When the weather is against you

What a week, I'm not working this week, supposed to be off on a sort of staycation with the kids. The rain has made that a little bit miserable, we were going to try and get a night away near the coast or something, but not now with this weather.

We have had a couple of dashes to the allotment picking courgettes and beans and that is it. I thought that we might do more. I have tried to clear the area in the garden for my raised beds (a little sale bargain) but the heaviest of today's showers have beaten me back indoors.

So in the quieter gaps this week I have pushed on with doing Gina's sketch book fun. I am really enjoying it as I have not drawn for yonks let alone put paint on to paper. I don't know where its going to take me and I don't care I am just going with it. Although I do feel a little nervous showing you all.

My linguine drawings

This year I have had a little thing going on with 'love in the mist' for me it grows weed like in my front garden so I have easy access. I have photographed it at all stages of growth (I may post more about that at another time). So now its very current for a drawing subject with its beautiful and abundant seed heads.


The bit that suprised me the most with how much I liked the effects was with tracing around parts of my sketches now I need to think what I can do with them.

Thank you Gina, I hope there is more experiments to come.

gone to seed

Some of the garlic that I had put on the drying rack, 'solent wight' has gone to seed.

The seed heads are so beautiful that they warrant a little bit of photographic attention. I think the fact that they have gone to seed means that the garlic will be inedible. Reading around it is not recommended to plant these seeds, just to grow garlic from cloves. I am tempted to experiment. Any thoughts?

Open day 2010

My experience of allotment open days has been mixed. I've had the shame of being fenced off with some other plot holders in my first year. To the fun of feeling part of the site and joining the activities last year. This year Owen wanted to enter the best scarecrow competition, the theme was superheros, our attempts were as your can see are very basic. Inevitably a last minute construction. I think he looks like a wrestler. There were only a few other scarecrows but they looked like hot competition, no expense spared on their outfits. I have no idea how the judging went but it was fun to do. I hope for Owens sake we get some feedback as his hope was high.

I bought some plants from the stall and bunged them straight in at the plot: a '9 star perennial', 'cavelo nero' and 'romanesco'