...while I got on with making some curtains for the kitchen to try and keep the warmth in come winter. It's only take 2 years to get around to it!!!!
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Saturday 12th
Today the dogs sat around all day, admiring the autumn colours...
...while I got on with making some curtains for the kitchen to try and keep the warmth in come winter. It's only take 2 years to get around to it!!!!
...while I got on with making some curtains for the kitchen to try and keep the warmth in come winter. It's only take 2 years to get around to it!!!!
Friday, 11 April 2008
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
April Garden
I've been working on a few autumn vege patch chores.
Last week I pulled up about 13 tomato plants from the fruit cage beds, and yesterday I added some mushroom compost to these areas to build them up again. I also planted a few broadbeans, and some snow peas and other podded pea varieties. I'll add a few more plants as the autumn progresses, but most of these beds will probably stay covered in straw until spring.
Still haven't had a frost, and the courgette just keeps on going - that's all the one plant you can see in the corner of the left hand photo! The first batch of turnips and broccoli are coming along well too.
The first batch of snow peas I planted last month are starting to flower.
I'm still picking tomatoes from the other two tomato beds, but the millipedes are starting to rampage so it might be time to pull them up and make more green tomato chutney very soon!
Last week I pulled up about 13 tomato plants from the fruit cage beds, and yesterday I added some mushroom compost to these areas to build them up again. I also planted a few broadbeans, and some snow peas and other podded pea varieties. I'll add a few more plants as the autumn progresses, but most of these beds will probably stay covered in straw until spring.
Still haven't had a frost, and the courgette just keeps on going - that's all the one plant you can see in the corner of the left hand photo! The first batch of turnips and broccoli are coming along well too.
The first batch of snow peas I planted last month are starting to flower.
I'm still picking tomatoes from the other two tomato beds, but the millipedes are starting to rampage so it might be time to pull them up and make more green tomato chutney very soon!
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Mud brick repairs - my kinda DIY!
Today it was time for some DIY repairs to the mud brick. There were a lot of cracks in places, but with the prolonged dry spell bits of the wall had started falling out, so it was time to replace them.
It's easy, and no special tools are required!
1) pick out all the bits of the wall that are about to fall out
2) spray with a bit of water to moisten area that you will be refilling
3) make mud - pound up some leftover mud bricks with a log - add water until nice and "muddy" - but not too wet. If you have kids I'm sure they would LOVE to help with this bit
4) put mud in a bucket and pick up trowel
5) slap (yes, that IS a technical DIY term) the mud into the holes and cracks until filled in - smoothing is optional, depending on how "rustic" your walls are. Ours are VERY rustic. This hole actually took a cereal bowl full of mud to fill!
6) admire your handiwork!!
In a few days when this mud is dry I will go over with another thinner layer with some boncrete added for extra durability.
It's easy, and no special tools are required!
1) pick out all the bits of the wall that are about to fall out
2) spray with a bit of water to moisten area that you will be refilling
3) make mud - pound up some leftover mud bricks with a log - add water until nice and "muddy" - but not too wet. If you have kids I'm sure they would LOVE to help with this bit
4) put mud in a bucket and pick up trowel
5) slap (yes, that IS a technical DIY term) the mud into the holes and cracks until filled in - smoothing is optional, depending on how "rustic" your walls are. Ours are VERY rustic. This hole actually took a cereal bowl full of mud to fill!
6) admire your handiwork!!
In a few days when this mud is dry I will go over with another thinner layer with some boncrete added for extra durability.
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