tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17853866689998813722024-03-05T01:51:57.608-08:00What Am I Doing Again?erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-67322986510697075942019-12-02T13:04:00.002-08:002020-02-08T06:12:02.699-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Sally looked up into the doctor’s eyes. Her ears
couldn’t transfer the words he was saying to her brain, although his lips were
moving silently. His eyes were serious, sad. The light in the consulting room
hummed in that way, which could be barely heard but felt though every fibre of
her being. She felt the slightly waxy texture of the pile of leaflets under her
hand, resting in her lap. She knew why she was there. Routine mammogram they
had said. All women over 50 routinely offered it, they had said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The news lay over her like a haze. She couldn’t
remember how she got home, but she must have got into her car, tights sliding on
the leather seats, and driven home, the wipers swishing on the windscreen in
the grey, late autumn drizzle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She turned her key in the lock, opened the door, and
stepping inside. Hanging her coat on the coat hook, she slipped her shoes off
alongside the warm radiator and walked down the hallway in stockinged feet to
the kitchen. Her husband sat at the breakfast bar, reading his paper, and the
coffee machine let out waves of rich, warm scent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“How did it go?” he said, folding the paper and
resting it on the wooden counter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Um, not so well.” The tears welled up in her eyes, and
her throat closed. She looked around the room at the pictures of her children
and grandchildren, lining the walls. Photos of weddings, and graduations,
holidays and Christmases. Sitting heavily in a chair, she sighed, and suddenly
she let go, crying each tear as the doctor’s words caught up with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sorry, but your results are not good,”
she could hear them echoing through her mind. “You have stage 4 breast cancer
with lymph node involvement”. She could hear her voice echoing his words, and
her husband still sat at the bar, shocked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“We will beat this,” he said softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Will we?” she felt irritation rising in her. We? “Is
that what we do? Beat it, go back to normal? I might bloody die!” Shock and
sadness and rage churned suddenly through her, and she felt as though she would
throw up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I …. I’m going to go and
have a bath, it’s been… “She took the pile of leaflets from her bag and put
them on the counter and left the room. Her husband watched her go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She laid in the bath, tracing the curve of the tap
with her big toe as it filled her tub with steaming water. She looked down at
her chest, her breasts rising and falling with her breath. How could this be?
They still looked normal to her, not the high, firm breasts of her youth nor
the full, rich milky breasts with which she nourished all her children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they were hers, showing the pores that
came with age, the skin less elastic, the nipples didn’t quite point up and out
anymore, but they were still recognisable as hers. They still gave pleasure
when touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they still? After?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">She hadn’t even looked at the leaflets. She had heard
the words “surgery” and “chemotherapy.” She turned off the tap with a flick of
her foot and sank lower into the water, letting it lap up over her loose belly
and soft skin of her breasts. Tomorrow. She’d make the decision tomorrow. </span></div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-60836357743964615712019-06-30T12:38:00.002-07:002020-02-08T06:14:40.849-08:00I think i actually hate dialogue. Why do people have to talk to each other?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Looking up, the foyer was awfully tall. Chlo felt
terribly small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was going to be
very different than high school.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">High school wasn't kind to Chloe Stratton. She wasn't
a smart kid or a cool kid. She didn't have a particular talent; she wasn't
sporty in any way. She was, however, a lonely kid, a side-lined kid. College,
she had hoped, was going to be very different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">However, she had that gnawing feeling in the pit of
her stomach. As she looked around the mall like atrium of her new college, and
she feared that she would be lost, too, in this vast place. She could feel her
lower lip starting to tremble with nerves. "I must not cry here," she thought to
herself. That would never do for a first day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Hey." Someone stepped up beside her, and she nearly
jumped out of her skin. "You look lost. Are you new?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Yes, it's my first day. This place is awfully big".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The newcomer laughed. "You'll get used to it. It's not
as big as it looks. I'm Janey. What's your name?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Chloe," she said. "But I prefer Chlo."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Cool name. I like your hair. Looks like candyfloss.
My mum'd never let me do that".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Chlo's mum hadn't been too keen either when Chlo had
dyed the tub a hot pink in her attempt to put on a cooler face for the next
phase of her life. But she had acquiesced. She knew that changes were coming.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Yeah, she's
pretty cool, sometimes. Hey, can you help me find my class? I have no clue
where I'm going."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Sure, what's your class?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Lemme check," she looked down at the timetable she was
clutching. "Art first, then English."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Cool, the art block is this way. Lucky you, I'm heading
there too. I'm second year Art history."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Chloe used the walk to get to know Janey a little.
