a weblog with an allotment attached
31 May 2005
I got up at 5:30am today!
Regular readers (and there are some of you out there!) will remember that I’m not at all good in the mornings and so this is a big achievement for me. What’s more, this is the second time this month I’ve done it!
And what have I been up to in [...]
30 May 2005
You know what I said about usual service being resumed? Apparently I was a bit premature…
Looks like whatever was going wrong is now going right again.
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 10:51 am
30 May 2005
Normal service (such as it is) is resumed.
Bank holiday weekends are brilliant, aren’t they? We’ve been having loads of fun getting up to all sorts of enjoyable things:
Continuing Owen’s birthday celebrations we went to see this with two similarly sci-fi-fantasy nut friends. It could only ever be a bit of an anti-climax given [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 10:31 am
26 May 2005
Strange happenings underground at Pumpkin Soup mean that sometime quite soon, you may not be able to access the site for a day or two.
But please don’t forget to come back later. We get lonesome without you all.
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 10:37 am
25 May 2005
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday gorgeous wonderful Owen (you have to sing that line pretty quickly if you’re going to fit it all in)
Happy birthday to you!
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 8:30 am
22 May 2005
I had two assistants yesterday - how fabulous. But today it’s too showery to trim more green manure so we’re staying inside, being quiet and experiencing the slight tinge of alcohol-in-the-blood shame that comes from staying up very late, talking earnestly about nothing very important and consuming too much beer or wine.
Before the thunder [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 3:35 pm
20 May 2005
Somebody (I won’t mention any names, but let’s just say that he has recently written a post on this very site) managed to let the leaky part of the hose completely soak my fleece down at the plot this evening.
I would temporarily suspend his right to enjoy the fruits of our labours, but as we’re [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 7:22 pm
20 May 2005
You always knew there were two of us, but I thought I’d make my presence felt. It’s time for me to strike a blow for assistant allotmenteers everywhere and smuggle in an entry here on Pumpkin Soup.
I’m not really the vegetable-growing kind, preferring a sheltered, indoors kind of life. My preferred tools are keyboard and [...]
Filed under: An Assistant's Notes — Owen @ 11:51 am
20 May 2005
A good session yesterday as the rain held off. We’re definitely making some attempt to stick to the ‘little and often’ philosophy. My comfrey is now all planted in a bed at the edge of the plot. The grass paths have been strimmed so look much tidier. Onions and spuds were [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 10:53 am
19 May 2005
So, the plan this evening is to spend an hour chez nos weeds taking our new cordless strimmer with us. We shall cut down more green manure, cover with cardboard mulch (in preparation for pumpkins galore in the coming weeks) and make another step towards a better-managed plot.
Unless it really chucks it down with rain, [...]
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 10:32 am
16 May 2005
On our last visit to the allotment we made a pact.
Our session there yesterday was initially disheartening. Everyone has clearly been working very hard while we’ve only been able to make sporadic trips. All the other plots are neat and full of veggie promise. Even the vacant plots have all been cleared [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 8:42 am
15 May 2005
It’s an utterly gorgeous day today so I’ve been outside in the garden dutifully watering things and we intend to visit the allotment a bit later on when it’s not quite so hot. So all is well with the world?
Well, not quite. My wormery is looking decidedly unhealthy and I’m not sure why. [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 12:49 pm
11 May 2005
More peppermint seed in the post today to put in my lovely galvanised trough so I can have homegrown peppermint tea (I drink gallons of it…). I also received a new squash to try (going squash crazy this year as a way of ‘dealing with’ - ahem - parts of the plot that we [...]
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 2:53 pm
10 May 2005
Look at it out there - it’s bloomin’ gorgeous. And I have the busiest day of my week and have to stay in glued to the computer. Whenever I have free time it rains! This is pants.
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 11:40 am
9 May 2005
I’ve just been checking on all the produce in my wee plastic greenhouses, doing a bit of poking, prodding and even some watering (is there no end to my expertise??) and I have to say the peppers, chillies and tomatoes are lookin’ mighty fine. Since I potted them on a week or so ago, they’ve [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 4:25 pm
9 May 2005
Do remember that the correct place for all your miniature spirit bottles, yoghurt pots, crisp packets and used condoms is the communal compost pile. Veteran and newbie allotmenteers alike can have hours of fun pulling out your refuse as they pile spadefulls into their barrows. Think of it as an eclectic and unconventional [...]
Filed under: Dos & Don'ts — Clare @ 8:21 am
6 May 2005
You may have noticed in your many visits to P’ Soup that there is one particular aspect of the site that is lacking (aside from horticultural wisdom, that is). No photos. Visit pretty much any of the gardening/allotment blogs listed here that I read regularly and you will see gorgeous, colourful, artistic snaps [...]
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 12:09 pm
5 May 2005
Well now, this is just not right or fair.
I’m trying to have a relaxing time in the garden, to enjoy the sunshine and take a break from my busy, hectic, stressful (though ultimately satisfying) work life by doing some useful bits and bobs. And then something like this happens.
I’ll be the first to admit [...]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 3:03 pm
5 May 2005
I have big plans for today. I’m at work this morning (9:15 client a no-show so I’m able to write this while waiting), then back at home this afternoon for some serious work in the garden. I’m planning to sow some more sunflowers, but this time they’ll be whoppers rather than the wee [...]
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 8:33 am
3 May 2005
I’m absolutely bloody knackered today - the sign of a good bank holiday? You betcha! Lots of sunshine, lots of fresh air and lots of physical activity.
Of course, staying up late watching Dr Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation probably hasn’t helped my fatigue. It’s very silly, but surprisingly difficult to [...]
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 11:52 am