Skip to main content

Harvesting the pumpkins







Nearly all the pumpkins and butternut squashes have been picked for this year, its been very dry and warm, ideal ripening conditions. Only a few hangers on of Turks turbans and blue prince varieties are left who look like they are not quiet ready yet so I will wait until their leaves have died back. some blue prince beauties have escaped over the rabbit proof fence (that turned out it wasn't rabbit proof as they were small enough to hop through the wire -must think fencing re think for next year) have mingled and in twined with the stinging nettles, which are truly living up to their name being very stingy, the kind of tingly sting that lasts for ages. They will have to wait until jeans, wellies, long sleeves and gloves are worn as I pull up the nettles for the pigs, which don't seem to mind or maybe they don't feel the stings as they do love nettles, maybe they know how healthy they are for you.

So the pumpkin patch has been weeded, the marigolds need to be dug up and placed somewhere else ready for a bit of manure to be rotavated in then covered ready for next year, I'm thinking of putting tomatoes in their place but once a plan is sketched on paper they may be moved around before going back to the original one. At least I have been organised in buying a planning note book.

As to what to do with all the pumpkins that are now hardening off by laying on the hay bales before coming inside to store they will be made into soup, risotto, lasagna, stuffed, Curry, roasted, mashed and even find their way into a few cakes but no pumpkin pie we don't like pumpkin pie! Recipe books will be searched for new dishes, oh and a few are finding their way to Toulouse, if they can fit into Miss F's bag when she visits.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rabbit proof fence

In the hope of not loosing anymore greenery in the veggie patch today was spent today taking down an old fence which was put up around eight years ago. As it had a few holes in it this could be where  the rabbits are getting through. On the other side of the fence a chicken run was constructed were table chickens grew to a really good weight until we got a batch that had been, what we think were contagious with Mareks disease. Subsequently we stopped using it for chickens putting a litter of pigs in the area to get them use to electric fencing (which they did). It has been left empty for around 18months now with Gorgon and the girls have made break trough's through it last year gaining access into the veggie patch but now there's a lot of weeds. On the other side of the veggie patch is another old holey fence which has now got the recycled one that was taken down put in front of it, new posts and a trench dug to lower the wire in, earthed up and stones put on top

Happy cattle

For five months the cattle have been eating hay twice a day but today was their time to go back to pasture, they were more than ready. With two loads in the trailer going to La Contie the rest, the naughty but nice ones stayed at La Singlarie. Calves are on green grass for the first time following the herds around. Now for Spring time jobs to get started - so much free time for farmer J. Fencing, tidying around the farm, getting machines ready for hay cutting, getting the gites gardens ready for Summer and a new bathroom to fit, his feet won't be touching the ground.

Parisot lake

As it is a holiday today here in France (Bastille Day) we took the afternoon off an popped over to Parisot lake for a walk with Sorrel. It has all changed, since the lake was emptied and cleaned up this year you can now swim in it, as well as inflatable toys to play on, a life guard, bikes to hire, a new fenced in play area for small people and a total spruce up. But there is a price we were charged! 3 euros an adult, which I guess is OK if you are using the facilities but Sorrel didn't fancy a dip. The cafe is still open but that would of been too much for Sorrel to cope with being so close to people and music so we opted for a bench to sit on in the shade before walking around the lake. Sorrel opted for being Billy no mates and laying by herself, if be it for a short period of time before bikes and people went by. We are now waiting for the free firework celebrations over the chateau tonight - if we can stay up that late.😃