Janey was a year older, with long, slightly unruly dark brown hair which she wore
in a loose plait with a heavy fringe. She wore round lensed glasses with
plastic tortoiseshell frames. She was dressed in a very bohemian way, in
browns, greens, and mustard yellows. Her full plump lips were stained with a cherry
red lip tint, and she smelled earthy, like bare fields after a sudden summer
downpour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Patchouli oil. Do you like it?" she replied when Chlo
asked about her scent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Yes, where'd you get it?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"A little place in town. I can show you after college
if you want?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Yeah, I'd like that."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Janey pushed open the door to a much older, shabbier
building than the shiny new foyer had been. The interior smelled of drying clay
and fresh paint.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"This is us. Art block. I think this is your studio", Janey
pointed to a door. "Because the other one is mine. Catch you later?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Sure," Chlo replied.</span></div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-24831209954463314502019-03-03T09:57:00.002-08:002019-03-03T22:21:42.834-08:00This one was HARD.Like, really hard.<br />
<br />
Todays exercise was about writing in the second person narrative. Its not something I've ever tried to do before I dont think. I've done first person present tense, which is almost as hard, but I really haven't ever tried 2nd person.<br />
<br />
Well here we go. The link to the article for todays exercise is here: <a href="https://thewritepractice.com/second-person/">Why you should try writing in the second person</a>. It gave me 15 minutes to write a peice, anything at all, in the second person narrative.<br />
<br />
Here goes. It's crap. I warn you.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Your eyes open with a start. You close them again and reopen them. There is little difference between one state and the other. Reaching out, feeling around you, the floor is against your back and you can just feel the leg of your favourite armchair with your outstretched fingertips. Rolling, you wince as the movement triggers a pulsing pain in your skull and wetness slides down your temple into your eye.<br />
<br />
Wiping your eye clear, you reach out and pull yourself to all fours and reach for the coffee table. It feels different and it takes you a moment to realise that it is on its side. What happened here? You search your memories for an explanation.<br />
<br />
You remember leaving the club, hailing a cab and paying the driver as he pulled up outside your house. You remember walking unsteadily up the path to your door. Your keys were as usual lost in the depths of your purse, and you fumbled to find them. Swaying, your key clicked into the lock and the door opened. You thumped heavily against the hallway wall as you kicked off your too high heels.<br />
<br />
A weight, heavy and pungent pressed you bodily against the woodchip of the wall. An unwashed hand smelling heavily of stale tobacco slid over your mouth and nose as you heard the door being kicked shut. You tried to struggle, but your body betrayed you, lost in panic and confusion.<br />
He dragged you further into your home, into your lounge and shoved you at the couch. You fell, bounced and hit your head off the polished wood of the coffee table and thats it.<br />
Nothing else.<br />
<br />
****.<br />
<br />
<br />
Have a go yourself at some of these exercises. Show me, post a link in the comments and I will have a read. If you dont fancy it, let me know what you think of mine in the comment section. What bits did you like? What didnt work for you?<br />
<br />
Thanks!<br />
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-10776464246219345242019-02-16T11:42:00.000-08:002020-02-12T10:49:10.107-08:00<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As is normal for me, I didn't do any of these exercises in the right order (You can't tell me what to do!). So here is the article, entitled <a href="https://thewritepractice.com/first-writing-practice/">Your First Writing Practice</a> </div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This was a tough one for me. I really overthought it, which led to me dismissing things i may have put in and running out of time. But here it is. Enjoy! Don't forget to leave me your thoughts in the comments section.</div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>Writing
Practice</u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<i>15 minutes</i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>A young woman/ man stumbles across a body in the woods. What does
he/she do?</u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
She always ran at dawn. That thin circle of gold along the horizon
always lifted her spirits, contrasting starkly with the black
outlines of trees and buildings. Her trainers crunched on the gravel
of the poorly packed country road, the sound unnaturally loud in the
stillness before the world woke.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
She took a sharp right into the treeline, feet sure upon the track she
had coursed a hundred times before. It was cold that morning, and she
could see her breath misting briefly in front of her before she
passed through it briskly. She knew these woods well, and even in the
half-light, she could pick her way confidently, around a boulder here, over
a tree root there and ….</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
She roused from darkness, confused. What had happened? Pulling
herself to seated, she looked around. Behind her, half on the track
and half in the undergrowth was a leg. A naked, soiled human leg.
She crawled closer, tentatively reached out, pulled back the
foliage and emptied her stomach on the forest floor.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
The body was half-clothed, but in a way that would have been more
decent had it been left naked. In her mind, it remained an It. It had
to, lest she vomits again. Bloodied, bruised, broken, it looked like
parts had come unhinged, bones pressing under flesh now cold. She fumbled in her
waistbelt for her phone. She always carried it, her family insisted,
although it worked better as an exercise tracker than a phone out
here. Still, she prayed for phone signal as she tapped in 9-9-9.</div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-50235994115905007512019-02-16T07:20:00.001-08:002019-02-16T09:54:23.366-08:00Either, Neither, Or and Nor<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
As promised, here is the first of my writing exercises from <a href="https://thewritepractice.com/">The Write Practice</a>. I did this one sat in my car outside college while eating my lunch. <a href="https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-use-either-neither-or-and-nor-correctly/">The exercise</a> explains the correct use of Either, Neither, Or and Nor and then suggests a writing practice based on the principles. Fun eh? Have a read of mine and leave me a comment in the comments section below. Maybe even copy and paste, or leave a link to your rendition?</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>Writing
Practice</u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<i>20 mins</i></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>Tell us about a disastrous camping trip. Use either/or or
neither/nor to establish how much your main characters would rather
be anywhere else.</u></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
“ Whose crappy idea was this?”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
It had been raining for a full week. We had seen neither sun nor blue
skies since we pulled up in front of the club house in our mustard
Volvo, laden down with our camping gear on the roof rack like a small
mobile mountain. We had faced two choices, we could either turn
around and go home, or make the most of it. We chose the latter.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
Now, staring at the closed sign on the club house door, we wondered
what to do next. Each evening since we arrived, we had huddled
together at the bar, with a drink and a plate of chips. We watched
the cheesy entertainers vie for giggles and guffaws from the wet,
irritated campers. Karaoke, mouse racing (one wondered where they
found so many mice), cabaret acts; we had them all. Until tonight.
Tonight the windows stood black. All as quiet.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
With a collective sigh, we trudged back to the tents to find that one
had collapsed, either from the abundance of rain on its roof, or
someone kicking out the guy rope in the dark. We couldn't tell which.
