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Post by alicat on Feb 2, 2009 22:39:49 GMT 1
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Post by maggyd on Feb 2, 2009 23:04:53 GMT 1
 Megan didn't make the frog only the wooden sign. We bought the frog from "The Range" in town. Thanks for the belated Happy Birthday messages - I have passed them on.  Can't post more pic's yet as photobucket upsets "rob's" computer and crashes him out.  What about the other one with the frog?? Sleepy will know what it is , its not picassa is it? |
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 2, 2009 23:09:34 GMT 1
Megan didn't make the frog only the wooden sign. We bought the frog from "The Range" in town. Thanks for the belated Happy Birthday messages - I have passed them on. Can't post more pic's yet as photobucket upsets "rob's" computer and crashes him out. What about the other one with the frog?? Sleepy will know what it is , its not picassa is it? No. Picassa is for editng rather than hosting Maybe you are thinking of ImageShack imageshack.us/ |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 2, 2009 23:22:35 GMT 1
Thats the one Sleepy.  |
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Post by alicat on Feb 10, 2009 15:39:36 GMT 1
17th /18th January Rob's brother came up trumps with slabs for the base of the shed Which Rob managed to lay before the light faded. Have to wait for permission before we can put it up though.:sad While there, we saw the secetary, he said we were doing well. He also confirmed that our neighbours, 'Plot 23' have rotorvated, Ummm – I wonder if this cold weather will kill off the couch grass etc. Or will it make matters worse. :undecided I shall wait and see. He also suggested that we get rid of the elder tree as the roots will steal the goodness from the soil. Not happy about it but he's right so the tree goes. :sad Sunday too much to do at home. - Hope the weather is good next week. 24th /25 January Weather is good, but Megan is poorly and has been all week :sad So Rob went down to the lottie with Matt to erect the shed (7 x 5 ) He managed to put all the shed up with Matt's help, but ran out of felt to finish the roof. Inbetween Matt was a star and barrowed loads of leaves from the car park to our plot.The leaves are left at the car park for all of us to help ourselves. Sunday 25th The kids are getting bored of the lottie (can't say I blame them, it's dam cold and there's not a lot to do at this time of year. ) So Rob set off on his own to finish the shed roof. We were supposed to be going out in the afternoon but he was enjoying himself so much, he relaid the path because of the tree being moved, and its now almost ready for bark chippings. It's really coming together now and I can't wait to sow some seeds. Rob really wants to get the infrastructure in before we start sowing seeds though :sad This picture shows the shed finished and some of the leave Matt collected     Monday 26th Megan is back at school. So I hurried through the housework and got the bark chippings, 12 bags in all. The local council leave a great big pile of them at a park across town so everyone can help themselves – great - the kids think the park is great too.  Thats it for now as we've had rain, snow and the kids have been poorly again.  So I have sat forlornly looking out the window or looking in seed catalogues dreaming. |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 10, 2009 17:22:20 GMT 1
Ali, you and your family ave transformed that plot, its a shame about the tree, but if it improves your soil  and it'll give to more space to grow. No elder fritters, or elderwine tho. ;D |
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Post by maggyd on Feb 10, 2009 21:19:52 GMT 1
Its really taking shape Ali you really have been working hard. I hopw you have a sturdy lock for that shed? I have panels on my shed windows as well that have large butterflie screws on the inside you dont need windows it only makes it easy for people to get at your tools. Just an idea. |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 11, 2009 10:23:16 GMT 1
There was a school of thought at our lottie, don't lock your shed. Don't leave anything valuable in it (by valuable they meant any tools) Debi and I always locked our shed, and we were broken into, as was everyone else. We lost everything. The people who had nothing lost nothing. But its such a bind taking tools to the plot every time you go, and Debi and I were on the bus.
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 11, 2009 10:30:59 GMT 1
Fantastic Ali - you are doing so well. I agree that losing the elder will be a shame - such a very special tree. But you can get elderflowers and berries from many other places |
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Post by Biggles on Feb 11, 2009 12:29:26 GMT 1
I haven't been on your allotment for awhile--What a transformation-Gosh you have worked so hard and it is looking great. I bet you are itching to get those seeds, potaoes and plants in.
Rob has done a good job on the shed and 'path laying'--Bigs
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Post by bogmyrtle on Feb 11, 2009 13:06:29 GMT 1
Wow, ali, it has come on, now wonder you are itching to get growing. Well done, roll on the better weather.
