August already.

 Hello everyone, how are you all?

It's been busy here at Flowertot Mansion. We have finished Iris's bedroom and now it's the bits and bobs , i finally have my dining room back. My daughter Fionna gave me some gorgeous place mats for my dining table.

I have been busy making Jam, Raspberry and Plum, both picked in the mornings and made into jam the same day.

Our little Blackberry bush is fruiting so i had to battle the birds to grab some quick.

I don't think the Plum jam will last long as it is truly delicious and everyone has suddenly developed a taste for jam sandwiches. There will be more made but i can't reach the top of the tree without help.

We have been getting veggies ready for the freezer.

Courgettes for our son's African Snails, these keep them going through the winter, we just defrost some and they have them overnight. They truly love them, we will freeze about 4-5 bags full .  We have huge amounts of Courgettes  more than we could possibly eat so this is one way to save them, we also give quite a lot away. I was shocked at the price of 4 small courgettes in the supermarkets.

Our Cabbages are starting to come so we have been sorting these out as well. I want my chest freezer to be bursting with veggies already to go. I have also made some crumble and pies for quick puddings with the fresh fruit we have. Now is the time we start prepping for the cold winter months especially with the news that food prices are going to rise again before Christmas. We have had some early Carrots as well , o they are so sweet and the smell is divine. I cannot wait to make soup with these as it is going to be the best flavour , better than tinned that's for sure.

Speaking of Christmas we are going to start getting gifts and putting them away, i know ,i know ,it's only August but we like to be prepared and if the last few years have taught us as a family  anything, it's to be ready for anything.

Hubby went for his Bladder Cancer check up and it is good news, no sign of any more tumors. He took 2 days off work to recover from the procedure but he is doing well.

I took a stroll around the garden this week just enjoying the beautiful flowers we have, everyone else was off doing their own thing and after making jam i needed to cool down,  so outside i went.

Startled this little chap, not sure who  was more me or him.

I don't often read the news as it is all doom and gloom and totally depressing but i did have a look last night and saw that Angela Raynor is giving cash strapped councils the go ahead to sell off Allotments. it has already started in a few places with people loosing their only source of fresh fruits and veggies. It's not just the food it is the social side and also in my husbands case so good for his mental health and well being. He absolutely adores working on the Allotments and is instilling that into our children who look forward to going, it's bloody hard work at times ,sweating in the sun, wet through in the rain and hoping and praying the wind doesn't blow our sheds away, but the rewards are vast and delicious. We also have the satisfaction of that we grew it, cooked it or made it into something else for our Pantry. I can't believe that the Government is doing this to people who are hard workers and just managing to scrape by.  Honestly i am disappointed in them and i know only one person's opinion doesn't make a difference or that they care one jot, i am seriously re thinking my voting preferences. People have cut back and cut back until they are so near the bone it's painful, i truly think they do not have any sympathy for us, the people who put them there.

I am off my soap box now. We have decided that if our Council do this then our back garden will become a mini allotment, probably not as much veg but something is better than nothing.

Take care all

Love Ftm🌻