Sunny June

We have a load of self setter potatoes from the area where we grew them last year and have had to clear them out so that we can get the grapes planted. We have left them as long as possible but they are overdrawing and the great surprise was that we got a good tub of young potatoes. They are really delicious bite size and lovely with a bit of mint and salad. You will have to take my word for it as I am not sharing.




Adding to my tea pot collection, I have two guest teapots. I must be spending too much time watching Dickinsons Real Deal and have become a fan of Majolica. Both were a bargain from ebay and I couldn't resist. This is my favourite so for really special guests.



Not that all guests aren't special, but as this one was less than £4 I wont be quite as upset if it gets tea stains on it.

I have heard that some people don't appreciate the artistic skill involved in the creation of these items - for those, it will be the boring old one. Or a glass of cold milk!






Back to growing - one of the compost bins has reached the top, so I have added a layer of 'soil' out of the duck compound and a bag of multi purpose compost. To this I have added two butternut squash, a patty pan, a pumpkin, and four plastic bottles. Keeping it watered will be a challenge as it will drain well but they should grow all over the bin and over the arch.


We have been doing a bit of bartering again and swapped a dozen eggs for five quince plants. These are going around the edge of the pond to act as a bit of shade and a screen. In a couple of years I should be able to add quince jelly to the list of produce available from Pyotts Products.





I must go back to the tea drinking at this stage and show you the new teapot stand that we were so kindly given recently. It is a very posh addition to our flask and tin mugs. I must look out for a tin teapot for the allotment.





A surprise egg at the weekend. Either a little bit got stuck or somebody not pulling their weight. Aparently it can happen occasionally and nothing to worry about but when we cracked it, there was no yolk.






Finally, a bit of animal husbandry. Not ducks this time but Star. He was very brave and had his injections, worming and flee treatment last week. We also asked out his sensitive eyes which are due to being a white cat so nothing to worry about. I was worried that he needed glasses but thankfully we don't need to take him to SpecSavers. We do have to protect his vulnerable parts from the sun though so had to get some sun block for children to rub on his ears.

I forgot to ask if the same applies to white ducks - they don't seem to be worried about the sun though.