field C and D) but also in Field B and my favourite (I'm biased I know) ~ Field A.

I have lots of photos to show you, mainly from the Plots of those close to me but also from Donald's plot way over at the farthest side from us at A24a.

1stly, here is dear Ronnie.

He kind of has a full plot, it's 2 halves with a proper road in between them! A half each of 2 separate plots. He works seemingly all the time, I wouldn't be surprised if he was found down there in the middle of the night with a miner's hat on working away. You will not believe what he made yesterday with the help of his son-in-law. A Greenhouse, from scratch! We're all very impressed but secretly really rather jealous. It's roasty toasty in it.

Inspiring plot/s, no?

2ndly, here is Davy.

Like us he has a half plot and has had a major double espresso style surge of energy. I LOVE his Chiminea which is uses to make his dinner on and he has decided to grow cauliflowers in huge pots this year which I think will look fantastic and I'm looking forward to watching them develop; veggies are just as pretty as flowers a lot of the time. From his place of work he manages to get a lot of scrap (but perfectly good) wood and a lovely fence is slowly going up surrounding his little piece of Eden. I really haven't taken enough photos of his plot...

Then there's Wilma and John and Wilma's Brother Robert. They share the full plot next to us. Until recently it was covered with black plastic to keep down the weeds. When lifted weeks ago, they discovered a large family of mice living comfortably under there. Glad I wasn't there for the screams!! They have lots of potatoes planted and a good selection of other things already - Brussel Sprouts, Onions, Potatoes, Cabbage and celery, for instance.

Lastly, for this Bloggette....I was visited by Donald and his lovely wife yesterday. They asked me to take a few photos of their plot so family way up in Bushmills (yes, where they make the wonderful Whiskey) could see with their own eyes the great work they are doing. It's very impressive indeed and I hope the family is proud! ;) Andrew and I are particularly taken with the small but perfectly formed lean-to greenhouse, but we haven't room ourselves. *

Just as a wee extra - this is Ricky's shed near to Donald's , I think it's my favourite shed, just so cute and hand built by the man himself. Check out the wine glass too, my kind of Allotmenteering!

*I've more photos I'll try to get to you.

Finished this bloggette at Mamma G's house - big thanks to her for the lend of the mobile broadband thingy and for visiting us at the Lottie yesterday. To my friends that I didn't write about 'sorry' I'll get round to it xx

Cotton wool for brains

The world is a quiet and lonely place.

I'm sitting here at 4am with nothing more than an inanimate object for company; a flashing cursor willing me to talk to myself. It's my 2nd night of insomnia.

I haven't the concentration for this; I can barely face trying to read other blogs, articles from the News websites or the book I started earlier in the night. Listening to the television makes me feel even lonelier at these times and I've already listened to and hour and a half of music. I'm all philosophical and I know that's dangerous - really, there is no point to the world, get over it! Plus, who cares at what point a 'pile' of feathers becomes large enough to be called a 'heap'??!!!

I'm tired. Thing is, apart from not getting sleep I've also been having panic attacks and taking medication - I've been working hard at the Allotment and making myself talk to people and try to be 'normal' - I'm not just in search of slumber, it's imperative. Without it my depression gets even worse, I have no energy to fight on and my double vision goes haywire.

I know my time on this Earth is limited but right now it feels like it's dragging by and will never end; I'll be exhausted and weepy for eternity. (Silly aren't I? There are people out there with real problems right now.)

What do you do when you can't sleep???? Do not say 'count sheep', I will track you down and give you a slap with a wet lettuce!

Excuse me while i ramble......

I have a raging hangover. Drinking too much alcohol is not big and it's not clever! I hope the room stops spinning in time, it makes things like typing so darn difficult and Mother Nature has made the sky extra bright today - I think She's laughing at me ~ I deserve it. Oh Rioja, why?

So just a quick catch up this morning. I haven't taken any photos of the seedlings in and around the house, but please believe me when I say 'Hoorah, they are doing well'. The Squashes in particular look great, I have no idea were we're going to put them though....any one thought of doubling their plot size by building a high rise, a second floor if you will?

Sorry, I drifted off into 'carrie world' - it's a happy place where anything is possible and chocolate cake doesn't make you fat and you never need to see the dentist and the common cold has been thwarted etc. am I still drunk?

Anywho, I did want to share some photos with you of ladybirds, they are everywhere at the lottie right now. I love them, the only bug that actually visually warms the cockles of my heart. I recommend a click on the 2nd one.

