Last week was another flying visit to the allotment but not before we had swathed ourselves in as many layers as possible. As in previous weeks, our aim was to gather a few vegetables.
The state of Martyn's gloves, after digging parsnips and leeks, may give you some idea of why any gardening is out of the question. I should have taken a photo of his spade which was caked in mud.
Whilst, Martyn harvested the leeks and parsnips, I cut some cabbages and picked some sprouts. You can't pick sprouts wearing gardening gloves so that was a particularly finger numbing exercise.
The state of our winter vegetables is disappointing and we have lots of waste when preparing vegetables for cooking. During autumn it looked as though our brassicas would produce a good crop and would last us through the winter months. For months now, however, they have been sitting in cold damp conditions and as a result they have spoiled.
The conditions have also suited the slug population meaning everything is holey as well as slimy and soggy.
I mentioned last week that here in Yorkshire we were under tier three restrictions but that could change quickly. Sure enough it did, and the UK is now in lockdown mode. Primary schools went back to school, after the Christmas break, for a day on Monday and on Tuesday the schools were closed again. This situation will be reassessed in the middle of February but, as things are going, I can't see the restrictions being lifted then. This lockdown doesn't seem anything like the one in March. More shops seem to be open and the roads are nothing like as quiet as they were back them. For us personally lockdown 3 hasn't changed things as we can still visit my sister under the social bubble conditions. In effect we combine to create a household of three. We haven't met anyone else since March, other than to have socially distanced chats at the allotment and even that has been curtailed during the latter months as often we are the only ones on site. One thing that I do wonder about is why so much junk mail and so many charity bags are being popped through our letterbox. Our supermarket delivery people won’t take back carrier bags at the moment but we are supposed to carry on receiving all sorts of unwanted mail.
Unlike previously, under the latest lockdown restrictions, the grounds of Nostell Priory can remain open to provide a place where people can have some outdoor exercise. We booked a visit for Friday which was also Ruby's first birthday. It was bitterly cold. In places, the lake had even frozen over.
There was plenty of unfrozen water for the birds to swim and forage. Unfortunately, they were more interested in the bread that someone was throwing to them. It's a kind thought but bread really isn't good for them.
Our bird baths in the garden have been freezing over so as well as filling the feeders we are thawing out the water for our feathered visitors. They will drink and bathe in the pond if they can't find water elsewhere but that's not the safest strategy.
Ruby didn't seem to feel the cold as she dashed around. We knew that she would end up dirty as she likes to run back and forth across the paths. However, she found a couple of spots where she couldn't resist digging. (Video here). As it was her birthday and she was already very dirty we let her have her fun, although what she didn't know was that there would be a price to pay later. Note the knees of Martyn's jeans, Ruby likes to share.
On returning home, Ruby was carried straight upstairs and birthday or not she was given a good wash - this comes very high on her most disliked things and as usual we both ended up as wet as she was. She was soon back to her fluffy self.
I have only one new vegetable recipe to share this week as other meals didn't really qualify having not included home grown vegetables in the recipes. I did, however use a tub of frozen tomatoes, onions, some parsnip and some Crown Prince squash in a pumpkin and parsnip cassoulet. The remaining squash was frozen.
Now for my second favourite gadget. I always found that removing the core from an apple corer after use was a real problem, so I searched for something better and found this. At first glance it looks like every other apple corer but there is a very useful difference. After coring an apple you can open it up and remove the core easily.
Finally referring back to the title, I mentioned that it was a double birthday week so who's was the second birthday? Martyn's birthday was on Thursday, the day before Ruby's. It was the first time since we retired that we didn't celebrate by going out for a meal. Here's hoping we can manage to celebrate next year's birthday or better still my birthday in May. On a positive note, it does take Martyn nearer to receiving his vaccine. Now that a third vaccine has been approved, we need someone to come up with a way of speeding up the roll out before our National Health service buckles under the strain.
Until then stay safe and healthy and be positive, better times will come.
Posts
We're in a bit of a pickle now, that's for sure. Sorry your crops are in such a poor state, especially as escalating illness and Brexit mean possible shortages. Not wanting to dwell on it, but wondering where it will all end? Poor Ruby! What the birthday treat giveth, the birthday bath taketh away. Happy Birthday, Little One!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Martyn too! {hit publish by accident with my crazy touchpad} That apple corer looks useful indeed.
