A Lottie update

I thought after my rant on twitter at tea time that it was about time for another Lottie update on here. That way when I'm fed up and feel like I am achieving nothing down the allotment I can look and see that actually, I am.

I totally forgot how therapeutic it can be to get stuck in down there, without a child shouting my name, no-one wanting anything and a hour or two to get my head straight. Will be doing a lot more visits on a night once the hubby is in and fed I think...

It's my father in laws memorial day tomorrow, 3 years since he died and I was pleased I went down and had somewhere to think and remember all the nice times without getting upset or feeling like I'm going to get anyone else upset. I could tell it was on my mind lately and like I say it's very therapeutic down there, I feel so much better.

I thought that I'd take as many pics of what I have in down there at the minute so I can actually see whats what, I think I've surprised myself by how much there actually is.

I took a lot of it down with me today though and put it out (in the rain) while I could.

My dad took me down a few weeks back and showed me how to hoe properly, I was using it as though I was turning the whole plot over and I was shattered and fed up every time I started. I have been doing it the way my dad showed me each time I've had 10 minutes to pop down and apart from the paths it's made a huge difference. So that was a nice surprise when I got down as I was expecting a jungle.

Anyway here are my pics from today, of me and my Lottie...

The Lottie as I left it, one day we might get a dry day so I can weed kill the paths!!

My potatoes are looking fab. They are Desiree (red skins)

Rhubarb has obviously enjoyed all the rain.

Raspberries wont be long now...

Or the strawberries for that matter.

Apples coming...

Still a little hard and sour, will wait a while longer for the gooseberries.

Blackcurrants are on the turn.

I planted out a courgette plant. We put 4 in last year and were over run with them so only sown one this year.

Butternut squash also went out today. x2

oh and the kid's pumpkins.

I put out some popcorn and sweetcorn.

Made a wigwam for the runner beans, also manured deep under where they are planted.

Peas sown in the greenhouse as the mice got the sown direct lot, so they've been put out tonight.

My first ever broad beans. This is the first year I've even grown/sown them.

Brassicas. the weeds have been hoed but look awful. I have Brussels sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbage, red cabbage, curly kale, broccoli and swedes.

Leeks have taken well.

Sage looks pretty.

Jessie's sweet peas are starting to climb.

Had a lottie wobble....

Wasn't a good lottie day yesterday, I went down full of good intentions. The sun was shining, my housework was done and I had no children until 3:15pm. The allotment was calling. The weather has been so wet lately that the most I've managed has been the odd trip here and there.
I planned to move my strawberry plants, put some PSB out and make room for some more leeks I'd been given (I've got LOADS). I spent 2hrs15mins weeding, mainly chickweed etc but it was so dis-heartening. Everywhere I turned there was more of the stuff, grrr. I started to doubt myself, wondering if maybe I'd made a mistake taking on a full sized plot myself, afterall Les has no interest so I can't rely on him to help out. It was horrible, the first time I'd been down there and not been completely relaxed and enjoyed myself. :(
After the weeding was done, I had 20minutes to have a wander and really look at the place, to really look at what I have achieved in the last few months. To remember the homecooked, homegrown meals we've had, that are 100% down to me. It was like a switch flicking, I thought s** you, chickweed, your not getting the better of me, this is my allotment, my peace and quiet and my way of life and your not getting the better of me! I took home some french beans, broccoli, carrots, cabbage and turnip, put a Gammon joint in to roast and the whole thing was forgotten.
So that was it, my first lottie wobble, it might be the first but no doubt it wont be the last.... so until the next time.....