Plus, months ago (in the dark and foul months of which we shall not talk) I watched a man I didn't know sneaking around our Field. I thought 'he's up to something' and I wasn't wrong......He was planting 3 beautiful pockets of Tulips in the hedgerows. If I knew who he was I'm give him a big hug; they are adorable and a delightful distraction from the cow poo heap! Thank you mystery man.

Lastly here is a photo that quite adquitely describes how I'm feeling right now. A Sweet Pea in a Germinium pot with a carrot label stuck in it. Confused?

Peas peas and more peas

My toes are being warmed by the sun streaming in through the window. It's a nice day for a change.

So Sunday was 'Pea Day' at the Lottie. We did other things too, but Peas seemed to dominate. Sweet Peas and Eatin' Peas. I'll start with the Sweet Peas, seeing as this is my blog and I grew them from seed and I planted them out. Yeah! I rock.

Peas; Part 1

I choose 'Cupani' because of the delicious colours they are, they remind me of my bridesmaids' dresses, they were aubergine satin with a layer of cerise chiffon on top and a layer of grape chiffon on top of that again. Lovely. In fact here is one of my lovely girls showing it off to perfection......

They germinated perfectly in their loo rolls (the sweet peas not my bridesmaids, haha) and had brilliant root systems. I planted 3 on each side of the little arch, which I am desperately hoping stays put in the wind. It is gale force down at the Lottie on a good day! I am hoping for a beautiful, colourful, fragrant arch of them, so fingers (and toes) are crossed. I've never grown flowers from seed before!


I had a few more left and Andrew erected a nice obelisk for me (very fiddly, I would have lost the plot) and pushed it into the middle of the larger bed. So, I got 4 more in there at the base of the uprights. That was them all used, up bar 2 which are out in the patio waiting to go into a pot with another obelisk in it. Until, a friendly Lottie folk lady gave me some of hers! She too had used the loo roll technique and Andrew planted a few of the strongest ones on the inside of the same obelisk - so hopefully I'll have loads and loads!!! There may well be cut flowers in my house for a change, which reminds me....I need to buy a vase.

I also planted out the 3 Lupins Bill had given me, at the back of the larger bed. I have no idea what colour they'll be but we think they grow pretty tall, so with a bit of luck they'll continue to grow strong. I love the way water sits on their leaves ~ so pretty.

Peas; part 2

As I was busy with my Sweet Peas I didn't get to document this whole process, so sorry......

Andrew took the 1st lot of Eatin' Peas 'Kelvedon Wonder' in their guttering out of the cold frame. The seedlings looked good and healthy so he wanted to get them in the ground. First he dug a trench the same length and width of the guttering and then just slowly eased them out into it. They didn't slide like I think they're meant to because the roots hadn't grown and knitted together as a cohesive unit, but they all went in with a little nudge. Next time will be better.

Here they are in the ground, we have put some pea sticks (dogwood stems) beside them now but we may resort to the netting me used last year, not sure yet.

Freebies!!!!

Maggie and I are both sick :( We both have dickey tums and are feeling very sorry for ourselves. My head (mentally) is also playing up and I feel like running away and becoming a hermit or a 'crazy-woman-with-lots-of-cats' but I don't like cats....so I guess I'll be a hermit, possibly with Maggie, if she wants to come.

Anyway, I small glimmer of joy was wedged through my letter box by my usual grumpy Postman today. Really if he sighs anymore or indeed takes his frustrations out on my post for much longer I think I'll crack and set Maggie on to him. The Fiercest Licking of his Life!!!!!

Yeah, my head is fried, were was I? .... 'glimmer of joy'... Yes. Look! ~ a whole bunch of seeds from the council as a wee thanks for renewing our Lottie tenancy. Lovely!! Now where the heck are we going to grow these? Goodness, does every silver lining have to have a cloud?

I do have lots to tell you about the weekend but I feel too sick so it will have to wait, right now I need my blanket and a good old period of self-pitying. Then I'll feel better.

Good news all round

Yesterday I cut the grass in our back garden. This sounds boring but wait....I have an irrational fear of being outside at the best of times; I even feel uncomfortable in my own garden as it's over looked by, god, I don't want to think how many houses. I always feel I am being watched and judged - therefore laughed at. But....yesterday I went out there and I struggled and cursed at the stupid lawnmower because I could barely get it to the right height. And I cut my grass and trimmed the edging. Yes, me, all by myself. There were neighbours out there too, laughing and shouting (and cursing!) but I stood my ground - Hoorah for me!! It's starting to look better out there, it's been neglected for some time (the Lottie Rules our hearts!!)