In any case, neither my husband no I felt like tackling it in the
dark, so we huddled into the pup tent with the kids.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
“Why did you insist we camp?” hubby said.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
“Because I couldn't book either the log cabins or the mobile homes,
they were full! We talked about this!”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
“Why did we bloody have to come here at all? Neither camping, nor
the rain appeals to me at all! Why couldn't we have gone somewhere
warm and sunny? Either Spain or Greece would have suited me fine. I
could have been basking in the sun and working on my tan.”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
“Oh come on babe, you know very well that you like neither flying
on a plane nor foreign food. You say it gives you dodgy belly.”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
He sighed, and stared blankly through the unzipped tent flap into the
cold, wet trees. It was going to be a long cold night. I hoped he
would wake in the morning in a better mood.</div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-51962289797482909002019-02-16T06:04:00.003-08:002019-02-16T09:32:45.103-08:00Remember me?Hi, Remember me?<br />
<br />
Its been a while, and it has been a pretty eventful while, but I'm not ready to talk about my adventures just yet. Things are still too up in the air for me to put anything down in type.<br />
<br />
I have, however, been playing around with creative writing recently. I havent written creatively since I left college at 18, other than the odd really crappy poem during my emo angsty early 20s. I still cant read those without wanting to vomit. At that time I chose a business degree (that i didnt finish) over an english degree (that i thought i wouldnt be able to make any money from). That was a really long time and 4 kids ago (one of whom is now an adult herself!)<br />
<br />
I've started small. I am doing the creative writing practice exercises from <a href="http://www.thewritepractice.com/">thewritepractice.com </a>. One of the things they recommed is to publish, and publish regularly. Which reminded me of my blog here, lonely and unloved, abandonded in the hubub that has been our lives of late. So i decided to revive it, and torture my tiny audience with the word vomit that is my tentative steps back into the hobby of creative writing.<br />
<br />
Sorry. You can hit unsubscribe if you like. But id really like it if you would read and let me know what you think. Just be gentle with me.<br />
<br />
If you stick with me I will be uploading here my efforts, and with each blog posts, i will link back to to the original article at <a href="http://thewritepractice.com/">thewritepractice.com</a> so if you want to give it a go too, you can!<br />
<br />
Are you with me?erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-69180939177283362042016-09-25T05:16:00.002-07:002016-09-25T05:16:32.520-07:00Autumn.It is still really quite warm here, but the evenings are shorter, ad there is a slight nip in the air.<br />
The days, while pleasant are fresher, less muggy.<br />
<br />
I am enjoying the cooler days, still pleasant to be outside without jumper or coat, but not sweaty (that makes me grouchy).<br />
<br />
My nana passed away on the equinox. She had been battling lung disease for long time, and she fought a most courageous fight. She passed peacefully with her family around her, possibly the most beautiful way she could. I am proud of my aunt and my mother for being there for her, right to the end.<br />
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Her passing was a poignant reminder that life, like the seasons, has a beginning and an end and that the passing of time changes for no one.<br />
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I look to the days ahead, to saying goodbye and celebrating her life with the rest of my family.<br />
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-49227217329625919462016-05-16T11:16:00.002-07:002016-05-16T11:16:45.532-07:00Plot update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a beautiful day on Sunday, so i headed out to my sorely neglected allotment plot. I love this place, it is my sanctuary, but i havent had enough time for it as of late. I took my petrol mower with me and gave it a good mow, so it at least looks neater now. I also planted sweetcorn, green beans, beetroot and shallots ( a bit late i know). The Rhubarb is doing brilliantly!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWYDT2TeVm7flCCw8koyGpH4hzWZprr56hq2EtGJg2Ya09ILWdd8Dgclp0estm1Ee-zueMWe5L1Jjjnhk4taw40q2HHMTvWmQASf_v86N398xeriLM5IeV7ZmL6abot-Jygf5EVLWDh8/s1600/13239300_10153583501130222_4040838412793111971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWYDT2TeVm7flCCw8koyGpH4hzWZprr56hq2EtGJg2Ya09ILWdd8Dgclp0estm1Ee-zueMWe5L1Jjjnhk4taw40q2HHMTvWmQASf_v86N398xeriLM5IeV7ZmL6abot-Jygf5EVLWDh8/s640/13239300_10153583501130222_4040838412793111971_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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The Gooseberries are showing great promise too! There were also lots of flowers on our strawberries.</div>
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We have a new family of Blue Tits living in Tristans nestbox on the shed too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu39gTxWO2qotYVlUb7w4uGdQ2wfEpQV-vK718Sp3w4F4Xj67TajwJ41c-_pZP4zuyJTM4gfL_o3HgUxTeMpUQ8g6gQ3FoczzxN2_coWxvcnipzitqgr16nCV3KJ7IAAulP7q1xLcVBE/s1600/13244893_10153583501400222_281072230211020285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu39gTxWO2qotYVlUb7w4uGdQ2wfEpQV-vK718Sp3w4F4Xj67TajwJ41c-_pZP4zuyJTM4gfL_o3HgUxTeMpUQ8g6gQ3FoczzxN2_coWxvcnipzitqgr16nCV3KJ7IAAulP7q1xLcVBE/s640/13244893_10153583501400222_281072230211020285_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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I love this time of year, everything is going great guns.</div>
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-67351696399209613962016-04-09T14:09:00.000-07:002016-04-09T14:12:52.754-07:00Chickens! Round 2We had our new batch hatch out today. Well, all bar one. That little egg is looking pretty lonely in the incubator all by itself. I will give it another few days, we often have a straggler.<br />
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Here are some pics of the hatch!<br />
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The bigger babies are in their gangly, awkward teenage phase. But they are still oh so cute and curious!</div>
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-63804355291711833342016-04-06T08:10:00.001-07:002016-04-06T08:11:27.521-07:00Catch up!We are in the midst of Easter holiday madness here.<br />
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All 4 kids are off school, and we have been spending time as a family.<br />
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We went and saw the baby lambs at Broadlees Farm in Dover last Tuesday. The children really enjoyed cuddling the baby lambs, and We even got to see one being born!<br />
