It is official: I am a derr-brain! Last year I planted food-stuff in an effort to have some crops for Spring. That didn't really work but hey-ho! My onions just didn't seem to be growing. Last week I clocked my neighbours onions (that's not a double-entendre btw!!) Blimey they were huge. Today I stood looking at mine, they are OK but not a patch on his.... As the top leaves were dying off I decided to end my pain and torture, (and competitive growing,) so I pulled them up. Bugger me! ('scuse the french,) they aren't onions at all; they are garlic - massive garlics..... The kitchen pongs a bit now. I'm not a champion onion grower, I'm a champion garlic grower. Yeah!
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'Oo Oo Oo,' she said, bouncing up and down with excitement like a child needing a wee! We've been to the fine art auctions again in Ludlow, on the lookout for old tat to replace the newish tat we arrived at The Larches with. The cheap Swedish stuff from the blue store looks so out of place here. I'd rather have Agneta (also from Sweden) design my home....
Hubby was like a boy trapped in a sweet shop. He bought 4 spurious little oak tables for £5, exceptionally good for drinks and family snacks in the sitting room! He bought a short chest of drawers and yet another table for £8!! I bought two old school desks with cute inkwells for £12!!! He countered with a pink striped sofa in really gorgeous condition for £20!!!!
But the pièce de résistance was the dresser: Victorian, Welsh dresser-like, it is pine and veneered with two glazed display cupboards, flanking shelves, 3 wide drawers and a lower cabinet to hide away my occasional crockery. At 72" wide there is a slight hitch, we can't get it in the car and Dizzy Disco needs a new clutch so we can't tow it back home just yet...or the sofa for that matter. But soon, soon....... I've got such plans for the kitchen now, can't wait to get started.
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I'm not sure the children will last the summer. Having been out of school for almost 10 days their brains have rotted: Today they thought it might be amusing to jump up and down on the dung heap, deliberately disturbing a giganta-ant colony (they're big up here in Shropshire.) The little creatures fought back, running up the inside of the sproglet's clothes, biting all the way. Fair play really.
I heard the screams several fields away and raced to find the 5yo hysterical, tearing off his clothes on the top of the poo mountain. The 7yo was less eaten and was spitting on a doc leaf and rubbing at her injuries.
'Good job I didn't show them the wasp nest yet...' commented hubby. Hmmmmmmmm.
Great luck at the auction. I think that older stuff lasts much better. We bought cheepo crap wardrobes for the boys when we move in here and they are on their last legs. I am on the luck out on e-bay from a old fashioned type one. My boys dont finnish school till this Thursday. I am actually looking forward to slobbing in PJ's. well done on the garlic. Mine failed - too wet
ReplyDeleteFunny as, Lou! That sounds exactly like something I'd do. I like the sound of the new furniture. Hope there's a show and tell soon, and the kids can pretend they're back at school!
ReplyDeleteI have never grown garlic or onions but I might give it a try. Maybe I'll get leeks!
ReplyDeleteI've grown garlic for a couple of years. This year is my first try at sweet onions.
ReplyDeleteWho's a clever girl then!! s X
ReplyDeletePoo jumping! And the holidays have just begun. Sounds like you're going to have a long long summer Mrs.
ReplyDeleteIn fact you may have to electrify their bedrooms.
But I don't hold out much hope for the eggs.
Poo AND ants? You'd never get those here in Tunbridge Wells. Although I do have a rat in my garden. Which is half a UB40 song. Now I just need to entice it into my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI thought garlic was really difficult to grow. Good for you. Poor little sproglets - I'll bet they'll steer clear of the poo pile now! Sounds like you'll have the house decorated in no time!
ReplyDeleteI have garlic envy. Ours was extremely unimpressive. Our onions on the other hand....
ReplyDeleteThe MadHouse: Big old oak wardrobes sell at the action for £10 (moving them is interesting though!) My garlic grew in our bed that is filled with sandy soil with well rotted cow poo layer beneath it.... maybe that's the secret - nutrition + good drainage.
ReplyDeleteKerry: If I ever manage to collect the darn thing there will be a S&T, believe me!
Mother Hen: Oh yes - get leeks now to go through Autumn and winter. Mine are already about 12". Am determined to suss onions next year!
Brenda: Sweet onions sound yummy - will check your blog for details...
Smiffy: I'm beaming from 'ere to 'ere. That's even further than ear to ear!
MadamSmokinGun: ...electrify the bedrooms... like your style... and there's me just thinking of getting them chipped with electro-nodes!!!
Notwavingbutironing: Oh yes I too can just about do that song 'ish......
'There's a rat in me attic, whaamehgoona dooooo....'
'Cross the Pond: Poor sproglets?!!! They will test their wits against the ants for the whole summer, trust me!
Just did the math on the house decorating.... since Dizzy's clutch went AND we splurged at the auction... all redecoration is temporarily on hold.... have I mentioned how purple is the new cream!!!
Previously (Very) Lost in France: Ooooh we could do a swapsie.... I'm entering my garlic for the fete you know?... Oh yeah.