I'm not one for lists but I also noted down what was doing good (i.e germinating) in the little greenhouse on the patio. It goes as follows:

Veggies ~

Kale
Leeks (2 types)

Brussel Sprouts

Broccoli

Pak Choi

Perpetual Spinach

Flowers~

Marigolds

Echinaceas

Canlendula

Yellow Poppies

Inside, on the many window sills we have :

Veggies/herbs ~

Rocket

Squash

Flowers ~

Dahlias

I'm still very impatiently waiting for other things to come through - grow you buggers!

*******

Then after a delightful salad, Andrew and I quickly visited the Lottie. Only to be met by the glorious Cold frame!!! And teeny tiny, Carrot and Turnip seedlings in the sun tunnels. The 1st lot of Broad Beans are flowering! All the fruit bushes are filling out nicely and the Raspberries are sending out shoots, the Apples and Pears are budding and the Plums look like they are thinking about it! Good visit!!!

Couple all that with a nice chat to Ivan, waves and smiles from others, who we haven't seen in ages and a dander through Field C, which is going extremely well and has some great innovative minds and good soil prep already; and we were pretty happy. Eden Lottie Folk are the best. Oh, and we posted our renewal form and cheque for another wonderful year of Allotmenteering!!

Which reminds me of this photo Andrew took of me during the week - yippee!!!

Happy Weekend!!!

For Bangchik - Broad Bean flowers x

I need to perk up!!

Got a chat in there with the Hubby at work and I feel a little better. I think part of the problem is that I spend the vast majority of my time alone, with Maggie. Though very cute, she isn't very talkative.

*****

So on the phone I realised that we had received our rent renewal letter this morning. (£35 for a half plot / £50 for a ful one.) We have 14 days to pay and then good old A24a is ours again for another year! It has got me thinking about everyone on our site... okay, everyone in Field A... okay!, ....our next door neighbours. We haven't seen them for a long while and, well maybe, just maybe they aren't so interested in the old Allotmenteering (sacrilege! Allotmeenteering Rocks). So, maybe we could expand????

Well we'll have to wait and see but that patch of ground, that little piece of Eden is staring us in the face every time we go down there. And we're going down tonight again! Torture!! I have ideas for it....but I mustn't get ahead of myself. We have pretty much run out of room on our half of the plot, you see so....STOP. I can't do this to myself, I can't get excited.

******

Others have recently returned to their plots and started to give it a ggod overhaul after winter, some have added structures and planted new onion bulbs etc. It has been lovely to see more than the few core people that are Lottie Regulars. As I call them, my 'Eden Lottie Folk'.

I thought this was quite funny. The full plot just below us did a BIG renovation job over the past couple of weeks. Their soil is looking better but they've decided to just stick to a big bed of spuds again this year. Unfortunately the Scarecrow was in the way - look at the state of the wee darling. Yes it is a school girl, sad really..

Which makes me think of another thing - I have to make a Scarecrow! (Or 2 ?......)

April, already!!

April Fool? - Depression is no joke. Again I am beaten. A fellow blogger Karen, does 'Wordless Wednesdays' I am blatantly copying her today....

I'm in that bucket too, ready for the compost bin. Sorry to be so grouchy.

Snails.... (PG 15)

I forgot to share this story with you..... on THE EVOLUTION OF SNAILS!!

They are slowly adapting to this world, were they are hated so very much by every sane person. They have been studied, developing over the past 40-50 yrs and I think becoming clever and stronger as a unit. They have different coloured shells, depending on where they live so they're harder to catch; the humble and sweet Thrush is in decline because they are in training to be masters of disguise. This is the real terror we must face.

My friends. What is a Snail but a Slug with a mobile home??? The 'Enemy' is (admittedly slowly but therefore more secretively and underhandedly; damn their evil minds!!) becoming a more advanced killing machine. They are on to us; they have their eyes on OUR prize - blast their miscreant potentiality!!!

Sleep well, if you can.......

Monty Don on Ecotherapy

With hearty thanks to my dear friend Mo x......A link to a Times article by Monty Don on how Ecotherapy helps him beat the Winter Blues.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/specials/times_appeal/article5385664.ece

You just know I have to get in contact with Mr Don (somehow!) and Thrive itself, though as seems to be the way, as a charity, they are based and work in England, Northern Ireland is in the dark once more.
http://www.thrive.org.uk/default.aspx

Peas Sir, can I have some more?

