Roots and shoots

Bit of a ho-hum week for knitting so far.  I was determined not to let the Broken Cable Rib socks beat me, so I cast on again on Saturday night.  After messing up the pattern twice, I declared defeat on Sunday and ripped it out.  No matter really, August is a a long time away and there's plenty of time to decide on something.

I had a blitz of the WIPs as well and have ripped out the cabled slipover as no work has been done on that for months.  There were signs of suspicious insect activity near the bag, so everything has gone to live in the freezer for a couple of days.  I ripped back the little baby cardigan I was doing as well, as the little baby is now almost one and will not fit in the size I was knitting.

In the absence of knitting, how about some gardening progress?  The rainy weather is doing the veg no end of good.

Various types of lettuce, with more seedlings coming up next to them.

The spinach is doing very well.  I'm sure the children will be overjoyed at an endless supply of spinach, especially when we're already getting it in our weekly veg box from the farm down the road as well.

The rocket needs weeding.  The wet weather is good for the weeds as well, unfortunately and I haven't been able to get out and attack them for a few days.

Broad beans on the left, peas on the right.  I had to net them as the pheasants seemed to think I was running a salad bar.  I lost quite a few of the first pea plants, but the second sowing is coming up well.

Kate asked what the green coil in the last post was.  I'm sure many of you recognised them as Clover needle holders - one of my favourite knitting gadgets.  I'm glad she asked, as it reminded you of something I wanted to share.  Never, ever, ever put one of those needle coils in your mouth, or even on your lips.  The taste is truly awful.  Trust me, even those of you who are now curious - don't do it, you will regret it.  And just to show how far I will go for the blog, I did check that it wasn't just the large ones, the small ones taste just as bad.  You have been warned...

Comments

[dawn]

I'm not a gardener, but will your lettuce be ready at the same time? It happened to my brother once, we practically ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

[Lin]

Your veg looks great. I don't have any of those needle coils but if I did I would have been one of us that had to taste it!!

[Alison]

Gyahh!! I have those coils, and they're upstairs, and I'm downstairs, and all I can say is that I hope that I have FORGOTTEN about this post by the time I'm anywhere near them... I'm now *very* curious! I love the gardening shots; mine look much the same (if a little flooded right now); we have no pheasants to contend with, though.

[Beth S.]

Don't feel bad about the broken rib socks! I got a pair once for Sockapalooza and they were mercilessly tight. No fun to put on / take off at all.

[Mia]

The garden looks lovely. I am still waiting or my bans to peek their head up above ground.

And research is the key to the perfect socks for some one else. Or at least that is what I say.

[Mary-Lou]

you checked both sizes of needle holder? - glutton for punishment, I'm thinking ...

[mrspao]

Your garden looks great :) I think I'm going to have to plant some new runner beans as the packet I had before was very old and I think the seed isn't viable any more.

[Tracy]

Lovely veggies, nothing like homegrown. I wandered down to my patch this morning and discovered I can grow cat poo where my beetroot should be. Disney obviously isn't doing her job, must get out pictures of fluffy felines and torment her for a while ;)
Thank you for tasting the holders, you are a glutton for punishment!

[Paula]

Your garden looks great, my Mom use to grow her own vegs. Of course as achild I did'nt appreciate it, now I would love it.

[Iris]

Isn't it wonderful how everything grows this time of year? I've wandering out to the vegetable patch daily now to see how everthing is growing, and we've been able to enjoy our first lettuce and rocket. :-)

Also, if you are so inclined - you've been tagged. Rules etc. are on my blog. No pressure, though - just if you get a minute! :-)

[Amelia]

I'd like to confirm that you were not unlucky with regard to the taste of your batch of clover coils. I found out your top tip many months ago. Yuck.