Totally and shamelessly stealing an idea from Sue in Suffolk and going back to the first 7th April post that I have left on one of my blogs to give you something different to read today, and this post is what I found on Our New Life in the Country, my second blog which was started in 2009.
First potatoes in.
Potatoes - tucked up and ready to grow!Yes I know we're probably late in getting them in, but at least they are in. At last. A full bed of potatoes, our first proper planting. We also have all the tyres planted with courgettes, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, beetroot, spring onions and mixed salad leaves. So at last the potential of our very own food.
Yesterday the sun shone all day (contrary to all weather forecasts) and more pond edge clearing went on. Its coming on quite nicely now and we have almost got one side clear. The brambles are winning and we both have sore arms from all the nasty thorns, but when you step back at the end of the day and look at what you have achieved you do get that special 'buzz' that almost compensates!!
The sun is out again this morning and as we are about to have a power cut, (planned for necessary maintenance work) I will sign off, pick up my gloves and get back to the pond.
Have a lovely day.
Sue xx
The actual post is HERE.
How different this day is now to how that day was then and how much our lives have changed in the meantime.
We were also in the process of making good use of an old swing frame on our rented farm and setting it up as a bean frame. It worked extremely well and we had a wonderful show of beans ... and I got the swing back to use in the Autumn 😁
This was a birds nest taken out of our chimney ... and the cause of us smelling like smoked kippers after the living room filled up with smoke two nights running!!
It was fascinating to look back, thanks for the idea Sue.
Sue xx
There must be a bit of you that still yearns for that lifestyle, which was an essential part of you? It is so satisfying growing your own produce and your joy in planting and growing is clear to see. I really don't think I could reinvent myself in the way you have done - I think the things which are important to me will never go away. Anyway, good luck and much happiness in your new home and I'm glad that town living seems to feel right. I have to say, living just 2 miles from Builth is exactly right for us now, but we're still out in the country and with the views I've always yearned for.
ReplyDeleteI completely and utterly wanted to continue with this lifestyle, but unfortunately we did not start off with my plan of a small house, a one acre garden and keeping things simple and just having manageable self-sufficiency with a few chickens and home grown vegetables.
DeleteInstead we had to go along with Alan's plans for continuing growth, selling on to others and lots of land. When Alan decided not to retire from the day job but to continue doing it from home, still only being able to work the land at weekends, it simply could never work out. There was too much work for me to do alone and too much for Alan to be able to catch up with at the weekends. It was just not sustainable, after a couple of years of trying I had to admit defeat and disappointment and 'do my own thing' ... which turned out to be turning my back on the lifestyle altogether.
We live and learn and I have accepted that it really is time to move on ... but there will be vegetables growing in my part of the garden even if Alan does only want gravel :-)
I love these 'look back' posts. Thanks. Those beds - so lovely!
ReplyDeletexx
I could fill a lot of blog posts this way with my 12 years of blogging history ;-)
DeleteAlways good to check former progress. Also a good indicator of how we change in our thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely shows how much changes over the years :-)
DeleteWhat a fun use for an old swingset!! I love the idea!! ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt worked really well 😀
DeleteGreat to be able to "look back" on your old posts Sue:) It feels like I've been following you, Alan and your fur babies for years haha xoxo
ReplyDelete