An unplanned productive evening.

Last night I finished work, got the kids from school and as they were both tired and Grace was feeling under the weather, they pretty much went to bed as soon as they got in and had tea.  Nothing serious thankfully, just school kids and more germs, but it meant I somehow had a really productive evening.
I set about in the veg plot digging over part of the remaining bed that I've been avoiding.  If I take it an hour at a time, it's more manageable than the thought of doing it all at once.  It's about 1/3 to 1/2 done now so I am really pleased.  I've added more rotted manure in to the bit I've done tonight and hopefully come the weekend I will get the rest of the plants in there.  Then that leaves one more bed plus a space that's previously been used for burning god knows what.  That will become my potato bed very soon.
So in between the veg plot, I had a guy come and collect some manure which combined with another couple over the last week has made an even bigger dent in the muck heap.  Once he had gone and I'd done what I set out to in the veg plot, I spent an hour in the field picking up a barrow of poo.  It's back breaking work but it was actually quite therapeutic as it is so quiet, so relaxing that in the end I almost enjoyed it.
In the greenhouse the tomato plants have started showing lots of the yellow flowers which will become the fruit so I am now getting excited!!  How long until I can harvest my first tomato!!  Rhubarb & asparargus were divine, I wonder if the tomatoes will be!
Finally I watered my plants then put the animals to bed before collapsing into my own bed, ready to do it all again the next day, what could be better!


Dad started digging the bed for me last night which spured me in to doing more tonight.

This is one of the many muck bins, look at all those mushrooms growing!! 

Close up of one of the mushrooms

The muck heap has caved in as it's started to rot.  3 months old, good stuff this sh1t!

We have a goose egg!!!!

I did a happy dance today as when I went to check that the geese had enough water, there was an egg in a newly made nest!  Finally, first goose egg of the new smallholding on 16th March 2016!  What a fantastic memory for us.

We're going to leave it for a few days to see what she does.  Then maybe at the weekend will add it to an omelette.  We are told that geese eggs re quite fatty, so now we finally have one, I'll be looking for advice on what to do with them.  Other than see if any baby geese arrive of course :).

In seed news, I've moved the oldest and strongest seedlings into the greenhouse as we're not due any frost and if we are I will cover them up with a plastic toy/storage box and see if that works.  The next lot are now on the dining room window in their place.  I also have cauliflowers and cabbages growing well in the greenhouse and need to look when to plant them out.  The dwarf bean seeds are coming through thickly, literally.  I couldn't believe the size of the first shoot.  I will get a picture and post when I think on.

It is do lovely to feel the sun on our backs and looking round to see spring seeing off winter. The dogs are still hugging the aga though and the nights are still cold. It's changing though. 2 weeks and long, light nights.  Bliss! !

A few people have commented to say they hope we're all lurgy free now, which I'm sad to say we're not yet.  I took my son to the doctors yesterday after a couple of bad nights and he has strep throat, my daughter has an ear infection and I forgot to get myself checked but I suspect I have a combination of the 2!  So we are spending some much needed time at home with anti biotics and pain killers, however my son vomited tonight too so anything he had in him is now out :(  Sorry if that's TMI!  Anyway, onwards and upwards.  We're in the healthiest place we can be, lots of fresh country air, what better place to get well.