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Post by alicat on Feb 12, 2009 1:18:26 GMT 1
Thanks all The tree - I was really sad to see it go but it did make sense to a degree as we have gained nearly 2 ft of growing room. Have to admit I fancied the idea of making my own wine. - well you know me.  ;D The shed - hasn't got a lock on it yet... but then again we haven't got much in there to steal, just a few old tools and a wheel barrow, our best tools we keep at home and take down if we need them. - Have to say though I'd like to see them wade through the swamp then scale an 8ft fence.  Anyway the shed is mainly a bolt hole if it rains or somewhere for the kids to sit and play in. Seed sowing - because of the weather the digging over of the plot is behind, so i'm now thinking of sowing seeds at the end of March into April/May. We should still get a crop of something, hopefully before the end of this year. Keeping my fingers crossed as I type. ;D
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Post by maggyd on Feb 12, 2009 14:22:49 GMT 1
Didnt I see them putting black polythene down on Berryfields years ago to warm up the soil so they could plant seeds early? you could be finding out about how to make cheap cloches as well Ali, Im full of enthusiasm for you I wish I could do what your doing lol. ( Ive got no smillies just lots of kissess on here at the moment!
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Post by alicat on Feb 12, 2009 20:13:48 GMT 1
Hi maggy Very likely, and as we have clay soil ( like Berryfields ) which takes longer to warm up than sandy soil, we will probably do it. - I've got a greenhouse too so it's no probs starting the seeds off. Our problem is agreeing on the layout of the plot. : and the weather of course because you shouldn't walk on it too much due to compaction, which takes the air out of the soil. ( we are disagreeing on this too ) : I'm going to make some clouches too – Did you see Toby make one on GW last year. in the mean time i've bought 4 tunnel clouches from Poundland, Which are sat in the boot of my car. I'll accept the kisses ;D and if you were closer you would be more than welcome, infact the next time your down this way you can come and visit the lottie. - Just let me know. |
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 12, 2009 20:25:07 GMT 1
Hi maggy Very likely, and as we have clay soil ( like Berryfields ) which takes longer to warm up than sandy soil, we will probably do it. - I've got a greenhouse too so it's no probs starting the seeds off. Our problem is agreeing on the layout of the plot. : and the weather of course because you shouldn't walk on it too much due to compaction, which takes the air out of the soil. ( we are disagreeing on this too ) : I'm going to make some clouches too – Did you see Toby make one on GW last year. in the mean time i've bought 4 tunnel clouches from Poundland, Which are sat in the boot of my car. I'll accept the kisses ;D and if you were closer you would be more than welcome, infact the next time your down this way you can come and visit the lottie. - Just let me know. You just tell R that you know best. You know that, and we know that - convince him ;D |
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Post by alicat on Feb 12, 2009 20:38:54 GMT 1
Easier said than done i'm afraid Sleepy  |
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 12, 2009 20:40:33 GMT 1
Easier said than done i'm afraid Sleepy My wife never had a problem |
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Post by alicat on Feb 12, 2009 21:01:30 GMT 1
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 12, 2009 21:05:01 GMT 1
She always made it clear to me that she was right |
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Post by alicat on Feb 12, 2009 21:15:16 GMT 1
Oh I see, i'm afraid R is as stubborn as me if not more so - comes with the job I think. Or i just prefer an easy life. |
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Post by karenwl on Feb 13, 2009 4:34:56 GMT 1
Wow looks good ali keep up the good work
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Post by debbiem on Feb 13, 2009 12:19:40 GMT 1
It looks fantastic Ali, and all through sheer hard graft - well done you.
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Post by Biggles on Feb 14, 2009 17:56:57 GMT 1
Wow looks good ali keep up the good work Hi Karen--Any chance of photographs of your plot? Ali --if Maggs can organise a trip to your allotment I will put my name down but will stop in the shed and watch you 'graft' away ;D |
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Post by alicat on Feb 16, 2009 21:08:57 GMT 1
Sorry I missed this Biggles. No need to sit in the shed unless you love spiders of course ;D I will find you a seat in the sun or shade for you to sit and supervise. |
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Post by alicat on Feb 16, 2009 21:32:01 GMT 1
Wow looks good ali keep up the good work Thanks Karen, doing my best to keep at it. - I managed to get down there on Friday for an hour or so. The weather was good and I'd had enough of housework  it was starting to feel like a figment of my imagination. Didn't really know what I was going to do because the ground was still wet. So I measured up the area that has been dug over and weeded. The area is 11ft at the top widening to 15ft at the bottom and 11ft long. All i've got to do now is dig in some compost and decide whether to split the area into 2 or 3 sections. My plans at the moment are to plant out potatoes, peas, broad beans and make a trench for Runner Beans. Going to get some new compost this week and start sowing - kids willing of course. Here's the area I am concentrating on.   The planks of wood were for me to stand on to try and lesen compation but they also roughly split it up into 3 sections. |
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So I have sat forlornly looking out the window or looking in seed catalogues dreaming. 
and it'll give to more space to grow. No elder fritters, or elderwine tho. ;D
;D 
Anyway the shed is mainly a bolt hole if it rains or somewhere for the kids to sit and play in. 
it was starting to feel like a figment of my imagination.