Bloody Day-Light Savings Time. I've lost an hours sleep somewhere and I want it back!!! I'm tired (sleep evaded me until 3.30am), out of sync and crabby. So in order to make myself feel chirpy (before I hide under the blanket and try to sleep) I am going to write a POSITIVE blog today.


You may remember that a couple of weeks back, Andrew had the ingenious idea of using up the left over, fly-tipped guttering so sow peas in. Here is it, if you missed it. Well those Peas 'Kelvedon Wonder' are doing super duper well in the cold frame and our yet-to-be-patented polystyrene end caps are working a treat.



Well, yesterday I did a gutter full of Peas all by myself. It was all done in exactly the same vain as Andrew but this time I used 'Hurst Greenshaft' ; a variety we had great results with last year. There's no point in describing how I did it, but there is a great wee story in the very fact that I did it myself.

I am aware that 2 photos of this is not, nesscarily needed but I'm proud of myself, blast it.

*****

We are coming up to our 1st Anniversary at the Lottie and until a few weeks ago I was the principal weeder, grass cutter and harvester of goodies. I did have my flower bed but I really didn't feel confident enough to take part in the sowing and planting out of veggies etc, unless Andrew was with me, telling me exactly what to do. I was convinced I wouldn't be able to do anything right and would end up wasting seeds and compost and generally ruining everything. BUT you may have noticed that recently I have sown all my own flowers seeds for this year and a batch of Broad Beans. My self-esteem is growing!! I will NOT go near a fruit tree or bush etc and attack it with secateurs but I will happily plant out seedlings all by myself. I'm learning and to be honest I can do these things just as well as the Hubby!!

This may all sound a bit silly - people generally are not afraid of planting seeds, they find it a joy, exciting even. But until now I was so scared, so full of self doubt and hatred I couldn't bring myself to do it, it brought on Panic Attacks! Now look at me; the cold frame is full with stuff as is the mini Greenhouse in the back garden and pretty much very window sill in the house! And on top of that I have loads of lettuce (the 1st batch was atrocious) herbs and my Sunflowers to do in the next day or too.

Holy Moly I'm Growing; you'd better watch out or I may bolt!!

Asparagus planting

The sun is mocking me again shining through my window; Mother Nature is putting on a delightful little show of huge fluffy clouds slowly waltzing across the baby blue sky. I want to hide again, in and around me is darkness, a smog, pollution.

I need to keep my mind off this dull, persistent pain in my soul. Therefore I blog.....I want to tell you of last night, at dinner time when Andrew and I had the rare pleasure, so far this year, of visiting the Lottie and planting stuff.

As I mentioned our Asparagus had arrived in the post. We chose 10 1 year old bare root crowns - Gijnlim F1 (Dutch). Supposedly they will last us around 20 yrs and are heavy yielding plants with gorgeous thick stems. We can't sample anything, I think, for 2 years but hopefully it will be worth it.

The books all make Asparagus growing sound every scary and complex to me. But Blackmoor give us a planting and maintenance instruction leaflet and really, it's not that hard. We had the bed prepared and waiting for months, the soil had a whole black bin full of our delicious 'home brew' compost, a bag of grit, heaps of cow manure and a lot of the North Sea's finest Seaweed in it. So damn it, they better like it in there.

We dug 2 trenches in our bed, both 4 inches deep and laid the crowns out like octopus. A little mound under the 'head' and the 'legs' all spread out nicely. Our bed was roughly 8ft x 4ft and we had 5 crowns in each row, spaced evenly (they say to leave about 40 cms between each crown and that worked out well). All the trench soil was then carefully put back on top and the whole bed lightly raked and watered.

That's how we did it. I know there are people who advocate a little pocket that the crown is placed in and you slowly fill up, but maybe there are different ways for different varieties.

So, with team work that was all done in 20 mins. It seemed a bit of an anti-climax after months of waiting to stand there proudly looking at a bed that seemed to have not changed at all. But then we heard the beautiful voices of some 'Lottie People' singing traditional Irish songs (quite, ummm, enthusiastically) on the wind, I'm pretty sure it was Ricky and his gang in Field B. That just made us laugh. I was feeling good, we we were surrounded by plants budding and greenery, it was reasonably empty down there and I had done that interview with Mind.

I won't go into the details of the 'big comedown' I had later and hence my hatred for the world at large today. But it happened and all I can say is sh1t - it had been pretty good up til then.