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The chicks are growing well. They are at that gangly half-feathered stage where they look awkward and mangy, but they are beautiful nonetheless.<br />
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And I sneaked some more eggs into the incubator. They should be hatching on Saturday!</div>
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I've also been doing some fixing around the garden. Hubby helped me finish off the boarding around the base of chickenopolis and filled it with bark chippings. I didnt get any pictures of it though, because i was busy repairing and painting these planters that my parents gave to me a few years ago. I neglected them and they were really on their last legs, but now after new sills, a few nails and some wood treatment, they will last many more years!</div>
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My friends husband has kindly offered to work with me at my allotment this year, as i am finding it a little overwhelming now i am back at work. He roped in my friends kids as well, who did a fab job of getting the place ship shape. I have these "in progress" pics, i need to get some better ones of how everything is going. They have been a godsend!<br />
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So what has everyone been up to over the holidays?<br />
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-51980020502716425712016-04-06T07:48:00.001-07:002016-04-06T07:48:03.618-07:00Easter SundayI know this is all said and done now, but the school holidays are a little manic here with 4 kids, so i havent had time to get this down on the blog. I thought about just writing one big post, but we have been doing bits and bobs here and there and it would be nice for it all to not get lost in the chaos.<br />
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There was a craft market on in Ramsgate, so The girls thought we would come and check it out. There werent that many stalls, so it didnt take us very long. We had paid 90 minutes parking, so what else could we do?<br />
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Ye Olde sweetie shop was open, so we got a bag of sweeties for everyone!<br />
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Then we took a walk along the seafront</div>
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To the beach!</div>
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Keira and Imogen were looking for shells, but it was too windy ad they kept getting sand in their eyes.<br />
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"Its too cold!!" Cried Imogen. Her lovely big sis lent her her hoodie. Aww!</div>
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I think that walk tired her out!</div>
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How was your Easter?</div>
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-42305311370060043402016-03-25T14:36:00.001-07:002016-03-25T14:36:26.237-07:00Good Friday Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a lovely day today. The sun was shining and it was absolutely glorious!</div>
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We went out to the RSPCAs fun day at the local animal centre, it was really busy! Manically so! The kids had really good fun and the RSPCA reported raising well over £1000 for the animals today :)</div>
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Afterwards we went to the Hurricane and Spitfire museum to see the lanes, and we had a spot of lunch in the cafeteria.</div>
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Cheeky boy!</div>
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The weather was beautiful, and the kids had a run around on the grass with their new toy planes.</div>
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Then we went across to the RAF museum</div>
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Look mummy! Its a tank!</div>
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All 3 kiddos sitting on a Wessex RAF search and rescue helicopter. The smell of this thing takes me straight back to my childhood. My daddy used to work on the sea kings. I had an almost overwhelming urge to crawl into the cockpit and curl up in a seat. </div>
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The chicks are doing well, they are a week and a half old now, and are double their original size, and their wings are feathering up nicely. They are starting to get little stubs of tail feathers too They will get more and more awkward and straggly looking over the next few weeks until all of their adolescent feathers are in.</div>
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Imi loves her chickies!</div>
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And we have sunflowers poking through in the conservatory!</div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-17638937105493586282016-03-23T13:21:00.002-07:002016-03-23T13:21:29.299-07:00My Messy GardenIts been neglected a bit over the winter.<br />
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The dividing fence blew down, the rubbish has built up, there are coops in need of repair and everything is a tad overgrown.<br />
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Our lawnmower died last autumn, so i need to replace that, and i need a new garden fork.<br />
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School holidays are coming up fast, and i have some time off work, so i will spend as much time as i can out in the garden sorting this mess out. The kids can run around out there with me.<br />
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I'll post progress pics as we go.erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-34489053992154174292016-03-20T11:28:00.003-07:002016-03-20T11:30:20.990-07:00Springy spring!Ostara activities abounded today!<br />
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I know we are a little early, but they are at school tomorrow, so we had a day of spring related crafting and planting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTITpSouF5Tc80xzkM9w12qcNtOnEKos5DnUYmKPvTgsvtwj-UubjKZG7TfEEd5yhVVG2C7XYh1YOeQXowZSloETdbuzGm-2hkjNDWmKgmFCS7j4cwsTNTHZr84NB97AjNqFHo8bGyJtQ/s1600/1913551_10153451224085222_3927578461661767186_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTITpSouF5Tc80xzkM9w12qcNtOnEKos5DnUYmKPvTgsvtwj-UubjKZG7TfEEd5yhVVG2C7XYh1YOeQXowZSloETdbuzGm-2hkjNDWmKgmFCS7j4cwsTNTHZr84NB97AjNqFHo8bGyJtQ/s640/1913551_10153451224085222_3927578461661767186_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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We planted Echinacea and Sunflowers for summer colour. (I wanted those pots for veggies,but the children wanted flowers, so we did flowers. I'll get more pots in the week.)</div>
