Another non-gardening week

The weather is still conspiring against us. Not only is it too wet to garden but it's too wet to plod round the allotment harvesting or taking Ruby for a walk.

As far as vegetables goes we are making do with those we have in storage.

On Monday, we did manage to take Ruby for a walk - we walk, she runs as we use an extendable lead. She ended up with filthy legs and a dirty coat. It was shower time when we got home. Everywhere was soggy and Ruby likes to run on the grass which was more akin to a bog. We have to weigh up the pros and cons of Ruby becoming filthy as opposed to her having only a little exercise. The beck that runs through the park was already up to the top of the banking so no doubt by now it will have overflowed. The fields that we sometimes book for off lead exercise are also likely to be as soggy if not flooded as is the case in some parts of the county.

Although we may not be gardening, nature is carrying on without our interference. Bulbs are shooting up. I had a quick wander around the garden and noticed snowdrops, tulips. crocuses and mini daffodils.

Some plants are beginning to flower including a smattering of snowdrops and one or two hellebores.

Our garrya is dripping with long, trailing catkins.

The flowers of the sarcococca are also beginning to open.

One garden related job that can't be put aside is the regular stocking up of bird feeders and tables. The birds come to rely on the food that we put out for them especially when the weather is bad.

It's not just the birds that take advantage of a regular food supply. Squirrels often visit the feeders, but last week we spotted this cheeky individual helping itself to suet pellets from the bird table close to our window. It didn't seem unduly concerned that it was being watched.

I know some people would frown at us for feeding grey squirrels as they have out-competed the indigenous red squirrels that we no longer see in our area. I think that it's a bit harsh to lay all the blame at the door of the greys, as it was humans that introduced the species to our shores. As a race we are to blame for the demise of our reds not the animals that didn't ask to be transported across a vast ocean.

As well as feeding the wildlife we need to feed ourselves. This week I used a tub of frozen tomatoes with some shop bought aubergine, mozzarella and tomato ravioli. I know I should try to make my own and maybe one day I'll try.

One dish that was all my own work was a vegetable stew. Into my slow cooker went, vegetable stock,  carrots, squash, onions, leeks, potatoes, a tub of frozen tomatoes and some shop bought celery and mushrooms. I use the slow cooker when I spend the day with my sister. Everything is prepared before I leave the house so we have a quick meal when we come home. Before I have my wrists slapped, my sister is in our bubble and consequently classes as a member of our household so visits are permitted.

Another of last week's dishes was a curried chicken potato topped pie. I used some of our onions and more frozen tomatoes in this.

My gadget for this week is a 6 in 1 lid removing tool. This is a very useful multi purpose gadget. 

I have to say that it may not be as useful for someone with no strength to grip as you need to exert some effort to use the gadget. What it does help with is grasping and holding onto something that is difficult to grip.

I especially like how it works on ring pulls as I used to find pulling them dug into my finger. It works well on these unless the pull is flimsy and flies off the can which it often does however you try to pull it.

Another task that it is very useful for is pulling the safety seals from things like bottles of milk . They can be very difficult to take hold of using bare fingers.

That's it for this week. I hope you are still keeping safe and well. Apparently vaccine delivery in Yorkshire was going so well that it is rumoured that supplies are being restricted so some other areas can catch up. We now have vaccines being administered in a tent in a supermarket car park. It's strange as it seems that some people in the over 80's/90's category still haven't been invited to attend an appointment whereas some in the 70-80 group have had theirs.

I wonder when our National Health Service will feel some benefit from the vaccination programme. I should have had an appointment at the eye department of our local hospital well over a year ago. It had already been delayed due to capacity issues prior to Covid. Months ago I had a telephone call to check if things had changed since my previous appointment. Last week I received a letter saying my case had been reviewed and I would have a non face to face appointment in the next few months. As I usually have pressures checked, the extent of dryness measured and an eye examination, I'm not really sure what benefit there is in a non face to face appointment. I'm sure this type of thing is widespread and is just another side effect of this pandemic.

Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author S Garrett