Big ‘F’ for Fail!
No, I didn’t cajole myself into trudging out into the pissing rain and wind and cold to plant my raspberries. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t do it. It was my last day before my new job started, it was warm in the house, fecking cold out of the house, and I was just Not In The Mood.
Yeah, hard-boiled farmer-type I am not. But hey - look at the weather! Wasn’t it GORGEOUS today. I sat in my car at lunchtime practically basking in so much sunshine and warmth that I had to actually open the window because I was too hot. Didn’t see that one coming. I’m keeping a beady eye on the weather because I’m planning on doing an awful lot of sowing, planting, composting and various other jobs on Thursday. All I ask is for vaguely mild weather and No Rain. The Smallest Smallholding has been looking decidedly soggy and slightly limp lately, and I really want to try to keep things on track this year.
I imagine I’m already way behind - I haven’t yet planted my garlic. But I put it in late last year and it was absolutely fine, so I’ll just wing it again this year. I have faith that nature will do her thing and before you know it, I’ll be enjoying the succulent, juicy, plump cloves of my fat Cristo garlic.
I did start the potatoes chitting on the windowsill though. Throw your hands up in the air and say “yeah!”.
Sorry. I do apologise. I think the endorphines are currently raging through my body, as I’ve just returned from my first ever jazzercise class. Wow. I used to think I was coordinated and could dance just as well as the next person. It turns out that I am absolutely crap at picking up new steps, my laces have a habit of coming undone (mental note, the grannies have got it right, velcro straps are so much more practical), and I actually have muscles in places that I didn’t realise. That hurt when I use them. And will probably hurt even more tomorrow. I’m probably going to arrive at work, much to the amusement of my new work colleagues, looking like I just did a poo in my pants. Oh, to have elegance and grace.
It’s all good though, it’s a step towards my healthy living plan, which I think will compliment this thing I have about moving towards “The Good Life”. I plan to be working outside a lot this year, so that coupled with regular exercise classes should see me shift this tyre I’ve been growing around my middle. To be honest, I just want to get to a state where I’m content, and I can eat what I want to eat without thinking about calories and fat. To just enjoy the taste and texture of my own home-grown good food, rather than feeling like I’m being virtuous/naughty and/other other. Just make it all much, much more simple. And enjoyable.
Great theory - thing is, if I want to enjoy my own home-grown food, I actually need to sow and plant it first. Thursday. That’s my day. Look forward to it. If rain doesn’t stop play, that is.
Weight: 11 stones 1lb
Tags: exercise, Good Life, home-grown food, job, raspberries, weight loss, work
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:14 pm
My fingers are crossed for Thursday for you!
I know how you feel about the rain. I sometimes wonder how I’ll ever have a smallholding feeling the way I do about weather. Perhaps there is a happy middle ground that doesn’t involve lousy weather? Hubby says that’s called Living in Italy ;-))
We’ve got big plans for the garden this year so I’ll be getting some workouts at the Earth Gym!
My laces used to come undone a lot when I jogged and I used a little trick to stop them. When I start lacing them, instead of crossing them over each other once before doing the loops, I do it twice. That seems to stop them.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 am
I’m praying for good weather on Thursday too as that’s the day I plan to continue digging the weeds out of my allotment.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Welcome to the three day working week! It is a blessing (when you’re not working extra days) and normally there is one ok day out of four off.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I hope the weather holds out for you! My wife always accuses me of being a fair weather gardener - rain and cold are not good for motivation! I have left you an award on my blog. I hope you will accept, you are not obliged to pass it on. I just thought I would let you know that I like your blog.
March 4th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Thanks for the advice SK - I’m off again to jazzercise tonight so I’ll give it a go
Thursday - it’s Thursday morning now, and it’s looking good! Hoe to get some good pics today for you all.
Poppy - it’s a blessing indeed, the weather looks to be holding out for today, no frost rally either, which is great. Hope your lambs and kids are doing well
Mark - oh bless you! Thanks so much. I’ll go and take a look!
March 4th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
We’re still waiting for the thaw. We have two to three feet of snow cover, I suspect my autumn planted garlic has been decimated (serious frost heave this year) and night time temperature are continuing to drop to -10C. We’ve now had continuous snow cover and sub-zero temperatures for three months. I don’t mind it, but it would be nice to be able to do some digging!
March 5th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Its the random snow and the frozen ground thats really starting to annoy me……SPRING…where are youuuuuuuuuuuuuu????
March 7th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
best of luck for Thursday’s weather, everything will catch up in the end.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
In appreciation of your interesting, inspiring - and funny - blog, here’s an award for you:
http://lyndasorganicgarden.blo.....award.html
Love reading your posts ;0)
March 12th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Good blog, wish I’d known my mind at 27, I’d have been a garden designer. Lucky I can start now as we’ve just moved to a great site. I’ll be keeping tabs on your progress to pick up tips….
Lou
March 13th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Thanks Lynda!!!! I’ll try and fit it in soon
Lou - I can’t say I know my mind exactly but keep checking back all the same, I’m hoping to start blogging about some smallest smallholding ‘experiments’ this year!
damo - didn’t get out in the end but been busy this weekend… so much to do but just chipping away, as ever…
MSVP - apparently spring is arriving next week - seriously!
Stonehead - good grief, has it begun to thaw yet? hoping your pigs and chooks are holding up ok!