'Mind'

One extra story for you today....

I received a phone call from Katie at 'Mind', a charity based in England and Wales which tries to promote good mental health and remove stigma associated with depression etc. I am now a Media Volunteer for them! That means that my story is on their data base and journalists looking for a certain person for an article can contact me, if I fit the bill. My specialism will be Ecotherapy and there is already a journalist thinking of using me for a national magazine, eek!

Here, in Northern Ireland we are extremely under serviced when it comes to mental health charities. There is 1 called Aware Defeat Depression, but they only provide leaflets, self- help tapes and group talks. I have been to 2 meetings in the past and god help them, they are trying but just can't compete with large charities like 'Mind'.

Katie was lovely and is passionate about Ecotherapy herself. She was nice to talk to and told me all about the wonderful work they are doing over there. A recent grant from the Lottery Fund of £8 Million and a whopping £18 million from Comic Relief with the added backing of celebrities such as Stephen Fry (Love him) and Ruby Wax. It is unfortunate that it only works in England and Wales but still....Looking forward to working with them and making my little voice , praising Ecotherapy sound much louder and reach more people.

Christmas comes early

Today was excellent when it came to new plants. I received 2 packages!!

In the 1st, my friend Selkie had sent a bubble envelope (great fun in themselves - I love to pop!) full of glorious cuttings from her own garden way down in Co. Kerry. I have started to pot them all up, but time for a coffee break. The package included Poppies (Purple ones!!), Agapanthus, Hemp Agrimany (for the butterflies) and Elecampane. I am so happy, all look very healthy so fingers crossed. I need to look up the others and see photos but really, I can hardly wait to see the Purple Poppy in particular, I adore poppies but didn't even know purple existed. Isn't it great to have generous friends. Big love to Selkie x

NB. just noticed they are all sitting in the right order as I spoke about them - cool.

The 2nd package was the long awaited for Asparagus crowns. We are going to try and plant them tonight, when Andrew gets home from work. We've been getting tense waiting for them, especially after seeing Ronnie had planted some last week!

So good stuff. Photos shall follow - I'll update this bloggette later on when things are planted up.

Deep Breath/Compost

It's time I crawled out from under my blanket and faced the world again. I feel like Sisyphus from the Ancient Greek Myths ~ faced everyday by a punishment so demoralising, painful and unrewarding; bound to go on for eternity. Only thing is I didn't do anything wrong, so why am I, too, cursed? This Depression is a cancer of the soul and feels terminal.

Oh, deep breath....

*********

A welcome gift awaited us on Saturday, by our Plot ~ Old pallets! Oh what joy some old bits of wood can bring! Andrew was so excited at the prospect of making his much talked about compost heap that he started right away - Bill had to wait a little for his thank you; he had promised us some pallets and as always, he didn't let us down.



I decided to get on with something else while Andrew built this...


...a man's compost heap is his castle, or some such thing. Look at the pride, he (quite understandably) couldn't take his eyes of it and once it was full of the stinkiest and therefore most wonderful cow manure I too couldn't help but be very proud too. It has it's little blue blanket over the poo and another pallet on top and that structure and it's contents are going nowhere fast. We kept the little sign Andrew had made too - hands off everyone, this sh*t is ours!!!!

So we now have a manure heap and the trinity of compost bins - all is well at the Lottie. In a few months time we will have soil conditioner to die for (though it's pretty darn good this season, but things can only get better).

Apathy

Today, I give up.

The sun may well be shining but I don't care. The seedlings are outside and upstairs, they can rot. The house needs a lot of attention, still, after the windows being put in - if this place fell down around me today, I doubt I'd notice (bar the rain and wind). Ecotherapy is a load of cow manure, blogging is silly - who cares about my plot and my life; I have nothing new to bring to the table and probably know much less than you do about growing our own fruit and veg.

I give up. Under my blanket, in this quiet, empty space is where I am staying today, maybe I'll sleep once this particular panic attack (over nothing) dies sown. There world - you happy? You've won.

Yes, yes, yes ~ We Can!

The 1st Family have the Grow Our Own Bug!!!!

Thanks to the BBC for the link. So brilliant. Happy weekend my fellow Allotmenteers - we're in good company. Told you Allotmenteering was sexy!

A not quite bird's eye view of the whole Allotments

They join on to each other quite well though of course it really is hard to get a clear photo of it all. Maybe I should hire a microlite. How cool would that be!!!

The one below has our wee shed highlighted with a red circle - open it up x