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They painted Bunny and Chick masks, and once they were done, they carried on painting spring pictures until dinner time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByhlMjFQBi2rhzG_H8uKL5Y1YoYARVEAX1eyNYazTcAZ5ap0nVHmOpgNSTWKczbkGopSQYwuGDNM5ZDYNoC7nXuq6-dPESIE64erLZIb48z5P2ikl4rYi01EypRhSqiwj4PSbFMCgFqU/s1600/12794352_10153451227100222_7379103680341962954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByhlMjFQBi2rhzG_H8uKL5Y1YoYARVEAX1eyNYazTcAZ5ap0nVHmOpgNSTWKczbkGopSQYwuGDNM5ZDYNoC7nXuq6-dPESIE64erLZIb48z5P2ikl4rYi01EypRhSqiwj4PSbFMCgFqU/s640/12794352_10153451227100222_7379103680341962954_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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All supervised by these cuties.</div>
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Blessed Ostara everyone!</div>
erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-42940430114970485952016-03-16T12:53:00.000-07:002016-03-20T11:30:45.258-07:00Chicken Upgrade!!Well, their home anyway.<br />
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The big chickens got a new run at the weekend.<br />
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Its been sat in my shed since October waiting to go up, but we finally got around to putting it up.<br />
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Old Set up:<br />
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Pros: Moveable<br />
Compact<br />
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Cons: Too low<br />
Have to dismantle the run every time i need to clean it.<br />
Narrow. The chickens always pill their water everywhere trying to get past each other, which waterlogs the floor of the run.<br />
Pretty broken now to be honest. The coop is salvageable, but i think the run will end up on the allotment as seed protection.<br />
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New Set up:<br />
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Pros: Walk in! Much easier for cleaning. Birds have the use of the height of the run as well as the length and width. I will be installing chicken furniture soon for them to climb on.<br />
More space means they are less likely to push past each other and knock their water everywhere.<br />
I can deep litter the floor of this run as it is a permanent structure that wont need dismantling every couple of weeks. This should make cleaning easier.<br />
More sturdy. The old one was getting very rickety and all of the catches that held it together were either broken, or heading that way rapidly. This new run will be much more secure.<br />
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It as a lovely day on Friday, so i just decided to go for it.<br />
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Nymphadora likes to sit on the top of the coop. I think she likes that she can see everything from up there. Speckles cant quite figure out how she manages it.</div>
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Imogen said she would help.</div>
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But I think it might have been too much for her.</div>
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The frame was finished on Friday, but I had to stop there.</div>
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Saturday saw me wrangling with chicken wire. My hands are shredded, but we got the main body of the run done.</div>
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Sunday we got the ends on, Pressure washed the courtyard underneath and got the girls settled into their new home.</div>
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<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-14979320379404275802016-03-16T12:42:00.000-07:002016-03-16T12:42:40.851-07:00Chickachick- Ah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAjFLwApJAZA2uqZR9oMY4ehHcSh2ZrMCQiaKN2ozAlZxSXdJWpqtBmMB4PbF5e9TZ0Fag3PVq3XjlMgKRfBaZ_ASAg-owCbtcUGKBz4TuL_F0uF7KBce27Sg3xNkhTXCQJkzgxvF8pc/s1600/brooder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAjFLwApJAZA2uqZR9oMY4ehHcSh2ZrMCQiaKN2ozAlZxSXdJWpqtBmMB4PbF5e9TZ0Fag3PVq3XjlMgKRfBaZ_ASAg-owCbtcUGKBz4TuL_F0uF7KBce27Sg3xNkhTXCQJkzgxvF8pc/s640/brooder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ5Vkr51t4etZLWNhV8A9PIT4S0aP9UOUEjhtzefADOK8ITqBUoaHeM8mH_ZtQUIl9diFa7OTzDewhf6LFdvQg2hR9e4_zni3sxXzssCDreclTnRE7_4d5bYxxQDSBGrZajR72EJm7HE/s1600/chick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ5Vkr51t4etZLWNhV8A9PIT4S0aP9UOUEjhtzefADOK8ITqBUoaHeM8mH_ZtQUIl9diFa7OTzDewhf6LFdvQg2hR9e4_zni3sxXzssCDreclTnRE7_4d5bYxxQDSBGrZajR72EJm7HE/s640/chick1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Up above we have these guys brooder. I only had a little box, i will get them bigger one over the next couple of days. One cheeky chap has popped out from under the brooding plate to have a look around.<br />
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I prefer to use a brooding plate rather than a heat lamp for my chicks. I feel it gives them a more natural experience, as hiding under a mother hen they would be warm and cosy and dark.<br />
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The brooder plate also uses less electricity than a traditional heat lamp, at only 20watts. There is also less risk of it causing a fire, which is a really big concern of mine as they are in my house.<br />
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They will stay in here for a few weeks, after which i will transition them with their brooding plate to the outside coop, separate from the older ladies until they are of a size when they can hold their own<br />
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erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-59231488559333363552016-03-15T11:32:00.001-07:002016-03-20T11:31:04.485-07:00Hatching Day!The most exciting of all days!<br />
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Yesterday evening, we had a pip. A little hole in the egg where the chick has used its egg tooth to crack the surface slightly. Exciting!</div>
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But... when i got up this morning, nothing had changed. Disappointed face.</div>
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About 9:30 though, this had happened.</div>
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The crack grew wider as the chicken unzipped (or slowly pecked with its egg tooth in an anticlockwise direction around the egg)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HkjspOma7yoclHRxMeuoCxasebLB64f4pAHl_TSX0hXjp6lOEtnx4QcJccH6K9xuikkFhaVsxuMecB4-UhPQ2ZRBPyjsqIv-ZSf57Gq3azgGrEbbR2E22i9gfJSRLtXkN3_mB3pt3xg/s1600/20160315_110221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HkjspOma7yoclHRxMeuoCxasebLB64f4pAHl_TSX0hXjp6lOEtnx4QcJccH6K9xuikkFhaVsxuMecB4-UhPQ2ZRBPyjsqIv-ZSf57Gq3azgGrEbbR2E22i9gfJSRLtXkN3_mB3pt3xg/s640/20160315_110221.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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And he's out!</div>
