Neglect is the word

I never meant for it to happen, but this year it has, my plot has fallen into complete neglect. When you are pressed for time and the only gaps you get are total washouts not a lot will get done. With such a wet summer it is always going to be a bit of a hard battle to get on top of the work at the plot. I was so disheartened with the thefts too it has been hard to get motivated since. The lack of car also made it hard for a chunk of this year too. These are not excuses but just how it has been. I have had those letters that all allotment folk dread.

I considered packing it in.

This weekend I have really cracked on at the plot. I have cleared a small patch and put some spring cabbage in. Made another small patch cleared (above) to make a replacement strawberry raised bed. The strimmer has been out too. I hope it is enough for them to see that we are trying. Also I enjoyed being there with just my thoughts again so calming. When the boys were there helping it was fun again we found hundreds of grasshoppers and a lizard.

It felt like it used to.

I often find the autumn better than new year for resolving to do things or starting projects. We have lots of change coming up so it is going to be an exciting time. I feel like cracking on with things and trying out new ideas. Bring it on.

Not the best year

It takes me to get to the first of July to decide that I am throwing the towel in on this growing year. Theft and endless rain have demoralised me.

At best the 2012 growing efforts have been this hedgehog from a well known fast food establishment, and that was grown by Huw.

My two tomato plants in pots have been lashed by the wind that there stems are twisted like a corkscrew willow.

I have waist high weeds at the allotment, I have decided that I will try to prepare the beds for next year now. I hope to start again in 2013. So I'm commencing  very early autumn digging . Somebody just needs to assist me with the strimmer. I have been waiting over a week for him to buy the petrol, going to need to get my nagging started.

I wonder if I can get to a flower show to restart my passion and greenfingers.

Removal

Well can you spot the difference between these to pictures? The first was taken on Thursday the day when I went to assess the plot and kick my butt into gear, so to speak. I've been on the brink of just hanging on in there at the allotment. I have been entertaining the idea very occasionally of  giving up. I think some observers thought that I had.


On Thursday, I had a hand delivered letter from the allotment association about the rent I thought it was a letter about lack of cultivation at the plot and on Friday breathed a little sigh of relief when I finally opened it. I took all day to get round to opening it. The kick in the teeth was on Saturday I received the dreaded letter in the post (they must have forgotten to hand deliver it with the other letter!). Sometimes you just know what is coming your way.


Anyway back to Thursday my raised bed was a little out of position as if someone had tried to lift it up. I adjusted it back into place. I thought it was a little odd and thought I would keep an eye on it.


As you can see from the second picture when I got there today someone had taken them away along with my rake that I can't fit into the storage box. I can't tell you how cross I am. I actually cried at the plot and thought that is it I will just stop.


However, I have planted out some broad beans and dug at the plot today. I may have a chance of using a rotavator and clawing back at things. This means I am holding on in for the moment. I have contacted the police and have a crime report number.


I don't feel happy. I wonder who did this and if they realised how they would make me feel. Is it hard not to wonder if it is a stranger or someone from the site.

Still here

Sometimes things are just too busy for me to post on here. The kids activity programme has been busy the last few weeks with events. I have managed to sneak off to the lotty and have done a little digging but there is loads more that needs doing. I can feel the itch to sow some of the seeds I have stashed. Spring is starting.

I have been very distracted from gardening too as I have been sorting out and printing my pictures for exhibiting. I have also booked myself onto a bit of a day for myself, I don't do spas but I did do a drypoint printmaking day this week. I really enjoyed it and felt reasonably happy with my output. Made a great change from my normal workday.

Year of the dragon

It is funny what you notice and how you can apply significance to it afterwards. A week or so ago I did some messy painting with the boys. Trying to get Huw over his phobia of putting marks on paper and to stimulate Owen into being more creative with his. We tried blowing runny paint with straws. The one I did reminded me of a dragon shape, once it was dry I drew the features on it with a pen. Then I realised that this year was the year of the dragon so I decided to post it for fun today. I wonder what the year will bring prosperity hopefully, as I think that is what the year of the water dragon is supposed to herald.

Being welsh I do like dragons anyway.

Echinacea art work

I have had a little bit of a theme going on since before Christmas. It has been about these echinacea type of plants. Back in February I did a great workshop on reduction linocuts but had not really put the ideas into action on my own at home. I thought I would give it a go using this sort of echinacea flower. I still need to work on my registration but there you go a little more practice might help improve. My mum seemed to like the one I gave her.

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I was doodling and messing about the other day and seemed to return to the theme again then I filled the doodle in with watercolour pencils. Anyway it got me thinking and the word embroidery was in my head. I have bought calico and thread and think that I might give embroidery echinacea a go. I am not sure if this is me loosing it a bit, it may only be a one minute wonder project we will have to see.

The first planting of the year

What could I be planting out at this time of year I hear you ask. Well to be frank in an attempt to be green we have planted out our Christmas tree in the hope of a bigger tree next year. Hopefully it won't break the allotment rules if we harvest it within the year.

My helper will grow too by next year, so I wonder which will be bigger in December.

New year and a restart

I have made a bit of a new year resolution in the style of many previous years. However this time most of the things I have resolved to do are the things I already do. Sort of. I just want to do it with a bit more oomph.

I need to grab the gardening groove again.

I need to take even more photos.

I should do a bit of art work each week.

I should blog more.

I want to turn my random walks into fitness walks.

So here is my first blog of 2012, a good start to the resolve. Accompanied by some trial pictures with my new lensbaby today.

My word for the year is going to be 'organised' and I need to be to stop me getting so irritated with my progress.

Happy New Year.