DeleteWe certainly are but some people still won't listen, Deborah. Ruby is learning a valuable life lesson taking the rough with the smooth.
DeleteIt has been so wet and cold hasn't it, and it is such a shame about the veg. Are the cabbages rotted all the way though or just the outer leaves. I have lost all my radicchio -palla rosa - they are just a mush although the treviso seems to have weathered the weather (!) much better. I normally read your blog though Harvest Monday but see that you keep going all year. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Joy good to ‘meet’ you and thanks for taking the time to comment. The state of the cabbages varies. The red cabbages are more or less OK. Some of the greens that look OK have damaged leaves all the way through. The leaves have blackened edges and others are just a slimy mess.
DeleteHappy birthday Martyn and Ruby. Bertie loathes the bath as well. And being combed or brushed. And anyone peering into his fur. And the groomer. But he is VERY fond of mud and he would have loved Nostell Priory. It looks like a lovely place for a walk.
ReplyDeleteThe apple corer is brilliant. I had some nasty injuries back in September when I was coring loads of apples for apple rings, it's really difficult to get the core out isn't it. I shall have a look for your cleverly designed on. Shame about the brassicas, but the cabbages on the bench look pretty good.
Ruby has what we call a cracker dog session when she is allowed out of the shower cubicle, CJ. She whizzes around the house like a whirlwind. Nostell is a good place for a walk and as we are NT members we can book a slot and just stay home if the weather is bad.
DeleteIf you search on Amazon for apple corer lots like mine will pop up.
The red and Savoy cabbages are OK but the greens may look OK but the leaves are edged thinly in black often right through so there’s lots of waste as each leaf needs trimming
Brrr, those photos make me feel chilly! But that cassoulet looks delicious and Ruby is adorable.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame about the Winter veg, we haven't been very successful so far.
The news is saying that lockdown restrictions will be tightened - Seeing footage of some city parks you certainly wouldn't think we are even in a lockdown 🙄 Happy Birthdays!
It was chilly, Belinda. Looking at lists of shops that are still open in our area I am confused as to what counts as essential retail.
DeleteHappy Birthday Martyn and Ruby! My dog also hates a wash, she's getting on a bit now which makes her even more stubborn. I see what you mean about your winter crops being ruined by the damp, such a shame. This lockdown doesn't feel like it did in March I agree, our usually quiet village is ever so busy, people everywhere! Take care x
ReplyDeleteTrying to keep a wriggly, wet dog in the shower when she doesn’t want to be there is a challenge to say the least, Karen.
DeleteHappy birthday to Martyn and Ruby, how quickly that year went! Shame about your veggies. The weather has been horrible here too. I hope they start getting the vaccine out 24/7, that would speed things up. The numbers are scary aren't they? We'll just have to hang on in there. Love your meals and your apple corer, that does look handy.xxx
ReplyDeleteIt certainly doesn’t feel like a year. Dina. Well I suppose Ruby has been with us 10 months..
DeleteThe effect on the NHS is scary as you can’t predict when you may need them for other problems.
The apple corer was a great find and far safer to use.
Oh what a shame about your brassica crops Sue but your parsnips and leeks look most happy. Happy birthday to both Martyn and Ruby. I've also been wondering the very same about junk mail which here always goes straight in the bin. Yes this lockdown is not the stringent as back in March and the news is so grim at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIt goes straight in the bin here too, Anna. I had to take a form to the dentist and they used gloves to pop it in a plastic wrapping so they thought paper was a problem.
DeleteHappy belated birthday, Martin and Ruby! Health and good crop this year!
ReplyDeleteI think Sue we all are waiting for vaccine, here too. The numbers of cases in England and St. Petersburg scare. We must be optimist, spring will come soon.
They are scary Nadezda, how us the vaccine roll out being carried our for you? Do you havepriority groups like we do here?
DeleteThere is Sputnik vaccine and priority groups Sue. The first are doctors, teachers, the police, the army, etc. Older people are waiting for the Sputnik-Light, which is still not certified.
Delete