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He hatched around 10:30 am</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWkLbs-_YETXP4xTpuGLXRtvBzXIF03hM2n_cb1y_nS-ZyBQerkw12MBCGlyLukVrV8j_2yVNZUBbt2SmnlcZ0UrLNV6L62CIUXhtOXPGwWxwgaAP1vuKl8Vc3s6CRlwLtv3J7BBRUu8/s1600/FB_IMG_1458056750427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWkLbs-_YETXP4xTpuGLXRtvBzXIF03hM2n_cb1y_nS-ZyBQerkw12MBCGlyLukVrV8j_2yVNZUBbt2SmnlcZ0UrLNV6L62CIUXhtOXPGwWxwgaAP1vuKl8Vc3s6CRlwLtv3J7BBRUu8/s640/FB_IMG_1458056750427.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GL1uZWDs7K6nK3jHkZL_3VVfAmcuf9KUDim3hez5o8DIqaVHg6nrwVUWUaj3Vn1ISKpLjmV0InNlwO4MnhdVKO8ZOvm0I9L2QAi91zyEiWev2XM8gbp5ImPVD6sfeHvVKesp9esMrk/s1600/20160315_155023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GL1uZWDs7K6nK3jHkZL_3VVfAmcuf9KUDim3hez5o8DIqaVHg6nrwVUWUaj3Vn1ISKpLjmV0InNlwO4MnhdVKO8ZOvm0I9L2QAi91zyEiWev2XM8gbp5ImPVD6sfeHvVKesp9esMrk/s640/20160315_155023.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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The white spot on his head declares this one a boy.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSpEHzuu-lo70lFQpRfe91CfXtgTdblWhlhCrEmN8rhveZek0XBVR_ZMEc126UO4W-8l5YYqTkP2kT6iorbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Here he is!</div>
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The second to hatch was egg no4, and this one looks to be a girl, but we will see better when she's dried out a bit.</div>
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Hey Bro! Get off my egg! I'm trying to hatch here!</div>
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I'll update here as the others hatch.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">UPDATE</span></div>
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2 boys and a girl so far. 1 more egg to go. So far the remaining egg has had a few wobbles, but no cracks have appeared yet.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">UPDATE 2</span></div>
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So we are all hatched out. 2 boys. 2 girls and 2 that didnt develop.</div>
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That seems to be a pretty typical hatch rate for me. The past couple of years i ended up with a chick that died at the hatching stage, which didnt happen this time, so thats a bonus!</div>
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I have another batch of eggs here ready to go in, so the incubator wont be empty for long. I'll get it washed and sterilised and on the go again!</div>
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I'll put up a new post with cute chick pictures.</div>
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erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-72151778913789992612016-03-14T07:51:00.001-07:002016-03-14T12:13:38.109-07:00Disaster! (but i hope not!)Our electric ran out overnight.<br />
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Silly me thought it would last till this morning, but we must have used more than I thought over the weekend.<br />
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I threw a towel over the incubator, and rushed to get more. It was only off for an hour, but it was long enough for the incubator temperature to drop to 31 degrees Celsius :( . I hope that the internal egg temperature didn't drop too much and that they will hatch as expected tomorrow. Only time will tell. <br />
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Its going to be a nervous 24 hours.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">UPDATE!</span><br />
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We have our first pip!!<br />
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And so it begins!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_4Y6kmLN9BmajzygbZ4h87DzRS9zZcJWWjrD8LW_CddT29II8UvQNLdSIr8YsWzni80UH79EDcunmXbRJn54P5Jnv057p78wjH1yFwRsQnFlk43MejuNm9Mx-QuWNdqatLR_TYtVygA/s1600/1554404_10153435534525222_4632878508212995488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_4Y6kmLN9BmajzygbZ4h87DzRS9zZcJWWjrD8LW_CddT29II8UvQNLdSIr8YsWzni80UH79EDcunmXbRJn54P5Jnv057p78wjH1yFwRsQnFlk43MejuNm9Mx-QuWNdqatLR_TYtVygA/s640/1554404_10153435534525222_4632878508212995488_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-36091033555965533842016-03-12T12:49:00.001-08:002016-03-12T12:49:22.800-08:00Chick Update!3 days to go!!<br />
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Today I stop turning them in their incubator. This is so that they have a chance to orient themselves in their eggs so that they are in the correct position for hatching. If they are in the wrong position, they may not break out into the air sack, and drown. We don't want this, so we give them a couple of days to sort themselves out.<br />
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We also need to increase the humidity inside the incubator. The egg has an inner membrane which is very soft and flexible which the chick needs to break through. I am sure you have seen it at some point when cooking eggs, that membrane you can peel away. Have you seen it once the egg has been open for a couple of hours? This membrane goes really tough and hard to break. We increase the humidity to stop it going tough. A chick can take up to 24 hours to hatch from its egg, and if that membrane goes hard, then it can be fatal for the chick. So we need a little extra moisture in the air.<br />
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My incubator is a Brinsea mini eco. Its a basic model, but it has been such a good incubator. It holds a temperature really steady, I only ever have to adjust it during the setting up stage.<br />
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The water pot on the mini eco is divided into 2 halves. During the first phase of incubation (up until now) we filled half of the pot. This is so that the air sac in the egg could develop properly while still keeping the air humid and warm. Now we need to fill both sides to make the humidity rise for hatching.<br />
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Im upgrading the adult chickens living area at the moment (details to come in another post!), but as soon as i am done with that i will be setting up the brooder for when these little ones hatch. Not long now!</div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-67281801233054581342016-03-12T03:17:00.001-08:002016-03-13T06:08:22.355-07:00Drying ChillisI bought these chillies last week from ALDI, as they were on offer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YyNFLBC5Zczxxp21M3JeA19YMekJHzJiP0omiv5URKJBmRby2d23u3iXJDHQA9WXulmev5XcOdv3mkWOac2ZVeebVPqV-YRjhxmehyphenhyphenoW-57k17-NotHiyq38eSJgR8cHTnJ-vVXye9Q/s1600/chilli+drying+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YyNFLBC5Zczxxp21M3JeA19YMekJHzJiP0omiv5URKJBmRby2d23u3iXJDHQA9WXulmev5XcOdv3mkWOac2ZVeebVPqV-YRjhxmehyphenhyphenoW-57k17-NotHiyq38eSJgR8cHTnJ-vVXye9Q/s640/chilli+drying+2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
We don't use chillies often, but I like them, so I thought for that price, i could dry some and have them on hand, which is what I am doing today.<br />
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My lot don't like spicy food, so I am removing the seeds to cool the heat down a bit, and i am laying them out on a baking tray.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh-iEeYh2QbDsU9L_Xhz782-8LlFlEzuua2ecTXIEWxYI0jpKXGMvaC1MdKj0wbVNenjDFuFak8kw6keTx_B6fXnkilFiS_fFfMW4Obq5YVCZgKvvOjfHlXANxFH1izqyIQI4pg2cqj0/s1600/chilli+drying+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh-iEeYh2QbDsU9L_Xhz782-8LlFlEzuua2ecTXIEWxYI0jpKXGMvaC1MdKj0wbVNenjDFuFak8kw6keTx_B6fXnkilFiS_fFfMW4Obq5YVCZgKvvOjfHlXANxFH1izqyIQI4pg2cqj0/s640/chilli+drying+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I preheated the oven to 130 degrees, and the chillies went in quite low down in the oven. I left them for around 3 hours, checking on them sporadically, until they were completely dry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXnOxIJz1T7RroJUO7r1Hyk8tmBvfylTbHrN9qOahrFvkkU_V-r9vrwlnlneB4kecjRPtpdI3Hob1UjU2U0nTwIG1ZmqFNfstprkKy5z1OxPzSA_RCc3scf4MGf6SmSY_3qtPjPMk3b0/s1600/chilli+dryig+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXnOxIJz1T7RroJUO7r1Hyk8tmBvfylTbHrN9qOahrFvkkU_V-r9vrwlnlneB4kecjRPtpdI3Hob1UjU2U0nTwIG1ZmqFNfstprkKy5z1OxPzSA_RCc3scf4MGf6SmSY_3qtPjPMk3b0/s640/chilli+dryig+3.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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(I think I might have left them a little too long! Ooops!)</div>
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I then just popped them in a sandwich bag, and into my spice drawer to use later.<br />
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-2010693202802310072016-03-10T09:21:00.002-08:002016-03-10T10:37:23.851-08:00Still on a making kick!I'm on a crafting mission at the moment.<br />
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I had a new delivery of roving wool on tuesday, so i have been doing more spinning. I really love the colours on this corriedale wool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRwTEOdoiA-4xHhIHKcTP7l1mUwwbirq8QAi60uFjTEr_zNvT3afiMRXqnRDGmQC7cEDYlG23-F97sFInFjxKMlqm4fsFTXUKVQbHObJGQPqTm1hBxt6i-MxoNhH7Qfjar7drm03Lmso/s1600/coloured+singe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRwTEOdoiA-4xHhIHKcTP7l1mUwwbirq8QAi60uFjTEr_zNvT3afiMRXqnRDGmQC7cEDYlG23-F97sFInFjxKMlqm4fsFTXUKVQbHObJGQPqTm1hBxt6i-MxoNhH7Qfjar7drm03Lmso/s640/coloured+singe+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxbTRhuz8sPwmuBVs1DTpch1jmTfSQmo6YTlQJjtaOXCWyP_oCLa2eTA7LFI44oOUP2NTU688FPJsKpyzsNFne9bnouE4ihjkKQGF6-6SSfw_APHbiQSp9Q8s6OWRqeQU0CMp_Am-vkM/s1600/coloured+single+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxbTRhuz8sPwmuBVs1DTpch1jmTfSQmo6YTlQJjtaOXCWyP_oCLa2eTA7LFI44oOUP2NTU688FPJsKpyzsNFne9bnouE4ihjkKQGF6-6SSfw_APHbiQSp9Q8s6OWRqeQU0CMp_Am-vkM/s640/coloured+single+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These pictures make the colours look a little washed out, but believe me they are so jewel-like and beautiful. Keira wants some of this wool plaited into her hair for her Prom.<br />
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I have also been crocheting. I have finished Keiras blanket, and moved on to Imogens.<br />
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I'm using different stitch this time. I am using Crochet Geeks abstract cat afghan crochet pattern. It can be found here: <a href="http://www.crochetgeek.com/2009/04/abstract-crochet-cats.html">http://www.crochetgeek.com/2009/04/abstract-crochet-cats.html</a><br />
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Im liking the way it is working up. Imogen chose her colours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQB42vl6xe8wjSA7VxhfHov9KCwEfEKsEOCsIJornOySqM1Ntb9mm0sVvBFD1y5wSh9ujgc3qIgFwEtzGgaEez-qnTKBc0c33hyphenhyphen4FDBIHEC4exJpKALJdSGS2wHv5UMeZV0iMULcb8Yw/s1600/abstract+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQB42vl6xe8wjSA7VxhfHov9KCwEfEKsEOCsIJornOySqM1Ntb9mm0sVvBFD1y5wSh9ujgc3qIgFwEtzGgaEez-qnTKBc0c33hyphenhyphen4FDBIHEC4exJpKALJdSGS2wHv5UMeZV0iMULcb8Yw/s640/abstract+cat.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Also last week, i got the urge to make a friend a last minute birthday gift. I had bought her a colouring book and some new pencils, but i felt she needed something to put her new pencils in.</div>
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So I made this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWacbLyaDbb5NcOjw5O4KRKRGwT9dQXkVsi6-HgGebzOjB9_BZs9g7vrqipJXTTXp9evxC1KWa91ii0IqXV2VztR9fWRU1-cbaDgSJxfN8OVpQZ-C3JwWwO6oSvDrTdUY-lQs-194wUKs/s1600/Kazs+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWacbLyaDbb5NcOjw5O4KRKRGwT9dQXkVsi6-HgGebzOjB9_BZs9g7vrqipJXTTXp9evxC1KWa91ii0IqXV2VztR9fWRU1-cbaDgSJxfN8OVpQZ-C3JwWwO6oSvDrTdUY-lQs-194wUKs/s640/Kazs+bag.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I had everything in my fabric box already, and i had thought for a while that the fabric was perfect for her, I just hadnt thought of a project for them both. Everything fell into place and she was so pleased with her gift. It made me smile.</div>
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Chick Update: They look like eggs. But we are edging closer to the exciting days.</div>
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5 days to go! </div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-86666086369714586212016-03-07T12:10:00.001-08:002016-03-09T06:29:46.115-08:00Day 138 days to go!<br />
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I checked in on the eggs this evening, and it looks like the one i wasnt sure about has definitely stopped growing. So we are down to 4 :(<br />
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I couldnt get good pics because at this stage the egg is almost completely dark as the chick is starting to take up the majority of the egg. There is a light spot toward the fat end of the egg, which is the air sac. At around day 20, the chick will break through its membrane with its beak and breath for the first time from the air in the air sac, which will stimulate hatching, so it important that this sac is developing well. If it is too small, it could be because the incubators humidity is too high.erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-18919739248945667632016-03-03T02:57:00.001-08:002016-03-09T06:29:15.176-08:00We lost one. :(With every animal rearing endeavour, there are good parts and bad parts.<br />
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When I candled the eggs last, ( i know, its an extra check to the ones i said i was going to do) it was pretty obvious that one of them definitely wasnt developing. The eggs shone the light through bright and clear, when by now, there should be a large dark patch and movement within the egg. I removed it from the incubator, because i didnt want to risk it going rotten and exploding (Yes, it is possible!) and contaminating all my other eggs. So egg number 5, to you we say goodbye :(<br />
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Another of the eggs looks like it is delayed, compared to the others, but as it had changed from the previous check, i left it in. Sometimes they can be a bit behind and still hatch ok.<br />
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So i reckon we are looking at 3 or 4 chicks, some will probably be boys, so i will need to hatch another clutch this year to keep my flock going.erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-25939256829926328812016-03-02T06:10:00.000-08:002016-03-09T06:30:13.023-08:00Chilly Chillies! Well, heatless at least.<br />
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I know, it is march (already!!), and i am a bit late getting my chillis started. I dont usually grow chillis, because the family are a bit averse to spicy hot food. I include myself in that, because athough i love the spicy flavours, i really dont like feeling like my mouth (and then my bottom!) is on fire. Call me weird.<br />
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I do love the flavour of a good chilli though. So i looked around, and i found these heatless varieties from <a href="http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/">www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxEXa0kYCEDe3tbBwhYHeoYujbjYzgsQdDSpbVK0KVSvRs1W4m_UmJtT9s6kGhZzQMEo_UCGnoorlBDds9_i-PIMzqYMSRcI6v2tvj8zi1RtF8tdo7rxUqrE2dNRefTqq_lGQCWz0-O0/s1600/chilli+seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxEXa0kYCEDe3tbBwhYHeoYujbjYzgsQdDSpbVK0KVSvRs1W4m_UmJtT9s6kGhZzQMEo_UCGnoorlBDds9_i-PIMzqYMSRcI6v2tvj8zi1RtF8tdo7rxUqrE2dNRefTqq_lGQCWz0-O0/s320/chilli+seeds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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They even came with a handy set of instructions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKoSDeFV0t8gIgB_MkT8CtDJyc8D-a5Vun4AtGvqXmlYH7Tr6N5k0xLE_jkEHuJimt6dXhtqWQBahoMkdKRUKduBUfySErfPmpsZKXPhzV5XtsfT-2zsENjarN1V4Y6V19PssMLrRNC4/s1600/chilli+instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKoSDeFV0t8gIgB_MkT8CtDJyc8D-a5Vun4AtGvqXmlYH7Tr6N5k0xLE_jkEHuJimt6dXhtqWQBahoMkdKRUKduBUfySErfPmpsZKXPhzV5XtsfT-2zsENjarN1V4Y6V19PssMLrRNC4/s320/chilli+instructions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I planted them up as per their instructions, and popped them in my new heated propagator, which I bought from ALDI for £12.99 last week. It will live on the windowledge of my conservatory, tucked behind my wall unit so that the kids dont mess with it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0y0iXTqF4SCmaYgMECPRm7ThYI7Vpdho3fISy2QY8l_t1q9StjS1WTD45399YK_diz3yEQd824bsa4VoLrk-JP1SMdAtyFpvf5qqrPFmkze8KQGhk4PNPQB0kZbUm1fak1St-4t6xt8/s1600/heate+propagator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0y0iXTqF4SCmaYgMECPRm7ThYI7Vpdho3fISy2QY8l_t1q9StjS1WTD45399YK_diz3yEQd824bsa4VoLrk-JP1SMdAtyFpvf5qqrPFmkze8KQGhk4PNPQB0kZbUm1fak1St-4t6xt8/s320/heate+propagator.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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So hopefully this summer we will have some nice sweet mild chillis and everyone can stop complaining that their tongue is stinging!!</div>
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You may have spotted my plant labels in the above picture. I dont buy plant labels. They always get lost or blown away or kids run off with them to do goodness knows what with (Why do they even want them?). The joys of a young imagnation.</div>
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plant labels. Yes. Thats where i was. I make mine out of empty milk bottles. The big 2 litre ones usually, because we go though a mammoth amount of milk.</div>
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I just cut them up until i have strips. Nothing fancy to it. It serves two purposes. I am too cheap to buy labels, and fewer milk bottles end up clogging up my recycle bin. Win / win!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRCKoyCxHl3Y8N91tMns9rNJF5cxbFYfe75Fa3_O0HYQ-XYssPTs3V-OaozZ39BwjR2upT1OZYPZOu_RIGQY18SvQSomJ_gyDAjotIXt6EgwbOVJn5EptA5dDEAdqlwZZM_HkA4JoL4U/s1600/making+labelsjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRCKoyCxHl3Y8N91tMns9rNJF5cxbFYfe75Fa3_O0HYQ-XYssPTs3V-OaozZ39BwjR2upT1OZYPZOu_RIGQY18SvQSomJ_gyDAjotIXt6EgwbOVJn5EptA5dDEAdqlwZZM_HkA4JoL4U/s320/making+labelsjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hope you are all having a lovely Wednesday!</div>
<br />erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1785386668999881372.post-33530316574673389812016-03-01T11:24:00.001-08:002016-03-01T11:25:01.573-08:00Plot Lines<div class="MsoNormal">
Plot lines.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So much happened during my blogging absence, that I’ll have
to fill you in slowly. One of those momentous changes was my plot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went from this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi_Bln56pFopHkUpD3dsWGnNE8RrEyre_FrPGzaBXsDaAPfuhXvSOUOFK7vzNoO06_QIy959uynaJ8teEEDhLpwuXL6J_tvK1dx_4YHdInEgE-_HsSdRgk6POzaehugr2_fehNwQBpVI/s1600/allotment11-12-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi_Bln56pFopHkUpD3dsWGnNE8RrEyre_FrPGzaBXsDaAPfuhXvSOUOFK7vzNoO06_QIy959uynaJ8teEEDhLpwuXL6J_tvK1dx_4YHdInEgE-_HsSdRgk6POzaehugr2_fehNwQBpVI/s320/allotment11-12-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Dec 2010)</div>
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To This!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86eTfYwO1_SRFSwEXMY2SkD23jinuCarbzl9GXQ8CznRfVGKMfHKUx0SEYOF6W1zqktRP574HEP7g1AMQynHNjxcH6GtRUco7EDWHXFsgYBG_rzBskb9yZb7IuXjVhKUF22AlYR_2_Vk/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86eTfYwO1_SRFSwEXMY2SkD23jinuCarbzl9GXQ8CznRfVGKMfHKUx0SEYOF6W1zqktRP574HEP7g1AMQynHNjxcH6GtRUco7EDWHXFsgYBG_rzBskb9yZb7IuXjVhKUF22AlYR_2_Vk/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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(Aug 2012)<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a much bigger space to work with, which in some ways is
good, and some ways it isn’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I like having the extra space to pan projects for, but it is
much much harder keeping on top of such a big project, and because of this, my
pot always looks pretty shabby, especially in the middle of growing season when
everything is growing faster than I can deal with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Im hoping to show you all more here as time goes on. Maybe
as the season gets started I’ll do a weekly plot pick, as some of my favourite
bloggers like Soulemama.com and <a href="http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/">http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/</a> do regularly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If nothing else, showing you all might get me to tidy the
place up a bit!<o:p></o:p></div>
erbitrudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776716963338666179noreply@blogger.com0